Cyclists getting ticketed in DC

[divingbiker]

DC police are cracking down on bicyclists. One of my coworkers got a $25 ticket this morning for running a red light. Our building's bike coordinator also sent out a note saying they were stepping up enforcement.

I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing, because there are some really aggressive folks on bikes around here who don't obey any traffic laws and tick off drivers.

Increased enforcement won't affect me much, since I always respect red lights anyway (although if no traffic is coming, I have been known to run the light after stopping). Stop signs are another story, though...most are four-way on my route, and if there are no cars, I do roll through. Might have to stop that practice.

[Kalidurga]

A young girl who was interning for us earlier this year got a similar ticket. She also said that a friend of hers got one for jay-walking. Now, if they'd only crack down on the cars that consistently run the red light at Connecticut and M.....

[Sheesh]

Chicago police are giving warnings first, but tickets will soon follow.

[7rider]

DB...do you have a link to anything - from WABA or on the Post - that publicizes an enforcement effort by DC police? I'd like to give a heads up to our local commuters, too.

As with you, KD, I'm still waiting for them to crack down on the motoring red-light and SS runners (or the countless cars I see taking a right turn on red, right under the big ol' sign that says "no turn on red").

[divingbiker]

DB...do you have a link to anything - from WABA or on the Post - that publicizes an enforcement effort by DC police? I'd like to give a heads up to our local commuters, too.

Sorry, no. I did see on WABA's website that they were meeting with DC police on August 15 to talk about a "sting" enforcement effort that was going on at 16th and U that seemed to follow too closely the death of the young woman a few weeks ago.

Maybe this enforcement effort is a result of that meeting...if so, I'm sure that's not the outcome WABA was hoping for.

[ny biker]

I thought I read an email saying the meeting with the police was postponed. But I might be remembering that wrong...

There's nothing on the Bikewashington listserv about this, at least not yet.

[LainiePants]

Only $25 for running a red light? That doesn't sound like much..... Is it the same for a car running a red light? Just curious.

[blueskies]

There's one particular cop who's been ticketing bikes in North Plains (near Hillsboro), Oregon. He tickets anyone who doesn't come to a complete foot-to-the-ground stop. $300+. Not just the ones who blast through, even the people who slow to a near stop, see that it's clear, & go. (On West Union, where it enters North Plains, if you ride in the area...)

[TahoeDirtGirl]

It's almost like virtual reality becomes reality...I was riding this wknd when a tandem bike ran a stop sign and I almost hit them. I could not believe it. No "sorry" or even a "whoops"...and then I had to pass them (hauling squash, corn on the cob and peaches )?! I hit my LBS on the way home and they knew who they were, so I told them to pass on a nice word of advice. Obey the signs and keep pedaling if you are going to pull out dagnabit! Like I said, nothing I would of ever even thought of...but there's a stop sign there for a reason!!

[SadieKate]

There's one particular cop who's been ticketing bikes in North Plains (near Hillsboro), Oregon. He tickets anyone who doesn't come to a complete foot-to-the-ground stop. $300+. Not just the ones who blast through, even the people who slow to a near stop, see that it's clear, & go. (On West Union, where it enters North Plains, if you ride in the area...)

Hmm, I just read through three different official Oregon driver and bike manuals again plus I remembered a Bob Mionske article (love, love, love him). I hope that cop gets himself a little larnin'.

A "near stop" is a gray area and could be open for opinion, but a track stand sure isn't. Where does it say in Oregon law that a foot must be placed on the ground?

http://www.velonews.com/article/3834
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/laws_regs.shtml

Mionske article.
http://www.velonews.com/article/3834

[Eden]

There's one particular cop who's been ticketing bikes in North Plains (near Hillsboro), Oregon. He tickets anyone who doesn't come to a complete foot-to-the-ground stop. $300+. Not just the ones who blast through, even the people who slow to a near stop, see that it's clear, & go. (On West Union, where it enters North Plains, if you ride in the area...)

Looks like this fellow has been put straight about what the law actually says and stopped from his ticketing ways.... (found this on the Cascade board)


A small Oregon town's cop (little berg=North Plains) was really zealous a year or so back. He found it necessary to ticket all riders who didn't put a foot down insisting that it was required. It took a judge to point out that in Oregon law there is no requirement that a foot be placed on the ground, either by cyclists or auto drivers.
The cop is still over zealous, but has stopped issuing tickets to cyclists for not placing a foot on the ground.

[Tuckervill]

Holy cow, what a waste of resources! Couldn't he just have looked it up on the internet?

Karen

[Eden]

Holy cow, what a waste of resources! Couldn't he just have looked it up on the internet?

Karen

I'm guessing what took a judge wasn't reading the law, but interpreting it. The cop's understanding (well at least the way he wanted to understand it) was that a cyclist could not stop (like the law says) without putting a foot down. The judge in the end disagreed. After all that is what judges are for. Police officers can only enforce the laws - judges get to interpret them.

[Grog]

I seldom put a foot down at intersections, unless I have to wait for more than 15 seconds to cross, but I am certainly more "stopped" than any of the cars who also "stop" at the same intersection. At any given moment my speed as I cross the stop line is definitely a lot slower than theirs. I very seldom see a car driver that actually stops at a stop sign.