NYC is now doing a tricky sneaky thing with their red lights. they have shortened their yellow lights and installed red light cameras that automatically issue tickets. the ticket goes to the registered owner not the "driver" which I think eliminates any chance to fight it

wow, wonder how much of an increase in rear-end crashes NYC has seen. If approaching a stale green light on a bike you better watch your back in case of it turning yellow and someone behind you wants to try to run it.

NYC traffic scene is whole other animal, that's why I played the game and hired a NYC traffic attorney

I got pulled over for 60 in a 30 but I was going 30. turns out I was being tailed by a cop at the exact same time a cop in the opposite direction was scanning, their radars read ea other resulting in the 60 mph reading! I had to take a day off of work and drive to the cape over a hundred miles to fight it, the first hearing was with a clerk magistrate with an officer representative, I made my argument and brought documentation explaining how opposing radars can do that. and I closed with: "you think I would drive over a hundred miles in a snow storm if I was the least bit guilty?" they let me go not responsible. oh, I can go all day ;)

Good news for me. I had my hearing this morning at the City of Chicago. I checked in at the hearing room with the city attorney. A few minutes later, they called me over to tell me that the city decided to put this into "non-suit" status which basically means that they were dismissing the charge because don't believe they have a case or that there was something wrong with the original citation. I waited for my turn before the administrative judge, and they formally dismissed it. Took less than 30 minutes altogether. I was shocked to say the least.

I guess it was meant to be. On my way in to the city I hit a huge pothole and gashed my tire. I went to put on my spare tube and that wouldn't inflate. I was running out of time to get downtown in time for my hearing. I had a Uber car coming to get me to the L station to make it the rest of the way in, when a guy with a bike rack on his car stopped and offered me a lift. I made it just in time. Then I forgot I still had my leatherman in my pocket and the security at the administrative court said I should hide it somewhere outside because they can't hold anything. I ran outside and put it under a traffic cone. I was relieved when I came out and it was still there.

That's a crazy @ss story!

His story didn't have anything at all to do with @ss (although to be fair, you didn't use a hyphen)

what a story. i haven't heard what it's like in other cities to receive these.

in NYC these tickets are particularly painful. the cops have been targeting cyclists, specifically thru T intersections and they set up stings as a way to "achieve vision zero." the problem is motorists continually run over pedestrians in the crosswalk, nothing to do with cyclists, and they continually get off the hook even when murdering with their cars. the summons is outrageous - for $180, rolling thru a clear T intersection. $25 is i agree, basically free, as another bikeforums member said.

i have not received one of these, so i'm not complaining b/c of me. but i think it is HIGHLY unfair to my fellow cyclists who do an Idaho stop/roll thru a red light in a T intersection to pay $180 for this. it's completely bogus and doesn't help achieve vision zero at all. i also think it's highly unfair to pedestrians who are injured, maimed and killed on a regular basis.

the NYS governor's inaction is appalling (NYC can't do anything on its own). i would really like to see NYC secede from the state. the bulk of NYS taxes are funded by the city but the state's "hands are tied" when it comes to improving the city (i.e. i'm sure you've read that the U.S. secretary of transportation has to get NJ and NY governors to address transit issues that have been plaguing our city). the politics surrounding it - it's such crap. meanwhile Gov Cuomo has wasted taxpayer dollars to get national funding for a bridge that directly impacts him - the tapanzee bridge, but does not suffer the usage level the city bridges and tunnels do. the entire thing - it's sickening. (ok end rant).

holy ****...you should hate to say it. You should hate to say ******** bull**** that makes you sound like an *******.

This.

haha I used to carry a pocket knife back in college, and when visiting the Gateway Arch in St. Louis one time, I had to run out and hide the knife under a pile of leaves under a park bench before they would let me in (full on airport-style security at the Arch). I came back out and there it was. :P

well done sir

I heard an npr story once about an airport that collected so many pocket knives and razors at TSA that never got picked up, they commisioned a sculptor to make a statue from it all.

I subscribe to their weekly blog. it's amazing what they do find and what so many dumbarsses think they can board with

The TSA Blog

Great story! I got a notice from the city of Chicago that I hadn't paid a parking ticket that I never received. I wrote them about it and got an official response that said something like don't pay anything until we can prove you got the ticket. I saved that letter for many years and never did hear back from them.

I too run red lights, but only if there's really zero remotely threatening traffic. And I'll take my lumps when I get 'em.

I just would have a hard time if it translates to points on my Driver's License. How i ride a bike has zero bearing on how I drive.