got a $100 ticket on my commute today
 

I live in Boulder, CO and on my commute up to the campus this morning I cruised through this intersection that I ride through every day. It's a weird intersection. On the side I was approaching there's a little bike feeder lane, and another lane with a gate far cars. The intersection kind of looks like a roundabout, in the middle there's a station for lifting the gates. and on the other side there's only a yield sign. On the side I was on, there's a stop sign. I didn't stop and got pulled over and issued a $100 ticket. The cops were camped out there waiting for people to run the stop sign. There was a car about 25 meters behind me as I entered the intersection, other than that I was all alone. The cops told me that they're stepping up enforcement of such rules on cyclists. What's really weird about it is that today's the first day of fall break, there's nobody on campus, and on a typical day there are hundreds of cyclists cruising through that intersection. Anyone know if I can get out of this? I want to go to court and argue it, but I'm wondering if that's a waste of time. Anyway watch out if you live in Boulder.

I'd plead innocent--if I had the time to go to court-- and see what the judge says.

Obviously you are not engandering anyone but yourself by running the stop sign. It's a little unusual to ticket the cyclist as opposed to a driver of a 3000 pound steel vehicle.

That's the worst. I usually treat red lights as yield signs as well. During my commute this morning I was about to go through a light but noticed a Boston cop on detail. I decided to play it safe and stopped just ahead of the cross walk. He pointed me out and I thought "here we go", but he actually told me to go on through the intersection, even though he didnt let the cars go. I think the maximum ticket for bikes here is $20, so it's not much of a deternt, but if I were to get a ticket I would just pay it and look out for cops in the future.

Ride on the road as traffic...gotta play by traffic rules.
Now if they'd ticket the wrong way riders with the same entusiasm...
just sayin'

Of course I've been known to treat a stop sign as a yield a time or two.
If I got ticketed, though, I'd figure I deserved it.

Given the fact that you're to obey traffic laws like any other vehicle on the roads, how do you think you can get out of it when you admit you had a stop sign and didn't stop. Your best chance would be if the officer who issued the ticket didn't show up, you can then generally request dismissal. However, I find it disturbing that cyclists think they can ignore stop signs. If you drive, do you think you can ignore stop signs if it's not convenient to stop?

+1, It drives me nuts when other cyclist on my commute run lights. I just cringe because I know that the drivers are thinking, 'damn biker'. If you want to ride on the road follow the rules, you cannot expect drivers to be more accepting when we do not follow the rules allotted to us.

You could a) plead not guilty, and hope the cop does not show up. If he does show up you're out of luck.

You could b) plead guilty but try to get the fine reduced since you were on a bicycle, slowed, looked all ways, will always come to a complete stop in the future yada yada.

Well your first mistake is living in Boulder. JK, I just dont like Boulder at all. Anyway, you request equal rights to the road as any other vehicle. If you do that, you need to follow the rules of the road as well as any other vehicle has to. You broke the law by running a stop sign. Suck it up, pay your fine, and follow the rules next time.

I just think it's excessive. $100 is inappropriate. If I had been two feet over on the sidewalk, I would not have had to stop. To be clear, this road runs through a college campus, the speed limit is very slow, the sidewalks are huge. People ride on them all the time. People are all over the place on bikes. Today, there was no one around though, and the cops were waiting to catch cyclists who were behaving as they normally do. I stop at stop signs/lights all the time on main roads, and usually wave cars (who never know how to act correctly) to go first. The sign I ran is on a downhill, at a three way intersection, which only has one stop sign. The other three junctures have yield signs. I really do think it's absurd to have to come to a complete stop at this sign. I braked and slowed down on the way through. It's obvious to me that the police were at this particular intersection precisely because they knew they would catch an unaware cyclist.

Bogging down the court system to try to evade an entirely-justified traffic citation isn't cool. Pay your dues and move on.

It's a chance we all take. I generally stop for lights but roll signs. If I get nailed, I pay the ticket. Cop's right, you're wrong. Sucks...

Yeah, Boulder is known for this crap. Up here in the Fort, it would be very unlikely, although I've heard of Fort cops giving warnings for riding in "no-bike" zones (like sidewalks downtown).
I think Idaho has the best signal laws for cyclists (i.e. stop sign = yield, red light = stop sign, proof that potatoes raise IQ).
Anyway, it's just a minor misdem, so if you fight it, there's a good chance the cop might not show. One trick I've heard used is that you try to schedule your court date for say, Dec. 26th at 7am, or other day/time that a cop won't show for a small offense. I don't know if Boulder County will let you do that, though.

So does everyone who gets popped for a traffic or parking violation. Rationalize it all you want, you got caught breaking the law and chances are you're going to have to pay for it.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

So let me get this straight... there was a stop sign and you didn't stop? If that is the case, pay the ticket and learn your lesson.

I'm thinking that people aren't realizing these days that since Govt revenues are down, they're looking at every possibility to make $. Cyclists for the most part are an easy target. Most break traffic laws, and pursuit is a no brainer.

Be thankful, some guy in VA just made the news, 4th HOV violation - $1000 dollar fine. Yup.. One THOUSAND dollars.

Sounds like the cops are being wise. They know if they did it during class, that a multitude of problems might occur. But by choosing a time when there are relatively few vehicles, they get full credit for a crackdown at a minimum hassle.

I am of the same opinion as just about everyone else here, Suck it up, take your licks and move on---and ask yourself "What did we learn from this?"

I think $100 for running a stop light is just as excessive as $174 for wearing earplugs while cycling however, if you knowing break the law, there are consequences. I happen to break the laws every day that I ride so I can't be upset if a cop pulls me over and cites me. If I think it is unjust, I will fight the citation. If not, I won't. To the talk about fighting a ticket, if you try to fight it and the cop does not show, does not mean you are off the hook. The judge could be in his favor present or not.

Traffic court isn't the place to fight a ticket that you received for breaking the traffic rules. You acknowledged this, so what are you going to tell the judge? That you are justified because you ride a bike? That it is excessive for bikes?

If you want this changed, take the appropriate action. Challenging a ticket in traffic court is not the proper venue for changing the rules. Go to a city council meeting or whatever is the appropriate venue (state level?) and take it up with the proper authorities. Expect to pay the fine on this violation.

What happens if you don't pay? Are they going to take away your license to ride?

And that wont put out a bad name for cyclists. Cyclist gets ticket and refuses to pay!! Take your narrow mind elsewhere.

Google school of law tells me that it depends on local laws. You could be ruled in contempt of court, you could be hit with additional fines, or you could possibly have a warrant issued for your arrest.

This is completely false....the stop sign runner may be endangering themselves the most...but it is not completely benign. You run a stop sign and miss seeing a coming car, some potential consequences include, driver injures/kills cylclist and has to deal with the psychological trama or driver swerves to avoid cyclist (like swerving to avoid the squirrel) and crashes or hits someone else injurying them.

Consider yourself "lucky" - stop light running on a bike around here in CA runs the tune of $350. I know 2 people who have gotten nailed on their bikes.

Take a chill pill. I just asked a question. I've found those with the narrowest mind have the strongest opinions.