Offense: Obey Traffic Control Device (While on Bicycle)

On the way to work this morning I was presented with a $75 ticket for running a red light.

At the intersection of Cicero and Elston I was stopped waiting for the light to change. I saw the light on Cicero turn yellow, cars were slowing down, so I clipped in and started rolling into the intersection. All cars were stopped and the light turned green (for me) when I was half-ish of the way through... I made it one block and a Chicago Police Officer pulled me over and handed me my awesome new prize.

I'm thinking of going to court on it (since it's lame and there's a principle to be fought for here) but I'm also thinking it'd cheaper to pay it and get my license back.

Anyone else have experience in these matters?

~Ryan

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric R on March 22, 2012 at 5:38am

I plan to pay it but since it was not listed as a "mail-in" option I was unsure if I had to go to court,which I do not plan to do. Hopefully, mailing it in will absolve my traffic sins. I wonder if there is a online traffic test I can take to get this removed from my record? If it even goes on my record. Kinda like what motorists do when getting a ticket for driving while talking on a phone.

David Barish said:

Pay the ticket. You have no beef. If it were a race you false started. It may not have been dangerous but its pretty clear.

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Permalink Reply by Joel on March 22, 2012 at 5:40am

You can probably call the number on the ticket to ask about having to go in or not.

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Permalink Reply by Eric R on March 22, 2012 at 5:56am

I tip my hat to you, sir. Calling them seriously did not cross my mind but I will do so. Perhaps the reason is my newfound disappointment and mistrust in the system.

Joel said:

You can probably call the number on the ticket to ask about having to go in or not.

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Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on March 22, 2012 at 6:23am

Motorists get tickets for driving while talking on the phone?

Really?

Eric Roach said:

I plan to pay it but since it was not listed as a "mail-in" option I was unsure if I had to go to court,which I do not plan to do. Hopefully, mailing it in will absolve my traffic sins. I wonder if there is a online traffic test I can take to get this removed from my record? If it even goes on my record. Kinda like what motorists do when getting a ticket for driving while talking on a phone.

David Barish said:

Pay the ticket. You have no beef. If it were a race you false started. It may not have been dangerous but its pretty clear.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 22, 2012 at 6:30am

Motorists get more tickets than you think

Michael J Blane said:

Motorists get tickets for driving while talking on the phone?

Really?

Eric Roach said:

I plan to pay it but since it was not listed as a "mail-in" option I was unsure if I had to go to court,which I do not plan to do. Hopefully, mailing it in will absolve my traffic sins. I wonder if there is a online traffic test I can take to get this removed from my record? If it even goes on my record. Kinda like what motorists do when getting a ticket for driving while talking on a phone.

David Barish said:

Pay the ticket. You have no beef. If it were a race you false started. It may not have been dangerous but its pretty clear.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on March 22, 2012 at 6:38am

And a spoke card was born.

"Never Forget."

Gibbles T. Chimp said:

I was ticketed under this same ordinance; failure to obey the rights and responsibilities of a cyclist is the wording I think. The officer then wrote on the ticket that I failed to stop at a red light being the specific offense that violated that ordinance.

I was told that you do have to appear for the hearing. There is no mail in option. The total cost came out to 45 bucks. $25 fine and $20 court costs.

I was prepared to go in and argue the case, even if it was futile to get the ticket dismissed, just to be say in court that "this is ridiculous". It was 4am on a Sunday on 18th st. The only vehicles on the road were a couple dozen cyclists and one irritated/bored police officer.

But when the total cost was revealed as being only 45 bucks, and having a bunch of people already volunteering to help pay the ticket (this happened a MM ride and I was the only one ticketed out of more than a dozen folks to run the light) my resolve weakened and I paid the fine and left.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on March 22, 2012 at 8:07am

I read recently that they have beefed up the implications of talking on a phone while driving. I think before it was a misdemeanor, now a moving violation, or vice versa.

Michael J Blane said:

Motorists get tickets for driving while talking on the phone?

Really?

Eric Roach said:

I plan to pay it but since it was not listed as a "mail-in" option I was unsure if I had to go to court,which I do not plan to do. Hopefully, mailing it in will absolve my traffic sins. I wonder if there is a online traffic test I can take to get this removed from my record? If it even goes on my record. Kinda like what motorists do when getting a ticket for driving while talking on a phone.

David Barish said:

Pay the ticket. You have no beef. If it were a race you false started. It may not have been dangerous but its pretty clear.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Duppie on March 22, 2012 at 8:17am

Here

Julie Hochstadter said:

I read recently that they have beefed up the implications of talking on a phone while driving. I think before it was a misdemeanor, now a moving violation, or vice versa.

Michael J Blane said:

Motorists get tickets for driving while talking on the phone?

Really?

Eric Roach said:

I plan to pay it but since it was not listed as a "mail-in" option I was unsure if I had to go to court,which I do not plan to do. Hopefully, mailing it in will absolve my traffic sins. I wonder if there is a online traffic test I can take to get this removed from my record? If it even goes on my record. Kinda like what motorists do when getting a ticket for driving while talking on a phone.

David Barish said:

Pay the ticket. You have no beef. If it were a race you false started. It may not have been dangerous but its pretty clear.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by El Dorado on March 22, 2012 at 12:32pm

What if your license is already revoked for DUI's & you get one these "bike tickets." I wouldn't pay the ticket if I were you. It's absurd.

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Permalink Reply by Eric R on March 22, 2012 at 2:27pm

Hmmm, I will give the number on the ticket a call tomorrow, wait on hold for 20 mins, then hopefully learn if I can get out of going to court. If not, then I'm going on the record as a supporter of the Idaho Stop being implemented in Chicago.

Gibbles T. Chimp said: