Southern California - Would a SoCal Cop stop us for.........

Would or could a cop stop a cyclist for not having reflectors on the bike. The few times Gina and I have ridden to the ranger station at the botom of Baldy Rd, we see a deputy that sits in one of the dirt turnouts. Yesterday as we were climbing we saw him just standing there. I'm not sure if he's on a break or what he is doing exactly. We're riding by and I say hi after he smiles and says hello. After we go by Gina asks, "do you think he might give us a ticket cause we don't have reflectors?". I said, "no, he's prolly just shocked thinking that two biggin's like us are actually riding a tandem uphill".:D

After a brief two minute rest at the ranger station, we head down. As we approach the area where the cop usually parks, Gina asks," you don't think he'll give us a ticket for going too fast do you?". I said, "nope, we're only doing 30 and the speedlimit is 40". We ride by and the guy is still just standing out there overlooking the view. I said,"see, he's too busy admiring the view anyways".:p

I know Gina's a little paranoid, but could a cop give one a ticket for no reflectors?:rolleyes:



BTW, that little section by the chapel is one steep little mutha! I rode the brakes down the steep section in order to prevent some gray hair on Gina's head. On the lower section, I let the brakes go and we went from 20 to 40 within 15-20 seconds. This is after the grade eases up!:eek:

I know Gina's a little paranoid, but could a cop give one a ticket for no reflectors?
I went to prison for it back in '96. But that was a long time ago. Maybe the laws have changed. Or maybe not... I wouldn't risk it.

I know Gina's a little paranoid, but could a cop give one a ticket for no reflectors?:rolleyes:


California law requires that bikes be sold with certain reflectors, but if you take them off, you could only be ticketed if you are riding at night without them or acceptable sustitutes.

Whether anyone actually ever gets ticketed for this is another question.

California law requires that bikes be sold with certain reflectors, but if you take them off, you could only be ticketed if you are riding at night without them or acceptable sustitutes.

Whether anyone actually ever gets ticketed for this is another question.

Cool, thanx. We don't ride at night so I guess I won't worry too much.

James, was that you? I thought you looked familiar. I think we were cellmates. I was in for a triple homocide but got off for good behaviour!:D

If they don't have reflectors while riding at night, there's a high probably that they don't have lights either. So I'm guessing the rider will get a ticket for lack of lights before getting written up for the lack of reflectors.

If they don't have reflectors while riding at night, there's a high probably that they don't have lights either. So I'm guessing the rider will get a ticket for lack of lights before getting written up for the lack of reflectors.

I don't know, my bike doesn't have reflectors, but I'd never ride at night w/o lights, front & rear.

I went to prison for it back in '96. But that was a long time ago. Maybe the laws have changed. Or maybe not... I wouldn't risk it.

I knew you had a past and were a little shady...:p

I don't know, my bike doesn't have reflectors, but I'd never ride at night w/o lights, front & rear.
+1

I got stopped after the Burrito Century for no lights or reflectors.

I don't know, my bike doesn't have reflectors, but I'd never ride at night w/o lights, front & rear.

I'm guessing you'll be fine since you are riding with lights.

If the 5-0 is anal retentive then perhaps. "I noticed you are riding with bright lights which is safe, but I'm gonna write you up for lack of reflectors anyways."

I keep mine on, at least the one on my handlebars and seatpost. The commuter has no rear reflector... But i did put long strips of red reflective tape on the back of the seatstays. :) Both bikes do have white/silver reflective tape on the sides (fork, crankarms, seattube, seat/chain stays) and i've got reflective tape on my wheels, but no wheel reflectors.

Commuter gets the full lighting suite, road/race bike doesn't. :)

I'm guessing you'll be fine since you are riding with lights.

If the 5-0 is anal retentive then perhaps. "I noticed you are riding with bright lights which is safe, but I'm gonna write you up for lack of reflectors anyways."

What does the law specifically state is required? My understanding is that you just have to have a reflector OR light on the front in white and the rear in red. It's an either/or situation.

According to the SFVBC site, reflectors are required on the pedals. I do not know if this is only when they are sold or if they're required all the time to be there. I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for no reflectors. I don't have reflectors :) I don't know if the law requires lights and/or too. I use some very powerful ones however. :)

i laugh at the $4000 bikes at performance with the dinky plastic reflectors.

My skin is reflective.

My skin is reflective.
Is that what that amber/green glow is?:D

Here is a link that will answer your questions.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd11c1a4.htm

Also, if you are given a moving violation ticket while on your bicycle, have the kind officer write "Bicycle" on the ticket. The court does not have to notify the DMV for VC violations on a bicycle. See VC 1803 section 6 http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d02/vc1803.htm

According to the SFVBC site, reflectors are required on the pedals. I do not know if this is only when they are sold or if they're required all the time to be there.

Hmm. My clipless pedals don't have reflectors though. Guess I may be technically breaking a SFV law if I am in that area then.

Is that what that amber/green glow is?:D

It's not tinrobot's reflection. It's the radiation that he is emitting that is causing the glow.

This is funny :lol:

My commuter bike has reflectors, the others - not a chance!

