Tapeworm21

So I was commuting to work a couple weeks back. My commute involvED going through UC Berkeley campus. An officer of the campus law told me to walk my bike, I weaved around him, he called his buddy on a motorcycle... within seconds I'm in handcuffs. I know, I know... you can't outrun Motorola.

Ok, technically, I evaded police. I understand that. The cop was an ass to me, I understand why.... I totally brushed him off when he told me to walk my bike. I told him where I worked and all of a sudden we were buddy/buddy.... my employer actually works with the local police. So, he let me off easy with a "Earphones while biking" ticket. I was stoked. That sounds like a pretty easy ticket to pay.

I got the bill today in the mail. Um.... $257 for riding my bike with earphones. I've actually gotten a jay-walking ticket before and had to pay $60 (Maximum $120). I felt like THAT was excessive for jay-walking. But $257 for earphones?! I could have bought that 80GB Zune I've had my eye on for that. Know what the worst part is?! I was listening to TALK RADIO during the arrest!!!!! It wasn't music blasting in my ear, just good old fashioned Opie and Anthony. A quick laugh before I start my day.

Starting January 17... I'm going to have a warrant. WEEEEEeeeeee!

UmneyDurak

So you are *****ing about not being arrested for evading the police?
Where did he tell you to walk your bike? During day hours you can't ride your bike beyond certain points on campus, mainly in upper sproul and that corridor that leads to it and goes between two libraries. There are big signs, helps to actually read them. You can avoid those places by riding through east side or west side of campus.

Sparky005s

You want to buy a Zune??

Tapeworm21

I'm all about Bancroft now. I'm not complaining about being ticketed... and accept responsibility for all I done. Forgive me father, for I have sinned. But c'mon.... $257 for riding with earphones? That's insane.

And I own a 30gb zune. Love it. I just want a bigger one.

Cyclist0383

You should count yourself lucky you weren't arrested for evading the police. When cops tell you to do something small and stupid it's best to do it as they have massive power over you. If you would have simply walked for a few hundred meters none of this would have happened. Choose your battles wisely next time.

linux_author

- ah, life in the People's Republik of Kalifornia!

- do 100mph+ down here on the Interstate in your Corvette and you'll get a $100 fine...

- but $275 for a bicycling ticket for riding with earphones? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

- I suppose that people also can't use cellphones while driving or bicycling either in Berzerkely?

- thanks for making my day... i'll pass this on to my riding buddies on today's ride!

p.s. i wouldn't blow off the ticket though... and next time, tape a transistor radio to the handlebars?

RonH

I thought you knew that only COMPLETE IDIOTS ride with earphones. Now you have 257 reasons to remember that in the future.

Now we all know why that place is called Californication. You got screwed!!

DataJunkie

<--idiot

I would fight the ticket. If I lost then arrange a payment plan. Why not drag out the pain as long as possible?

maddyfish

^^^^^^^^ He's right fight it. Then claim to be a poor student. Cry if you are a woman, maybe if you are a man as well.

HelluvaStella

I agree with RonH. You're an idiot Tapeworm. STFU

n4zou

Earphones blocking your hearing is bad enough but having video on your handlebars would be pure stupidity.
Of which it appears you have an ample supply of.

tjspiel

If you fight a ticket in Minneapolis (for example) you can often get a reduced fine just by speaking to an officer of the court. They don't care what your story is but if your record is relatively clean they have some options they can give you. They save money by keeping it out of the courts.

In your case it may be risky if the officers who stopped you entered all the notes into their system. I don't know what parameters these "officers of the court" operate under but if I were one of them I'd figure you'd lose bad if you insisted on taking this before a judge so I probably not be inclined to offer you much, if anything. In some places I think a judge can make you pay court fees if they don't rule in your favor.

When it comes down to it, you got a stiff fine by virtue of doing something boneheaded. It's not about the earphones or what you were listening to. Just getting off your bike when the cop asked you to would have kept you out of this situation.

UmneyDurak

It's a bit, well more then a bit, more then that.
Actually thats California wide, at least without hands free set, and a good thing as far as I am concerned. Oh how cute you misspelled all the names on purpose. So have you guys figured out the whole voting thing yet down there in Florida (sorry couldn't come up with cute miss spelling)?

JeffS

Do you think it might be time to rethink your judgment?

capejohn

What is the fine for riding a bike and being deaf? It must be outragious.

evblazer

That sounds like a great combination. Maybe you can put that on your annual performance review.

Sir Bikesalot

$257 is ridiculously high. I would show up and try to get it reduced; that often works. Just don't cop an attitude with the judge. Also, I've heard good things about ticketassassin.com.

But bottom line is you did something dumb and you'll have to pay for it (but hopefully not $257!).

wb647

I have difficulty with being charged with a crime that you didn't commit. Its one thing to be cited for a lesser offense that you DID do and have the more heinous crime waived, but to pull a random law that never entered the situation out of mid air and charge you with it is a bit weird. The courts may take issue with that. I'd fight it.

JusticeZero

He said he was listening to talk radio on his earphones, so he wasn't charged with something he wasn't doing.
Honestly, i'd just go to court to plea that you're guilty, but broke, and pay whatever they come up with for you to pay or do then. That is, assuming you ARE broke; if you have the money, cough it up. No sense in complaining that police are only supposed to catch -other people- that are breaking the law or anything like that.

mandovoodoo

If there's no evidence of the crime charged, and you can show that, then you should be able to get out of the fine.

That some other crime wasn't charged doesn't enter into things, does it?

tjspiel

The cop witnessed him listening to the radio, that's probably enough.

The fact that he wasn't charged for the other crime doesn't mean that it won't come out in court that he took off when the cop asked him to stop. That may make the judge less inclined to give the OP a break on the crime that he was charged for.

On the one hand $257 seems like a lot, but on the other hand if a fine is so insignificant that doesn't make you think twice about committing the same crime again then there isn't much point to the fine, is there?

syn0n

So you're going to eventually end up going to jail anyway. That seems intelligent.

Cyclaholic

Dude, you should like totally fight the man! take it to court and tell that judge where he can stick his $257 ticket, yeah! that'll teach him not to mess with you!...you'll beat this, guaran-f'ing-teed dude, no sweat.

...and then get back here and tell us how it went for ya. We'll be backing you up 110%...

craigdurkee

i cant get the fact your looking at a zune**********??

mike

Hey, man, you are in California. You are lucky the police didn't taser you, beat you, and THEN give you a ticket. I am guessing you are a white dude or you would probably be in jail right now too.

Wasn't Berkeley the same university where the student got the living hell quadruple tasered into him by police earlier this year because he forgot his ID at the library? Use your head, dude.