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Ticketed for running the AC Boards

Old 03-19-11, 06:46 AM
  #1  
tom cotter
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Ticketed for running the AC Boards

A favorite riding spot in the winter are the boardwalks along the NJ coast. Though there are laws that require bikes be off the boards by certain times they are not enforced weekdays in the off season. That is, until yesterday. The Atlantic City PD was actively ticketing cyclist on the boardwalk, including yours truly. $54 smackers!!!

I'm a big boy and when i get ticketed for speeding or something, which isn't often, I take responsibiliy for it. But, even so, this got under my skin. I'm in AC a lot. you can't go on the beach without the drunks and drug addicts harrassing you. Pan handlers are aggressive on the boardwalk. Parking two blocks off the casino row is dangerous, as two weeks ago i got to my car to see a thief breaking into the car in front of mine. And, where are the police? No where to be found!

In towns and cities across this country there is a huge fight going on for public funding. Look at Wisconsin. Police unions claim they need every boot on the ground. It's a public safety issue. Well, maybe the critics of this thinking are on to something. When a police force can spare a 24 year veteran making $80 to 100 grand a year to write tickets to bicyclist, on a week day, in the off season, obviously, they have at least one cop too many on the force.

On a lighter note, when i told my son, a deputy sheriff who spends his day doing real police work this, he couldn't stop laughing! His take, what does that cop tell his kids when they ask "What did you do today?" Funny!!!!
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Old 03-19-11, 09:22 AM
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It must have been a slow day and the cops needs funds for donuts!!!!!
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Old 03-20-11, 05:12 AM
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Maybe if you were doing the right thing and not violating the law the cop could be doing "real" police work as you say. You violated the law PERIOD. Take responsibility for what you did. From your story you knew what the hours were.
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Old 03-20-11, 05:45 AM
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Originally Posted by dmac49
Maybe if you were doing the right thing and not violating the law the cop could be doing "real" police work as you say. You violated the law PERIOD. Take responsibility for what you did. From your story you knew what the hours were.
"Though there are laws that require bikes be off the boards by certain times they are not enforced weekdays in the off season."

I wouldn't be so quick to point fingers, doesn't sound like he was wrong if the restrictions are seasonal. Of course that all depends on if it's a relaxed "we don't enforce during this time" or if it's posted like with a lot of street parking we see around campus here.

Regardless I'm with the OP here, maybe he shouldn't have been on the boardwalk but come on, that's not ticket worthy. Tell him to get off and be on his way, if the person won't leave or gives you a hard time then give them a ticket but let's not waste everyone's time involved just because someone is out enjoying the day and getting in a little exercise.
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Old 03-20-11, 05:48 AM
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Time to put your big boy britches on, Tom.
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Old 03-20-11, 05:58 AM
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Look at Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has nothing to do with your ticket.
You should thank the officer for looking out for the sober people.
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Old 03-20-11, 08:49 AM
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The officer is not responsible for the law. Put some energy in to changing the law.
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Old 03-20-11, 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by tom cotter
A favorite riding spot in the winter are the boardwalks along the NJ coast. Though there are laws that require bikes be off the boards by certain times they are not enforced weekdays in the off season. That is, until yesterday. The Atlantic City PD was actively ticketing cyclist on the boardwalk, including yours truly. $54 smackers!!!

I'm a big boy and when i get ticketed for speeding or something, which isn't often, I take responsibiliy for it. But, even so, this got under my skin. I'm in AC a lot. you can't go on the beach without the drunks and drug addicts harrassing you. Pan handlers are aggressive on the boardwalk. Parking two blocks off the casino row is dangerous, as two weeks ago i got to my car to see a thief breaking into the car in front of mine. And, where are the police? No where to be found!

In towns and cities across this country there is a huge fight going on for public funding. Look at Wisconsin. Police unions claim they need every boot on the ground. It's a public safety issue. Well, maybe the critics of this thinking are on to something. When a police force can spare a 24 year veteran making $80 to 100 grand a year to write tickets to bicyclist, on a week day, in the off season, obviously, they have at least one cop too many on the force.

