Northern California - Bummer - Ticket on La Canada

I continued through a three way stop sign going south on La Canada on Monday around Woodside (no perpendicular roadway or cross traffic on my side for the record).

Totally got pulled over with flashing lights and everything. Not sure how much the ticket is, the officer couldn't tell me. Anybody get one before and can share the pain?

Kinda embarassing esp since it was the first day I wore my 2007 NorCal jersey and there were TONS of cyclists out there (who also ran the stopsign).

Oh well, lesson learned, movin on. Be safe everyone.

I continued through a three way stop sign going south on La Canada on Monday around Woodside (no perpendicular roadway or cross traffic on my side for the record).

Totally got pulled over with flashing lights and everything. Not sure how much the ticket is, the officer couldn't tell me. Anybody get one before and can share the pain?

Kinda embarassing esp since it was the first day I wore my 2007 NorCal jersey and there were TONS of cyclists out there (who also ran the stopsign).

Oh well, lesson learned, movin on. Be safe everyone.

Got a 200.00 ticket in the presidio last year...I feel your pain:mad:

The worst is when Cars go by while the cop is writing the ticket and their laughing at you...:(

Broke law. Got ticket. Imagine that.

$175ish a couple of years ago for biking through a stop sign. Not fun but breaking the law is breaking the law even if there was no traffic around.

Next time.. ride even faster :)

Broke law. Got ticket. Imagine that.

:rolleyes:

Broke law. Got ticket. Imagine that.

... because all laws make perfect sense, enforcement is perfect, and the cops are not allowed to exercise professional judgement, good point.

Broke law. Got ticket. Imagine that.

http://www.turbocheese.net/hosted/slap.gif
You didn't read the thread apparently. The last line says he learned his lesson and is moving on. He wasn't complaining about the ticket, saying it was unjust at all. The main point of the thread was to relate his experience, with a secondary point of asking if anyone knew what the cost might be (since the officer didn't).

Three-way stop signs will get you every time. Another one they'll get you at is Foothill Expy intersection with San Antonio. I see many cyclists blow right through it, and many get ticketed. Very easy to get a ticket there if you aren't careful.

Did you blast it? Or roll through? How flagrant was your violation.

http://www.turbocheese.net/hosted/slap.gif
You didn't read the thread apparently. The last line says he learned his lesson and is moving on. He wasn't complaining about the ticket, saying it was unjust at all. The main point of the thread was to relate his experience, with a secondary point of asking if anyone knew what the cost might be (since the officer didn't).


Thank you Nachomc. That's exactly the point of the thread. Just sharing my story.
I know a lot of BF'rs ride on La Canada so thought it'd be a useful reminder. Based on everyone's responses, it looks like my little reminder could save others $175-200 bucks.

Mikesdca, next time you decide to stop at a stop sign and see a cruiser pass you by lickin his chops, feel free to send me a little commission on the money you saved.

I continued through a three way stop sign going south on La Canada on Monday around Woodside (no perpendicular roadway or cross traffic on my side for the record).Those intersections - Glenwood and Jefferson - are well-known for being monitored closely by the police. Lotsa tickets handed out there.

Three-way stop signs will get you every time. Another one they'll get you at is Foothill Expy intersection with San Antonio. I see many cyclists blow right through it, and many get ticketed. Very easy to get a ticket there if you aren't careful.On Monday, I passed some lady as I was heading home near the end of my ride and dutifully stopped at the red light at San Antonio and Foothill. The woman I had previously passed, just went right through the light as if it wasn't there. When I passed her again just on the other side of El Monte, I reminded her that the CVC applied to bicycles, too. Earlier in the day, as I was heading out, I watched as a cyclist just breezed through the light at Foothill and Hillview. I basically told him the same thing when I passed.

If you don't want to stop for stop signs and traffic lights, just find a route that doesn't have very many.

Thank you Nachomc. That's exactly the point of the thread. Just sharing my story.
I know a lot of BF'rs ride on La Canada so thought it'd be a useful reminder. Based on everyone's responses, it looks like my little reminder could save others $175-200 bucks.

Mikesdca, next time you decide to stop at a stop sign and see a cruiser pass you by lickin his chops, feel free to send me a little commission on the money you saved.


Send me your address. Greedy little police are all over down here. You`ll make a mint. I`ll be watching my inbox for your message. Thanks. :)

Speaking of 3-way stops, I was wondering if this scenario is similar to what the thread starter posted about.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/kelseybymetro/stopsign.jpg

This is just outside a residential area; the speed limit is 25 mph. I added a thick white line through the intersection because a couple of weeks ago they (the county/city) added a solid white line for the bicycle lane through the intersection. The broken white bicycle lane markers in the picture is now actually solid. If I'm going straight through, do I need to stop?

Technically, you probably should, but in situations like that, I don't. Especially if there isn't even a driveway on the right hand side.

I'd say you still have to stop (technically). The solid white line is to indicate that you shouldn't cross it to make a left turn, i.e. use the left turn lane like all the other vehicles.

Three-way stop signs will get you every time. Another one they'll get you at is Foothill Expy intersection with San Antonio. I see many cyclists blow right through it, and many get ticketed. Very easy to get a ticket there if you aren't careful.


Yeah, if it's clear (with no car blocking the view of potential pedestrians), I always roll through the 3 way stop signs. I know it's against the law, but it's not a safety issue. Luckily I haven't got a ticket for it yet, but I'd be pretty upset if I did. If I was a cop I'd ignore it like most SF cops do.

