[*BCM*] Just got "pulled over" for running a red on Mass. Ave.

[Rachel Elizabeth Dillon]

On Thu, Mar 06, 2008 at 03:11:55PM -0000, Wolfe, Anne wrote:
> What does having a car, insurance or a license have to do with it?  It
> is a government issued ticket, and if you don't pay they can take action
> against you to ensure payment. The production of ID was so that they had
> someone (and preferably an address) to track you down if you don't pay.
> And if it goes to court, etc, then you get to pay court costs as well.

I'm 100% with Anne here --- pay the ticket. :) You did, technically,
break the law.
 
> As someone else said the moral of the story is obey the traffic lights.
> Bikes are traffic, bikes obey traffic lights.

There isn't a simple moral to this story; if you were really cynical the
moral could just be "check for cops." Personally, in this area (as well
as everywhere else there's no car traffic and a pedestiran walk light) I
slow down and prepare to stop, check to see if there are any pedestrians,
and proceed through the intersection at a slow pace if there aren't.
I've had police officers watch me do this at the trap intersections
around Central and not have a problem with it; your mileage may vary.

-r.
 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org
> [mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org] On Behalf Of
> Gondaba
> Sent: 06 March 2008 14:30
> To: Boston Critical Mass
> Subject: [*BCM*] Just got "pulled over" for running a red on Mass. Ave.
> 
> Ridiculous. I was in Cambridge on Mass Ave, right in front of the large 
> MIT crosswalk. The crosswalk had a red light, sure, but it was pretty 
> clear and I was in no danger of hitting the poor little pedestrians. A 
> Cambridge Cop standing next to his motorcycle flags three of us down 
> after the crosswalk and tells us to stay put. He proceeds to ask for our
> 
> IDs and issue each one of us a $20 fine.
> 
> The ticket itself seems to be some kind of civil violation; there was a 
> nice little place for "Bicycle / Red Light" that he checked off, amongst
> 
> a host of other bicycle violations and, for example, "Improper disposal 
> of dog feces," which is a $25 fine.
> 
> Has this happened to anyone else before?
> And, because I don't have a car, insurance, or even a license, do I 
> really have to pay this fine? What're they going to do?
> 
> Be wary, fellow red-light runners...
> 
> Chris
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