Advocacy & Safety - State Trooper Wins!

I was on a short (23) mile ride yesterday, and I noticed an Arkansas State Trooper cruising the same stretch of highway I was riding. It was an out and back ride on a wide shoulder of a 4 lane highway.

On the return leg, a car passes me a bit close, which is normal, right, but this time within seconds a white State Trooper car goes whizzing by, pulls the car over, and since they weren't speeding, I think he was telling them about the 3' law...

About a mile down the road, the same thing. Another close pass, another pursuit, and another driver educated about the 3' law. This time I actually saw him point at me as I rode by, and held his hands 3' apart as he was talking to the driver.

I always record my rides with a small video cam, and have both stops on tape.

I'm a fan, but I was a fan before. I never have any trouble with LEO!!!

That's great, because all I read from the ideologues who complain about "too many laws" is that the 3' rule doesn't work and is no good.

I guess once again experiences in the real world are different from ideology.

Contact page (http://www.asp.state.ar.us/asp/directory.html) if anyone wants to send a thank-you.

Awesome that the LEO was enforcing the law.

I think 3' laws are a great idea as long as they aren't encumbered by a lot of garbage. I would also like something about legally passing slow moving vehicles on a double yellow and clarifying the rights and responsibilities of riding on the shoulder.

Thanks for the thread. Great story!

Great report, DPN, thanks for posting it!

I sent a thank you to the Arkansas State Police. Could you tell us a little more about where it happened and about what time? Surely we want this officer to be encouraged to do more of this!

Maybe they are tired of showing up at accident scenes and then trying to go to sleep later. It would be nice if all they had to do was help out people who had broken down.

That's awesome. A few years ago, two state troopers in my state were hit and killed by automobiles while making a traffic stop at the side of the interstate. As a result, my state passed a law requiring motorists to change lanes or slow down when they observed a traffic stop; a lot of states have that law now. So it occurs to me that some state troopers may have a really good idea of what it feels like to have a car brush past you at high speed, and consequently may be particularly keen to have this kind of law enforced.

Last summer I saw a police car pass me and pull into a side street and turn around and stop facing the road. After I passed, he did it again. I finally figured it out, he was watching how the cars passed me, looking for a bust. I gave him a big thumbs up, he waved back. Murray, Utah, police are good!

While this is a great story I am confused. If you are riding on a wide shoulder were the cars riding the stripe or something else?

Crap. Around here, it would have been the LEOs doing the buzzing!

I'm in Missouri and very close to Arkansas. I sent a thank you to ASP PIO. May be heading down there for some riding next year. Here in the Ozarks, they don't give much of a crap. :(

In NYC cops don't care about bikes. People double park in bike lanes all the time and they do nothing!

While this is a great story I am confused. If you are riding on a wide shoulder were the cars riding the stripe or something else?

In some spots, yes.

Of course, there are always some A-holes who want to be big and bad and scary the cyclist. I personally think they are trying to make up for a shortcoming in a particular anatomical area.

In NYC cops don't care about bikes. People double park in bike lanes all the time and they do nothing!

And bicyclist blow red lights, block crosswalks, and assault pedestrians. No one's perfect. :thumb:

That's awesome. A few years ago, two state troopers in my state were hit and killed by automobiles while making a traffic stop at the side of the interstate. As a result, my state passed a law requiring motorists to change lanes or slow down when they observed a traffic stop; a lot of states have that law now. So it occurs to me that some state troopers may have a really good idea of what it feels like to have a car brush past you at high speed, and consequently may be particularly keen to have this kind of law enforced.

AFAIK, WV, VA, and MD don't, but I change lanes regardless of whether or not it's a legal obligation. It's just curteous.

In some spots, yes.

Of course, there are always some A-holes who want to be big and bad and scary the cyclist. I personally think they are trying to make up for a shortcoming in a particular anatomical area.

Tiny toes. They're angry they can't effeciently ride a bike so they take it out on others.

Great report, DPN, thanks for posting it!

I sent a thank you to the Arkansas State Police. Could you tell us a little more about where it happened and about what time? Surely we want this officer to be encouraged to do more of this!

Sure, I was about 5 miles south of Paragould, AR on US Hwy 49 heading north...


DPN

While this is a great story I am confused. If you are riding on a wide shoulder were the cars riding the stripe or something else?

Yes, the two vehicles in question were either riding the stripe or may have been over the stripe. I could tell that they were much closer than most other vehicles. Most people shift over to the leftmost lane when passing, if possible. There are always idiots who want to make a point and who intentionally "drift" right over the right line after passing you, as if to say "I COULD have run over you..."