I also go thought red lights (after stopping) if there is no one on the road because it is safe. Stop signs and stop lights were put there to insure safety and promote better traffic flow. If there's no one around, there is no logical reason to come to a complete stop or wait at a red light. That's why I wish they'd change the laws to allow cyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs and stop lights like stop signs (proceeding through only if no one is around)

Cops will often let you go if you slow down and look at the cross street before proceeding through a T stop sign. If you blow through without looking, then a ticket is much more likely. Running a red light is also a good reason for a ticket, no matter how carefully you do it.

Cars often swing wide (and fast) when turning left on to Foothill Expressway at those T red lights. I never run those red lights. If a car swings wide and hits you when you are running a red light, then you are at fault.

Speaking of 3-way stops, I was wondering if this scenario is similar to what the thread starter posted about.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/kelseybymetro/stopsign.jpg

This is just outside a residential area; the speed limit is 25 mph. I added a thick white line through the intersection because a couple of weeks ago they (the county/city) added a solid white line for the bicycle lane through the intersection. The broken white bicycle lane markers in the picture is now actually solid. If I'm going straight through, do I need to stop?

Good question! :thumb:

I received an email from a local bike advocacy group stating as of 7/1/08 intersections such as this were ok to run the stop sign if on a bike. So maybe it's recently painted due to the change in the CVC..? I've been doing it since reading the e-mail but never checked the CVC thinking I'd try to talk my way out of it if not. :D Anyone know for sure?

Speaking of 3-way stops, I was wondering if this scenario is similar to what the thread starter posted about.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr24/kelseybymetro/stopsign.jpg

This is just outside a residential area; the speed limit is 25 mph. I added a thick white line through the intersection because a couple of weeks ago they (the county/city) added a solid white line for the bicycle lane through the intersection. The broken white bicycle lane markers in the picture is now actually solid. If I'm going straight through, do I need to stop?


Yup. That's exactly the scenario (Actually, much less busy than the intersection pictured above). It's real easy to blast right through them which is what I did and apparently what you're NOT supposed to do. He probably would have been more lenient had I at least done a rolling stop and taken a quick look to the side rather than charging full bore through it.

I would take it to court. They rely on everyone to just pony up.

1) I would do a trial by mail by written declaration, and state you are not guilty.
2) If the cop doesn't submit his form then you get off.
3) If you are found guilty request a trial in person called trial de novo.
4) If the cop doesn't show up then you get off.
5) If the cop does show up then ask the judge to reduce the fine based on hardship.

Maybe you don't have the time but it could save yourself some money. Here is a web site, kind of spammy that goes over some details:

http://www.ticketassassin.com/fight.html

I wouldn't pay for anything, do more googling and you can get the various details for free. I have used this once to get out of a speeding ticket. In Marin County for example you can have the fine reduce by taking a class:

http://www.marinbike.org/Events/MGH/CitationRules.shtml

Dunno if they have something similar for San Mateo County. But my advise is not to just roll over but to fight it.

Broke law. Got ticket. Imagine that.

Let. Me. Guess.

you're a cop?

:twitchy:

Hmm, this very topic came up in conversation on my group ride just a couple hours ago, as we were going south on Foothill. My friend said that if the white limit line does not extend to the bike lane (as is the case on Foothill with that T-intersection), then you don't need to stop. Sounds plausible. I'll look around the vehicle code later and see if I can find anything supporting that.

To the poster with that picture of the intersection, the crosswalks go all the way across the intersection, so I think you would be cited for not stopping, or for that matter, not stopping behind the line of the crosswalk, which is the limit line in that situation. I once got a ticket, in my car, when I stopped past the limit line. :mad:

Hmm, this very topic came up in conversation on my group ride just a couple hours ago, as we were going south on Foothill. My friend said that if the white limit line does not extend to the bike lane (as is the case on Foothill with that T-intersection), then you don't need to stop. Sounds plausible. I'll look around the vehicle code later and see if I can find anything supporting that.

To the poster with that picture of the intersection, the crosswalks go all the way across the intersection, so I think you would be cited for not stopping, or for that matter, not stopping behind the line of the crosswalk, which is the limit line in that situation. I once got a ticket, in my car, when I stopped past the limit line. :mad:

CVC 22450:

"If there is no limit line or crosswalk, the driver shall stop at the entrance to the intersecting roadway"

.. My friend said that if the white limit line does not extend to the bike lane (as is the case on Foothill with that T-intersection), then you don't need to stop. The only T-intersection on Foothill that doesn't have a limit line is south bound just past Homestead at the light for the off-ramp from I-280 North. The intersection at San Antonio Rd. certainly has one.

The only T-intersection on Foothill that doesn't have a limit line is south bound just past Homestead at the light for the off-ramp from I-280 North. The intersection at San Antonio Rd. certainly has one.

That's right, we were near 280 at the time.

That's right, we were near 280 at the time.
I've been told that, as a cyclist, you don't need to stop there because there's no limit line. If you follow CVC to the letter, then you should stop. However, I asked a Santa Clara County deputy (he came to my house to interview me about a bike/car incident in which I did a face-plant) and he said that you "probably" wouldn't get a ticket. However, even at that intersection, I slow way down and only proceed if there are no cars coming. I do not trust cars to stay in their lane and not drift into the bike lane there.

- Steve

Cops will often let you go if you slow down and look at the cross street before proceeding through a T stop sign. If you blow through without looking, then a ticket is much more likely. Running a red light is also a good reason for a ticket, no matter how carefully you do it.

Cars often swing wide (and fast) when turning left on to Foothill Expressway at those T red lights. I never run those red lights. If a car swings wide and hits you when you are running a red light, then you are at fault.

Another issue with this sort of thing, a left turning cyclist from the other street will "turn wide" into the bike lane. I keep waiting for a crash at 14th/Harrison in SF from this exact scenario.