Proper Procedure for pulling over on a bike?

[Pulled over]

Hi,

A few weeks ago, I got pulled in my car by 2 bicycle cops in New Jersey.

My questions are:

- are they legally allowed to do this?
- what is the procedure for a cop on a bicycle to pull over a car? ( I ask this because the cops rode across a main street and nearly collided into my car, as they pulled me over....scaring the heck out of me that they were just some stupid bikers who were crossing the road without any reflectors )

They didn't have ANY reflectors, lights, etc. as NJ law stipulates that bikers must have.

The biker cops pulled me over for pulling an "improper U turn", and no less than 2 minutes after they finished writing the ticket, they proceeded to do the exact same manuever on their bikes at the same place. I have a witness for that.

( In NJ it is the law that bikes must follow the same laws as motor vehicles on the road )

[SO535]

Pay the fine and get over it.

[Pulled over]

Pay the fine and get over it.

No way. Provide me with the money and I'll think about it :rolleyes:

[SO535]

Or, dont pay the fine and go to jail.

or, pay a lawyer a lot of money so you don't have to pay the ticket.

Either way you are gonna pay.

Yes they can stop you on a bike and yes they can break traffic law within reason according to whatever NJ code says.

As far as their traffic infraction, It has nothing to do with your case and will not disprove it or invalidate it in any way.

[jakflak]

Officers can violate traffic laws in the performance our our duties. (it would be physically impossible to pull over a speeder if we couldn't because we have to speed to catch them)

Even if we couldn't "he did something wrong too" isn't a defense for a violation that you did.

Pay the fine.

[rider25]

if u feel u r not guilty plead not guilty

[Pulled over]

if u feel u r not guilty plead not guilty

I pulled the U turn at the middle of an unmarked intersection at 1 o'clock in the morning because the street was full of parked cars ( making less room to turn around ), and because my car has a terrible turning radius and line of sight. It was to avoid being a danger to other cars.....and yet they slapped me with a ticket....then rode off and did that same maneuver 2 minutes later ( how is that in performance of their duties? they weren't chasing any other cars.... )

[Photogrrlz]

I pulled the U turn at the middle of an unmarked intersection at 1 o'clock in the morning because the street was full of parked cars ( making less room to turn around ), and because my car has a terrible turning radius and line of sight. It was to avoid being a danger to other cars.....and yet they slapped me with a ticket....then rode off and did that same maneuver 2 minutes later ( how is that in performance of their duties? they weren't chasing any other cars.... )


Being on a bicycle is a little different then being in a car. Also, many emergency vehicles are exempted from certain laws at times.

[Pulled over]

Being on a bicycle is a little different then being in a car. Also, many emergency vehicles are exempted from certain laws at times.

What time was it, that they were exempt from the law of improper U turns?
They were not responding to a call.

[jerrymaccauley]

Would you have been upset if an officer had just yelled at you to pull over, then wrote the ticket? Or are you just ****ed because you got caught by a "bike" cop? Grow up. Next time you might get a helicopter follow you home and have a road unit meet you there.

[jerrymaccauley]

By the way, what's an unmarked intersection? Would that be one that says "no u-turns in this intersection or you might get stopped by the bicycle patrol officers?"

[lazycop]

Would you have been upset if an officer had just yelled at you to pull over, then wrote the ticket? Or are you just ****ed because you got caught by a "bike" cop?

Hopefully mounted patrol will get em next time. They dont have lights and sirens either. Seems to **** the horse off.

[pkagel]

It is illegal to do a U-turn in NJ unless the intersection is marked in the affirmative for U-turns. Pretty much the exact opposite here in CA.

By the way, what's an unmarked intersection? "

[bigcop97]

Hi,

A few weeks ago, I got pulled in my car by 2 bicycle cops in New Jersey.

My questions are:

- are they legally allowed to do this?
- what is the procedure for a cop on a bicycle to pull over a car? ( I ask this because the cops rode across a main street and nearly collided into my car, as they pulled me over....scaring the heck out of me that they were just some stupid bikers who were crossing the road without any reflectors )

They didn't have ANY reflectors, lights, etc. as NJ law stipulates that bikers must have.

The biker cops pulled me over for pulling an "improper U turn", and no less than 2 minutes after they finished writing the ticket, they proceeded to do the exact same manuever on their bikes at the same place. I have a witness for that.

( In NJ it is the law that bikes must follow the same laws as motor vehicles on the road )

Legally, yes a police officer can do a traffic stop (detention) from a bike. We can also do them on foot patrol as well. Maybe not the most tactically safe or "norm" but they are certainly legal....

