Kyle my man, at some point you simply MUST, are REQUIRED to by law to find out as much information pessoble when riding ANY motor vehicle on our roads here in canada, and I suspect it's the same in the US and other areas of the UK as well. You can not just claim to an officer that pulls you over for having a car plate on a truck in alberta or British coloumbia for example and say "Oh sorry officer but it's got a registered and up to date plate on it," and " Oh I didn't know you couldn't do that it's not my fault" this is ignorance. The officer will simply tell you the law says a car plate does not belong on a truck as they are classed different, and that it is UP to YOU the DRIVER of the motor vehicle to get your facts, information, and laws in order.
OK that said since there is a HUGE grey area regarding motored Bicycles, you must cover your A$$ cover your A$$ cover your A$$ as best you can and be able to show an officer at least you are not bing lazy and ignorrant of the law as a commuter on our public road ways.
I have contacted and have 3 SIGNED letters, 1 from the RCMP sergent in calgary, 1 from city hall, and 1 from another traffic area of city hall. They all state and agree that it does NOT I repeat NOT need to be licenced and they forsee no problem with riding these when equiped properly.
Now I have this information carried with me, I have names of the people in authority in calgary on the law, those who legislate it and those who enforce it, so If I ever get pulled over I can produce documentation of all our discussion, and all the replys and leters from these people. So I would say you have a GREEN light to ride. Be responsable and do you own leg work to be safe.
This is how these people in authority of our laws are interpreting it, and it does NOT gaurentee you will not egt a ticket. What it does do is show them that their superiors interpret the law accordingly, and might get me off with a warning or a caution and get me home safely. This is cheap insurance.
All this said Please please PLEASE don't be an A$$ and ride your Motored Bicycle without lights and proper equipment, I am a young guy and I like to be and look as cool as the next dude, but If I see you riding around Without a well riged Bicycle IE no lights ect I WILL Chase your a$$ down and stop you and get you off our roads so you don't screw it up for those of us riding responsible. DO your very best to appease The Police officers who have to try to figure this HUGE GREAY AREA out on the fly when they encounter you, and show them your doing your very best to keep safe and proper. Do all these things and I think we will have no issue in calgary at all, zip notta ziltch. Ride around doing 55 through school zones ect and they see these things doing these speeds, no helmet ect and your going to screw it up for all the rest of us period and of story.
If you like I can send you a copy of my letter from the RCMP desk sergent and his interpretation of the legislation, but don't EVER let me find it all over the internet brother.
Cheers,
FC.
officer traffic sergeants about the rules, regulations and whatever laws there may be regarding my bicycle.