Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 971
Likes: 401
From: Northern CA
Bikes: Cannondale tandems: '92 Road, '97 Mtn. Mongoose 10.9 Ti, Kelly Deluxe, Tommaso Chorus, Cdale MT2000, Schwinn Deluxe Cruiser, Torker Unicycle, among others.
That was really smart of him/her to do.
Some states distinguish between bicycle and motor vehicle infractions (at least I believe they used to, last time I had this discussion). This is key because if you don't make the distinction, your car insurance rate can go up! Getting a ticket on a bike can go on your driving record, which to me is absurd! Does jaywalking go on your driving record? Does a speeding ticket go on an airline pilot's flight record? Seems to me these things should stay separate.
I used to run red lights on my bike. I got a ticket for doing so (at night in a completely deserted intersection) and thought about it. That was college days and I was young. Now I don't run red lights. But I roll through stop signs all the time on my bike. This doesn't make me a bad driver. I'm a pretty good driver - not perfect and always trying to improve. I've never gotten a moving violation in 24 years of driving. I realize driving a car entails a large amount of responsibility. It also requires a driver's license. Riding a bicycle does not, so why should an infraction on a bicycle go on my driver's record? It shouldn't!
The "rolling stopsigns" debate rages on. But simply put, a bike is not a car in so many ways. The two are different and should be treated differently. But this is not saying riding a bicycle does not require responsibility on the part of the rider. But ultimately, it's far less likely to injure others while riding a bike like an idiot! Sure, I'll pay the fine of breaking a traffic law while RIDING my bike, but don't put it on my DRIVING record.
PS A friend of mine got a ticket for doing almost 60mph on his bike. He went to court to fight it, 'cause he was in High School at the time and he knew his mom would kill him. So the judge asked what sort of car a "Guerciotti" was (totally mispronounced by the judge). When my friend responded by saying, "It's my bicycle," the judge said to get out of his courtroom and stop wasting his time! Case dismissed! So, be sure to have the officer mark "bicycle" under "vehicle."