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$500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly...
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The City of Edmond, OK is trying to make the streets a safer place for those on bicycles. It comes in response to two deadly accidents last year. In just one weekend last July...

Motorists will now be required to give cyclists at least three feet when passing.
If a driver's caught not obeying the ordinance, they could face a $500 fine.

http://www.kfor.com/...tory,0,6846135.story
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [astevens] [ In reply to ]
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I hope it helps. But I think it's going to depend on how the police enforce it.




Running is a gift.
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [Jiowa] [ In reply to ]
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Not to mention if they see. Hardly ever see the police in the country where I ride
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [Jiowa] [ In reply to ]
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Jiowa wrote:
I hope it helps. But I think it's going to depend on if the police enforce it.

fixed it for you
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [FisH2O] [ In reply to ]
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My thoughts exactly.

The last two close calls I had with cars passing me way to close were police cars.
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [astevens] [ In reply to ]
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Wow, that's a bigger fine then hitting and killing a cyclist typically is.

Brian Stover USAT LII
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [astevens] [ In reply to ]
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Hate to rain on your parade but this has failed every time it's tried. Here's the scenario, a motorist gets a ticket for being too close (I know, I know. We have to suspend disbelief in the case of this example). So motorist gets ticket. Motorist goes to court and asks police man (woman), "Did you measure the distance?" "How did you determine the distance?" "Oh, you eye balled it?"

Judge says "case dismissed".

All of this COST MONEY to the jurisdiction. No more tickets will be issued.

If they can figure out how to make money by busting divers that are dangerous to cyclists then we will be protected. Until then, watch your back. And watch the back of you fellow cyclist (even if he is a roadie, fixie hipster, triathlete, mtn biker, or whoever else you "hate").

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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [BigPuss] [ In reply to ]
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ah, but in Flagstaff, AZ a cyclist IN a bicycle lane was passed too close by a city bus, the driver was issued a ticket AND convicted of the same 3ft law. Even with the cyclist in the bicycle lane and the bus did NOT cross into the bike lane, he was fined. BTW - there's a video camera in each bus and it showed the entire incident!!! L O L !!! This law in AZ now holds true even if you are in a bike lane and the vehicle does not even cross into your lane. The car MUST clear you by a minimum of 3 ft.

In most cases its gonna be a "he said she said" thing about the distance to get a conviction. I'm betting they'll think about doing it again after they miss a day or two of work, maybe hire a lawyer, etc. and lose money anyway, even without a conviction.

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Paul
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [596] [ In reply to ]
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Bus drivers in Santa Barbara seem to have diplomatic immunity or something. Very dangerous. Virtually untouchable. Gotta love the Teamsters.

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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [BigPuss] [ In reply to ]
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"All of this COST MONEY to the jurisdiction. No more tickets will be issued."

BTW - that's not true. Police officers have assigned days, in most departments, to be in court. They produce alot more tickets then just tickets for the 3ft law. Cops can have 50 or more tickets on a docket in one day. It costs nothing to issue that ticket, its just one more case to be heard out of dozens. In these cases, without an accident, a prosecutor is not involved, its just the cop, the bad guy and maybe his lawyer. In this case there is no direct cost to this ticket to the state, city, county, etc.



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Paul
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [596] [ In reply to ]
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Our city passed a similar law, but it's 5 feet here.
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [596] [ In reply to ]
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Quote:
It costs nothing to issue that ticket, its just one more case to be heard out of dozens. In these cases, without an accident, a prosecutor is not involved, its just the cop, the bad guy and maybe his lawyer. In this case there is no direct cost to this ticket to the state, city, county, etc.

Really? You can issue a ticket, send out the notice to appear, reply to driver's request for a hearing, have the cop, judge, stenographer, clerk, etc. spend 15-20 minutes dealing with your case in court ALL FOR FREE? Zero cost? Wow! Arizona really has efficient government. I assume you guys don't pay any sales, property, income, etc. taxes? Man, better not let this info go public. Arizona will be very crowded. I gotta go pack my stuff. Know of any places to rent while I look for house out there?

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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [BigPuss] [ In reply to ]
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Dude, slow down.... : )

In traffic court there is no stenographer. The original ticket issued in the street is the notice to appear unless you pay in advance, no need for a second one to be sent. A drivers lic record check takes about 2 minutes if the person requesting is a slow typer. The judge, cop and clerk are in court on those days anyways. One ticket for a 3ft violation adds zero cost on that day. If a case takes 15-20 minutes in most cases I'd be surprised.

Going back to your original statement that since costs are so high for these tickets that no one will be allowed to issue them since they can't be won, just is not true.

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Paul
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [abqtj] [ In reply to ]
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Where is this? In the area around Bourg d'Oisans in France I saw several signs saying that 5ft (1.5m) passing distance was the law. There was a lot of traffic, but cyclists were completely respected. It was pretty cool.
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [johno2211] [ In reply to ]
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johno2211 wrote:
Where is this? In the area around Bourg d'Oisans in France I saw several signs saying that 5ft (1.5m) passing distance was the law. There was a lot of traffic, but cyclists were completely respected. It was pretty cool.

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The state is pushing it through as well, but the fines are low (like $25).
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [596] [ In reply to ]
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So if, say, 35 people a day get these tickets and they fight them in court it still costs nothing?

I've been to traffic court in California (several times). It goes like this... Get ticket. Get notice in mail. You either pay the fine or plead not guilty and request court, in which case you pay the fine that gets reimbursed if you win, AND you pay $25 to pay for the COST TO THE COURT to hear your case (this you don't get back). That $25 is also what they charge you to fight a parking ticket. They did that because too many people were fighting their tickets and the system was LOSING MONEY (I used to work for a law firm that had business related to this and I know this to be fact). If you win your case the court get your $25 and takes a net loss. If you lose your case in court and the fine is less than approx $275 the court still loses money. They don't want you to fight the tickets. If everyone fought their traffic tickets the fines for losing would be huge and/or a lot of tickets would not be written.
That's California. Arizona might be different.

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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [FisH2O] [ In reply to ]
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FisH2O wrote:
Jiowa wrote:
I hope it helps. But I think it's going to depend on if the police enforce it.


fixed it for you

It's just north of Oklahoma City, OK. Edmond police are pretty good about pulling people over for everything. Its the kind of place that cops sit and wait and if you are going 5 over the speed limit they will get you. I've even had them follow me on my morning runs. I can see a warning the first time, but repeat offenders I can see getting fined.
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [BigPuss] [ In reply to ]
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BigPuss wrote:
Hate to rain on your parade but this has failed every time it's tried. Here's the scenario, a motorist gets a ticket for being too close (I know, I know. We have to suspend disbelief in the case of this example). So motorist gets ticket. Motorist goes to court and asks police man (woman), "Did you measure the distance?" "How did you determine the distance?" "Oh, you eye balled it?"

Judge says "case dismissed".

In IL all cops are "certified" to judge speed and distance by eye. They don't have to have a gun number to nail you for speeding. YLawyerMV of course
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Re: $500 fine for passing cyclist incorrectly... [astevens] [ In reply to ]
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So it would be better to hit and kill a cyclist since the driver dooesnt seem to get in any trouble(unless its a drunk driver).

'STICK EM UP PUNK ITS THE FUN LOVING CRIMINAL'
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