Drivers License to Ride a Bike on Road?
 

Hello,

I'm new here and new to cycling in general. So, I'll start from the beginning.

At first I got a really cheap bike to use around my college campus, University of Maryland, and just used it to get to classes, I really liked and waited until it broke (didn't take too long) and got a real bike. After using this road bike I really liked it, and decided I would start cycling on and off campus. So, here is where it gets interesting. When I'm on campus, like many of the other cyclists, we don't really follow the traffic laws (terrible, I know). We lane split to get to class, and pretty much the only rule is to stop for pedestrians -- however I only ride like this on campus/between classes to get there fast, when I'm off campus, I follow standard traffic laws and safety practices.

Today, when I was biking an officer saw me lane split and pulled me over (almost never happens). She insists for my drivers licences, stating that in order to ride my bike on the road, I need one. I keep telling her that I'm pretty sure she doesn't need it since I'm on my bike. I end up giving it her, not wanting to escalate the situation and she writes me off with a warning using my drivers license number in the written warning.

Anyways, I can't seem to find the answer in any of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration guidelines/PDF's online or anywhere else for that matter. Do I need my drivers license to ride my bike on the road?

Thanks,

To the best of my knowledge.... No drivers license is required in any state, anywhere in America to ride a bicycle.

However.... You ARE a licensed driver! And you are operating a vehicle on public roads. So whether you are required to be licensed or not... may be moot. I am under the impression that presenting your license when requested is part of the terms agreed to with a license.

No...

Don't need license. Need to identify yourself (provide name, address etc) when request by police, but if not driving a motor vehicle or drinking liquor no need to show license.

It might be a good idea to carry an insurance card though just in case you find the front end of a buss.


EDIT: Dohhh! http://www.thegearpage.net/board/smilies/facepalm.gif Misspelled bus.

They can write you a ticket for violation of pertinent laws. They use the license or other ID to determine your identity. Most states don't have points against the license for bicycle infractions.

So as others have stated, you are not required to have a license but carrying some form of ID is helpful, even if it's for a ticket or in case they find you laying in the road injured.

A kiss?

Buss | Definition of buss by Merriam-Webster

Thanks for the replies. I did give the UMPD (University Police Department) officer my UID, but she would not budge. If it happens again, I will only give them my UID and a provide any other needed information.

As far as I can tell MD does not have a "Stop & Identify" statute. That typically means you do not have to identify yourself... But that usually means they can "hold" you until they determine your identity."Terry" stops are another item. I found nothing in the statutes requiring a DL to ride a bicycle. I would never use a DL as ID for a bicycle stop. I would also have asked the officer for a/their supervisor to straighten it out. I know of NO state in the union which requires any "license" to operate a bicycle on the road or otherwise.


http://www.mva.maryland.gov/safety/_...binedFinal.pdf

There is no "stop and identify" law in Maryland, so legally i cannot be arrested for not identifying myself correct? - Avvo.com

No license is required to operate any unpowered (No engine.) vehicle on any road in the U.S. A few places have bicycle registration laws, but information on their enforcement is sketchy. Some places have laws that say you must have some form of ID on you--- I once spent several hours in jail in Tennessee for not being able to produce an ID for a cop. (I was walking home after closing at a fast food place where I worked while I was in college, and I typically did not carry my wallet to work--- it was only a couple of blocks from my apartment.) BUT, there is a time honored tradition in many college towns to harass the college students whenever they are given the opportunity. I'm betting this was such a case. Many college students ignore crosswalks, shortcut through yards, jaywalk, ignore traffic laws while on bikes, etc. Nothing worth going to jail for, but it can be very annoying to the locals, especially if it's a small college town. (The town where I was had a population of maybe 5000, with a college population of 4500--- they did a lot of things to keep the college kids from voting in local elections, parking off campus, dating their daughters, etc.) At any rate, some of the locals are going to harass the students. If this was a campus cop, send a complaint to their office, and report the incident to the college newspaper, if there is one.

You should understand that many, if not most criminals with outstanding warrants are caught during routine traffic stops. That is generally what the police are checking back in the cruiser... while they write the ticket (or in your case... warning). The officer will likely get the impression that you are wanted for something or another.... and may assume the worse.

You may be fully within your rights to resist identifying yourself. But proving that to the officer may cost you lots of time and legal fees.

This is crazy. Md students have bonfires from dorm furniture when they win basketball games. The school is known for constant wild partying. And the police have time to stop bicycles and ask for driver licenses?

