[Xela]

Originally Posted by Industry_Hack

I'm not sure what you mean. I worked for the police there, that's how I know.

I think Oneway might have meant that if you only knew these things because you worked for them, how are other people supposed to know prior to getting the fines.

Here's another thread discussing bike laws in various states.

http://www.twospoke.com/forum/f27/bicycle-laws-state-1238/

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by Xela

I think Oneway might have meant that if you only knew these things because you worked for them, how are other people supposed to know prior to getting the fines.

Here's another thread discussing bike laws in various states.

http://www.twospoke.com/forum/f27/bicycle-laws-state-1238/

The NSW Infringement Processing Bureau is famous for its failure to collect all the revenue from infringement notices issued.

Basically, they're going to argue that ignorance of the law is no excuse, just like in the US. So it's your duty to know the laws, even for bicycles. But note that the IPB was transferred from the police to the Office of State Revenue. At one point, they were widely criticized for failing to collect millions of dollars, due to their inability to process the massive volume of notices within a timely manner.

Unlike the US, where a cop has to chase you down and write you a ticket, they're very much into speed cameras. Go through a school zone at certain hours (at the normal speed) on a pupil-free day, and you'll get a ticket in the mail. Unless it's a published holiday, or a weekend, the cameras are on. That's from a fixed camera on a post, like a light post.

Better yet, they have cops with hand-held cameras. No need to pull you over. One cop snagged 186 people in an hour.

This is pure revenue-raising. Most people are not likely to even recall being there at that time on that day, especially when it takes 3-6 months for the notice to arrive.

[edit] My point is that it's your responsibility to know the laws, and in NSW, they write a lot of tickets solely for revenue.

[funetical]

That seems like the way to go.

[Ashivon]

Originally Posted by funetical

Wow. No we've had it a while. The law does read though that you only have to use one if you have access to it. In other words you don't have a car seat they don't make you use it. If you do have one and you don't use it they can fine you. Also in Texas helmet laws are based on whether or not you have the personnel injury insurance required to ride helmet less. Welcome to the land of the semi-free. You should be happy we have the choice to be idiots, that in itself is the definition of freedom.

So if you have a motorcycle or bicycle and your own insurance you can ride without a helmet. If you have like "medicaid" you can't?
I'd heard Tejas is a bit odd on a lot of rules.
Being it started off as its own country.

[funetical]

Right. You have to have personal injury insurance. We did start off as our own counrty hence the fascination with liberty and the love of firearms. Most people got a thing for god and country round here. It can be kind of scary sometimes.

[gatorguy]

It drives me nuts when bicycles ride without lights at night. I almost had the big one the other night when I started pulling away from a stop sign and had to slam on the brakes because someone was riding with no lights, on the sidewalk, in dark clothing, and zipped across the road right in front of me. Scared the Hell out of me when he all the sudden appeared.

Personally, I look at it as thinning the gene pool, but unfortunately the law takes a different stance.

[crazyjarhead]

Haven't been hassled by the Austin police yet. Most of the cops I see are too busy looking at their computer screen.

Personally, I like to be seen. Bright clothing (colors not found in nature), factory reflectors, and lights (day or night). I have a blinking Catseye white light - it's on when the bike is on the road. It has saved me in the day several times as it gets drivers attention.

In fact, I'm thinking about getting more blinky lights - screw the weight and the geeky look. I want to live.

[Oneway]

i'm going to upgrade from a superflash blinkie to the dinotte 150.5x price difference still saves me on the insurance deductible.
i wonder if anyone could quantify the actual risk reduction of these mega bright lights?

[cgburns]

Most all states have laws that require certain bike lights when cycling between sunset and sunrise. I have seen cyclists receive tickets, particularly when they are part of a crash which is being investigated. Furthermore, if the cyclist is injured at night in a crash, and this cyclist did not have the required lights, it makes it much more difficult for the cyclist to be compensated for his/her injuries or bike damage arising in the crash. Below if the Florida law:

"Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and a lamp and reflector on the rear each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 feet to the rear. A bicycle or its rider may be equipped with lights or reflectors in addition to those required by this section."

[Oneway]

I'm generally not a big fan of current bicycle laws (stop signs) but this light related Florida law (stop signs) sounds reasonable (stop signs).

Reflectors sound optional.
What if "a friend of mine" treats reflectors on the wheels of his bike, let’s just say a green Raleigh fixed gear, like those tags on his mattress and takes them off?