On a lighter note, when i told my son, a deputy sheriff who spends his day doing real police work this, he couldn't stop laughing! His take, what does that cop tell his kids when they ask "What did you do today?" Funny!!!!
Tom,

What exactly does the law say? Does it say that there will be no bicycles on the boards after such and such a time, period. Or does it only say that bicycles will not be ridden after such and such a time? Could you have dismounted and walked and been in compliance with the law?

Yes, it's a small thing, but the bottom line is that you knew the law and choose to ignore it. It's not the LEO's fault who ticketed you, it's yours for breaking the law. Minor though it be. What happened between you and him that he didn't issue you a warning instead of a ticket? Maybe you were the 6th, 12th, or whatever cyclist that he'd seen riding on the boards after the specified time and felt that he had to make an example of you to send the message that the law will be enforced.
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Old 03-21-11, 11:26 AM
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For those of you cyclist who have never gone thru a red light, ridden on a sidewalk and always obey every traffic law, thanks for the moralistic replies.

The point is, in jersey there is a huge fight going on between the police unions and the state, cities and towns who employ them. The towns are trying to reduce cost and laying off police is now in the fore front of getting that done. The police unions are saying- no way- to do so is to compromise public safety. AC is one of the places this battle is being fought. It is against this backdrop that the ticket was issued.

It is hard to believe that an officer with 24 years experience, the officer who issued my ticket, couldn't be better utilized by a city with such visable crime problems as AC. A city where the police union is claiming it needs every officer to effectively protect the public. Essentially, counting the officer's complete benefits packeage, this officer is pulling down in excess of $100,000 a year. That's 24 years of experience and $100k plus wasted on writing nusiance tickets. In lean times, a poor use of resources.

DC, the conversation between myself and the officer was polite. I was the second person he found on the boards, as he had just started and i was a block from the police station on the boards. He gave the first guy a ticket as well. He told me he was under mandatory orders from the Public Safety Director to ticket everyone. Nice little revenue raiser!!! And, so you know, the boardwalk riding laws are not enforced in AC or anywhere along the jersey shore on weekdays off season.

I asked if his time could be better spent getting the drug addicts off the beach. He said he doesn't bother because they don't show up for court and don't pay the fines. Now, if i don't show up and don't pay up a bench warrant is issued for my arrest. Apparently, the drug users get a pass. Why? because AC can't make any money off of criminals. The thinking is "let's fleece the law biding citizens." That's exactly what they doing.
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Old 03-21-11, 12:37 PM
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Again as you said before you did violate the law. You were not singled out by your own statements. The officer was following a lawful order by his superior, AND he was doing his assigned duties. What more can you expect other than special treatment. Pay the ticket and stop crying. Fact is....you got caught.
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Old 03-21-11, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by tom cotter
For those of you cyclist who have never gone thru a red light, ridden on a sidewalk and always obey every traffic law, thanks for the moralistic replies.

The point is, in jersey there is a huge fight going on between the police unions and the state, cities and towns who employ them. The towns are trying to reduce cost and laying off police is now in the fore front of getting that done. The police unions are saying- no way- to do so is to compromise public safety. AC is one of the places this battle is being fought. It is against this backdrop that the ticket was issued.

It is hard to believe that an officer with 24 years experience, the officer who issued my ticket, couldn't be better utilized by a city with such visable crime problems as AC. A city where the police union is claiming it needs every officer to effectively protect the public. Essentially, counting the officer's complete benefits packeage, this officer is pulling down in excess of $100,000 a year. That's 24 years of experience and $100k plus wasted on writing nusiance tickets. In lean times, a poor use of resources.

DC, the conversation between myself and the officer was polite. I was the second person he found on the boards, as he had just started and i was a block from the police station on the boards. He gave the first guy a ticket as well. He told me he was under mandatory orders from the Public Safety Director to ticket everyone. Nice little revenue raiser!!! And, so you know, the boardwalk riding laws are not enforced in AC or anywhere along the jersey shore on weekdays off season.

I asked if his time could be better spent getting the drug addicts off the beach. He said he doesn't bother because they don't show up for court and don't pay the fines. Now, if i don't show up and don't pay up a bench warrant is issued for my arrest. Apparently, the drug users get a pass. Why? because AC can't make any money off of criminals. The thinking is "let's fleece the law biding citizens." That's exactly what they doing.
Then I would say that what you need to do is what has been suggested earlier work with other cyclists to get the law(s) changed.

And by your own admission in this case you were not a "law abiding" citizen. You knew what the law was and choose to break it. I would suggest that if you do not wish to get another ticket for this same offense is to either not ride your bike on the boards after the designated hours by either walking your bike (you still haven't answered the question as to whether or not the law "bans" all bicycle after a certain hour or just bicycles being ridden) or finding an alternative route to where you're going that doesn't require you to ride the boards.

The bottom line here is that knowing what the law is/was you choose to ride where you knew you weren't suppose to be. Could that officer's time been better utilized else where? Sure, who knows, but you and the other cyclist were breaking the law. No matter how you try to justify it by saying that during the week/off season that the police turns a "blind eye" to the offenders doesn't mean that it's going to stay that way.

It's not the cops fault that he gave you a ticket for riding on the boards, it's your fault for riding on the boards when you knew that you weren't suppose to.
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Old 03-21-11, 01:49 PM
  #12  
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Imagine riding your bike down the siedwalk when a cop stops and waves you over. He proceeds to write you a ticket when not more than 50 feet away is a person who is smoking crack. Ordinance breaker vs felony? You say to the officer " What about him?" The cop says "he won't pay the fines and you will." That's the only reason you are getting the ticket, you will pay. Of course he's got you, you did, after-all, break the law.

And yes, i've exaggerated the situation. The "people" smoking crack were more like 150 feet away. And, the cop admitted to me that he saw them.

The point isn't whining about getting a ticket. I accept responsibilty and move on. The point is the ridiculous situation I found myself in.
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Old 03-21-11, 02:36 PM
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Here in Fl it's actually legal to ride on the sidewalk and when doing so one assumes the responsibilities and duties of a pedestrian. Several months ago I was going to visit my girlfriend at around 10:30 - 11:00pm. There were two cops in my parking lot. One took of first and pulled into the parking lot of the produce stand across the street from my complex. The other one pretty much followed me out of the parking lot. Not too far from the grocery store he get's on his PA system and tells me to either ride closer to the right or to get on the sidewalk.

Yes, the situation you're in is bad and something needs to be done about it. I don't know what to recommend other than to get with anti-drug use groups, bike groups, whatever it takes to get the laws and attitudes in your city changed.

The issuance of a ticket shouldn't rely on whether or not the person can pay the fine. It should depend on the person broke the law. If they can't afford to pay the fine than lock them up and/or send them to a rehab facility.

Sadly, though that was part of the reason several months ago when here in St. Pete when the Mayor and police instituted a "bike education" program that the police "cherry picked" the cyclists to pull over and issue tickets to for not coming to a complete stop at stop signs. They picked those cyclists who looked like they could pay the fine and let those that they didn't think could pay the fine go without so much as a warning.
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Old 03-21-11, 03:33 PM
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Tom, the solution seems to be simple: you need to start smoking crack while you're riding the boards. Can you ride no-hands while holding a glass pipe and lighter (i'm guessing that's how it's done)?
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Old 03-21-11, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by seeker333
Tom, the solution seems to be simple: you need to start smoking crack while you're riding the boards. Can you ride no-hands while holding a glass pipe and lighter (i'm guessing that's how it's done)?
I could learn!!!!

Great answer!!!!!

Yeah, it's frustrating because it things like this that affect our attitude towards the police. I know the cops struggle with this.
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Old 03-21-11, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by tom cotter
Imagine riding your bike down the siedwalk when a cop stops and waves you over. He proceeds to write you a ticket when not more than 50 feet away is a person who is smoking crack. Ordinance breaker vs felony? You say to the officer " What about him?" The cop says "he won't pay the fines and you will." That's the only reason you are getting the ticket, you will pay. Of course he's got you, you did, after-all, break the law.

And yes, i've exaggerated the situation. The "people" smoking crack were more like 150 feet away. And, the cop admitted to me that he saw them.

The point isn't whining about getting a ticket. I accept responsibilty and move on. The point is the ridiculous situation I found myself in.
Maybe remind the cop which person is more likely to take a shot at him.

Sorry, after thinking about it for a second, the cop would still ticket you because he figures he will not get shot at. Now I understand why there are so many crack heads.
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Old 03-21-11, 06:05 PM
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Totally sucks from a what-seems-fair standpoint. I also think it was fair enough for you to point out the substance users (provided you're not exaggerating), but the law is the law, and $54 sounds just about financially painful enough to make someone think twice about it.

I don't see any civil disobedience reason to go breaking it, either. I'd be more inclined to join the crusade overzalously enforced FRAP and "impeding traffic" laws, since they work against use of the bicycle in ways that range beyond recreation.
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Old 03-22-11, 10:08 AM
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No exaggeration. Cop totally agreed with me and that it sucked. Told me he was under orders. Nice enough guy, just total misuse of resources. I can see this in sleepy hollow where the police have to invent ways to stay busy. Not so in AC.

Interestingly, the cop's boss, in an interview a year ago as the newly appointed public safety director, pointed to the crime and told of redeploying assets to deal with it. Last summer the rank and file gave her a no confidence vote. Moral is low and the beat goes on. For criminals in AC it's biz as usual as the PD has been ordered to fleece the law abiding citizens with nusiance ticket to boost revenue.
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Old 03-24-11, 05:06 AM
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is there a local cycling advocacy group? definitely sounds like it would benefit both reason and public safety to get the local law changed to allow cycling on the boardwalk during off-peak times.

i think it's a sign of the end times when cops are more concerned with municipal codes than violent/property crimes. i can only hope that the cop's boss get his (her?) car broken into (with a lot of damage to the car) while the cops are collecting revenue from people who can afford to pay tickets, instead of protecting people and their property from criminals.

here in wellington, there are some "new" streets that are "bus only" all the time... in a city where the buses stop running at midnight, five nights per week. getting those lanes to allow bikes during off-peak times is on my to-do list. in the meantime (while i'm pushing to keep/build momentum locally to get bike-on-bus infrastructure), at least i haven't heard of any tickets being issued. it almost makes sense to have these lanes "bus only" during peak, but it makes no sense at all off-peak.
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Old 03-27-11, 10:35 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by tom cotter
For those of you cyclist who have never gone thru a red light, ridden on a sidewalk and always obey every traffic law, thanks for the moralistic replies.
Dude, you called yourself a "big boy".

Originally Posted by tom cotter
The point is, in jersey there is a huge fight going on between the police unions and the state, cities and towns who employ them. The towns are trying to reduce cost and laying off police is now in the fore front of getting that done. The police unions are saying- no way- to do so is to compromise public safety. AC is one of the places this battle is being fought. It is against this backdrop that the ticket was issued.

It is hard to believe that an officer with 24 years experience, the officer who issued my ticket, couldn't be better utilized by a city with such visable crime problems as AC. A city where the police union is claiming it needs every officer to effectively protect the public. Essentially, counting the officer's complete benefits packeage, this officer is pulling down in excess of $100,000 a year. That's 24 years of experience and $100k plus wasted on writing nusiance tickets. In lean times, a poor use of resources.

