Traffic ticket on W&OD

[creadinger]

@semperiden 140693 wrote:

Last Tuesday I was commuting on the W&OD trail section of Van Buren St and 19th St N. There is a stop sign at this intersection, I proceeded to yield, looked at both sides and since there were no cars, I kept going. Just after doing this, a cop stopped me. He was very apologetic for stopping me, asked for my ID, went to his car and came back with a traffic ticket.

That sucks he gave you a ticket. I went through that intersection on Tuesday morning. There were 2 police cars, one with the lights on. Drivers and cyclists were interacting very well at the stop sign though. The three cyclists I could see plus myself all Idaho-stopped basically since slowing down to 2mph is not in fact a stop. And the drivers more or less stopped as well, as drivers do. No tickets were given.

[semperiden]

@baiskeli 140794 wrote:

This stop sign might not be valid – is the speed limit of the road there 45 mph or more? If not, the county has no authority to put up that sign, and you could fight the ticket if you so desire.

Sorry. Forgot to mention that this was actually on the street. There is a small portion of the W&OD that connects with the road for a few blocks. I think that the speed limit there is 25mph. Unfortunately, by the current law, it is a valid ticket and I don’t think I can fight it.

[semperiden]

@creadinger 140797 wrote:

That sucks he gave you a ticket. I went through that intersection on Tuesday morning. There were 2 police cars, one with the lights on. Drivers and cyclists were interacting very well at the stop sign though. The three cyclists I could see plus myself all Idaho-stopped basically since slowing down to 2mph is not in fact a stop. And the drivers more or less stopped as well, as drivers do. No tickets were given.

Yes. It was really unfortunate. I was there just before 8am. There were no cars, no pedestrians, no bikers on the street at that point. The police car was parked there without lights and I couldn’t see it because I was too busy looking that the intersection had no cars. After the officer went to his car, he finally put his light on. He was very courteous and was as to say “I don’t want to be here, but I have no other option, the neighborhood is complaining”. I was pretty sure I would just get a warning since I have squeaky clean record, but I guess the luck of the draw dictated otherwise.

[Steve O]

@semperiden 140693 wrote:

Last Tuesday I was commuting on the W&OD trail section of Van Buren St and 19th St N. There is a stop sign at this intersection, I proceeded to yield, looked at both sides and since there were no cars, I kept going. Just after doing this, a cop stopped me. He was very apologetic for stopping me, asked for my ID, went to his car and came back with a traffic ticket.

I will preface this by saying I DO NOT recommend trying it. However, it’s interesting to think about what if you didn’t stop? If you were able to avoid the officer, since he was on foot, you would have made it to the trail before he could catch you. Then it’s miles and miles of trails for you to disappear on. (I’m assuming eastbound. This would be trickier westbound.)

[semperiden]

@Steve O 140809 wrote:

I will preface this by saying I DO NOT recommend trying it. However, it’s interesting to think about what if you didn’t stop? If you were able to avoid the officer, since he was on foot, you would have made it to the trail before he could catch you. Then it’s miles and miles of trails for you to disappear on. (I’m assuming eastbound. This would be trickier westbound.)

Haha. I thought about it later. I can go pretty fast in the trails and they really couldn’t have caught me, but I am extremely self-conscious and the last thing I want to do is being a fugitive.

[baiskeli]

@ShawnoftheDread 140796 wrote:

The stop sign in question is on the road; the intersection of Van Buren and 19th. It’s relation to the trail is that WOD users use it to get from the section of trail ending in Banneker Park to the section along 66 just east of Lee Hwy. But it’s not actually part of the trail.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the explanation. It sounds like he was legally a vehicle too.

[huskerdont]

@semperiden 140812 wrote:

Haha. I thought about it later. I can go pretty fast in the trails and they really couldn’t have caught me, but I am extremely self-conscious and the last thing I want to do is being a fugitive.

Probably a good decision. The man really doesn’t like it when you run away from him. You’d have to ride in disguise or use a separate route for a bit even if you weren’t caught.

[baiskeli]

@semperiden 140803 wrote:

Sorry. Forgot to mention that this was actually on the street. There is a small portion of the W&OD that connects with the road for a few blocks. I think that the speed limit there is 25mph. Unfortunately, by the current law, it is a valid ticket and I don’t think I can fight it.