While the shoulder is wide, like most shoulders you have debris to dodge, and the further right the worse it gets...

This camera I have on my handlebars is a great tool...I feel funny riding without it now...

DPN

I got a reply from the ASP:

Thank you for letting us hear that an Arkansas State Trooper is being acknowledged for his efforts. I will share your information with the Highway Patrol Division commanders. It’s always important to hear from the citizens this department serves and in this particular instance it is certainly rewarding.

bill sadler – public information officer
one state police plaza drive
little rock, arkansas 72209
(501) 618-8230

Crap. Around here, it would have been the LEOs doing the buzzing!

Me too. I almost need video of the 3' passing enforcement event to believe it.

Last week, caught a LEO rolling through a stop sign until he noticed me in my high visibility yellow from 20 feet away, I grinned at the comedy of the moment, 5 secs later I get an inappropriately-timed retaliatory close pass by the LEO, who was evidently in a big hurry to get another 200 yards down the road for a visit with a friend.

I'm glad there are some LEOs around who actually know some of the laws they are supposedly charged to enforce, and actually make an effort to enforce them.

And bicyclist blow red lights, block crosswalks, and assault pedestrians. No one's perfect. :thumb:


1)I find that most bicyclist will go through a red slowly/carefully since they don't want to get killed. Its the same concept as right on red.

2)I have never seen a bike block a cross walk, yes they might stop in it but generally the cross walk is large enough so it does not matter.

3) I find that most pedestrian ignore bikes and walk out against the light, this has caused some near collisions for me. Somehow it seem that the pedestrian walking against the light is at fault? I have become more aware of this and try to keep a lookout and say excuse me.

There are always idiots who want to make a point and who intentionally "drift" right over the right line after passing you, as if to say "I COULD have run over you..."



I wouldn't be so quick to assume malicious intent here. It seems that many drivers over correct to the right after swinging left to pass a cyclist.

Nice story.

I wouldn't be so quick to assume malicious intent here. It seems that many drivers over correct to the right after swinging left to pass a cyclist.

Nice story.

Believe me, after riding on the roads in the South for 36 years, I can pretty much pick out which vehicles will do the "drift"...not always, but ...

But the thing that scares me more than anything are the people sending and receiving text messages and phone calls...

DPN

Believe me, after riding on the roads in the South for 36 years, I can pretty much pick out which vehicles will do the "drift"...not always, but ...

But the thing that scares me more than anything are the people sending and receiving text messages and phone calls...

DPN

People on cell phones are bad, I can't count the number of times I had to pass a car in the left ( by going to right which is unsafe) only to find them talking on the phone is a haze. The left lane is for passing not talking.

I use a cell phone in my car but always think about driving first and will end a call if in heavy traffic or exiting.

I sent this message to the Arkansas State Police:


Lady and Gentlemen, and to all offices that it concerns;

A bicyclist was traveling on an un-named Arkansas highway and he
observed a patrol officer at work. He posted his experience on a public
bike forum here <http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=555079> ..

As a cyclist in Texas, I am thrilled to hear about what this officer is doing.
This post will accrue a ton of good relations between cyclists and
Arkansas State Police.

Cyclists often feel that police officers succumb to the car-centric
attitudes of our society, and we are concerned that this causes an
unintentional bias against us in how traffic laws are enforced, how
crash investigations are performed and in addressing our concerns when
we complain about illegal motorist behavior.

The actions of this officer that day has gone a long way to repair that
perceived rift. This office will be considered a hero to all cyclists who read that
thread.

This cyclist says thank you! Mr. ChipSeal

I recieved back this reply from Major Braunns:


Mr. ChipSeal, I wanted to introduce myself and take the time to thank you for the
positive comments you made about one of our officers. I am the Highway
Patrol Commander for the western region of Arkansas.

So often we only hear the negative things about our officers. I will
pass your e-mail along to the troop commanders in the western counties
of the state and may be they can identify the officer and we will make
him or her aware of your comments.

Just a note; I am an avid road cyclist and very aware of the dangers
riding on the highways present. A lot of our troopers ride! Arkansas has
passed a good law and we will continue to enforce it.

Thanks, be careful and may God Bless

Major Les Braunns #707
Arkansas State Police
Highway Patrol Commander-Western Region, Little Rock Arkansas
Phone: 501-618-8800 Fax: 501-618-8806

Believe me, after riding on the roads in the South for 36 years, I can pretty much pick out which vehicles will do the "drift"...not always, but ...

But the thing that scares me more than anything are the people sending and receiving text messages and phone calls...

