In Illinois, the same rules of the road that apply to an automobile, motorcycle, or farm equipment applies to a bicyclist. If the right is red, or if a stop sign is posted, you have to come to a complete stop. Sorry about ticket, but it looks like you will have to caulk it up as a learning experience.
OK, so what are you supposed to do when you come to a light on a red light on a sensor, there are no cars around, and the bike is not large/heavy enough to activate the sensors. Then are you allowed to run the red light?
There are two lights like that on my regular route, and if i start early enough in the morning, I have this problem.
Sorry. Red Light means STOP. Even in New Zealand where I had a similar situation. Just BLEW through 2 red lights while a cop drive behind me. Cost me $150NZD per ticket. I played the game and took the risks. It’s all on me.
You could show up to traffic court and hope the cop doesn’t.
cheers
S.
OK, so what are you supposed to do when you come to a light on a red light on a sensor, there are no cars around, and the bike is not large/heavy enough to activate the sensors. Then are you allowed to run the red light?
There are two lights like that on my regular route, and if i start early enough in the morning, I have this problem.
Yes. This applies to motorcycles as well (which also fail to trigger sensors at times). You do have to stop first though and are only allowed to proceed after waiting. Of course, check your local laws to confirm ( or deny ).
STP provides good advice.
I recommend not hiring a lawyer. That is expensive and makes moot any savings you have. If you want to know about points then call your insurance company and do a google search for the information. That is what the lawyer would do.
Before the judge: do not try to minimize your offense or anything. Tell him like it was: Sunday morning, no one around, you just wanted to get in a good workout/get home/etc. You are a law abiding citizen. Tell the judge that you think the fine is a bit steep for you. You may not even get to talk–the judge may look at this and think it’s insane to charge almost $400 for this type of offense (because it really is insane.)
I will guarantee you right now that this will be reduced and you will not get any points for the offense. I’d be surprised if the judge made you pay over $50, unless there is some mitigating information you have not provided.
And you probably already know this but when you do go to court wear a tie and look presentable.
When I went for my violation I couldn’t believe the crap most of the people were wearing and how they looked (ugly concert shirts, hair in their eyes, etc…).
Sorry, just realized from your screen name I can’t tell if you’re male or female and I just assumed male.
So, if you’re female, then you know, wear whatever it is females wear to look nice 
-Ryan
I’m not a cop but I fail to see how they can attach that to your DL given that you weren’t driving. I’m sure they can figure out some way to fine or penalize you, and yes, if you are on the road you are subject to the laws of the road - but I still don’t think it should count as a driving offense (with points, etc).
Maybe one of the cops can tell us what’s what?
Unfortunately Khai, most Canadian Provinces have Highway Traffic Acts that can even charge for impaired driving on your bicycle, and if you have a DL it’s a wack of points, so most times you end up with a suspended license to boot.
Darren
x2 on the “What State are you in?”. That will make a big difference in terms of your available arguments.
Bob Mionske has dealt with this a bunch of times in his columns in Velonews. Check his blog (www.bicyclelaw.com), search velonews.com… there’s some relevant info in this piece as well (http://www.velonews.com/article/86786/legally-speaking-with-bob-mionske---stop-as-yield).
G.
I’m not a cop but I fail to see how they can attach that to your DL given that you weren’t driving. I’m sure they can figure out some way to fine or penalize you, and yes, if you are on the road you are subject to the laws of the road - but I still don’t think it should count as a driving offense (with points, etc).
Maybe one of the cops can tell us what’s what?
Unfortunately Khai, most Canadian Provinces have Highway Traffic Acts that can even charge for impaired driving on your bicycle, and if you have a DL it’s a wack of points, so most times you end up with a suspended license to boot.
Darren
Same thing in many states. In Indiana Indiana code a person on a bicycle must obey all traffic laws:
IC 9-21-11-2
Roadways; rights and duties
Sec. 2. A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway has all the rights and duties under this article that are applicable to a person who drives a vehicle, except the following:
(1) Special regulations of this article.
(2) Those provisions of this article that by their nature have no application.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.
But, even speaking as a former Law Enforcement Officer I wouldn’t have bothered with this if there was no harm/no foul. I guarantee that a traffic court judge around my neck of the woods would be very upset having to deal with a violation on a bike!
I figure the day I get a ticket it’ll apply to all the times I’ve screwed up in the past and not been caught.
Ya violated the law, pay the fine and go ahead with your life, its no big deal.
