Speeding ticket while 'just riding along'
#26
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I have always hoped to get a speeding ticket on a bicycle. The best I have got was a wave and thumbs up from the officer. I will frame it when it happens.

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I got pulled over in the 90's riding home from a job, about 15 miles each way of in and out of traffic, stopped a mile from home and picked up a six pack, had to go through an affluent neighborhood and on the home stretch down hill I got whoop, whooped. Pulling over the cop got out and started grilling me. He was new guy and hadn't seen me before and being that I was and am a bit of a freakshow, I was polite enough about it, by the time we got to "why did you pull me over officer? And the only response he could come up with was " This is "Snob Hill"(insert actual waspy hamlet that can afford a private police force) and its just not done" and we both cracked up.. I asked him how fast I was going, and it was only 25 in a 30. Opportunity's lost.
Last edited by cb400bill; 06-03-20 at 07:37 PM. Reason: Keep the political comments out of the cycling forums

#28
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... that dropped to a 30mph zone. I'd heard legends of cops giving cyclists tickets there but never met anyone who got one.When riding it I always considered 50mph or slower when hitting that 30mph sign to be a failure, 55 was common and easy and 60 was risky since it required rolling (running) a stop sign near the top to do it; I'm sure faster people then me did better then that.
Thanks folks for the views expressed. I'll look for a good frame shop now.

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#29
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I can neither confirm, nor deny such alleged activities happened in reality... just asking for a friend: what is the best way to challenge a speeding ticket issued to a cyclist? Let's say a ticket was issued and indicated that the offense was captured with radar. There are two primary problems that I can see:
* po po was not stationary (approaching, then circled back and caught up to alleged rider) and radar tickets can only be issued from stationary vehicle (as far as I am aware); and
* radar is known to be wildly inaccurate when used on cyclists.
So, am I correct in suggesting that "if" a person were to be issued a speeding ticket while on a bicycle that the legal challenge is reasonable given the two points above?
This is a pretend scenario and was just in a dream, but I appreciate any views, advice, wisdom from experience.
Cheers
* po po was not stationary (approaching, then circled back and caught up to alleged rider) and radar tickets can only be issued from stationary vehicle (as far as I am aware); and
* radar is known to be wildly inaccurate when used on cyclists.
So, am I correct in suggesting that "if" a person were to be issued a speeding ticket while on a bicycle that the legal challenge is reasonable given the two points above?
This is a pretend scenario and was just in a dream, but I appreciate any views, advice, wisdom from experience.
Cheers

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#30
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#31
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AMGwagon Based on your user name I would speculate that a) you know what E63 refers to and b) you should be happy the ticket was not while you were in the e63, so just pay it
(me b8.5 a4 turbo six speed quattro)

Be well.

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#34
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I'd be most concerned with whether this is going to result in demerit points on your license. Since it isn't actually a driving offense, I don't think it should, but that might be an automated process because this is the exception.
I'm pretty sure the "rights and duties applicable to the driver of any vehicle" would include obeying the speed limit. Your hypotheticalness broke it by a lot, so you can pretty much forget any plausible defenses.
I'm pretty sure the "rights and duties applicable to the driver of any vehicle" would include obeying the speed limit. Your hypotheticalness broke it by a lot, so you can pretty much forget any plausible defenses.

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#37
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Hypothetically, I agree. It's not like 10-15 over. In fact, when in a car and you break the SL by >2x, it becomes a real legal issue.
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Nope. Check the laws. Bicycle or walking/running offenses cannot be counted against points on the drivers license. Just hope the same applies to auto insurance rates.
Hypothetically, I agree. It's not like 10-15 over. In fact, when in a car and you break the SL by >2x, it becomes a real legal issue.
Hypothetically, I agree. It's not like 10-15 over. In fact, when in a car and you break the SL by >2x, it becomes a real legal issue.
I said I thought that's what the law would be. I think the problem might come in when the person doing the data entry doesn't realize it's a bicycle offense. Take it from someone who has to review drivers' records from time to time, weird things can happen at the DMV.
I'd just suggest you check your driving record about 3 months after paying the fine to make sure that no mistakes were made.

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Experience with hand held radar
As I pass I hear a voice saying "seventeen".
Which was probably pretty accurate based on my GPS recordings.
Speed limit on the road is 40 mph posted so no ticket for me that day..
But at least in that one case the handheld radar seemed to pick up a cyclist.

#40
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We have these signs that light up if you're going over the speed limit. I'm always trying them to get them to light up when I'm on the bike. I expect a tail wind and a draft from a truck I could do it!

