Stop sign enforcement in Old Town

[barbielwc]

I received a ticket on Commonwealth Ave this morning. There was no one around except the cop behind me which I didn’t turn around to see. I enjoyed the other cyclist giving him shit about the stop and him parking his motorcycle in the bike lane while writing me a ticket. I should have taken a picture of all the room on the side he could have parked in but I was in disbelieve he was actual giving me a ticket. Thanks $94 gone.

[Steve O]

@barbielwc 146382 wrote:

I received a ticket on Commonwealth Ave this morning. ….. That’s $94 gone.

In recent discussions about the red light cameras in DC, I learned that the fine for running a red light in DC on a bicycle is $25 while it is $150 for a driver.

Does anyone know if there are different fines in VA like in DC? Maybe the $94 is wrong.

[Zack]

@barbielwc 146382 wrote:

I received a ticket on Commonwealth Ave this morning. There was no one around except the cop behind me which I didn’t turn around to see. I enjoyed the other cyclist giving him shit about the stop and him parking his motorcycle in the bike lane while writing me a ticket. I should have taken a picture of all the room on the side he could have parked in but I was in disbelieve he was actual giving me a ticket. Thanks $94 gone.

If you don’t mind me asking, how fast were you going? Did you slow down noticeably? Or did the officer ticket you for not completely stopping?

There is a certain irony of APD breaking the law while conducting a campaign ostensibly for safety. On Tuesday, a motorcycle officer was parked in the sidewalk at Del Ray Ave and Commonwealth, a blatant violation of Sec. 10-4-10. It is an image issue that they don’t seem to care about.

[barbielwc]

It was a four way stop on Commonwealth and E Del Ray Ave. I was in the bike lane. I slowed there the intersection was clear. In the morning I’m usually not going more 15 mph. The motorcycle officer pulled me over from behind. He parked in the bike lane to write the ticket which made the other cyclist wordy when passing. I should have taken a picture. The ticket was for not coming to a stop at the stop sign. I don’t argue with officer but did say something about having to watch out for cars always. He said the bikers are other only ones complaining about stopping at signs. I did not say anything else as he wrote me up.
I’m not mad but it just sucks. Some bike friends say we should organize a ride around Alexandria take the lanes, stop at every stop, and see how the pubic feels about the slow down. I feel this action would only make the cars more aggressive about bikes. Is may be an issue that has to be addressed clearly around the country.

[KLizotte]

@barbielwc 146481 wrote:

It was a four way stop on Commonwealth and E Del Ray Ave. I was in the bike lane. I slowed there the intersection was clear. In the morning I’m usually not going more 15 mph. The motorcycle officer pulled me over from behind. He parked in the bike lane to write the ticket which made the other cyclist wordy when passing. I should have taken a picture. The ticket was for not coming to a stop at the stop sign. I don’t argue with officer but did say something about having to watch out for cars always. He said the bikers are other only ones complaining about stopping at signs. I did not say anything else as he wrote me up.
I’m not mad but it just sucks. Some bike friends say we should organize a ride around Alexandria take the lanes, stop at every stop, and see how the pubic feels about the slow down. I feel this action would only make the cars more aggressive about bikes. Is may be an issue that has to be addressed clearly around the country.

While so called Idaho stops may be preferred they are not legal here and it is hard to argue with *not* stopping at a stop sign, esp at that intersection. I highly suggest getting a helmet mirror; that way you will see when the cops (or anyone else) is behind you.

Regarding your friends’ idea, best not to antagonize the beings in possession of two ton killing machines.

[lordofthemark]

@barbielwc 146481 wrote:

It was a four way stop on Commonwealth and E Del Ray Ave. I was in the bike lane. I slowed there the intersection was clear. In the morning I’m usually not going more 15 mph. The motorcycle officer pulled me over from behind. He parked in the bike lane to write the ticket which made the other cyclist wordy when passing. I should have taken a picture. The ticket was for not coming to a stop at the stop sign. I don’t argue with officer but did say something about having to watch out for cars always. He said the bikers are other only ones complaining about stopping at signs. I did not say anything else as he wrote me up.
I’m not mad but it just sucks. Some bike friends say we should organize a ride around Alexandria take the lanes, stop at every stop, and see how the pubic feels about the slow down. I feel this action would only make the cars more aggressive about bikes. Is may be an issue that has to be addressed clearly around the country.

That happened in SF. Believe me, many bike advocates here are aware of what happened in SF, and APD is also aware of it. At this point in time, while there are many cyclists uncomfortable with APD’s prioritization in enforcement, I think the sense is that things are moving in our direction in the City in many other ways, and that a protest like that would be likely to backfire.

Edit – Of course do take the lanes at the many places where that is the safest way to bike – that is not a protest, just being sensible.

[chris_s]

@lordofthemark 146335 wrote:

To safely count them, I would need a radar gun (which I could use while standing at the corner).

Let me know if you want to borrow my radar gun.

[Mariner]

@barbielwc 146481 wrote:

It was a four way stop on Commonwealth and E Del Ray Ave. I was in the bike lane. I slowed there the intersection was clear. In the morning I’m usually not going more 15 mph.

Do you get Virginia DMV driver license points for things like this? If so, you might want to consider the impact of points on your record, and if that makes a difference. A year from now, it will show up on your record as a stop sign violation with nothing about your having been on the bicycle.

I might consider going to court for it. Judges routinely reduce speeding infractions (10-19 over to 1-9 over for example), and those are lower fines and fewer points. Maybe “Stop sign violation” to “Disregarding official sign” in your case? Yes I know it’s a hassle but there is chance it will be dismissed outright, especially if you were courteous (the judge will ask the arresting officer).

That is an odd intersection with the staggered cross road entry. I have blown through that stop before because you end up stopping a good distance before the road you actually cross, and the road you do stop for presents no traffic interference to the bike lanes.

Good luck mate!

[peterw_diy]

@KLizotte 146484 wrote:

it is hard to argue with *not* stopping at a stop sign, esp at that intersection.

I disagree. The alignment of streets is atypical but visibility there is usually very good. Furthermore the odd layout often makes right of way negotiation a little awkward. It’s a perfect location for Idaho treatment.

[KLizotte]

@peterw_diy 146508 wrote:

I disagree. The alignment of streets is atypical but visibility there is usually very good. Furthermore the odd layout often makes right of way negotiation a little awkward. It’s a perfect location for Idaho treatment.

It is a perfect location for an Idaho stop but those stops aren’t allowed in VA unfortunately. I was just trying to point out that one can’t argue that stopping there puts you at risk as might be the case in other intersections; therefore, trying to argue one’s way out of a ticket is probably not gonna work. It is a bit of a goofy intersection though.

If I got a ticket there, I would just accept it realizing I was in the wrong. Far worse things can happen on a bike ride!

[Zack]

@Steve O 146398 wrote:

In recent discussions about the red light cameras in DC, I learned that the fine for running a red light in DC on a bicycle is $25 while it is $150 for a driver.

Does anyone know if there are different fines in VA like in DC? Maybe the $94 is wrong.

No unlike DC, VA does not have separate fines for bicycling. To break it down, the fine is only $30 but court costs are $64

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