Stopped by a cop in dallas.

My bike finally works so the thrill to ride still lingers. About an hour ago I decided to go for a night ride. It was 3 in the morning and I was cruising in the city streets. I pulled up to this warehouse parking lot that had lots of space in it so it was perfect for riding. I was having so much fun doing sharp turns at high speeds. I noticed a car coming on the street going my way which turned out to be a cop. I made direct eye contact as he passed by but I didn't know if he looked at me. I was hoping he would stop me so I could get to ask if my bike was street legal. Suddenly, he then pulled into the parking lot I was riding in and immediately I knew I had become his prey. He flipped his lights which made my heart drop, i dunno why lol, it just did. I turnd my engine off and he came out and asked me what I was doing. I replied "just riding (hehe)". He said there had been reports of spraycan graffitii around the area and asked if I had to do anything with it. Of course not. He glanced at my gloves then looked me in the eyes and asked if I was a painter.... I guess he was suspicious that it was me who was spraypainting graffiti and slowly he reached his hand and patted my jacket where my cellphone was. I lifted my hand to resist but I did it with little force cause I know I have my rights. I guess he did it cause his reason of search was the black grease marks on my gloves... Finally I got to the question and asked him if my bike was street legal but he said no they are not. He said he wouldn't give me a ticket and advised to put a light on and ride just be careful when I ride.

So I guess according to the cops in my city, technically my bike is illegal. I could tell he wasn't really concerned about the bike but I think it was possible for me to get a ticket. I'm gonna find out more about these laws on our bikes so we have something concrete to show the law. The end.

as a person who by his own foolishness has suffered many unneccesary things at the hands of LEO's let me in the friendlliest terms i can give you alittle advise.

1) does your local laws require pedal bikes to have a visible light from dark to dawn ? why didn't you before you went out ?

2) was the lot you were in actually a public thourofare or the parking lot of a piece of private property ? does riding around in the warehouse district at 3am strike you as slightly suspecious ?

3)experience has shown that purposefully making eye contact with a passing LEO is taken as a confrontational action and a brazen dare. they won't let it pass.

4) as someone who caught a night in jail for body slamming a LEO in my livingroom and getting off a disorderly conduct charge without probation or even having to appear for a $900. lawyer fee, i can tell you, you DON"T want to EVER give a LEO any reason to call RESISTANCE. you WILL get a trip to the hospital if not the morgue.

live smart, it takes lots less effort.

steve