Frustration with cops... [in the UK]

[JemmaUK]

To update:...

I have today talked with the local police and informed them that my cycle is legal and under what legal basis.. I have also informed them if the other related matter is not sorted to my satisfaction that I will be enquiring into legal recourse.



Jemma xx

 

[ZnsaneRyder]

Stand up to the man!!!

Good job Jemma!!!

 

[Mountainman]

To update:...

I have today talked with the local police and informed them that my cycle is legal and under what legal basis.. I have also informed them if the other related matter is not sorted to my satisfaction that I will be enquiring into legal recourse.



Jemma xx

well - that sounds good Jemma - to stand up for yourself that is
but - as far as the legal recourse
at least here in the states - there would be next to none...
once in the grip of the system
it is usually a good thing - if we can just get out and on our way

have a nice weekend as you ride that motor bike THING

 

[JemmaUK]

Stand up to the man!!!

Good job Jemma!!!

I've not been happy with the local police for a while.. the 7th was the straw that broke the camels back.

Today I was cycling down the road.. and what do I hear? traffic cop in a Mondeo pulls me up and gets out to have a chat...

Looked the bike over and actually listened to what I said to him. I walked him through it... he was surprised to see it was belt drive. showed him the upgraded brakes and lighting etc and he seemed perfectly happy with it. The only thing he said was the siting of the exhaust might be a risk to 'the public' - and the location and material of the fuel tank. When I mentioned there were UK companies making a similar product and it was under british law that I was riding he had no issues at all. Even though he'd been following me up the road at 28-30mph..

He took details of the legal standing I have for it and seemed perfectly accepting... was perfectly courteous and friendly and to be honest I wouldnt be surprised if he had been dying to try it out since apparently he's a motorcyclist himself.

I will still be sending a written complaint to the local traffic cops...

On the downside we had an attack of the idiots today... 280ML driver decided that because I was doing 29mph he'd overtake me and give me dirty looks while almost hitting a car coming the other way!

Jemma xx

 

[Mountainman]

Might Cause A Large Backfire !!!

I will still be sending a written complaint to the local traffic cops...
Jemma xx

Jemma

if you send this said letter
make sure that you are more than legal on ALL GROUNDS
letters such as that don't go over that well with the pooolice

MIGHT CAUSE A LARGE BACKFIRE !!!!

could end up making it very hard to ride that MB thing

 

[JemmaUK]

Jemma

if you send this said letter
make sure that you are more than legal on ALL GROUNDS
letters such as that don't go over that well with the pooolice

MIGHT CAUSE A LARGE BACKFIRE !!!!

could end up making it very hard to ride that MB thing

So far as the bike is concerned its legal...

So far as the other (and more serious) offense they committed.. I know that law backwards, sideways and frontwards because I have to..

Frankly its not the bike situation that bothers me... its the way I was treated by those individuals which was backed up by the completely different attitude of the officer today.

I've been giving the police the benefit of the doubt... but after the way those two treated me I think they need to understand that the laws apply to them too.

Jemma xx

 

[JemmaUK]

UK companies... these are ILLEGAL under UK law

*sigh*

Methinks I spoke too soon... cop from this morning just was on the phone and put very basically ANY MB is illegal on UK roads unless you get SVA for it, plus insurance and a full face helmet.

The excise act doesnt cover it because its not under the list of what is covered.. notwithstanding the fact that it passes the requirements to the letter.

so I might as well be in prison, because I cant afford buses at the moment, or in the near future and cant really walk that far... I just love the UK legal system.

Jemma xx

 

[Mountainman]

it's time to get a doctors perscription for you MB riding

a doctors note in many cases does carry weight

we all hope that you will be able to ride that thing

 

[SimpleSimon]

Jemma, I just read the Excise Act, Schedule 2. I'm no lawyer, and I'm not offering legal advice, but it looks to me like you have two choices - 1) go electric; or 2) obtain the required disability certification.

Schedule 2 does not specifically list every vehical which qualifies for exemption, it lists classes or types of vehicles - see sections 18-20. I do not know if you personally would qualify as "disabled" for purposes of the Act, but if you do you might perhaps seek SoS exemption by order in council application.

Here in the States, trailers are seperate "vehicals" legally from the vehical doing thje towing. If the law is similar there (I'd bet it is), then put a gas powered generator on a small trailer, and an electric motor on the bike, and thumb your nose at the cops. I'd bet bicycle trailers do not require registration, and ALL electric vehicals are exempt so long as they do not have onboard the source of the electricity (other than batteries). The trailer is a seperate vehicle, after all.

Good luck.

 

[JemmaUK]

Doesnt look like that is going to work.. and to be honest I have no money to make changes to the bike... not to mention I have to find a way to get it somewhere 30 miles away to have it SVA'd (which will probably result in stupid requirements, assuming they dont test the thing to destruction).

About the only thing I could do is sell it and since its not legal, Im pretty much stuck.

What I could do... is set the engine to a generator and thence to a controller and front electric hub motor which requires money I dont have and me and electricity have never mixed well. since the drive train would be petrol-electric with the electric motor providing the drive.. that would make it sort of legal..

I dont think the trailer thing will work since they'll likely find something to stop that too and my tools/skills arent up to something like that.

I think to be honest its a case of "we are gonna make money out of you no matter what"..

So I have a choice... be able to live my life and have some limited ability to get places such as the doctors surgery and to get food... and get charged by the police for that...

Or just give the whole thing up.. because I know what happens when I end up stuck in a dingy flat all day.. and so do at least 4 local paramedics (clinical depression)...

Dont you just love the system?