The Real Deal on California Law.
- Thread starter bairdco
- Start date
Hi Everyone, Just built my first bike 2 days ago...schwinn jaguar with a chinese 2 stroke...got about 80 miles on it and its great! I live in fresno and kinda woried about the riding laws though...i know nothing about it...so far i just stay in the bike lanes when possible and obey the traffic laws ,,,,been past 3 or 4 cops and they dont seem interested in me .... so far. Anyone from fresno that rides one of these? like to meet other enthusiasts if possible....
The best you can do for yourself (as a Cali MB rider) is read (& do) what Baird says in his first post on this thread!
Welcome David D,
and then, map yourself here: Motorbicycling.com Members
Cheers, and again, welcome to the forum!
scotto-
Welcome! And the next best thing to do would be to introduce yourself here:Introduce Yourself - Motorized Bicycle Welcome Forum at Motorized Bicycle ForumThe best you can do for yourself (as a Cali MB rider) is read (& do) what Baird says in his first post on this thread!
and then, map yourself here: Motorbicycling.com Members
Cheers, and again, welcome to the forum!
scotto-
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After reading this thread, I think it's best to have a lawyer follow you at all times. I thought what a great cheap way to get around town, but not so sure now. California is broke so they are getting real creative, laws seem to change by the hour. We probably break laws were not even aware of daily. It seems to be at the discretion of who your talking to at the time. Having said that, search California motorized bikes for the most up to date laws. But still live in fear.
I have no fear of riding these bikes anywhere in Cali. Just wear a helmet, have a plate, a "M" license & have good lights at night!
I am with Venice on this one, we roll all the time and never have a problem. I ride at night all the time with my 14 year old and never get a second look from the po po.
Just ride on fellow brothers....
Just ride on fellow brothers....
I got over my fear. I guess to remove fear cost m1 or m2 license, helmet and $18.00 plate. I'm good to go. Thanks for the response. Everybody is real helpful on this site.
exactly. it's a great feeling riding legal. i go to Newport Beach, the "scene of the crime" all the time now, and wave at every cop i pass. there's nothing they can do...
I know how you feel,,,
I beat a local town-code ticket a few years ago,,,
I still cruise by the court house/cop shop/town hall EVERY time I am in the area
it is a good thing to thumb your nose at them when you are right !!!
I beat a local town-code ticket a few years ago,,,
I still cruise by the court house/cop shop/town hall EVERY time I am in the area
it is a good thing to thumb your nose at them when you are right !!!
Can anyone point out a good helmet? I like the look of the skater helmets, but do they meet the requirements? I don't know if there is a thread on helmets, but it would be nice to see all the helmets being used. I'm sure if you go with the board track bike it would be a period look, and a modern bike, you would go with the contemporary helmets. It would, I think make a interesting and valuable thread.
skateboard helmets DO NOT meet the requirements. that's what i was wearing when i got my ticket.
you need a DOT helmet with a gas-motored bike.
the one i have is actually just as comfortable as my pro-tec, though. it's an old police riot helmet. looks a little bigger than a half-shell.
you need a DOT helmet with a gas-motored bike.
the one i have is actually just as comfortable as my pro-tec, though. it's an old police riot helmet. looks a little bigger than a half-shell.
Actually, avnostlga is correct. The 2-stroke motors that most of us use are equipped with a simple in-out clutch, not a centrifugal clutch. There is no part of these motors that can be in any way mistaken for an "automatic transmission" or any part thereof.
760motorbike, you may have been thinking of the tomos-style mopeds that are pedal-started but do have a centrifugal clutch, as is evident by the fact that you can sit at a traffic light on a tomos-style moped with the engine running, despite the fact that there is no clutch control operated by the rider.
On our bikes, to stop moving and keep the motor running you must engage the clutch manually.
The fact that this entire thread was started based on a traffic stop initiated by a LEO that was using a "cheat sheet" that specifically excluded the bike the rider was on (due to pedals being present) just goes to show how vague the CA vehicle code is concerning power-assisted bicycles, and by extension how broadly LEOs are interpreting these "codes" that do or don't actually exist.
i talked to a newport beach sargeant about the cheat sheet, and he said the way it was worded is confusing.
it says "...gas powered bicycles and electric bicycles w/o pedals,..."
it sounds like it's saying gas powered bicycles without pedals are ok, but it's just written out badly. the two should be seperate.
also, the vehicle code is actually pretty clear on the laws, it's just hard to find them all.
and the cop that stopped me is the guy who wrote the cheat sheet. he knew every low-speed vehicle code by heart.
b'sides all that, i'm legal now, so i don't care about nitpicking the details anymore.
it says "...gas powered bicycles and electric bicycles w/o pedals,..."
it sounds like it's saying gas powered bicycles without pedals are ok, but it's just written out badly. the two should be seperate.
also, the vehicle code is actually pretty clear on the laws, it's just hard to find them all.
and the cop that stopped me is the guy who wrote the cheat sheet. he knew every low-speed vehicle code by heart.
b'sides all that, i'm legal now, so i don't care about nitpicking the details anymore.
