I was riding my bike,
http://www.motoredbikes.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=25653&d=1271708132
and I had stopped to cross the street when a cop who was turning at the intersection decided to pull me over. At first I thought he just wanted me to move, but then he stopped his car and called me over. He asks me, "Do you know the law concerning motorized bikes in the bike lane?" He asked the wrong dude.
I was fully informed of the laws in my state which say that I "may use rights-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles." When I told him I was allowed to use the bike lane, he got out his clipboard to check his cheat sheet and found that I was right. I also had a copy of the statute in my wallet, which I whipped out, but he got to it first. He let me go and apologized.
The moral of the story is, know your laws. If I had not known my local statutes I might have ended up having to fight a fallacious ticket. As it was I got an apology. As the boy scout motto goes, "Be Prepared."
http://www.motoredbikes.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=25653&d=1271708132
and I had stopped to cross the street when a cop who was turning at the intersection decided to pull me over. At first I thought he just wanted me to move, but then he stopped his car and called me over. He asks me, "Do you know the law concerning motorized bikes in the bike lane?" He asked the wrong dude.
I was fully informed of the laws in my state which say that I "may use rights-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles." When I told him I was allowed to use the bike lane, he got out his clipboard to check his cheat sheet and found that I was right. I also had a copy of the statute in my wallet, which I whipped out, but he got to it first. He let me go and apologized.
The moral of the story is, know your laws. If I had not known my local statutes I might have ended up having to fight a fallacious ticket. As it was I got an apology. As the boy scout motto goes, "Be Prepared."