It is what it is

[Lazarus]

Didn't know where else to put this but it a great story.

Heading over to help out mom with Christmas decorations. I sling my commuter bag over my shoulder and head out the door. At the end of the street there is a 3 way stop (no traffic) which is like the tree that falls in the forest. Blowing through the stop sign there is a police car at the next stop sign about 50 yards up the street. Upon arrival he waves me over and the conversation goes something like this.

O-You know you blew through that stop sign
M-Yes sir
O-Why?
M-I have a long way to go and I wanted to conserve energy.
O-Why don't you just drive?
M-Can't afford the gas
Looks me up and down and says
O-Then I guess you can't afford this ticket either.
M-No
O- I'll let you go with a verbal warning this time but you need to follow the rules.
M-Yes sir

So Christmas came a little early this year. Yes I know I was in the wrong so let's not go there.

[MetroMPG]

That's classic! I have never tried using energy conservation as an excuse to try to avoid a ticket. My usual tactic is to just burst out crying... and that NEVER works.

Last summer I blew through a stop sign on my bike at an empty intersection and got pulled over (cop was driving quite a bit behind me). He rolled along side and flagged me down, but when he just rolled down the passenger window to talk, I knew I wasn't going to get a ticket.

His main comment: "c'mon man, we have a hard enough time getting the kids to ride safely!"

---

Directly related to this subject: I read somewhere that in one US state, it is legal for cyclists to treat stops as yields. Anyone know anything about that?

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Directly related to this subject: I read somewhere that in one US state, it is legal for cyclists to treat stops as yields. Anyone know anything about that?

Def. Not My state.... I know of cops literally losing their cool and attacking cyclists on critical mass rides in Gainesville :/

[MetroMPG]

OK, not FLA then. That's something else.

[RH77]

Classic story, Z. I can almost picture it

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

OK, not FLA then. That's something else.

My understanding is that Idaho and Montana are the only states where slow and go is allowed. Oregon is working on it. I think Idaho has it right.

Here's a link.

[MetroMPG]

Ooo! I wrote to the person on whose blog I thought I had read about the US state with the flexible stop sign rules, and she wrote back right away:

Hi Darin,
Its Idaho.
http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newi...id=490070020.K

Red lights as stop signs, stop signs as yields

BTW - she's at ...

[MetroMPG]

Jinx!