You violated the law right in front of a cop…is he supposed to just ignore you? Ya probably pissed him off violating the law right smack in front of him. Not real smart on your half.
In the courts in VA, there was no “DA” involved in minor traffic infractions. They only got involved in cases where the sentence could include jail time. Running a red lite was not one of them. It you against the cop. BTW - the cop will generally win. Unless the judge is in a good mood and likes you. Then he may reduce your fine.
There are a number of red lights I wish I could run near where I live. During non busy times of day they absolutely should be blinking reds and its such an affront to liberty and sense that I have to sit there for 5 minutes wasting fucking time.
sorry, the anger kicked in there.
Its good to hear that Lazy Ben never runs red lights or stop signs.
Uhh you do?
I’ll admit i speed but i do stop at red lights and stop signs. Minus that rare one where you are screwed and you figure out while trying to stop there is no way you are going to stop and run it. I hate when people blow through stop signs. You dont have anything that important to do. Really…
Don’t have much simpathy regarding the fine. But do understand your questions about the point and drivers license record. You don’t need a drivers license to ride a bike. What would happen if you got fined for J-walking? Would they ding your drivers license of that too?
So… if I go out and drink a dozen beers, hop on my bike to ride home, get busted by the cops, get charged with an impaired, lose my licence, etc., can I still ride my bike (that I never needed a licence to ride in the first place)?
In my jurisdiction, the court will put you on a time payment that accrues no interest. When interest rates were high, that was like free money. Not such a deal anymore, though.
but I do sometimes wonder how a cop would go about stopping me and giving me a ticket in an urban area when after hearing the siren I can do 30 mph for five minutes along sidewalks, through parks, down walkways etc.
I just wonder. Daydreaming fantasy. But rules are rules, and even gambling with them is bad, but if you do you take the losses when they come.
I hear ya. And even in hindsight when the cop asked me for my name and address I actually (yeah OK…stop laughing) gave him the right one. It’s not like he asked me for my drivers license. For all he knows I could have been one Ben Dover living at 123 Dumbass Street.
But I was a guest in that country and didn’t want to add to the “Americans Sure Are Dorks, especially Cyclists” complaint.
cheers
S.
In Jersey when you go to court you can ask the DA to lower it to a non moving violation this way you get no points on liscence and the municapality gets the money not the state. Charges could be more but might save you in insurance $ , could be less too. i actually got a ticket test driving a Acura TL in a “safe Zone” I was doing 85 or so in a 45. He made it 65. I went to court and they lowered it to 50 mph. I had no points on my record so it was cheaper to pay ticket then plea non moving violation.
OK, so what are you supposed to do when you come to a light on a red light on a sensor, there are no cars around, and the bike is not large/heavy enough to activate the sensors. Then are you allowed to run the red light?
There are two lights like that on my regular route, and if i start early enough in the morning, I have this problem.
Have you tried stopping on the sensor then tilting your bike almost to the point of laying it down on the road?
This works at all sensor activated stop lights I have tried it on.
Doesn’t work if your bike is carbon
and if you go to such lengths to obey they law you need to loosen up =)
OK, so what are you supposed to do when you come to a light on a red light on a sensor, there are no cars around, and the bike is not large/heavy enough to activate the sensors. Then are you allowed to run the red light?
There are two lights like that on my regular route, and if i start early enough in the morning, I have this problem.
Have you tried stopping on the sensor then tilting your bike almost to the point of laying it down on the road?
This works at all sensor activated stop lights I have tried it on.
So… if I go out and drink a dozen beers, hop on my bike to ride home, get busted by the cops, get charged with an impaired, lose my licence, etc., can I still ride my bike (that I never needed a licence to ride in the first place)?
Ha ha. I can only speak for Canada, but you would still be able to ride (when you sober up of course), provided they didn’t seize your bike to prevent a continuation of the offence!!! Just remember that you are getting issued a ticket (Provincial Offence Notice - same thing as a speeding ticket) for the riding of the bicycle impaired, it’s then your Province that nails you the points on your DL and if enough points lost, you end up with a show cause hearing with your Provincial Motor Vehicle Branch. Very different from the Criminal Code of Canada which deals with motorized vehicles (Anything not muscularly propelled or something to that effect).
Lastly I’m thinking most cops would be hard pressed to write you a ticket for impaired on your bicycle, unless you were riding a Cervelo. ;o)
Darren