Ok Update on 414 dollar mountain bike ticket?

Question

I got pulled over on july 9th at night riding back from my friends work,I didn't have any lights on my bike,the second the guy stopped me he put me in handcuffs (before he even asked for my ID) then asked me if i had done any drugs before and I was honest and said yes I have done crank before but haven't done it for like 4 yrs,and then the guy asked me are you sure? I told him yes, then he said are you sure you're sure? and i told him yes i am,when i finally got my citation from the guy it said that i got a citation for 1)not having a light,2) reflectors being too low, and 3)Having one hand off the handlebars a lass I was smoking a cigarette

Answer 1

I totally agree with AviationMetalSmith.....and if the amount of that ticket is for three separate citations, you should certainly show up in court to contest two of them.  You can't fight the no-lights one...obviously your city has a "white front light" law like most places do.  

The reflectors, however....see if you can check your local and state statutes about reflector requirements for bicycles.  I've never heard of any one that specified positioning, etc....only that a front white and rear red reflector are required.  I'll bet you can get that one dropped.  You can check out http://www.municode.com or look it up in your local court system.

Having one hand on the bars is iffy.  Some statutes mention something about safe handling/control of the bike, but Aviation is right, you do have to make turn signals...so I'll bet you can get that one dropped as well.  You can't do anything about it if you don't show up in court, however.  There's always the chance, too, that if you show up and the officer does not, you may get all three citations dropped for his failure to appear.  That happens pretty frequently.  

Also, as far as the previous drug use questions are concerned, he doesn't have any right to get an answer from you regarding that...he was just abusing his authority there.  Unless it's relevant to the current infraction....it's not relevant.  Kudos to you for just being honest about it, but you can always just say "no, I haven't" if you want to, and you don't have to answer at all really (but it may help the situation if you don't clam up and seem to be uncooperative, especially with guys like that).

Sounds like you got a weinerhead....that's just how it goes sometimes.    

Answer 2

I'm not sure what your question is.

But $414.00 is a lot for a ticket.

I understand the part about "not having a light"

But "Reflectors being too low" I never heard of that, In fact, some experts recommend putting bike reflectors as low as possible because they will catch the cars headlights better.

"Having one hand off the handlebars" is NOT illegal, because you need to take one hand off to make hand-signals.

Answer 3

haha dude that cop is g*y.

anyways could you tell me your country or state? i would chek for the local rule's in your country/state.

anyways that cop is g*y and i would totaly fight it