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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!pesnta!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcla!mike
From: mike@hpfcla.UUCP (mike)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <79200001@hpfclq.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Jul-85 13:32:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfclq.79200001
Posted: Wed Jul 24 13:32:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Jul-85 06:16:06 EDT
References: <1016@noscvax.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 16
Nf-ID: #R:noscvax:1016:hpfclq:79200001:37777777600:872
Nf-From: hpfclq!mike    Jul 24 09:32:00 1985

Speaking as the husband of a cop, one reason frequently cited by street
cops for being reluctant to issue tickets to bicycle riders in our city
is the fact that our traffic code was years out of date. There's simply
very little deterrent value to a $3.00 ticket for running a stop sign,
particularly if no point penalties are assessed against a license. It's
hardly worth the effort to write the ticket. The same offense by an
automobile driver is a lot more painful and hence there's a lot more
deterrent value. Once the city made the fines more in line with automobile
penalties, enforcement improved. I would like to think that compliance
improved, too.

Many cities are still using traffic codes for bicycles that were enacted
ages ago. The fact that they haven't been updated is an indication of
the city government's priority scale.

Mike McNelly	hplabs!hpfcla!mike