Traffic Ticket

[TwoWheelsDC]

@JimF22003 33229 wrote:

For a bit of perspective on the “Idaho Stop” law, and why it makes sense in Idaho, here’s a ride I did the weekend before last while visiting my Dad:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/229451225

Everything is laid out in one-mile squares. When you roll up to a stop sign you can usually see that the “traffic” is clear for at least half a mile in either direction. When you’re in town there’s usually enough traffic that you have to act like normal traffic in this area anyway, but it sure is nice when you’re out in the boonies (most of the place consists of boonies, BTW)…

Having been born and raised in Idaho, in a town that didn’t get a stop light until after I’d left for college (also in Idaho…), I can verify the accuracy of this post.

[Tim Kelley]

@TwoWheelsDC 33231 wrote:

Having been born and raised in Idaho, in a town that didn’t get a stop light until after I’d left for college (also in Idaho…), I can verify the accuracy of this post.

I spent some years as a kid growing up in North Dakota–I remember when we got a stop sign in town. That was an exciting day on the prairie!

[dasgeh]

My proposal is a bit different than an Idaho stop, for just that reason (visibility). I’ll call it a Virginia stop. And face it, it’s what most drivers do, too, unless they see a cop around (no, I’m not suggesting this for cars). You slow to a roll that could easily become a stop, and then go when it’s your turn. It just prevents cops from spitefully giving you a ticket because you didn’t put your foot down.

[rcannon100]

Ticketing cyclists seems to be going around – are the police forces facing budget shortfalls????

Falls Church Police reportedly ticketing cyclists on the WOD (or how to discourage patrons to your businesses)

http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2012/10/falls-church-police-ticketing-w-cyclists.html

[vvill]

@rcannon100 33312 wrote:

http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2012/10/falls-church-police-ticketing-w-cyclists.html

Ugh. I guess the sign should read “STOP. May or may not be required by law”.

Another reason for me to enjoy the freewheelin’ Custis, and then hop off the W&OD as soon as I get a chance.

[mstone]

@vvill 33327 wrote:

Ugh. I guess the sign should read “STOP. May or may not be required by law”.

Another reason for me to enjoy the freewheelin’ Custis, and then hop off the W&OD as soon as I get a chance.

Just another illustration of why the existing law was fine, and the illegal signs just screw things up.

[dasgeh]

@vvill 33327 wrote:

Another reason for me to enjoy the freewheelin’ Custis, and then hop off the W&OD as soon as I get a chance.

But the Custis has the Stop at the Marriott parking lot, and that random stop sign mounted high up on a light pole before you get to Scott Street (heading East). That’s my favorite. It’s not really near the ground and not really near the intersection. And it’s mini.

[bobco85]

What about the stop signs at every crossing on W&OD along Four Mile Run Drive between Columbia Pike and Shirlington Road? It’s very weird having 3 different sets of traffic devices to deal with: 1) the stop sign, 2) the crosswalk signal, and 3) the stoplight. I find myself legally/illegally going through on a red light, red hand, but after stopping for the stop sign, and legally/illegally going through on a green light, walk signal, but not stopping for the stop sign.

I read recently on this forum that the stop signs will be addressed in an upcoming meeting (and hopefully removed), but am still wondering about 1) the legality of passing through the intersection at any given time and 2) who has right-of-way in the various situations.

[Tim Kelley]

@bobco85 33367 wrote:

What about the stop signs at every crossing on W&OD along Four Mile Run Drive between Columbia Pike and Shirlington Road? It’s very weird having 3 different sets of traffic devices to deal with: 1) the stop sign, 2) the crosswalk signal, and 3) the stoplight. I find myself legally/illegally going through on a red light, red hand, but after stopping for the stop sign, and legally/illegally going through on a green light, walk signal, but not stopping for the stop sign.

I read recently on this forum that the stop signs will be addressed in an upcoming meeting (and hopefully removed), but am still wondering about 1) the legality of passing through the intersection at any given time and 2) who has right-of-way in the various situations.

A signal always trumps a sign. If you’re crossing in the crosswalk, follow the crosswalk signal. If you are crossing in the road, follow the stoplight.

[dbb]

In the last Arlington Bike Advisory Committee meeting, Dave Kirschner indicated he met with the manager of the W&OD to eliminate stop signs at the signalized intersections along the W&OD. In those cases, it will eliminate having to remember what is trump.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?3174-Arlington-Bike-Advisory-Committee-Notes-Oct-2012&p=33296#post33296

[unclejed]

I went to traffic court today regarding my being ticketed for “Failure to obey traffic lights” back on October 4.

