You CAN be detained for not having ID, until they know who you are, then they will release you unless they have another reason to hold you. You CAN be ticketed, just like a motor vehicle operator, in most states. It doesn't matter that you don't NEED to carry ID to ride a bike, nor does it matter that you are too young to have a valid ID. If you do something in violation of the rules of the road for the state or city/town you are riding in, the police have the right (and responsibility) to pull you over and cite you for that violation. If they ask for ID, and you have it, you must turn it over to them. If you don't have any, they can take your word for who you are, or detain you until you prove who you are. Personally, I never go anywhere without ID. I wear a road ID tag on my watchband with name, address, phone, wife's phone, and blood type/allergies. Just in case!!!

Riding in traffic is a lot more than just hangin in the designated bike lane on the right shoulder. There are many situations where that is more dangerous that taking an entire traffic lane, especially in crowded downtown areas.

Rule of thumb I use in traffic - if I can ride at the speed of the car traffic, I will very likely be using the lane as any car would.

55/Rad

If you're cycling, and an officer asks for ID, it's best to give them something OTHER than your driver's license - they usually don't understand that bikes are subtly different from motor vehicles, and if they're going to write you a ticket, you don't want it connected with your drivers license, which is technically your 'motor vehicle operator's license.' Tickets received on your bicycle shouldn't count as points against your driver's license. That'd suck having your car insurance go up because of something you did on your bike!

Yes, they can write you a ticket for speeding, but OTOH, bicycles are not required to have speedometers. So by extension, you aren't required to know how fast you're going. Speed zones might be unenforceable against bikes (check with your lawyer on that one though.)

Phantomcow2: Why do you hope that MiniLance wasn't in the traffic lane? At that speed, I hope he wasn't on a sidewalk!

Doubt this helps, but here's what happens where I live: you are not required to carry an ID to operate a bike. But if you break the law the police may require you to identify yourself. At that point riding a bike has got nothing to do with it - your ID is required for other reasons. They may detain you until they are convinced you are who you claim to be.

--J

I'm pretty sure that smilie face he included meant he was kidding.

I've been pulled over a few times, but haven't been ticketed yet. One of them was for not stopping at a stop sign. I stopped and waggled the wheel to keep my balance, then continued through the empty intersection. The cop pulled me over because according to him it's not a stop unless I put my foot down.

I also got pulled over a couple of times while stationed overseas because they required you to wear a reflective vest when riding on base at any time, day or night. I forgot my vest twice on sunny days and got caught.

Way back when I was in high school I got pulled over twice for speeding. Both were in 20mph zones.

If I ever got a ticket for speeding on a bicycle I would have it blown up and framed and it would be my christmas card. I did get pulled over once in a group of cyclists because he felt we made a right too fast, it was a turn at the end of a downhill, no ticket though.

You are required to carry a state issued ID* with you at ALL times, even sunbathing on the beach. When Bush visited FL years ago, they wanted to clear the streets, so they arrested all the homeless people who didn't have a valid state issued ID. This applies to all ages.

* even if you can't drive, you just don't have a license is all.

No not in CA. You are NOT required to carry an ID when operating a bike. I highly doubt you work for CA. I asked my dad who works for the Sacramento Country DA's Office, and has been in CA Law Enforcent for 21 years,

are you confusing an ID with an Operator's permit?

An ID can even be a passport.

I'm pretty sure that cops are aware a bicycle is different than a car. Just as it's a simple thing for them to enter your name and DOB into their computer, which will cross index any license you have. If you are a negligent operator, it should go against your license and affect your insurance. If you do something foolish on a bike, and strike a car, who is paying for the damages? Your auto policy, that's who. They have a right to collect premiums commensurate with the risk you represent.

Based on your speedometer logic, if yours stops working in your car, you can get a ticket for not having a functioning speedo, but not for speeding? Doesn't work that way. The guy that takes out his old Model T on Sunday is required to drive within the speed limit, the same as bicyclists. Speed zones are enforceable against bikes, skateboarders,a nd even rollerbladers. At least according to the California Vehicle Code.

1. If you don't own a car then you don't have an auto policy.
2. You're REQUIRED by LAW to have a working speedometer in a vehicle. No so on a bicycle. I could see that someone could get off for not knowing he was going 30 in a 25.
3. In Texas (and other states I've had a driver's license in) certain older year cars were allowed to not have to take and pass emmisions tests, have 3rd brake lights, have 2 mirrors, or even have seat belts! If your car is old enough then you don't necessairly have to be held to the same standards as those with late model cars. If your model t didn't come with a speedo and it wasn't mandated by law that you have to have one installed then I could see you getting away with a 30 in a 25 speeding ticket.

California's a little weird to begin with so who cares what their laws say.

That could be an interesting thread: "Who cares what California Says?"

hey, we all know you're just waiting for it to fall into the ocean so you can have waterfront property

Of course, especially likely if the 15mph zone is a school zone. They may let you slide otherwise.
Al

Bontrager, I was responding to BlazingPedals' comment about not having your auto insurance go up for something you did on a bike. You can have an auto policy if you don't own a car, but that's not what I was referring to. If you have an auto policy, or a homeowner's policy (even a renter's policy) and hit a car with your bike, chances are the insurance company for the guy you hit is going to go after your insurance. It depends on a lot of factors, but they do pursue it in some cases.

I live in a big retirement and vacation area and if you speed in the wrong area(like where people with lots of money live) you'll fer sure get a ticket.

What makes you think that there's always going to be an insurance policy to pay for everyone's damages? It is not required to have a driver's license or liability insurance in order to ride a bike. Unless your policy specifically covers it, auto insurance won't cover you for when you're on your bike. It's AUTO insurance.

In Quebec, if the offence puts demerit points on your drivers licence, and you dont have a drivers licence, they save the points till you get a licence. However the police seem to be very lax about ticketing bikes going through stop signs, red lights and speeding. Once going down a hill at 65 kph in a 50 kph zone I passed a cop with a radar gun, and he just smiled and gave me a thumbs up

I know some police seem to be very linient with bicycles around here. I guess they figure a speeding bicycle can do a lot less damage than a car, which is accurate.

I didn't say there would always be an insurance policy. I merely responded to this post:

And you are incorrect. There is no special rider on an auto policy that covers bikes. The liability portion of your auto policy will cover you if you strike a car with your bike. Just like your bodily injury coverage will provide limited coverage if you are in someone else's car, or get hit by a car while on your bike. It's not called a "Your car policy", it's auto insurance. It covers your body, your passengers' bodies (in a car) and provides liability coverage if you have an accident involving another automobile. There's no shopping trolley insurance, but if you're leaving Costco or Home Depot and your trolley rolls into a car, you have coverage to pay their damages. That's what the liability portion of your policy covers, and that's what most states, if not all, require you to have in order to operate a motor vehicle. Do you even have insurance or a license?

Why would you not want to?

I wouldn't think about going out w/o my ID, and more importantly, health insurance card. If I end up with a head injury in the ditch, I want them to know who I am, whom to contact, and my medical history.

WNC = Western North Carolina?

Purty up there. I used to hike at Winding Stair Gap when I lived in the ATL.

Shore is purty.I like ridin' em r bikes.

what the heck is your problem?! Who gave you permission to use logic?

You been talking to my wife?