Jim Carson

Karen wrote on (May 3, 2005 6:39 AM)

Okay, clearly you people up there in the NW corner need more crime if your cops pull over *bicycles*...

Susan dennis wrote on (May 3, 2005 8:07 AM)

ha! I'm smelling conspiracy here - a direct result of your faux yeast packages... They have your number. Wonder if you can get Homeland Security Insurance - coverage for when 'they have your number' - you know, travel money, changing identity money, hide the family money...

DougW wrote on (May 3, 2005 8:54 AM)

I heard they've started to crack down on Mercer Island quite a bit. I wonder if there is some spillover into other areas.

Brad wrote on (May 3, 2005 2:01 PM)

Wow. I better be a little more carefull during my evening commutes where I routinely ride up Grady Way in Renton by splitting the lanes of stopped rush hour traffic.

Terri wrote on (May 3, 2005 2:12 PM)

Wow, I have not seen cops pull over cyclists in a while. The last time I did was a few years ago right when the helmet law came into effect.

Director Mitch wrote on (May 3, 2005 8:08 PM)

Bummer. Are bike fines less than the car fines? Can you take Defensive Biking?

jim wrote on (May 3, 2005 9:19 PM)

The fines are the same as if I was in a car. For example, if I was caught in the HOV lane, it would have been $274.

I hope the faux yeast isn't the problem because I just mailed out a batch to some friends. I'll be extra careful tomorrow.

Hans wrote on (May 4, 2005 2:09 PM)

Oh jeesh, that sucks. I would recommend going to court. There's a good chance to officer won't appear. Or the judge might even toss out the ticket. If you go, be honest if the judge asks if you did or didn't. If you don't recall then you don't and that should be fine.

Around here (SF bay area) various town's officers, such as Sausalito's, have a bad reputation. Part of this arises from the car driving locals that have influence. A few get stuck in traffic (behind other drivers), watch a cyclist happily cruise through without problems, and their panties get all tied up in bundles. Next they are complaining to the chief of police and, well, you know what happens.

But... it probably is a conspiracy caused by your WMD sour dough starter.

jim wrote on (May 5, 2005 1:18 PM)

Not surprisingly, my insurance agent was stumped by the question and assumed it would show up on my Permanent (driving) Record. She recommended I call the DMV. The lady at the DMV said it doesn't, but added that "sometimes they have to write 60mph on there to make their quota; if it does show up, let us know."

Woodstock wrote on (May 6, 2005 6:18 AM)

It sucks that you got a ticket but I swear I wish they'd start doing this in DC. As a motor vehicle driver I'm happy to treat a bicyclist as a vehicle with the same rights to the street as I have provided said bicyclist obeys the traffic laws, and as a bicyclist, if I'm obeying the traffic laws, damn it, I get to use the whole lane! [grins]

lisa wrote on (May 7, 2005 6:06 AM)

I can see the safety in following the traffic rules, but I think it's kind of silly to ticket someone using a vehicle without a motor. :)