Good posts:
Page 1 by Blaidco
Page 12 by 760motorbike
First, realize that police officers are people, not robots from a factory. Just because one smiles are you ride by him/her does not make you legal. The next officer or in the next county might have instructions to tighten up on motorized bicycles. Usually after an accident, there is a crack down.
Second, you can get a DUI on any bicycle, not just a motorized one. Whether you're peddling a Schwinn or driving a Suburban, the law is the same. In fact, all traffic laws are the same.
I've had a motorcycle license since 1972. I may go slightly faster than the posted speed limit at times, but I don't mess with absolutes. No helmet is an instant bust. As is not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign.
If you don't want to get a ticket or constantly look over your shoulder or spend hours talking to police officers; I highly recommend you get a low profile as possible and make your motorized bike compliant. Low profile includes wearing a DOT motorcycle helmet. A quiet muffler, and as much of the equipment as required.
Page 1 by Blaidco
Page 12 by 760motorbike
First, realize that police officers are people, not robots from a factory. Just because one smiles are you ride by him/her does not make you legal. The next officer or in the next county might have instructions to tighten up on motorized bicycles. Usually after an accident, there is a crack down.
Second, you can get a DUI on any bicycle, not just a motorized one. Whether you're peddling a Schwinn or driving a Suburban, the law is the same. In fact, all traffic laws are the same.
I've had a motorcycle license since 1972. I may go slightly faster than the posted speed limit at times, but I don't mess with absolutes. No helmet is an instant bust. As is not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign.
If you don't want to get a ticket or constantly look over your shoulder or spend hours talking to police officers; I highly recommend you get a low profile as possible and make your motorized bike compliant. Low profile includes wearing a DOT motorcycle helmet. A quiet muffler, and as much of the equipment as required.
So it is not a LAW at all it's a code. There is a major difference.
If you have a round red fruit that does not automatically make it an apple, there are many types of red round fruits.
My point being, is this is a constitutional issue and your RIGHT to free travel. If people actually understood their rights they would never even bother to get a drivers "license" or register their "personal conveyance mode of transportation" << notice not a "vehicle"
All one needs is "reasonable doubt" and a jury trial. People just pay the fines because it is easier! I would go to trial and make them prove that my bike is indeed a "moped" or "motorized scoooter" which it is not. Even the codes you mentioned do not mention "motor assisted bicycle" which is what you have, there is no code for those and I would insist that is what I am riding.
It is up to them to prove otherwise. The problem with people in this country is that it iis easier and more convenient to accept whatever kind of crap the so called authority wants to throw out to earn revenue. This is why we are losing ALL our rights aside from the DMV issues.
Papers please!!!
Fight it! Take it to the supreme court, quit bowing down because some butthead in a blue suit says something is illegal. It is NOT. The laws I follow happen to be written on a few documents like the bill of rights and the constitution. If a law is made that goes against those principles, then it is not really a law at all. I am enjoying my RIGHT to life, liberty and "Pursuit of Happiness", seems like they might be trying to infringe on my Constitutional Rights!
I would demand my RIGHT to a trial in an article 3 court and remove the case from the city and state revenue collectors.
I mean come on! What's next? Going outdoors and walking without a helmet?
It is the Governments job to provide REMEDY and they must. They cannot put a requirement on an impossibility. A vehicle has a VIN number identifying it as a vehicle, a bicycle is a bicycle not a vehicle not a moped not a scooter etc. If I must have insurance then the regulators must provide a provision that insurance companies must insure me. Same reason this "mandatory healthcare" stuff will never fly.
If you have a round red fruit that does not automatically make it an apple, there are many types of red round fruits.
My point being, is this is a constitutional issue and your RIGHT to free travel. If people actually understood their rights they would never even bother to get a drivers "license" or register their "personal conveyance mode of transportation" << notice not a "vehicle"
All one needs is "reasonable doubt" and a jury trial. People just pay the fines because it is easier! I would go to trial and make them prove that my bike is indeed a "moped" or "motorized scoooter" which it is not. Even the codes you mentioned do not mention "motor assisted bicycle" which is what you have, there is no code for those and I would insist that is what I am riding.
It is up to them to prove otherwise. The problem with people in this country is that it iis easier and more convenient to accept whatever kind of crap the so called authority wants to throw out to earn revenue. This is why we are losing ALL our rights aside from the DMV issues.
Papers please!!!
Fight it! Take it to the supreme court, quit bowing down because some butthead in a blue suit says something is illegal. It is NOT. The laws I follow happen to be written on a few documents like the bill of rights and the constitution. If a law is made that goes against those principles, then it is not really a law at all. I am enjoying my RIGHT to life, liberty and "Pursuit of Happiness", seems like they might be trying to infringe on my Constitutional Rights!
I would demand my RIGHT to a trial in an article 3 court and remove the case from the city and state revenue collectors.
I mean come on! What's next? Going outdoors and walking without a helmet?
It is the Governments job to provide REMEDY and they must. They cannot put a requirement on an impossibility. A vehicle has a VIN number identifying it as a vehicle, a bicycle is a bicycle not a vehicle not a moped not a scooter etc. If I must have insurance then the regulators must provide a provision that insurance companies must insure me. Same reason this "mandatory healthcare" stuff will never fly.
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