Sedition v. The Police (again) - Snowboarding Forum

sedition · 10-01-2008, 08:41 PM

Tonight I was pulled over by the Boston Police Department for "Operating to Endanger" and "Failure to Stop / Red Light." Oh, I was on my bicycle.

The two most amusing parts of the event were:

(1) The cop said, "It seems like you guys without brakes are the ones we have to stop the most." I pointed out my front brake to him. He said, "Oh, well, you dress like those people." Yeah. I was fix gear-profiled. How dreamy.

(2) The cops debated what to put in the "registration" part of the ticket. They settled on the word "sedition" based on what I did to my bike's frame. Too funny.

10-01-2008, 09:47 PM

Back when I was a courier in Boston, I rode a free wheel with just a front brake. So basically I had no way of stopping quickly if going over 10 mph, and was a danger to everyone on the street, especially myself. But the cops could see the (pratically useless) front brake, and because I wore a baseball cap and leather jacket they never bothered me. They'd pick on the couriers with fixed gear, with their fancy elf shoes and crap. As long as I didn't dress like a courier, I got away with whatever I felt like doing.

What kinda frame is that? It looks like a Bianchi Pista, but since it's painted over I'm just guessing at random really.

sedition · 10-01-2008, 10:12 PM

07 Redline 925. I don't even really look like a courier either, which was odd. I was wearing army patrol hat, black Slayer shirt, army/cargo shorts, and low-top Vans. I do have tattoos. No bag. No cycling hat, etc. I dunno. Maybe an untrained eye couldn't tell the difference. Who did you work for when you delivered?

EDIT: If I had a fancy bike like a Pista I wouldn't paint it.

BurtonAvenger · 10-01-2008, 11:19 PM

Ha I've been stopped by Johnny Law on my long board a few times. Evidently I'm out of control and weaving when I'm doing carves to control my speed.

nzboardlife · 10-01-2008, 11:37 PM

i get stopped on my 50cc scooter all the time... but i have no wing mirrors, i wear a hockey helmet and one of my indicators is broken so i can see why

. I've had 5 'first and final' warnings so far

PaoloSmythe · 10-02-2008, 05:48 AM

it is all very easy to understand.

good people when they get pigged, confess quickly and pay up easily.

bad people with little to lose, will run and therefore require chasing, or worse still, might fight back.

the moral?

ALWAYS RUN!

T.J. · 10-02-2008, 06:44 AM

dude, i love that bike.

i ride but i'm kind of torn on this. i mean the law does state that everyone must follow traffic laws. that said their are a ton of douche bag spandex wearing road bikers where i live that think they own the road and dont have to obey traffic laws.

even so i think giving someone a ticket that is on a bike is pretty rediculous especially for what your violations are for.

and whats even more rediculous is you were profiled. damn hipster fixie riders, that will teach ya.

sedition · 10-02-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.J.

i ride but i'm kind of torn on this. i mean the law does state that everyone must follow traffic laws.

The problem is that in the US, the law views bikers as slow moving cars. Most of the rest of the world views them as fast-moving pedestrians. IMHO, the law of either isn't really sufficient to govern inner city riding.

PaoloSmythe · 10-02-2008, 10:37 AM

cyclists in london exploit the margins between vehicle and pedestrian.

you aren't supposed to cycle on pavements, and so i guess they are considered to be vehicular. that said, people fly thru red lights everywhere. i prefer to be less brazen tho, and hop up onto the pavement and then back onto the road once passed the stop light.

this is stoopid even to me.... but there you go! its all part of the BMX banditry!

things get so bad tho, that the old mayor wanted cycles to have license plates put on them (for a fee of course) so they could be caught by CCTV jumping lights / going on the pathways etc.

silly bastard.

10-02-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedition

07 Redline 925. I don't even really look like a courier either, which was odd. I was wearing army patrol hat, black Slayer shirt, army/cargo shorts, and low-top Vans. I do have tattoos. No bag. No cycling hat, etc. I dunno. Maybe an untrained eye couldn't tell the difference. Who did you work for when you delivered?

EDIT: If I had a fancy bike like a Pista I wouldn't paint it.

A lot of the couriers I know dress like that. Well, all of them actually, since I refuse to talk to the people in spandex and elf shoes who seem to think they're professional racers. I worked for Reliable Courier, really small outfit out of Southie that mainly stays out of the State St shuffle.

