I was riding down a main thoroughfare at night. The area has a lot of bars and strip joints in close proximity. Of course I was only on my way to visit some friends at church at the time. The church of the virgin fire water guzzlers.
This is how the traffic stop went.
You got ID?
I'm sorry I don't have any on me, but I do know my license number by heart.
One cop got back in the squad car to check out my license number, while I chatted with the other one.
So what is that?
It's a motor bicycle officer.
Your taillight is flashing.
LOL, yes, bicycle taillights flash.
Yeah I guess so. How fast does it go?
About 33 against this wind. 37 if I go the other way.
So you always ride this on the street?
Yes, for 2 years now. This is the first time I've been pulled over on it.
How is it you don't have to register it?
I found out from the DPS it's a gray area in Texas law officer. In Texas all motor vehicles are considered self propelled. This bike has to be peddled from a stop to get going. You probably noticed back at that light I peddled half way across the street?
So it's just up to any police officer to decide what to do?
Yes that's right officer, but there's never been a conviction in Texas if it was challenged.
At this point what little tension there was disappeared, and the conversation changed to something like,
Damn where did you get this? How much did it cost? That's all? I want one. You get how many MPG? Be careful there's a lot of drunks out here, see you.
Thank you for your courtesy officer.
The worst part was now I realized I left the house without any money so I had to miss the church service.
This is how the traffic stop went.
You got ID?
I'm sorry I don't have any on me, but I do know my license number by heart.
One cop got back in the squad car to check out my license number, while I chatted with the other one.
So what is that?
It's a motor bicycle officer.
Your taillight is flashing.
LOL, yes, bicycle taillights flash.
Yeah I guess so. How fast does it go?
About 33 against this wind. 37 if I go the other way.
So you always ride this on the street?
Yes, for 2 years now. This is the first time I've been pulled over on it.
How is it you don't have to register it?
I found out from the DPS it's a gray area in Texas law officer. In Texas all motor vehicles are considered self propelled. This bike has to be peddled from a stop to get going. You probably noticed back at that light I peddled half way across the street?
So it's just up to any police officer to decide what to do?
Yes that's right officer, but there's never been a conviction in Texas if it was challenged.
At this point what little tension there was disappeared, and the conversation changed to something like,
Damn where did you get this? How much did it cost? That's all? I want one. You get how many MPG? Be careful there's a lot of drunks out here, see you.
Thank you for your courtesy officer.
The worst part was now I realized I left the house without any money so I had to miss the church service.