ieshera

1. Wasn't asking whether or not I should have gotten stopped. I clearly wasn't arguing that, I was arguing that she didn't need my license since I didn't want her to use my license number.

2. Some of you guys seem to think we are splitting lanes while going like 100 MPH...nope. Usually between classes, traffic on the road is at a straight standstill because everyone is in the crosswalk. Riding on the sidewalk is a nightmare and 10x more dangerous for both cyclist and pedestrians. We usually bike between stationary vehicles or bike on the opposite side of the road when it's empty and move onto the yellow lines if someone is coming. There are no bike lanes or anything of that sort so that's not an option. We just roll through to the front where the cross walk or stop sign is and pass when there is a gap big enough for us to fit which happens more often than it would for a car since we don't need that much room to pass.

Of course I'm not justifying its legality but it seems that for some of you it has been a while from since they've been on a big University campus.

starman99

[QUOTE=As for me personally, i carry a photo ID of my drivers license in a little velcro thingy with some cash.
[/QUOTE]

This what I do. I have a picture of my DL on my cell phone.

I would not be lying if I told the officer my wallet with my driver's license is at home sitting on the kitchen counter. Now if push came to shove and it was either show a driver's license or take a trip to the station, I would miraculously remember I have a photo of my DL on my cell. (While the whole time being courteous and respectful.)

Cyclist01012

Thank you , you kept me from saying it..

Maelochs

Riding in the wrong lane going the wrong way on A Public Road ... yeah, I cannot see why anyone would object to such an obviously safe maneuver.

I have ridden in traffic for decades and I understand lane-splitting, especially at stoplights. I know in some places it is legal, to lessen congestion. I do it rarely nowadays because it can be risky, but if a line of cars is totally stopped, I might creep past. otherwise i wait my turn--I play by the rules because it is the only way I can expect anyone else to (and my only defense when they don't.)

But dude ... riding the wrong way, head-on into traffic on the wrong side of the road? I'd do a citizen's arrest if i saw that. That's just beyond stupid. If traffic comes head-on,. you are trying to straddle a yellow line with cars passing in opposite directions on both sides---What could Possibly go wrong?

If that's what you were doing when you got stopped ... good for the cop.

As for not having your DL#, if she has your name she has every bit of info about you, going back to the hospital where you were born and your grandmothers' maiden names.

Not sure what era you live in on your "big University campus" but here in the workaday world they've developed this device called "The Computer" and "computers" link together in this network called "The Internet" wherein all information is readily available, especially to government officials.

Please. don't mess with LEOs. Learn the laws, learn your rights, and if you aren't going to fight, just wise up and comply with the law.

And PLEASE, don't ride like a complete idiot. You are a member of the cycling community--have some respect for the rest of us and don't represent us as clowns, please.

You want to die, drink yourself to death at a frat initiation. Don't do it on a bike on the road ... and don't ride like an idiot. Please.

Gresp15C

I live near UW-Madison, have taught there, my spouse works there, and it's practically impossible to get across town without going through the campus area.

Generally speaking, the police don't enforce on cyclists unless they've received multiple complaints, or there have been multiple accidents, in an area. So it strikes me as unlikely that what you're doing is widely considered to be safe or courteous. The police tend to be pretty laissez faire about the college kids unless things really get out of hand.

I suspect the warning just means "next time you get a ticket," and it won't affect your insurance, since you already pay a premium rate based on your age group.

JonnyHK 

It is a valid licence. If they want extra verification of my ID then they can look at my passport.

Key point is this - they can't screw with my driving record since they can't attach anything to it.

I've used this in Australia. I'm lived outside AUS for almost 10 years and I am a permanent resident of another country. When I got pulled over in AUS when I was visiting family I showed the cop a valid licence from my country of residence. He wasn't happy about it and went fishing for a local licence but I'm a permanent resident overseas, the licence I produced was valid to use, and I'd rented the car using that licence - so that's what he got. Ignoring the fact that he had pulled me over for a dubious reason, I got a minor 'telling off' and was sent on my way. Even if he had given me a legit ticket I'd have only been liable to pay the fine and not deal with any demerit points or insurance problems.

avidone1

Oh my. Yes, totally death wish. Perhaps the officer in question was doing the OP a favor. Too bad the situation devolved into a civil rights case, rather than an exercise in safety

scott967

The only bike ticket I have ever gotten was at Madison. There was a short (less than a block) one way street over by the Stock Pavilion (if that's still there?) That was very convenient to get into campus from University Ave. Should have used the sidewalk, my bad.

scott s.
.

PA6963CM

You scoff at the rules and now you appeal to the rules? That you ran into a LEO with as little respect for the rules as yourself should be a lesson to you. What goes around...

bmthom.gis

Next time, just hand them your Student ID. Don't even bring your DL, unless you are making a beer stop later. You certainly do not need a license to ride a bike in MD.

1983

Then what they do is use your identifying information to look up your license # on their blueforce tracker via a state database query, and report any infractions with said number if necessary. This is at the discretion of the cop, of course. By carrying information other than a driver's license (if you have one at all, nothing wrong with not possessing a dl if you are car free), the most you will do is inconvenience the officer just enough that they might not be willing to look the info up.

Of course, this could all be avoided by simply following rules, or at least don't be so brazen within sight of an officer.

JasonInk

I guess, every person on a bike should at least be aware of driving regulations. As for me, I am learning them online with the help of some tests on www.education4drivers.com It is very important not only for me, but for people around as well. But not everyone wants to do it, so maybe license is required...

ph0rk

A traffic stop isn't the time to explain to the cop that you are right and they are wrong. You can try to do it then, but you might spend the entire day and evening with your new friends.

If you refuse to carry ID, they can detain you if they don't buy your verbal identification. And, well, even if they're in the wrong, your butt is going in the squad car, isn't it?

I always carry ID and a credit card. I want to be sure I can get a pint at any pub I happen by.

Leebo

In some place it is legal. Like CA I think.

Maelochs

Quote Originally Posted by EastCoastDHer :"Well, looks like your lack of discipline and maturity exhibited by splitting lanes finally paid off."
OP said he would ride down the yellow line if normal lane-splitting was inconvenient. I don't believe that is legal in Any state, and probably incurs a forced psychological examination in some state.

rydabent

The subject of this thread comes up at least two or three times a year on the forum. The answer is, as far as anyone knows, NO state requires you to have a drivers license on your person while riding a bike!!!

I never have carried my DL when I ride. Im 77, pretty much obey all traffic laws, and have never been pulled over by the police. But what I do have is a dog tag on the bike with my name, phone number and blood type. Looking at it logically, if I were stopped, and a cop asked my name, and wanted my DL for ID and I told him I dont have it, but could show him the dog tag, I dont think he would have a problem with that. Simply put since a DL is NOT required, and I would not have one, what else could the police do?

rekmeyata

A driver's license to ride a bike on the road should not be required, a state ID however should be so in case something happens to you they know who you are, or if you deserve a ticket then they have an ID to place that ticket on. I could care less about people's perceived ideas of freedom, having at least an official ID card has nothing to do with your freedom; the cops have the right to know who you are, just as you have the right to know who they are.

Road Fan

I remember that from 2nd grade - that the "Problem Card" would remain on my permanent record all my life.

Road Fan

I'm not sure a drivers' license should be required, but I do believe everyone who's going to ride a bike should, at least above some age, have been educated in the pertinent laws and restrictions, and why they make some sense. Some of us will self-educate, but not all.

And those kids should stay off my lawn, too.

Maelochs

In point of fact the law by and large disagrees with you.

It varies some from state to state, but in most states you have to give A name--it is only a crime to give a fake name if you are a wanted criminal.

If a cop stops me to write me a ticket and I refuse to sign he can arrest me. if I give a fake name he can arrest me the next time he sees me---which will likely be eventually since I ride withing 50 miles of my home most of the time, and there are only so many roads. The arrest/fines I would face for giving a fake name would far outweigh the short-term benefit of not getting a ticket in my name on the sport. But, I could choose to be a criminal if it suited me--in which case I am not interested in the law and the discussion becomes moot.

The idea here is very much about personal freedom--the cop has no right and no need to know my name unless s/he has serious reason that I am a criminal. Otherwise, the cops have nothing to do with me. Cops are our employees and have zero power over us unless we break the law. We help LEOs by not breaking the law---that is the Only help we are required to give.

Most of us will gladly assist LEOs simply because they are helping us and it makes sense in the most selfish way. On the other hand, Lots of LEOs forget that they have no power whatsoever over law-abiding citizens, and act as they are The Law, not the servants of the law.

If I die on the road and it takes the cops a couple days to find my wife and tell her, that is fine--I am within my rights to not carry ID and I accept the risk before I go riding. Otherwise the cop is just another city employee doing a job not directly related to me--would you say the garbage collectors and road workers have a "right" to know my name?

I do Not have a problem with LEOs and I help them in any way I can because to me, that is part of being a good citizen, but it is also not my right to tell others how to be good citizens. So long as others do not break the law, they are equally free.

rekmeyata

^^ I don't care if the law agrees or disagrees with me, it's just my opinion. I think, again just an opinion which really I shouldn't have to say that since the matter of the discussion is all about our opinion but I realize some people just can't be logical enough to understand that, anywho, if a person is operating any type of moving vehicle on public roads should have some sort of ID on them, in fact I will go as far to say that if you're even walking in public you should have some form of ID. Again, JUST AN OPINION. There is no issue about rights here at all, what right is being taken from you for carrying an ID? That's just silly. Unless you're participating in illegal activity and wish to get away with it then I guess your "claimed" rights may be an issue. Your rights are pertaining to illegal search and seizure, illegal arrests etc, then for those circumstances you're protected by the Bill of Rights which again has nothing to do with whether or not you carry an ID. In fact carrying an ID could protect you if the police stop you to question you because you might look like someone that just robbed a bank and killed a security guard.

And besides if you're so concerned about not wanting to have an ID then your rights are removed from you from voting and returning items to a store.

So you're right in regards to the law not requiring people to have ID but in my opinion again, I disagree with the law and you.

Do You Have to Carry ID With You at All Times? - Law and Daily Life I posted this site not because it agrees with me because it doesn't but there is some interesting information there about the side effects of not having any ID.

psy

This is the problem with police, they get away with just about anything with more or less consent from people. The proper quote would be:

" you are well within you're rights to resist identifying yourself, and an officer that harasses you about the matter could be in danger of losing his/ her job."

Dave Cutter

I hadn't realized there IS a problem with the police! Are you posting about American police.... or are you referring to many of the other police around the world. I think I might understand if you are in many of the OTHER nations around the world. But Americas police are really VERY disciplined and properly behaved. By GLOBAL and HISTORICAL standards... American police are really top notch.

Oh. I hadn't realized you are a lawyer. What states do you practice in?

I know full well... it's very popular and trendy to bash police in the current political environment. But bending truth and facts to be "popular" is just slightly to juvenal for me. And certainly not suitable for a general cycling forum IMHO.

Dave Cutter

Actually you do have ID (I am assuming) you just don't have it on your person. And no American is required to carry "papers" (and we don't have check points, as a rule, ether). But if you fit the description of someone the police was in pursue of... or suspected of being involved in crimes, or if the police was determined to charge you for some crime you committed you might be slightly inconvenienced while you produce you identification.

I don't worry about it myself. I don't carry any actual ID while cycling. And I really don't think it will likely ever be a problem.

Maelochs

By and large this is true. However, we have seen lots of video of cops shooting people for no reason, an amateur wanabe “deputy” with no training shooting a person because he got excited and didn’t know his pistol wasn’t a taser, and we saw his friend, the sheriff, lie to get him off ... sheriff lost his job, guy is up for murder ... and plenty of convictions for various types of corruption, and in Florida there was a cop who pulled over young ladies and ***** them ... And I have personally seen cops lie on the stand to protect themselves after conducting an illegal search ...

So sure, cops in China can throw someone in jail for three or four years just because, no due process whatsoever ... cops in Russia can make the law whatever they want, and if you aren’t better armed, there is nothing you can do ... in Somalia there are no cops. We as Americans are incredibly lucky with our police force as well as in about all other things.

Doesn’t mean there aren’t bad cops and certainly doesn’t mean bad cops shouldn’t be held to the same standard as any other American.

Pretty much been a thing to do (bashing cops) for as long as I have been alive---nothing to do with “the current political environment.” it has more to do with cops breaking the law, something that actually do less now than ever before, as far as I can tell ... but that makes the bad ones stand out more.

No truths being bent. No American citizen is required to have papers proving who s/he is. Something I’d hope “small government” types would see as a pretty important factor. When the citizens are seen as subordinate to the system, people are about to be continually and slowly screwed until they really have no rights.

Clear statement of fact---no American at any time Needs to carry ID except in the case of specific documents proving the person’s right to engage in specialized behavior—such as a driver’s license to drive a car, a press pass to access media events, a hospital ID to enter staff portions of a hospital, etc.

You can identify yourself with a false name if you like, unless you are wanted or have some legal problem like being on parole.

Anyway, as I have said, I personally prefer to cooperate with LEOs because almost all of them are doing things I want done.