DC, the conversation between myself and the officer was polite. I was the second person he found on the boards, as he had just started and i was a block from the police station on the boards. He gave the first guy a ticket as well. He told me he was under mandatory orders from the Public Safety Director to ticket everyone. Nice little revenue raiser!!! And, so you know, the boardwalk riding laws are not enforced in AC or anywhere along the jersey shore on weekdays off season.

I asked if his time could be better spent getting the drug addicts off the beach. He said he doesn't bother because they don't show up for court and don't pay the fines. Now, if i don't show up and don't pay up a bench warrant is issued for my arrest. Apparently, the drug users get a pass. Why? because AC can't make any money off of criminals. The thinking is "let's fleece the law biding citizens." That's exactly what they doing.
This is silly. It seems obvious that police would normally patrol the boardwalk in AC. You don't get to pick what you get a ticket for.

Originally Posted by tom cotter
I'm a big boy and when i get ticketed for speeding or something, which isn't often, I take responsibiliy for it.
No, you don't.
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Old 03-27-11, 10:40 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy
What exactly does the law say? Does it say that there will be no bicycles on the boards after such and such a time, period. Or does it only say that bicycles will not be ridden after such and such a time? Could you have dismounted and walked and been in compliance with the law?
These laws are common in NJ beach towns. It's bike riding that is prohibited (either always or at certain times).
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Old 03-27-11, 11:08 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by tom cotter
For those of you cyclist who have never gone thru a red light, ridden on a sidewalk and always obey every traffic law, thanks for the moralistic replies.

The point is, in jersey there is a huge fight going on between the police unions and the state, cities and towns who employ them. The towns are trying to reduce cost and laying off police is now in the fore front of getting that done. The police unions are saying- no way- to do so is to compromise public safety. AC is one of the places this battle is being fought. It is against this backdrop that the ticket was issued.

It is hard to believe that an officer with 24 years experience, the officer who issued my ticket, couldn't be better utilized by a city with such visable crime problems as AC. A city where the police union is claiming it needs every officer to effectively protect the public. Essentially, counting the officer's complete benefits packeage, this officer is pulling down in excess of $100,000 a year. That's 24 years of experience and $100k plus wasted on writing nusiance tickets. In lean times, a poor use of resources.

DC, the conversation between myself and the officer was polite. I was the second person he found on the boards, as he had just started and i was a block from the police station on the boards. He gave the first guy a ticket as well. He told me he was under mandatory orders from the Public Safety Director to ticket everyone. Nice little revenue raiser!!! And, so you know, the boardwalk riding laws are not enforced in AC or anywhere along the jersey shore on weekdays off season.

I asked if his time could be better spent getting the drug addicts off the beach. He said he doesn't bother because they don't show up for court and don't pay the fines. Now, if i don't show up and don't pay up a bench warrant is issued for my arrest. Apparently, the drug users get a pass. Why? because AC can't make any money off of criminals. The thinking is "let's fleece the law biding citizens." That's exactly what they doing.
In my experience, many crybabies often prove hostile to those who thwart them.
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Old 03-27-11, 11:35 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by njkayaker
These laws are common in NJ beach towns. It's bike riding that is prohibited (either always or at certain times).
NJ Kayaker,

Thank you, so Tom could have dismounted walked his bike while he was on the boards and been in compliance with the law.

To Tom, I suggest that if you do not wish to get a ticket for riding on the boards in the future that you not ride on the boards when you are not suppose to be. And that as has been suggested that you work with your local or state advocacy group to get the law changed.
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Old 03-27-11, 12:13 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by CB HI
Maybe remind the cop which person is more likely to take a shot at him.
+1
Cop with 24 years just wants to make it to retirement. Really doesn't want to deal with whacked out law breakers who'll shoot him or make him chase them.
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Old 03-27-11, 01:19 PM
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unterhausen
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I guess a little consideration for other people's feelings is too much to ask of the people that post in A&S. Closed.
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