Thread started by Team Creanberry at 09.9.09 - 2:12 pm

We had our court date today for the ticket we got on our tandem on the Through the Looking Glass ride. The ticket, and the way the officers handled it, was beyond ridiculous so I was looking forward to confronting them. But the officers never showed, so I guess that's even better than successfully fighting the ticket because we didn't have to waste anymore time in court. And I didn't have to stare at all those smug cops on the other side of the courtroom. And we got to have mimosas to celebrate before heading off to work. Aaaaaaand we don't have to pay $500. And getting pulled over has definitely made me want to bring a camera on every ride I go on, so I can have photographs and videos of any and all negative interactions with law enforcement to help other Ridazz fight their tickets. (So nobody has pictures of us with our hands on the hood of the car, wearing spandex and sequins? We just want it to hang on the wall!)

Katie

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I'm going to be 100% honest in my critique of this scenario.... and I hope you don't take it the wrong way Katie, but I did see you guys run the light heading south on la cienega as the rest of the ride turned left from san mo heading west then turning south on la cienega. as I recall you guys had split from the group by barney's and sped down la cienega to rejoin us as we turned left legally. it looked dangerous to me because you guys could have been hit by east bound left turning traffic on san mo who also had a green turn signal. The cops were beside us during the light cycle and were actually being cool with the mass as we waited for the left turn green light to allow us the left.. when they saw you guys speed through the intersection to join our group against the light that's when they got crazy and drove aggressively to catch you. I'm glad to see you guys beat the charges though. I didnt want to say anything on your earlier thread because I didnt want to jeopardize your case. I'm glad the cops didnt show up and that you guys won. ride on.



Roadblock
09.9.09 - 2:30 pm

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Joe Borfo
responding to a comment by Roadblock
09.9.09 - 2:36 pm

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There was no eastbound traffic. There was one car stopped, facing south on La Cienega. I recognize that running a red light is breaking the law, but it's also a part of these rides. Running the red is probably not the decision I would have made if I were on the front of the bike, but I feel that it was done safely. And I'm pissed that, as the "passenger" on the tandem, I was held with my hands on the hood of the car for half an hour (was I a dangerous criminal, with possible concealed weapons in my metallic silver tights?), that 5 cars were called for backup when we didn't so much as speak to the cops unless spoken to (we were 100% cooperative), and that others, who had just stopped to witness, were ticketed for running the red, too. And then the cop mumbled some kind of thanks for having lights and helmets as he handed us our $500 ticket. Technically, yes, we broke the law, but there was no danger to ourselves or others, and the way the cops handled it was a joke. I wouldn't have felt indignant about the ticket itself, but the way they handled it SUCKED. We were singled out out of a group (the group heading south on La Cienega) because of the way we were dressed.

Anyway, it's not a big deal, 'cause we didn't have to pay. All's well that ends well.



Team Creanberry
responding to a comment by Roadblock
09.9.09 - 2:55 pm

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I had a similar situation, and need some advice, can I email you?



speedybrian2000
responding to a comment by Team Creanberry
09.9.09 - 3:03 pm

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true running light IS part of the rides at times, but I urge it to be done safely and with the mass in one lane in one direction as a contiguous group and only if there is a green for the front of the mass. I think the main reason the cops reacted was because you guys were not riding with the group at large. apparently they saw it as unruly and chaotic over and beyond what the ride already is and decided to act.

if we can all be vigilant about staying together in one group, then that is our safest bet that the cops will leave us alone. we've all witnessed cops leaving us alone or actually blocking intersections to help us stay together. when the cops see us swarming in different directions and as some ridazz do, or in the wrong lane, then they get irate and many use it as a pretext to harass us.

it's possible that even though you were riding safe you were singled out because as the cop observed, you were one of the few who chose not to be part of the -at the time - legally riding group waiting for the green. it is a lesson learned and obviously they treated you in a unjustly demeaning manor when you guys did get pulled over which is unfortunately par for the course for cops when they are looking for excuses to bust this ride up... bummed that you guys had to endure that and thankful that you guys ultimately prevailed. alls well that ends well.



Roadblock
responding to a comment by Team Creanberry
09.9.09 - 3:08 pm

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Well, shoot, we'd followed out an incorrect order for a "right turn" and so we turned right when everyone behind us went straight, and we found ourselves separated from the group. It was in our attempt to return to the group that we got pulled over. We were the lone, injured gazelle in metallic spandex.

In response to the e-mail request above, you can e-mail us (Ryan and Katie) at team_creanberry@yahoo.com



Team Creanberry
responding to a comment by Roadblock
09.9.09 - 5:36 pm

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Did you both get tickets or just the captain?



dokydoky
09.9.09 - 8:24 pm

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Just him. I use the words "we" and "us" in reference to the ticket in a show of solidarity . . . just trying to be a good girlfriend! But honestly, the situation was weird. He was wearing gold, and I was wearing silver, and the cop aggressively muscled his way through the crowd and yelled "You in the silver! Pull over!" maybe 2 or 3 times (at one point I pulled my hands off the handle bars and gave him a "what the fuck do you want me to do!?" look) before Ryan pulled over. And then they told us both to drop the bike and put our hands on the hood of the car, and kept us both there like dangerous criminals in our metallic, sequined glory while calling additional cars for backup . . . and I assumed they were going to try to give me a ticket or at least search me, since they held me at the car for so long, and then they let me go without a word.

Whatever. Officer Anger (yes, that's his real name) could suck my balls if I had balls.

Katie



Team Creanberry
responding to a comment by dokydoky
09.9.09 - 10:54 pm

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