mkfmedic

So I was out riding yesterday and as I was turning left, at a four-way stop, I was pulled over for rolling the stop sign. Jeesh.

My only saving grace, is that instead of carrying my DL, I carry my fire department ID in the hopes that in a catastrophic wreck, responding EMS will take every measure to get me to the right places for treatment.... not that they wouldn't otherwise.

As the cop rolls up on me, he begins to chew me out inquiring if my bicycle is "licensed," and if I am aware that I rolled a stop sign. Honesty is the best policy, so I inform him that I am aware that I rolled the stop-sign (Although there were no other cars at the intersection), and I was not aware that a road bike "Must Be" licensed. Apparantley they are not. By rolling, I mean I transitioned to the left-hand turn lane and slowed as much I as could, without unclipping (I can't balance on my wheels yet).

Anyway, to keep the story short, the officer asks for my ID, which I produce, and he scuffs at me and after a little small talk, tells me to be more careful and to be on my way. I don't argue. I realize that I was given a little "Professional Courtesy," the first that I have ever needed, but the experience lead me to wonder, how often do folks riding their road bikes get pulled over?

Regards,

Mike

80vette

Cops will be Cops.

LanceFanBoy

what a crock of *****, sounds like an "end of the month" boredom stop to me.

merlinextraligh

In Ponte Vedra, lycra clad riders are ticketed with some frequency, for minor infringements. Mom, Dad and kids on beach crusiers pretty much ride with impunity.

bdcheung

People at Hains Point get pulled over all the time for running two right-hand stop signs. Park Police with nothing better to do.

liquidsoul

I wonder if that cop pulls over cars for rolling a stop

What a jack***

If cars were around, I would give the cop the benefit of the doubt. Sheesh...

timmyquest

So wait, you're telling me that EMS is only giving...what...90% when the come to save me?

And in all fairness, i think police should pull you over for rolling a stop sign. Cyclists ***** and moan all the time about how people in cars do not respect a cyclists right to the road, yet when you get treated like you belong on the road you cry foul. Seems a bit odd to me.

**EDIT**

I roll stop signs frequently

patentcad

Police officers have been threatening the notorious traffic light poaching Nyack Ride with 'traffic tickets' for 20 years. No summons has ever been issued.

The classic example of this was about 12-13 years ago when an angry River Vale NJ cop pulls the entire ride over, telling us that a Lexus driver had actually called '911' to complain about the ride hogging the road (that's a valuable use of essential emergency services @ 9AM on a Sunday morning right there). He approaches Maria, my pal John's wife, and asks her for her driver's license. She replies in her Czeck accent 'Are you kidding me officer, I don't carry a driver's license when I'm riding my bicycle.' The next guy told him the same. We all shrugged. He then realized he'd be spending the day processing this self-inflicted cluster-****, gave us the requisite lecture and let us go.

That's how it always goes. ALWAYS. Trust me on this one.

P.S. The ride was 'banned' from River Vale, we now go through Old Tappan : ).

Scorer75

No, you get 100%, the OP as a MOS (Member of Service) gets 110%

timmyquest

So instead of kind of being saved he's going to be saved?

cslone

I was heading through a small town the other day on a ride, I think 2 cops per shift, if something's not going on in the county. Brand new paved roads, building blocking the wind, etc. I was smoothly cruising at 32mph when the local PD pulled next to me and threatened me with a ticket. I shrugged and said, "Well, I broke the law, give it to me if you must." He laughed, said, "Well, you're not being a jerk, so be on your merry way." I thanked him and finished up the ride.

mkfmedic

I would also give the cop the benifit of the doubt if there were cars at the intersection. For all intents and purposes, I still came pretty close to a full stop. As someone else mentioned, if I were a car, I'm not sure I would have been moving enough to qualify for a rolling stop.

During my ride down PCH, prior to the stop, I was buzzed a couple of times with "Big Rigs" with their trailer wheels actually crossing into the bike lane. Where were Moto Officers then?

I don't want to "Cry Foul," as I stated previously, I have no problem with police officers enforcing the laws and I treat them with the upmost of respect. I am MORE curious as to the frequency of traffic stops for members of the forums.

However, let me state that I don't want to be that guy that gives road bicyclists a bad name. In my line of work, I interact with a lot of cops on a fairly regular basis, so I'm planning on asking them some questions when I see them. Anyone here required to "License" their bike(s)?

grahny

In philly, I just draft the cops as THEY roll through the stop signs.

cslone

Correct. I never try and save anyone until I find out they are a PD or FD member. Then I really try.

making

What if you got enough tickets to lose your drivers license? You dont need one for a bike. What then, huh officer?

dcbikeguy

ravenmore

A buddy and I rolled a stop sign about a year ago. A few moments later a guy with a PD tee shirt pulls up next us and proceeds to cuss us out and wave his badge at us - all the while his car is getting threateningly close. His face was beet red. He was going positively mental. We just grabbed a little brake and he drove off. It was really weird.

The team I'm on now (wasn't on it at the time) had the entire team ride pulled over and ticketed once when they rolled a stop sign.

mkfmedic

Yes, 110% was more of my thought. Also for those who might have some experience with EMS, I would hope that my ID would insure the most experienced medics starting the IV lines, instead of the Paramedic Intern, extra efforts to smoothly and gently contact my wife, or possibly fighting the base hospital for transport to the "Better" trauma hospital.... and yes there are BIG differences in the hospitals of Orange and L.A. County.

On another note, "Smoothly cruising at 32 mph" WOW!

^*^BATMAN^*^

So does that mean that you can get enough tickets on your bike, so that you would loose your DL?

bonechilling

Avalanche325

Bad news. If you have a license, an infraction on a bike counts as a moving violation. You will lose your license.

I carry two licenses. If I ever get stopped here, they will get my foreign license.

Cdy291

Theres nothing wrong with rolling a stop sign. How fast were you going through, 7mph? It was probably obvious from 100 ft away that nothing was coming. You are not enclosed in a sound prof cabin and you have no engine to keep you from being able to here things around you. There are even some red lights at none busy intersections that I am forced to run if there isn't a car around me because I'm not heavy enough to trigger the light. Here's the big one. If they are going to expect us to follow all laws no matter what why can't they make a red light that will actually work for us. Until they do that and until we a given a equal rights on the road I will continue to follow my own rules of the road, which are very sensible.

patentcad

On the Nyack Ride, if the cops asked one of the participants what a 'yellow' light means, he would respond:

'That's a mid-ride sprint, right?'

dipy911

But still illegal.

urbanknight

I got stopped for rolling a stop once. I also took the honesty approach and the cop made a point to mention that he noticed us slowing and looking both ways before proceeding. He then let us off with a warning. Not sure if him realizing that we were 13-15 years old helped.

Also had a cop passing me on a canyon descent inform me over the loud speaker that I was almost at the speed limit.