DPN

It's now illegal to text while driving in Utah (maybe just Salt Lake County?), yet two nights ago I was walking across the street at a 4-way stop with a friend and nearly got hit by a driver who rolled through the light and headed straight toward me. She barely looked up from her cell phone in time to see me and brake, but had I not jumped back she would have knocked my shins. As she waved (yes, waved) and drove off, I looked through here rear window and saw that she was continuing to click away at the text message that I so rudely interrupted. ;[. It seems like every day I get another reason to be extra cautious and alert on my bike.

But back on topic: yay for officers who aren't too lazy/indifferent to enforce the law!

I've sent an email of appreciation and thanks to the PIO.

Me too. I almost need video of the 3' passing enforcement event to believe it.


and you won't get it on this thread.

the op, by his own admission, has no idea why the driver was pulled over and assumes it was 3-footing because, in his estimation and his estimation alone, the driver wasn't speeding.

and you won't get it on this thread.

the op, by his own admission, has no idea why the driver was pulled over and assumes it was 3-footing because, in his estimation and his estimation alone, the driver wasn't speeding.


This time I actually saw him point at me as I rode by, and held his hands 3' apart as he was talking to the driver.

I dunno, it sounds probable to me that the cop pulled them over for passing too close. The response from Major Les Braunns of the Arkansas State Police seems to confirm it.


Just a note; I am an avid road cyclist and very aware of the dangers
riding on the highways present. A lot of our troopers ride! Arkansas has
passed a good law and we will continue to enforce it.

and you won't get it on this thread.

the op, by his own admission, has no idea why the driver was pulled over and assumes it was 3-footing because, in his estimation and his estimation alone, the driver wasn't speeding.

I went back and checked the video, and one of the cars stopped was going SLOWER than the car adjacent to it in the left lane, and THAT faster car wasn't pulled over...

DPN

As a former LEO, I can say it's a lot nicer to write a cite than to handle an accident because some idiot wasn't watching out for others, especially cyclists! I had some clown yesterday pass about 6" from me when there was no other traffic and the on-coming lane was completely empty. Everybody else went into the other lane to give me plenty of room except this idiot!

Contact page (http://www.asp.state.ar.us/asp/directory.html) if anyone wants to send a thank-you.

Done!

I was on a short (23) mile ride yesterday, and I noticed an Arkansas State Trooper cruising the same stretch of highway I was riding. It was an out and back ride on a wide shoulder of a 4 lane highway.

On the return leg, a car passes me a bit close, which is normal, right, but this time within seconds a white State Trooper car goes whizzing by, pulls the car over, and since they weren't speeding, I think he was telling them about the 3' law...

About a mile down the road, the same thing. Another close pass, another pursuit, and another driver educated about the 3' law. This time I actually saw him point at me as I rode by, and held his hands 3' apart as he was talking to the driver.

I always record my rides with a small video cam, and have both stops on tape.

I'm a fan, but I was a fan before. I never have any trouble with LEO!!!

New Year's Eve riding over to Tampa I had something almost similar happen to me. As I was crossing the Bay Side Bridge I noticed lights up ahead of me. At first I figured that they were for some informational sign. But as I got closer to separated into their colors.

It was a FHP officer helping a disabled motorist. He got out of his cruiser and motioned for me to stop. At first I thought that he was going to tell me that I couldn't ride the Bay Side Bridge, which would have sucked as I was more then 1/2 across the thing.

He told me that I was allowed on the bridge, but that he wanted me to dismount and walk around him and the other car. Because as he said "They don't see and stop for me, so they're not going to see and stop for you."

The rest of the trip was uneventful.

Kansas does the 3' law one better they require 4'.

That's awesome. A few years ago, two state troopers in my state were hit and killed by automobiles while making a traffic stop at the side of the interstate. As a result, my state passed a law requiring motorists to change lanes or slow down when they observed a traffic stop; a lot of states have that law now. So it occurs to me that some state troopers may have a really good idea of what it feels like to have a car brush past you at high speed, and consequently may be particularly keen to have this kind of law enforced.

Yep, Florida is one of those states, which is what I was hoping to use as I passed the FHP officer and disabled car.

I sent this message to the Arkansas State Police:



I recieved back this reply from Major Braunns:

When I'm out riding if one of the local buses passes too close I'll "drop a dime" and let them know. And by the same token if they give me my three feet and more I'll likewise "drop a dime" and let them know.

Wish some of the cops in Illinois would help out like this, unfortunately they're too busy beating up local taxpayers.

I sent this message to the Arkansas State Police:



I recieved back this reply from Major Braunns:

How shocked were they to get a positive call from out of state?