Originally Posted by
sggoodri
In NC, the driver handbook specifically states that a bicyclist has the right to a full lane, and there is no bicycle specific law requiring cyclists to stay right. However, that didn't stop a local cop from pulling me over for cycling in the center of a narrow lane on a 35mph 4-lane street.
As annoyed as I was, I was careful not to show it. The cop was not being belligerent; he was just uninformed and thought what I was doing was dangerous. I listened to him politely and very gently revealed my credentials as a cycling instructor and safety advocate, my relationship with his superiors, etc. and in less than a minute into our conversation, he realized that I knew more about the subject than he. I left the scene cycling the same way I had started.
Yeah, my #1 rule when dealing with a cop is not to be a d**k, even if they're wrong. If they see you're respecting them they are often willing to listen and are reasonable. This should basically apply to dealing with anyone from a supermarket cashier to a clerk at the DMV. You are a lot more likely to get things done to your satisfaction this way.