this is exactly what i mean when i say people are just looking for a way to justify it to themselves, and read into the laws what they want to hear:
(1)... Needing to register is not even listed in the law. If I was pulled over and quoted a law that is not listed or not available to the the public eye I would get a civil rights lawyer and make the issue my prime directive.
(2)When you are pulled over by the police they legally need to have justifiable cause to detain you.
(3)I would politely ask the judge to give you a copy of the specific law that requires you to register your motorized bicycle.
(4)It is a constitutional right to travel down the road.
i've divided your post in 4 points.
point 1: this is clearly listed in the DMV handbook under the "moped" section,
Motorcycles Mopeds Scooters defined
it reads:•A Motorized Bicycle is issued special license plates and identification cards, which require a one-time $18 fee. No renewal required. (M2) moped/scooter only license or an M1.
it's also clearly stated here:
V C Section 5035 Special License Plate Display Transfer and Destruction
point 2: basically, refer to point one, and to the original posters own admission. no plate, running a stop sign, etc, is just cause to be pulled over and detained.
point 3: the judge will have the proper law, since it's probably written on the ticket.
point 4: driving is a "priviledge," not a right. roads are paid for by tax dollars, and so are the police who enforce them. it is public property, but it comes at a price.
i'm not trying to be a lawyer or a cop about this, but taking advice from anyone that ignores the law, is blind to the law, or disobeys the law is just stupid. if you go into court and argue the law with the judge or the cop, you will lose. if you say "but it doesn't say i need this..." or "i don't need to do this because..." they will be glad to point out where it
does say that or where you
do need to do that. cops and judges hate to be told the law by citizens. the only way it'll work in your favor, is if you're 100% right. and in this case, you're not.
my advice is to just take your lumps. dress nice, be respectful, insert the proper "yes sir's" and "no, your honor's" in the right places, and hope for the best. if the judge is cool, he might let you slide without treating it like a suspended license in an automobile, and treat it like the semi-harmless offense that it is.
bottom line is, you're guilty. nothing's gonna change that. fair or not, you can't just wish it away.
officer's motor vehicle, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year if all of the following conditions exist: