ryanjams

Back in college I had my bike lights stolen down on campus then had to ride home after dark to a more suburban corner of town. I stayed on the bike path 90% of the way home while possible, for my own safety and legality, then stuck to the sidewalks (advised against, but legal outside of my city's downtown, and exempted from the light requirements due to not technically operating on a roadway) but I hopped off a curb on an otherwise empty residential street, just around the corner from my house, and was pulled over immediately by an officer that must have been tailing me a ways back.

They accused me of breaking into cars in the neighborhood, which only irritated me more, and I wouldn't allow them to search my bag on principle--I know my rights, and refuse to further empower officers to coerce citizens into consenting to a search. They weren't too happy about this, and still convinced I was a petty criminal, decided to throw the book at me for riding without lights, even after I explained the circumstances. I guess if I hadn't hopped that curb, some 100 yards from my destination, they would have had no grounds to pull me over.

I forget how much the ticket was, but enough to sting for a broke student.

alanf

How fast were you going?

Elbeinlaw

I was riding through the local U, came up to a stop sign that was right after another stop sign (like 20' after), and at the bottom of a hill. So I paused (ok, maybe it was a micromini pause) and then proceeded. Siren, lights. The cop told me that I was a vehicle too, and had to stop. I said, "I could argue with you, but instead, why don't you just give me a ticket … for speeding." He said, "Speeding? Why would I give you a ticket for speeding?" I said, "Because that way I could prove to all my friends that I can exceed 25 mph." He laughed and let me go with a verbal warning.

indyfabz

He allegedly lives in the Philippines, and take your political comments to P&R.

mev

A few times while bicycle touring:

1. In Russia, several times mostly for curiosity. I would be cycling along the highway and pass a cop otherwise on side with a radar gun. They would motion me to go over. After that, ask all the same curiosity questions: where are you going? What do you like about our roads? What will you do when you get there? Never once asked for ID in those situations.

2. In China, law enforcement told me to get off the main highway and use a side road.

3. In Colorado, cycling a section of Interstate where bikes are allowed (right south of CO/WY border on I-25). Came past a rolled truck as well as two cop cars stopped to attend to a startled but otherwise OK driver. I intended to mostly just cycle past since they otherwise had their hands full. However, just as I came past, the law enforcement officer yelled out to get off the highway. I stopped and explained to him exactly where the "caution bicyclist" signs were found as well as where the sign was to get off I-25. It was all polite. He stopped and thanked me and said he hadn't realized it was allowed.

alanf

I used to listen to podcasts all the time including during biking, but I found that when biking I would naturally pay attention to the traffic and so I would have to listen to it again anyways to catch what I missed so I don't do that anymore. Podcasts are just talk and so I could hear everything around me, but I had to stop to go to the next one or turn it up or down or the earbuds would fall out etc. and it is a bit sketchy doing anything with it, on the fly so I stopped that practice.

shelbyfv

I may elect to take your bike(s). Good to hear you won't be disturbed.

Marci

Does almost running into the cop car count? I was crossing the street after dark looked both ways and the street was empty,I was pulling out from a car driveway to a 7-11 and as I start out I look forward to see a cop car that had just turned on to the street and was on a collision course with me, so I stopped in the other lane about 8 feet away (glad I got the brakes adjusted recently) and he stopped and warmed me to be more careful. With my deer in the headlights look I said you scared me. But thinking about it there is a bush there and you can't see if a car is turning from the driveway. Good thing the cop was cute.

bfaIllini

You are correct. And I apologize
Emotions got the better of me
Will attempt to delete my post

Bill Abbey

Yep. Got flagged over by WSP heading down to the Hood Canal Bridgeon my fully loaded touring bike for less than 10 over. Laughingly gave me a warning. Another time I was stopped as I was riding the iInterstate in California by a new CHP academy grad. I explained that Interstates are open unless specifically prohibited and that this section is the only means of going over the pass. I showed him the Adventure Cycling Map and its course. He was interested in the logic and explained he was new and didn't realize the nuances. Then I told him I am a retired cop and this is a great way to see the world in a frugal manner. THEN he really lit up. I've written many tickets to bicyclists blowing stop lights and stop signs. Not all had ID and Im sure many lied, thinking they were way smarter than that dumb cop. Everyone has their own standards of integrity. I often pointed out that its not the car you see, but rather the ones you don't see, and those that don't see you, that nail you.