Procedure for stopping vehicles in general various from one agency to the next.

If you have a complaint/concern about the interaction (traffic violation / equipment violation on the officers bike) you can always contact the agency supervisors to ask them about it.

If you have a concern or question about the ticket you were issued. You can always go to court.

[APDSgt]

You committed the violation (you've even admitted it)- elect court or pay the fine.

If you're ****ed that a bike officer wrote you the ticket, they have the same enforcement authority as any other officer. They saw a violation and stopped the violator - there is no difference if they are on a bike, horse, car, or on foot.

[airbrne74]

if u feel u r not guilty plead not guilty

I agree with rider.
Then, after you're found guilty......... pay the fine.

[Pulled over]

By the way, what's an unmarked intersection? Would that be one that says "no u-turns in this intersection or you might get stopped by the bicycle patrol officers?"

an unmarked intersection is one where there are no markings of crosswalks, and only 2 stop signs from the perpendicular street.

[Pulled over]

Legally, yes a police officer can do a traffic stop (detention) from a bike. We can also do them on foot patrol as well. Maybe not the most tactically safe or "norm" but they are certainly legal....

Procedure for stopping vehicles in general various from one agency to the next.

If you have a complaint/concern about the interaction (traffic violation / equipment violation on the officers bike) you can always contact the agency supervisors to ask them about it.

If you have a concern or question about the ticket you were issued. You can always go to court.

Thank you for offering the only respectful advice :).

[Pulled over]

You committed the violation (you've even admitted it)- elect court or pay the fine.

If you're ****ed that a bike officer wrote you the ticket, they have the same enforcement authority as any other officer. They saw a violation and stopped the violator - there is no difference if they are on a bike, horse, car, or on foot.

I'm most concerned about them claiming that the U Turn was illegal, and AFTER they finished giving me the ticket, they BOTH did REPEATED illegal U turns on the same spot....and they didn't speed off afterwards....they just did it because it was easier.... this wasn't aiding in their enforcement in any way.

[EMTFirefighter]

I pulled the U turn
I didn't read past this.

Pay the ticket.

[purdinpopo]

I'm most concerned about them claiming that the U Turn was illegal, and AFTER they finished giving me the ticket, they BOTH did REPEATED illegal U turns on the same spot....and they didn't speed off afterwards....they just did it because it was easier.... this wasn't aiding in their enforcement in any way.

The point is that whether they commited a traffic infraction, or even if they commited a real crime, after you recieved your ticket has absolutely no bearing on your citation, If you wished you could make a complaint to the agency the Officers work for, the possibility exists that the agency might do something to them, but is that really worth it, making Cops who caught you commiting a crime get suspended maybe lose their jobs, and then what happens, think about, is your sour grapes over getting a summons, for an infraction you freely admit that you did, really worth the getting people fired, placing their family's in the outs. If you commited the crime, then pay the fine, or call the prosecutor tell them you do not want the points, but I seriously doubt you will get any sympathy here.

[Pita_146]

I cant beleive that nobody has mentioned that fact that there were probably no reflectors on the bikes for officer safety reasons....I know if I were riding around I wouldn't want reflectors like big signs saying "here I am shoot me now" and also the cops were probably pulling the U-turn to go back in the direction they had came from prior to stopping you hence, they were during an enforcment action

[Pulled over]

actually, they went in a different direction. If they couldn't accept the risk to be a cop, they shouldn't be one.

[irishlad2nv]

actually, they went in a different direction. If they couldn't accept the risk to be a cop, they shouldn't be one.
Try driving down I95 in Maryland. A trooper will step out in the far left lane and point at you to pull over! Just chill out and pay it, or be a smarta@@ and take it to court. Pulling a U-turn at 1am, illegaly...DUI to me!

[Joseph]

I'm with SOS535.

[P.I.Davis]

actually, they went in a different direction. If they couldn't accept the risk to be a cop, they shouldn't be one.



OK you need to leave this forum. If your gonna start talking trash and bash LEO than take a hike buddy. You got caught committing an infraction of the law. Your apparently upset because your less respectful of a LEO on a bike as oppose to a LEO in a car. A lot of people always try to find technicalities for traffic court. THERE IS NO LOOP HOLE OUT OF A TICKET. The LEO could have been wearing a chicken suit riding a red wagon and the ticket will stick. IM sorry that your majesty was so degraded by not having the ERT prone you out for it. IM not gonna sit here all day a flame you in return for your disrespectful attitude but it has no place on this forum.