Don't carry the license with you, you can not produce what you do not posses.

How many 10 year old kids have drivers licenses? Zero. Do they ride bikes? Yes.

One does not need a driver's license to ride a bike.

Thanks for the sound logic, but what the officer was trying to say was to ride on the road you need a license, quoting that I'm operating a vehicle on the road.

The officer is uncorrect.

I doubt it. A driver's license is a requirement to operate a motor vehicle on a public road.

Kampus Kops can be some of the worst IMHO. Don't know about College Park, but they may try to assert their own special authority. When I lived in MD I never carried any ID, but was never stopped either.

scott s.
.

You definitely do not need a drivers' license to ride a bike on public roads anywhere in the U.S. Not at all informed of the laws regarding the UMD campus---doubt such law exists, but you would have to research it.

U.S. law says you do not have to carry ID at all (unless required in a specific situation, like have a DL while driving a car,) and different states have different laws about even giving your name when asked. Check your state's law if concerned. (Of course, cops can pretty much do what they want---they know that you aren't likely to sue if they bend the law.)

The issue I see here is somewhat different.

First, you were riding in such a fashion as to attract the ire---Legitimately--of a LEO. That puts you in a very weak position from go. Further arguing made things worse. In that situation your best bet would have been to cite specific laws and statutes concerning carrying ID and identifying yourself, or should have said you didn't have your DL and didn't need it since you weren't driving.

If you are going to start a debate with a LEO either carry it all the way to the end---in this case, refuse to proffer the DL for any reason---or don't start. All you did was further PO the officer, who might be watching for you next time.

Basically, you started wrong and got more wrong.

If you are going to ignore traffic laws on campus (which doesn't bother me if that is the norm, so long as you keep yourself and everyone else safe) then do so knowing the risks and be prepared to deal with the fallout. And personally, I Never challenge a cop unless I am willing to go to jail. Right and wrong are decided later in court; arrested or free are decided on the spot, by the person you are trying to debate. LEO can always win the debate by pulling out the handcuffs.

Well, as I see it you have 3 choices (4 if you include following the traffic rules):

1. You can carry your driver's license with you.
2. You can pay a lawyer to always ride with you.
3. You can haggle for whatever time it takes to deal with the officer on the side of the road.

Right or wrong, the officer is getting paid so her tolerance for roadside haggling probably exceeds yours.

I would have asked them to cite the specific statute that requires this.

Retro, what is your advice for someone who has no drivers license ?

As many of you have been saying, I should have asked the officer to state the law or statue, but I wasn't well informed on the law myself, I was also in a rush to get to class. She also checked to see if my bike was stolen since there has been a huge spike in the number of bike thefts on campus.

The only reason I really care about her taking my drivers license is that I don't want this showing up on my driving record or causing me any hassle with insurance or a traffic stop when I'm in my car. She used my driver license number to issue this warning and it shows my license number on the written warning.

This is exactly why I would produce something other than a DL if asked for ID on a bicycle. The other thing you should have issue with is that this LEO doesn't know the laws they are enforcing.

I would think about an email to the LE agency issuing the warning explaining you were told by their officer "so and so" (their name should be on the citation)a DL is required and asking them to point you to the ordinance or statute that specifies this.

Whatever you do keep in mind that many officials have big egos and low tolerance for being questioned. This is in no way to say they should not be questioned, but think ahead how far you are willing to take it before you start, because unless you are willing to fight all the way to the end no matter what the cost, you are going to get beat or forced to surrender, and then you will have made a bunch of powerful enemies and gained nothing.

When I moved to the state where I currently reside, the first thing I did was send away (pre-Internet) for a copy of all the relevant laws (bicycle laws) in the state, cities, and counties where I might be riding. This is also a good thing to do before touring or riding out of state, as different states might have different laws regarding cycling.

This way, if a LEO pulls you over and you know you are in the right, you can simply state the laws which allow whatever you are doing, and if s/he chooses to persist in what is illegal behavior, you can decide whether to resist and to what degree. When you don’t know any better than the LEO, you automatically lose.

I would Not go to the cops demanding they cite a specific statute which you know does not exist—that would only anger them. I would be Absolutely sure of my rights and thus ready if it happened again.

Forget this one, this time. After all, you were likely in the wrong due to crazy riding anyway (even if such riding habits were generally accepted.) Chalk it up to experience/education, and next time be ready.