AMGwagon

I got popped for 48mph in a 25 zone... cop told me he didn't even know if I was breaking a law given I was on a bike, but he told me to mail in the ticket saying "not guilty" and they'd drop it. So far I have not heard back. Really just a PIA event. FWIW I did get the KoM on the segment!

EDIT: I have NEVER been pulled over for running lights/stop signs, b/c I stop at those and yell at other cyclists about it. Perfected my track-stand 20yr ago to reduce wear on springs (was issue with old Time pedals).

taco2ewsday

A cop flagged me down and claimed I 'fit the description' of a robbery suspect, I was in HS at the time and had my ID on me, I happened to go to a HS that was well known for it's academics so he 'let me go' mind you I had on shorts and a t-shirt where would I hide stolen items

Troul 

buttocks crack?

strangdang

I saved this ticket I got in 1980 because I thought it was funny. They put the model of bicycle on there, and had to ask me the year. Didn't show a driver's License, so that wasn't on there. It says I ran a red light at 8mph, but actually I made a right turn on red where a sign prohibited it.

cs1

As a cyclist we all want to be treated as equals to automobiles. Yet when we get pulled over or cited for breaking the rules we all cry foul and say they don’t apply to us. You cannot have it both ways.

Biketiger

I got flagged over yesterday on a busy paved bike trail for not wearing a mask. Masks are now required outdoors in New Mexico. The officer was trying to give me a citation but he couldn't get the printer in his SUV to work. After being detained for 10 minutes he let me go. I did have to provide my full name, address, height, weight, SS#, phone #....

TomM

Once, came to a full stop at a Stop sign but didn't unclip. Officer that was driving behind me pulled me over and told me I had to place a foot on the ground after a full stop.

yukiinu

I blew through a stop sign when I was a bicycle messenger, a motorcycle cop pulled me over, gave me a ticket, my bike was a Peugeot bike, and the ticket read as if I had run a stop sign in a Peugeot car. I had to go to traffic school.

daihard 

I was pulled over once right after I turned left through a four-way stop without slowin down. I didn't realize a cop was right behind me on a motorcycle. He gave me a warning, telling me "At least slow down a bit."

daihard 

Does your state require you to put a foot down as part of a complete stop?

AMGwagon

That is categorically wrong. It’s a matter of coming to full stop as is the legal test for a motor vehicle.

rsbob 

Just read Mrs Rsbob a couple of the funnier stops on this thread and she gave me the full story of the above.

After she heard the other cops laughing, she told the arresting officer, it was a brand new bike and she was so anxious to get out on it she didn’t bother to inflate the tires. So if she went home and pumped them up, would he clock her again? He replied, “Well mam, then I would be forced to cite you”. My wife then laughed and the cops buddies lost control laughing and he turned brighter red. One of the buddies called after her, “Pump them up and I will be happy to clock you.”

Lemond1985

In California, there is no law that I know of that says operators of two wheeled conveyances must put a foot down when stopping. But many motorcyclists do this habitually at stop signs, especially when traffic cops are around. Since it's not in the vehicle code, I can only assume it's something cops came up with, as a test for stopping completely. At the risk of sounding like a smart ass, I would ask the cop to show me the law that requires this, as proof of a full stop.

I dunno, maybe it's one of those unwritten laws like "never pass a cop on the freeway who is going the speed limit", never telling them their jackboots and poofy director's pants look silly, or never asking them if you can touch their gun. These things don't appear in the vehicle code, but you'll still be in trouble if you violate them.

AMGwagon

Good stuff... I got a laugh from that.

transitguy

I was stopped by a local suburban cop about several years ago for "blocking traffic". This happened on a Sunday at about 8:00 a.m. on a quiet, 30 mph suburban street with no other vehicles in sight. The road had an unmarked shoulder that I left temporarily in order to avoid some debris. The patrol car was at least a block behind me during the 10-15 seconds I was in the main roadway (I ride with a mirror) so I wasn't "blocking" him. During our discussion the cop shut down my objections to being stopped when he said I could argue it in court if I continued to question him, so I chose to avoid the ticket. His was the only car I saw on that street that morning, so I'm still baffled about why he stopped me.
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