I pleaded no contest and asked the judge to replace the ticket with a warning since I am now riding in the pedestrian cross-walk as instructed by the officer. The judge told me to go see the prosecutor. The prosecutor asked for the officer’s account of the incident to which he said that I passed two stopped cars and went through the intersection on a red light. I countered that I was going through the intersection on the walk signal and that all motorized traffic was stopped at the 4-way red light and thing the officer objected to was that I was not in the pedestrian cross-walk. The prosecutor looked at the officer and said I should go see the judge, the officer said the judge told us to come see you.

The prosecutor asked if I had any other violations on my driving record, I said no. He offered me two options: 1) plead guilty and let the judge decide or 2) plead guilty to disobeying a highway sign and receive 3 points on my license. I said I was riding a bicycle, so how could I get “points” on my drivers license? He told me to go see the judge.

Back with the judge, there was a bit more back and forth about the walk sign and needing to ride in the cross-walk. The judge fined me $50 which is suspended for 6 months and will expire if I’m not cited again during that time. In VA, the violation for Code 46.2-833 is awarded 4 points on a drivers license. I paid my $61 court fee and left.

Unlike the W&OD stop sign incident, where the prosecutor challenged the officer on the legality of the stop signs, I found a very cut and dry legal system that treats bicycles as motorized vehicles.

I ride through the same intersection, crossing on the walk signal as I have done for the past 2 years, only now I ride between the pedo lines…4 feet to the right of where I rode before. Does that make me safer? Does that make me a better biker?

[rcannon100]

WOD Stop Signs

So Northern Virginia Regional Parks put up a vid of their 5 year strategic plan. It has a very odd scene in it – one scene of the WOD (the WOD is a NVRPA park) – where a cyclists blows through the stop sign. I posted the NRPVA video on my blog Windy Run and summarized some of the information — but noted how peculiar it was that the only pic of the WOD contained a cyclists blowing through the stop sign.

Well that version of the video is down. NVRPA has replaced it with a new vid. And guess which scene got changed? And as if to make the point – the cover image for the video is now that new scene of cyclists on the WOD (this time not blowing through a stop sign)

[video=youtube_share;yeWmerd6MlI]http://youtu.be/yeWmerd6MlI[/video]

[TwoWheelsDC]

@unclejed 37275 wrote:

I went to traffic court today regarding my being ticketed for “Failure to obey traffic lights” back on October 4.

The prosecutor asked if I had any other violations on my driving record, I said no. He offered me two options: 1) plead guilty and let the judge decide or 2) plead guilty to disobeying a highway sign and receive 3 points on my license. I said I was riding a bicycle, so how could I get “points” on my drivers license? He told me to go see the judge.

Thanks for update. I think I’ve read this before about points…seems strange, because there’s no law that says you have to have a DL to operate a bicycle on the road. IIRC, DC does not give points for bicycle infractions, but my memory is fuzzy.

@unclejed 37275 wrote:

I ride through the same intersection, crossing on the walk signal as I have done for the past 2 years, only now I ride between the pedo lines…4 feet to the right of where I rode before. Does that make me safer? Does that make me a better biker?

My suggestion for the future is to just filter up to the front of the waiting cars (which is legal) and wait for the light. I don’t mean that as a judgment on your previous decision to go through the red, it just seems like the best of the legal options. Transitioning from road to sidewalk to road presents its own dangers, including pedestrians and being less predictable (be a PAL!) for drivers.

[Tim Kelley]

@unclejed 37275 wrote:

I ride through the same intersection, crossing on the walk signal as I have done for the past 2 years, only now I ride between the pedo lines…4 feet to the right of where I rode before. Does that make me safer? Does that make me a better biker?

Dear Diary: [ATTACH=CONFIG]2130[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the follow up–it’s great to hear about the process, and I’m glad they didn’t come down too hard on you!

Crossing in the crosswalk, 4 feet to the right of where you rode before, now makes you a law abiding cyclist! And you’ll be more attentive to where you are positioned when going through a red light in front of a police officer.

[unclejed]

My suggestion for the future is to just filter up to the front of the waiting cars (which is legal) and wait for the light. I don’t mean that as a judgment on your previous decision to go through the red, it just seems like the best of the legal options. Transitioning from road to sidewalk to road presents its own dangers, including pedestrians and being less predictable (be a PAL!) for drivers.

The officer thought that even filtering was illegal (he said I passed two stopped vehicles). And why would I want to be sitting in front of vehicles that can accelerate from a red light faster than a CaBi? My experience is that this behavior invites conflict with cars. The officer recommended that I stick to the cross-walk, that is what I’m doing now.

[Author]

Posts