Originally Posted by
Andy_K
I don't get this, but I hear it a lot. If I were in your position, I'd go after that, talking to his superiors until he had to go to night classes to learn the local traffic laws. I mean, I can understand random yahoos in cars thinking that bikes in the road are asking for trouble, it doesn't even surprise me terribly when
the mayor of Toronto says it, but I'd like to think that cops who are supposedly there to "protect and serve" would at least know and understand, maybe even support, the basics rules of the road.
I am not anti-police, though it may come off that way...I'm a law and order guy, but I'm also a pragmatist. The average police officer isn't the best educated, or brightest guy out there. Most really don't know the laws very well, certainly not the subtleties, and we're trusting them with exercising a LOT of authority when they aren't really adequately trained in the laws they're enforcing. If you're expecting most police officers to understand laws relating to cyclists, I think you're going to be disappointed. These aren't lawyers or judges...they're blue collar guys who are looking to get home with as little grief as possible and who have a difficult job dealing with the scum of the earth all day, every day.
The way to handle it is to agree with the officer on scene and, if you aren't satisfied, take action afterwards. Start with contacting a supervisor...it helps to have an attorney. Who it is on the other end of the phone really matters...I get treated far differently today than I did when i was a 20something bartender. Class and place matters. ALWAYS be respectful...don't raise your voice or yell. Be firm, but polite and professional. They hear blow hards going "I know my rights" every day...and they aren't impressed. In most areas there is an assumption of good faith for their actions and they usually have a very strong union...so they're not going to be intimidated by you. Request...don't demand.
Be the squeaky wheel, but don't make noise that gets you removed.