Okay, got it. Yep, you were a vehicle and it was a plain old stop sign

[vvill]

Not particularly helpful at this point in time, but there was word-on-the-street of increased enforcement there during Bike to Work Day (and onwards, I guess).

You can avoid that intersection (and the weirdness of the trail around 19th/N Vanderpool) – I often take Little Falls St to N Columbia St to N Van Buren or vice versa. You do often have to wait for the light to cross 29/Washington St but it’s not a particularly busy intersection.

[kcb203]

I think the “official” route of the W&OD actually stays on the trail between 66 and the electric substation, then joins the road near East Falls Church Metro for a couple blocks, then rejoins the W&OD after crossing a bridge. Nobody goes that way on a bike because there are a few tight turns and it’s easier to just go down Van Buren.

[Zack]

@rcannon100 140714 wrote:

I believe compliance with a stop sign means coming to a full stop and putting one’s foot down. That apparently is the interpretation of many local police.

Putting one’s foot down is NOT in the statue. https://vacode.org/46.2-821/ If the officer wrote something to that effect in the ticket, then you should contest it.

You might try contesting it anyways. Many jurisdictions will reduce a ticket for various reasons if you show up at court, it is like a 50% chance with drivers. Or the officer might not show up to court and your ticket would be dismissed. My mother’s NY speeding ticket was reduced to parking tickets because the town she was pulled over in would have had to give all speeding ticket revenue to the state but could keep all parking ticket revenue for itself, not sure what VA’s rules on this are.

And good call about not fleeing, apparently they don’t like that and an enterprising officer might post a colleague down the trail. http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-817/

[semperiden]

@Zack 140833 wrote:

Putting one’s foot down is NOT in the statue. https://vacode.org/46.2-821/ If the officer wrote something to that effect in the ticket, then you should contest it.

You might try contesting it anyways. Many jurisdictions will reduce a ticket for various reasons if you show up at court, it is like a 50% chance with drivers. Or the officer might not show up to court and your ticket would be dismissed. My mother’s NY speeding ticket was reduced to parking tickets because the town she was pulled over in would have had to give all speeding ticket revenue to the state but could keep all parking ticket revenue for itself, not sure what VA’s rules on this are.

And good call about not fleeing, apparently they don’t like that and an enterprising officer might post a colleague down the trail. http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-817/

Yes. I would never run away from the Police. You can see some crazy stuff in the news of people running away these days. Besides, if he didn’t kill me, my conscience would. Just a funny thought, that is all.

I am not very familiar with going to court since I have never been to one. Wouldn’t I have to pay court fees if I show up and don’t win? The ticket is only $30 (plus $61 processing fee) so there is no much to save there. Plus spending a morning (or day) in court might not be worth it.

[semperiden]

@vvill 140823 wrote:

Not particularly helpful at this point in time, but there was word-on-the-street of increased enforcement there during Bike to Work Day (and onwards, I guess).

You can avoid that intersection (and the weirdness of the trail around 19th/N Vanderpool) – I often take Little Falls St to N Columbia St to N Van Buren or vice versa. You do often have to wait for the light to cross 29/Washington St but it’s not a particularly busy intersection.

I need to interact more with my fellow cyclists to know about these “word-on-the-street”. Reason for which I joined this forum.

I have been going up the trail, close to the East Falls Church metro going East bound since then. Going West bound, I will continue to use this road. It is easier to completely stop going uphill, and the drivers can see you better and not ignore you while you are waiting.

[Steve O]

@semperiden 140841 wrote:

I need to interact more with my fellow cyclists to know about these “word-on-the-street”. Reason for which I joined this forum.

Check out the Coffee Club sticky, and you can meet some of us in person.

[Drewdane]

@vvill 140823 wrote:

Not particularly helpful at this point in time, but there was word-on-the-street of increased enforcement there during Bike to Work Day (and onwards, I guess).

You can avoid that intersection (and the weirdness of the trail around 19th/N Vanderpool) – I often take Little Falls St to N Columbia St to N Van Buren or vice versa. You do often have to wait for the light to cross 29/Washington St but it’s not a particularly busy intersection.

There was also one of those portable light signs at that intersection a couple of weeks ago flashing a message for people to obey the law. I took it as a warning of stepped up enforcement to come.

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