I got a ticket in VA for no lights/reflectors when I was in school. Cool thing abt the ticket though - it was a $10 (gotta love campus cops) ticket that was also a $15 LBS coupon for a light. Same with the helmet tickets they'd pass out.

Judging by the amount of bikes I see without reflectors I'd say no way. I've been riding around here for years without them and I've never been hassled by a cop for this.

I got stopped after the Burrito Century for no lights or reflectors.

How was the prison food?

I got a ticket in VA for no lights/reflectors when I was in school. Cool thing abt the ticket though - it was a $10 (gotta love campus cops) ticket that was also a $15 LBS coupon for a light. Same with the helmet tickets they'd pass out.

Hehehehe! I hope I get a carbon fiber bike ticket sometime soon!:D

Equipment Requirements
21201. (a) No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(b) No person shall operate on the highway any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate his hands above the level of his shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
(c) No person shall operate upon any highway a bicycle which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from safely stopping the bicycle, supporting it in an upright position with at least one foot on the ground, and restarting it in a safe manner.

(d) Every bicycle operated upon any highway during darkness shall be equipped (1) with a lamp emitting a white light which, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle; (2) with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle; (3) with a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet; and (4) with a white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and with a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors. Such reflectors and reflectorized tires shall be of a type meeting requirements established by the department.

(e) A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle, may be used in lieu of the lamp required by clause (1) of subdivision (d).

Amended Ch. 723, Stats. 1979. Effective January 1, 1980.

Notes:
1. Fixies Beware!
2. Flip it! It's the Law

James, was that you? I thought you looked familiar. I think we were cellmates. I was in for a triple homocide but got off for good behaviour!:D
You were scared of me, huh.

How was the prison food?Remember Duffy burgers? When John Duffy was the sheriff? No, you probably don't.

I'm not a cop, but I do work in a law enforcement agency and know a few hundreds police officers and deputies. Here's the deal;

-They can ticket you for no reflectors or going too fast.
-They wont ticket you for either because,
- Unless mandated by their station most feel ticketing cyclists is below them.
- Most are sympathetic as at least one or 2 ride per station sometimes more.
- Unless the cyclist makes a blatantly dumb move against a motorist, most law
enforcement personnel feel obligated to protect cyclists.

Of course it only takes one though to write a ticket.

eNotes:

2. Flip it! It's the Law


Thats how I got my last ticket.....
And a half hour on the curb....

You were scared of me, huh.

Well you were one of the mean guys and I never knew what you were about to do with that duct tape!:D

I went to prison for it back in '96. But that was a long time ago. Maybe the laws have changed. Or maybe not... I wouldn't risk it.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA sorry.... too funny!

(hows the van? find an EJ20 yet? hehe:D)

(hows the van? find an EJ20 yet? hehe:D)

Did I hear EJ20? Engine swap into a VW farfegnugen I presume?

Depends on the city/town you are riding through and IF they really want to enforce every little DMV code on top of regular traffic violations. Only in South Pasadena have I've seen a cyclist get a ticket for "speeding" and that was on a downhill section with a 30 mph speed limit...ticket said he was "clocked at 39 mph...as if he had a speedometer installed, he probably beat the ticket anyways because of that...lol...you can coast down that hill and hit 45+ mph. Anywhere else, the police don't care unless you are running stop signs/signals or plain riding crazy or are all over the road.

That being said, I've added a few yellow/orange auto reflectors on the front and rear baskets on the cruiser. In daylight or night they reflect light pretty good if the baskets are full of groceries...with the rear baskets folded closed, they disappear from sight. Came with the wheel reflectors and left those on. Might look a bit dorky to some, but I rather have some piece of mind when my SO goes out on the road...she likes them and feels safer, so I guess that's all that matters. My commuter/road bike only has a rear reflector on the rack and a rear light under the saddle and the 60's era 3-speed has a 3" round reflector on the rear fender and an old school generator to run the fr/rr lights...lol.

When I got my Seven, it did not have any reflectors ... but then again, this was custom built. If the law really requires reflectors, then my LBS is at fault. But anyways, I always have reflectors on my bike.

Did I hear EJ20? Engine swap into a VW farfegnugen I presume?

I heard that too... ;)

Maybe they have cops where the white folks live , I never see any on my rides.

I just flash them my OCP card.

(hows the van? find an EJ20 yet? hehe:D)
Van moves under its own power, so I guess I can't complain. :p Nope... no EJ20/22 yet.

Did I hear EJ20? Engine swap into a VW farfegnugen I presume?
Good ear! You presume correctly... well, someday, anyway. :D

Good ear! You presume correctly... well, someday, anyway. :D

LETS DO IT!!!!! sounds like there are some people on this board that might know a thing or two about the swap? This could be fun!:D

in the communist state of kalifornia i have been pulled over 5 times on my bicycle in 5 years. in those same 5 years i have been pulled over ONCE in my car. reason for the bike pull overs........2 were for no light on during night riding, one was for no helmet (i am 30 yrs old), one was for hoping a curb and riding into the street (an industrial area with NO ONE around for miles) and i forget the other time.
i wouldnt be surprised if you got a fat ticket for no reflectors but i have no idea if they are mandated by california law.