Riders Beware!

Message

Bx RedBull · #1 Post by **Bx RedBull** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:39 am

This may only be a New York thing but I got a $!#@% ticket today for riding with my faceshield up! Can you friggin' believe that this is a law? Here I am riding with leather jacket and helmet despite the 90% heat. I've even got a drak smoke tinted visor to keep the damn sun out my eyes. But I must've gotten hot and pulled the faceshield up for no more than 3 or 4 blocks. Next thing I know I'm cut off and ordered to pull to the side like I stole the damn bike or something.

Long story short. My ticket says "Riding with face shield up". Is this REALLY a law? Regardless if it is or not, you can bet your azz they'll see me in court defending my innocence.

I repeat from another thread. God, I love NEW YORK!

#2 Post by **bok** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:41 am

that's a crappy law.

dieziege · #3 Post by **dieziege** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:44 am

Eye protection is required by NY law. Did you have eye protection?

Bachstrad37 · #4 Post by **Bachstrad37** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:46 am

NY requires eye protection. I think you're unfairly targeted. Plead your case to the judge. It's the cops word vs. your word in this case. Tell the judge you had your lid slighty lifted (1 inch) to prevent fogging. And due to the slow traffic, there wasn't enough air intake to prevent the screen from fogging. I bet you'll win.

Bx RedBull · #5 Post by **Bx RedBull** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:48 am

dieziege wrote:Eye protection is required by NY law. Did you have eye protection?

Yeah, my gosh faceshield. It just so happened that I had it up for maybe a quarter mile. Riding on 125th street (one of the busiest streets in NYC) you can't make it more than 2 blocks without getting caught at the next light. So I had it up doing 7 mph in 1st gear for 4 blocks. Once I'm on the highway and even on the streets in normal traffic I always have it down.

rapidblue · #6 Post by **rapidblue** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:50 am

tell him you were wearing sunglasses and that the face shield was fogging. they have no proof otherwise. That a BS law if i've ever heard one.

Bx RedBull · #7 Post by **Bx RedBull** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:59 am

rapidblue wrote:tell him you were wearing sunglasses and that the face shield was fogging. they have no proof otherwise. That a BS law if i've ever heard one.

Don't think the sunglasses excuse is gonna work as it will be his word vs. mine, in which case the courts will without a doubt take his over mine.

I just found the AMA State Laws. http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws ... p?state=ny It states here that eyeprotection is required. Again, my face shield obviously qualifies as eye protection. Just hope they don't dick me more than they have already.

JC Viper · #8 Post by **JC Viper** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:04 am

Wow, if you have a sport bike then yeah they'll give you a hard time since no one I know riding a cafe/ cruiser/ dual sport gets a ticket and the ones that ride sports bike or naked sporty looking bikes (FZ1 ZRX1200 etc) get nice tickets for relatively minor offenses such as turn signal. Funny thing is I sent a letter to the mayor about NYC being unfair to those on two wheels while car drivers get away with much more, even no ticket for clearly speeding and rear ending a biker.

You can fight it but a pain in the a$$.

CNF2002 · #9 Post by **CNF2002** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:06 am

Be lucky he pulled you over. Such a dangerous act could have landed you in the hospital or you could have run over a nun or something.

How much did he charge you?

dieziege · #10 Post by **dieziege** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:12 am

If your only eye protection was the shield, you'll probably lose.

After all, the cop saw you with the shield up, and the court is going to take his word as impartial.

It isn't even a bad law... eye protection is a Good Thing... I don't like the idea of motorists (of any sort) responding to getting beaned in the eye by a june bug while they should be controlling their vehicle near mine.

Still sucks.