delfinparis

I received a ticket today on my morning commute after proceeding from a complete stop at an intersection waiting for the "walk" signal. I went across the intersection thinking it would turn to "walk" but forgot about the turn arrow for the cars on the other side. No big deal, I made it across just fine, but I was pulled over.

I explained it was an accident as I had been waiting patiently for the light to turn, but he wrote a ticket and took my driver's license. Here's what is strange - the ticket (which I'm guessing is a moving violation), has the code 9-8-020 (disobey solid red signal). But above that in the "choose the motor vehicle" section there is no option for bicycle, so he just wrote that over the checkboxes. Is this a real moving violation? Should I go to court, or just pay the fine? I have to admit it's pretty funny having your license taken away (I have a completely spotless moving violation record). Is this a legit ticket?

Anyone in Chicago have this experience? I don't mind paying the fine and doing the online traffic school thing - it just seems a little fishy.

uke

Did he literally confiscate your license? Whoa.

JanMM

What does a "walk" signal have to do with riding a bicycle in traffic as a vehicle? You ran a red light?

infecto

Out of curiousity I looked up the traffic violations and it is very possible. After a quick glance I did not see your specific violation but if you look at anything similar like failure to stop or use turn signal you get 15points automatically. According to the point system 15-44 points is a 2 month suspension. There must be a ton of people without licenses because speeding at 11mph over in Illinois is immediately 15points.

I call bull**** on being able to write this for a bicycle and having the ability for it to go on the point system. You do not need a license to drive a bike as it is not a motor vehicle. Totally depends on state laws there but I would call the police department first and ask to speak with an officer about traffic laws and see what they say as well as do the research through the DMV. If its bull**** just go to court and have it thrown out.

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/pu...dsd_dc1913.pdf
https://www.dmv.org/il-illinois/point-system.php

dobber

So cycling infractions should not carry the same weight as autos?

So much for sharing the road.

infecto

Nope seems like you are screwed.

(625 ILCS 5/11‑1502) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑1502)
Sec. 11‑1502. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Code, except as to special regulations in this Article XV and except as to those provisions of this Code which by their nature can have no application.
(Source: P.A. 82‑132.)

infecto

Excuse me, I am not familiar with their state law and have never had the aforementioned problems. Thanks for the constructive reply. Go Internet!

d2create

He took your license? What state is this???
I really wish people would fill out their profiles.

This is exactly why if I ever get pulled over, i'm telling them i don't have my license on me. What the heck do i need it for if I'm riding my bike?

infecto

Read above.

ok_commuter

i think he's in chicago, IL

some counties in tx you're a vagrant if you're out and about w/o any form of ID. not sure if photo ID is required; can never remember which level of martial law we've reached...

d2create

of course i somehow missed the last sentence.

d2create

Riiiiggghhht. Yet all the real vagrants begging for cash at every intersection is just fine.
That's tex-ass for ya.

Hot Potato

Never, ever ride your bike with your drivers license on your person!

which is why Mickey Mouse commits most of the cycle infractions in Chicago.

edit: but seriously dude. If you got a Chicago cop to take that much interest in you, he probably would have called the paddy wagon on you if you pretended not to have a license. Unless you could have convinced him you didn't speak english....

mrlassiter

I am guessing the lack of necessity of having a license would be relevant here. Can't take points off something you needn't even have, but, if you DO have one...?... well,.. um, errr... ?

scorpio516

And the thread title...

infecto

I did not post it but it said earlier that bicycles need to have the same enforcement of registration that automobiles do.

dscheidt

That's standard practice in Illinois for any moving violation. It's a form of surety bond that you'll pay the fine or show up in court. When you're ticketed, your options are basically, surrender your license, get arrested and hauled to the clink, or present an other form of bond. You can give the cop a bunch of cash (which you'll never see again, it's chicago) or a bond card. People like insurance companies and AAA provide them for a small fee.

MMACH 5

Wow. What if you get pulled over again before your court date?

dscheidt

Your ticket is proof a license, so that's okay, but you'll have to post bond. I've not lived in Illinois in a decade. I think it cost me $2 a year (maybe six months) to get a bond card from my insurance company.

amckimmey

To me this doesn't even make sense at all. It could just be that I don't understand it.

There is no reason for taking your license at all. A 12 year old boy could do the same thing.

I have heard cops in IL can't take your license if it is damaged actually, the funny thing is they damage your license there first time you get a ticket stapling your ticket to the license, I have never had my drivers license take after my first ticket(yes I have had a few, I hate driving)

I carry a printed off card with me. That was actually mad by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
You can print it off HERE. I just printed it off front & back on a peace of paper & laminated it.

It's always good to read up as best as you can. I don't really know what more to say. I think he is in the wrong, but I don't know.

https://www.bikelib.org/

huhenio

my green card should be sufficient id then ...

ItsJustMe

Yeah, I don't think I'd present my driver's license. I rarely have it when I'm on the bike anyway. If I were in Illinois where they'd take it, I certainly "wouldn't have it on me" if pulled over. I don't think you're required to have a driver's license to operate a bicycle anywhere, and a US citizen is certainly not required to carry ID, though you are required to identify yourself to a LEO if asked.

cooker

The issue of losing points is a complex one.

People should face consequences for traffic violations. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers, so if a cyclist runs a red light (as in this case) they should have the same punishment as a driver. So if you don't lose points, that's unfair application of the law, and drivers could demand that they not lose points either.

On the other hand if a cyclist doesn't have a driver's license, they can't lose points, so that's unfair to you.

infecto

The biggest question here is were you on a sidewalk/crosswalk. I see you mentioned the walk sign. If you were on a crosswalk then legally he cannot write a ticket for a moving violation since you are considered a pedestrian.

A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

Fairmont

There are quite a few states that take your license, and then copy of your ticket is your license until you pay the fine. If the time period for payment expires without you paying, you're then without a license altogether.

When I lived in Utah that's what they did. You get a speeding ticket and they simply take it. After you pay the fine they mail it back to you. Kind of embarassing to have to use your copy of the ticket when you have to show I.D.