Originally Posted by redfooj
yes, i realize that it was in their jurisdiction and it was lawful for them to ticket me.. im not crying foul about the legality of the ordeal.. all im saying is that,
considering the circumstances, the issuance of the ticket (rather than a warning) was
unreasonable.
tell me you've never jaywalked, or driven 5mph over on the freeway.
moreover, i've never seen anybody get a ticket on a bicycle... less get pulled over.
my main point was to get people's experiences for insight into the appellate process. (more/less leniency from judge... which record ticket will affect... normal offense or reduced... etc)
from what i understand, it's a normal traffic citation... so im looking at a ~250$ fine
Law enforcment officers are trained to use their best judgment when doing their job. Sounds like they did just that. But with that said they are not perfect or infallable by any means.
I've never been issued a ticket while riding my bike, but I've never broken any laws while riding it either. I am how ever by no means perfect. Yes, I've jay walked a time or 2 and even driven over the speed limit.
I do think how ever $250 is a little steep for running a red light. Are you sure that is all you were cited for? I'd take a closer look at the ticket if I were you. You may want to fight it in court. I think if the officers do not show up the judge throws it out and you don't pay the fine, but don't quote me on that.
If you do fight it keep some things in mind though. All state patrol cars across the nation ar enow equipped with camers that record both audio & video you may have been recorded running the light & certainly were recorded when the officers pulled you over.
Because you were recorded & because of the means in which a traffic light functions the "defective traffic light" or the traffic light sensor did not detect me defense will probably not work. Traffic lights detect traffic at an intersection using differant methods. Some of those include motion sensors, weight sensors, metal detection, camera, counters & timers. Most have at least 2 of these to operate the traffic light. If one is not needed the other kicks in or serves as a back up if one fails.
If you fight it in court the best you may be able to hope for is a reduction in the fine.
If cyclists want to be considered legal vehicles of the road we need to obey the same traffic laws. Where I live the only place a cyclist can not legally ride is on any highway or interstate that has a posted minimum speed limit. Other wise a cyclist can legally ride on any public road way. The minimum posted limit was set up to keep farm equipment off the interstates because of the safety risks to motorists travelling at higher speeds then a large tractor could move at. It had nothing to do with cyclists.
I'm pretty sure the speed limit laws are the same in your area. So your comment about a cyclist being able to average 25 mph is a little off base. Most areas I've been do not have minimum posted limits on road ways that have a maximum speed limit of less then 65 mph. For example I have never seen any minimum speed limit posted on a highway that has a max. limit of 55 mph. I have seen several areas that have a max. speed of 65 mph and no minimum speed limit. Generally the max. limit and the minimum limit go hand in hand.