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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    3

    Default Bicycle: Failure to Stop at Limit Line

    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: CA

    While riding my bike I stopped on a hill in front of the limit line.

    It's the same place I always stop and it is (in my opinion) the safest place for a bicycle to stop since it is at the apex of the hill and it provides a clearer view of traffic coming from the left. (Have you ever watched a cyclist with bike shoes try to "kick off" on a hill? It's not a pretty sight - especially if they fall over!)

    I understand that bikes must abide by the same laws as cars. Based on that, I will use info provided in other threads to contest my ticket.

    Here are my questions:

    1) The officer informed me that the ticket will not go on my driving record since I was on my bike. IS THAT TRUE? (I carry a copy of my DL so he wrote the number on the ticket.)

    2) If it is NOT true and it does go on my driving record, can I go to traffic school - even though this occurred on my bike?

    3) Can I request a reduced fine and if so, how should I go about doing that? Can I plead a "hardship" since all working members of my family are currently among the unemployed?

    4) If I am still required to pay a fine, can I ask to do community service in lieu of paying the fine?

    5) Will the fine be the same as it is for a car?

    Any other thoughts you have are welcome!


    On another note:

    What type of ID am I required to carry when I ride my bike? Can I carry something other than my DL? (I'm thinking I could have avoided having my DL included if I had a different ID.) Does it even matter since they can probably get my DL number via my name, etc?

    Thanks for providing this service!!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    1,622

    Default Re: Bicycle: Failure to Stop at Limit Line

    What a chicken sh!t ticket for a cop to write!!! That is utterly amazing!

    All I have to say is that you are nuts if you don't go to court and argue that ticket for the obvious reasons.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    3,577

    Default Re: Bicycle: Failure to Stop at Limit Line

    First of all, I, too, am a bike rider. I understand what you're saying about safety and visibility. Personally, I would take pictures of the area, trying to demonstrate this. Then, if the officer even shows up (I can't imagine that he will), get him to admit that safety should NOT be your concern -- that following the "letter" of the law is all that counts. If you fall, crash, get hurt -- too bad!

    Just my $.02

    Barry

    p.s. Please come back and let us know what happens.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Bicycle: Failure to Stop at Limit Line

    Thanks for the feedback. I DO plan to go to court to see what happens. The "bail" is $132.00 which is not as high as some I've heard about for similar violations but is still high.

    The notice I received in the mail indicates that I am NOT eligible for traffic school. Go figure... I know I wasn't in a car but cyclists are still required to abide by the traffic laws... so what gives?

    I'll keep you posted about the outcome.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    LA LA Land
    Posts
    9,170

    Default Re: Bicycle: Failure to Stop at Limit Line

    Quote Quoting Roadie2
    View Post
    The notice I received in the mail indicates that I am NOT eligible for traffic school. Go figure... I know I wasn't in a car but cyclists are still required to abide by the traffic laws... so what gives?
    What gives is that traffic violations that you commit while riding a bicycle are NOT reported to the DMV and will not appear on your abstract. So to pay for and attend traffic school to avoid a citation appearing on your record will be pointless since it will not be reported as part of your "driving record".

    This is pursuant to CVC 1803:

    CVC 1803.
    (a) (1) The clerk of a court in which a person was convicted of a violation of this code, .....shall prepare within 5 days after conviction and immediately forward to the department at its office at Sacramento an abstract of the record of the court covering the case in which the person was so convicted. If sentencing is not pronounced in conjunction with the conviction, the abstract shall be forwarded to the department within 5 days after sentencing and the abstract shall be certified by the person so required to prepare it to be true and correct.

    (b) The following violations are not required to be reported under subdivision (a):
    ......
    (6) Violations for which a person was cited as a pedestrian or while operating a bicycle or a motorized scooter.
    This information is provided herewith courtesy of "sniper".

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Bicycle: Failure to Stop at Limit Line

    Thank you for the explanation and for confirming that this will not become part of my driving record. Much appreciated.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    3,577

    Default Re: Bicycle: Failure to Stop at Limit Line

    I don't think anyone has said it WON'T be recorded. St. That Guy pointed out that the law says that it is not REQUIRED to be recorded. However, if the abstract is forwarded to the DMV, it may very well become part of your record. You might want to check with the clerk to find out their policy concerning bikes.

    Barry

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