If you ever want a Pista frame cheap, I got an old one hanging out on my porch in pretty good condition still.

10-01-2008, 08:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
sedition -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,744	Sedition v. The Police (again) Tonight I was pulled over by the Boston Police Department for "Operating to Endanger" and "Failure to Stop / Red Light." Oh, I was on my bicycle. The two most amusing parts of the event were: (1) The cop said, "It seems like you guys without brakes are the ones we have to stop the most." I pointed out my front brake to him. He said, "Oh, well, you dress like those people." Yeah. I was fix gear-profiled. How dreamy. (2) The cops debated what to put in the "registration" part of the ticket. They settled on the word "sedition" based on what I did to my bike's frame. Too funny. __________________ "Nancy Ninja Nabs Nefarious Nymph. Pays Price Per Pissed Pants!" -Flick "Up, up, my people, let smoke and flame be our sign!" -The White Rose Society

10-01-2008, 10:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
sedition -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,744	07 Redline 925. I don't even really look like a courier either, which was odd. I was wearing army patrol hat, black Slayer shirt, army/cargo shorts, and low-top Vans. I do have tattoos. No bag. No cycling hat, etc. I dunno. Maybe an untrained eye couldn't tell the difference. Who did you work for when you delivered? EDIT: If I had a fancy bike like a Pista I wouldn't paint it. __________________ "Nancy Ninja Nabs Nefarious Nymph. Pays Price Per Pissed Pants!" -Flick "Up, up, my people, let smoke and flame be our sign!" -The White Rose Society

10-01-2008, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,020	Ha I've been stopped by Johnny Law on my long board a few times. Evidently I'm out of control and weaving when I'm doing carves to control my speed. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

10-02-2008, 05:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
PaoloSmythe Samyaksambuddhas Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Only British blaady Columbia!!! Posts: 4,622	it is all very easy to understand. good people when they get pigged, confess quickly and pay up easily. bad people with little to lose, will run and therefore require chasing, or worse still, might fight back. the moral? ALWAYS RUN! __________________ Just coz you don't understand it Doesn't mean it makes no sense!

10-02-2008, 06:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
T.J. Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,933	dude, i love that bike. i ride but i'm kind of torn on this. i mean the law does state that everyone must follow traffic laws. that said their are a ton of douche bag spandex wearing road bikers where i live that think they own the road and dont have to obey traffic laws. even so i think giving someone a ticket that is on a bike is pretty rediculous especially for what your violations are for. and whats even more rediculous is you were profiled. damn hipster fixie riders, that will teach ya. __________________ Passion Over Fashion

10-01-2008, 09:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
SpringheelJack Guest Posts: n/a	Back when I was a courier in Boston, I rode a free wheel with just a front brake. So basically I had no way of stopping quickly if going over 10 mph, and was a danger to everyone on the street, especially myself. But the cops could see the (pratically useless) front brake, and because I wore a baseball cap and leather jacket they never bothered me. They'd pick on the couriers with fixed gear, with their fancy elf shoes and crap. As long as I didn't dress like a courier, I got away with whatever I felt like doing. What kinda frame is that? It looks like a Bianchi Pista, but since it's painted over I'm just guessing at random really.

10-01-2008, 11:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
nzboardlife -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,076	i get stopped on my 50cc scooter all the time... but i have no wing mirrors, i wear a hockey helmet and one of my indicators is broken so i can see why . I've had 5 'first and final' warnings so far

10-02-2008, 10:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
PaoloSmythe Samyaksambuddhas Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Only British blaady Columbia!!! Posts: 4,622	cyclists in london exploit the margins between vehicle and pedestrian. you aren't supposed to cycle on pavements, and so i guess they are considered to be vehicular. that said, people fly thru red lights everywhere. i prefer to be less brazen tho, and hop up onto the pavement and then back onto the road once passed the stop light. this is stoopid even to me.... but there you go! its all part of the BMX banditry! things get so bad tho, that the old mayor wanted cycles to have license plates put on them (for a fee of course) so they could be caught by CCTV jumping lights / going on the pathways etc. silly bastard. __________________ Just coz you don't understand it Doesn't mean it makes no sense!

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