#41
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Exactly. Once I sprinted as hard as I could at a well known speed trap. The speed limit was 25, as I passed the cop said 32. I stopped, turned around and begged him to give me a ticket. He wouldn't.
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#43
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Nicely done. My best was 63mph when I still lived in CO on the Peak to Peak Hwy just outside of Ward. In the case I mentioned originally, there is a claim of 48 in a 25. But for the life of me I cannot recall seeing a posted speed limit on the descent, except on the entrance to the backside of the hill... which I saw only after the claimed offense. Speed limits are designed for safe motor vehicle travel, and in no case is the capability of a bicycle factored into it. In fact, there were many canyon roads in CO I could easily outpace any of the cars from top to bottom. They simply cannot keep up in anything close to a safe manner. As a cyclist with over 30yr of riding/racing experience I know how to keep it safe and predictable for those around me.
Thanks folks for the views expressed. I'll look for a good frame shop now.
Thanks folks for the views expressed. I'll look for a good frame shop now.
You are an experienced cyclist so you can speed?
Does that go for driving a car? You can’t just claim that you don’t speed in a car after making your silly cycling argument.
Can someone speed and then whine about getting a ticket because they are an experienced driver?

#44
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In the case I mentioned originally, there is a claim of 48 in a 25. But for the life of me I cannot recall seeing a posted speed limit on the descent, except on the entrance to the backside of the hill... which I saw only after the claimed offense. Speed limits are designed for safe motor vehicle travel, and in no case is the capability of a bicycle factored into it.
As inaccurate as radar might possibly be, it's not likely that it registered 48 mph if you were going no faster than 25 mph.
That you, conveniently, "cannot recall seeing a posted speed limit" doesn't mean much to anybody.
People are more likely to believe the claims of the cop over any claims you are making.
I doubt that saying "Speed limits are designed for safe motor vehicle travel" would have much traction as a defense.
Bicycles are hard to see. It's not safer to allow them to travel 48 mph in a place that drivers are expecting other traffic to be going no faster than 25 mph.

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#45
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Damn... this ain't the Haters Ball!
I love internet trolls. Posers gonna pose.
I love internet trolls. Posers gonna pose.
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
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#49
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In CA, for traffic citations you don’t have to go to court, you can request a “Trial by Written Declaration.”
Instructions should be on the back of the ticket, or online.
Write in and request the following:
-proof the officer was trained in the use of that speed measuring device
-logs showing the device was calibrated recently per the manufacturers guidelines
You can add in any other arguments about the device being inaccurate for bicycles, cycling computer/app showing a lower speed for that stretch, etc.
You will have to pay the fine up front when you mail in the request, but if the finding is in your favor payment will be remitted to you.
You have about a 30% chance the officer will NOT respond and it will be dismissed automatically.
Even if the officer responds and the judge rules against you, you can request a Trial de Novo and go to court and request traffic school if you want it expunged. Or just pay it. It’s a free 30+% chance to get it thrown out, and takes 10min.
You can do this for car tickets as well.
*I’m not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
**sorry, thought this thread was in the Northern CA Regional section. Might be worth looking into if you have a similar option in your state though so I’ll leave the post up.
Instructions should be on the back of the ticket, or online.
Write in and request the following:
-proof the officer was trained in the use of that speed measuring device
-logs showing the device was calibrated recently per the manufacturers guidelines
You can add in any other arguments about the device being inaccurate for bicycles, cycling computer/app showing a lower speed for that stretch, etc.
You will have to pay the fine up front when you mail in the request, but if the finding is in your favor payment will be remitted to you.
You have about a 30% chance the officer will NOT respond and it will be dismissed automatically.
Even if the officer responds and the judge rules against you, you can request a Trial de Novo and go to court and request traffic school if you want it expunged. Or just pay it. It’s a free 30+% chance to get it thrown out, and takes 10min.
You can do this for car tickets as well.
*I’m not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
**sorry, thought this thread was in the Northern CA Regional section. Might be worth looking into if you have a similar option in your state though so I’ll leave the post up.
Last edited by Hikebikerun; 06-08-20 at 03:00 PM.

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#50
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[QUOTE=AMGwagon;21514722]Nope. Check the laws. Bicycle or walking/running offenses cannot be counted against points on the drivers license. Just hope the same applies to auto insurance rates.{/QUOTE]
I've heard of people getting arrested for cycling under the influence and losing their drivers license. I do not know how they legally pull of that stunt, but that is one that I would certainly fight in court.
I've heard of people getting arrested for cycling under the influence and losing their drivers license. I do not know how they legally pull of that stunt, but that is one that I would certainly fight in court.
