Originally Posted by
Squeeze
So what would happen if a cop pulled you over (assuming he could catch you - where I live there are so many trails and I know all the cut-throughs in the neighborhoods that a cop in a car wouldn't stand a chance) and you didn't have ID (it's perfectly legal not to have any) and used your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
...
Does the cop write a ticket as if the guy was driving a car, and does the cyclist then get points on his motor vehicle drivers license ...
I think you have a number of good points and I for one am just about persuaded. Like you, while driving I stop at all stop signs regardless, and generally observe the letter of the law where it is prudent.
You asked a couple of questions (excerpted above) that I've seen before.
The police do have the authority (unfortunate in my opinion) to demand to know your identity, even though as you said you are not required to carry a driver's license or state ID. Refusing on Fifth Amendment grounds has been tested a few times and ultimately doesn't hold up. The courts don't believe that simply giving your name is potentially incriminating.
Generally speaking an infraction while cycling does not appear on your driving record, nor impact your auto insurance rates. That potentially depends on the jurisdiction however, and conceivably an insurance company's risk evaluation could be influenced by infractions while cycling if they somehow got wind of it. But my understanding is that, so far, that doesn't happen.