Bikers are getting a shot at repealing the helmet law in California

http://www.ride2repeal.com/ or send them email at Ride2Repeal@gmail.com

And on May 23rd there is a Motorcycle Awareness and Freedom Rally in Sacramento organized by ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) http://abate.com

Woman motorcycle cops, I just learned why we never see them except in movies

Women aren't generally interested in being cops, so very few cops are women. Of the women that want to be cops, few want to be on patrol. Of those that patrol, few can ride a motorcycle. Of the extemely few women in law enforcement that are on patrol, and can ride a motorcycle... few of them can lift a law enforcement spec motorcycle. A race bike maybe, but not a fully equipped motorcycle the cops ride, and have to lift from the ground as a requirement of the training course for motorcycle cops. And that is a train of events that creates a scarcity of women motorcycle cops

Automatic license plate recognition computer programs are now used by police (skip the first 10 seconds)

A better way to utilize this plate recognition software for stolen cars is to have the cameras on over passes, any stolen car on the freeway or highway will be pinged instantly.

Lots of stolen cars are never found. I like that law enforcement is using this new tech, out there busting people with no insurance or stolen plates, or out of date registration. However no insurance company is going to lower our rates because cops find more stolen cars, I bet you. Two times, as they said in "Do The Right Thing"

New California traffic laws and fines

Traffic Tickets Fines (January 2011) thanks to Patricia Cummings, Manager III
Court Liaison Officer CPD – Justice and Government Liaison Branch
Failure to notify DMV of address change within 10 days................. $154
Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility (insurance) ....$800
Failure to stop at a red signal. .......................................$400
Failure to stop at a stop sign. ........................................$154
Unsafe Speed, 1 to 15 miles over the limit..............................$154
Unsafe Speed, 16 to 25 miles over the limit.............................$280
Passing a school bus with flashing red signals..........................$600
Drive using wireless phone not hands free, First offense ...............$80
Drive using wireless phone not hands free, For each subsequent offense. ....$110
Drive while wireless device to send, read or write text.................$80
Minor drive using wireless phone........................................$80
Parking in a bus loading area .........................................$1000
Violation of disabled parking provisions, first offense................$1000
Violation of disabled parking provisions, second offense..(there is nothing in the statute to indicate increased sanctions for subsequent offenses)
Unlawful material on vehicle windows...................................$114
Adequate muffler required .............................................$114
Mandatory use of seat belts............................................$80
Mandatory use of child passenger restraints............................$400
Headsets/Earplugs over both ears.......................................$114
Motorcycle safety helmet requirements..................................$114
No evidence of current registration....................................$200

2011 Bail and Penalty Schedule, direct from the State of California:
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/reference/documents/2011_jcbail.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motorcyclist training. Anyone under 21 wanting to drive a motorcycle will be required to complete an approved motorcycle safety course. Upon completion, the driver will receive a motorcycle instruction permit that must be held for six months before receiving a motorcycle driver license.

Local traffic citations. Local law enforcement officials will no longer be authorized to ticket drivers for moving violations under municipal law or local ordinances. Under the new law, all moving violations must be cited under an appropriate section of the state vehicle code, which specifies penalties. This law takes effect July 1, 2011 and will provide uniform punishment for moving violations throughout the state.

Carpool lanes. Solo drivers in certain "green" (fuel-efficient, low-emission) vehicles with a DMV-issued carpool lane sticker will be able to continue using the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes until July 1, 2011. In addition, a new class of plug-in hybrid vehicles will also be able to use HOV lanes starting in January 2012.

Drunk drivers. If a person is convicted of three or more DUIs in a 10-year period, judges will be authorized to revoke the drunk driver's license for 10 years. This law does not take effect until January 1, 2012. The purpose behind the new law is to reduce repeat offenses by drunk drivers and decrease the number of drunk driving fatalities.

Higher traffic citation fines. All moving violation ticket fines will increase by $4. This law will remain in effect until 2016. Every vehicle-related or traffic infraction will cost $4 more than they did in 2010, raising an extra $34 million for Medi-Cal.

Street-sweeper cameras. Local agencies are now permitted to install cameras on street sweepers in order to digitally photograph illegally parked vehicles parked on streets during posted street sweeper times.

Other safety changes require all motorcycle drivers to complete a fifteen hour training course before earning a learner’s permit and laws increasing reckless driving penalties for paparazzi chasing celebrities.

A new law makes adults liable if an underage guest gets drunk and causes a car crash.

cities to install and operate cameras on street sweepers to digitally photograph vehicles that are parked on streets when street sweeping is posted to occur. Critics of the law are already comparing the plan to an Orwellian Big Brother plot, but this program literally would only photograph cars that are parked illegally.

Thanks to cuts to the state’s Medi-Cal program, motorists caught breaking the law will be charged $4 for the next six years to pay for emergency air-lifts.

a last new law wasn’t about change but about preserving the status-quo for “clean cars” and the state’s HOV Lanes. Hybrid vehicles adorned with the “yellow sticker” advertising its clean air status will be allowed to use HOV lanes as though they had multiple passengers until July 1 of this year. Cars with “white stickers” showing that they are electric or “compressed natural gas” will have HOV privileges until January of 2015. The new law creates a third sticker, for plug-in hybrid vehicles, to be issued and to allow access to HOV lanes also until 2015.

Mobile Billboard Advertising Displays (AB 2756, Blumenfield) This bill created Section 395.5 of the Vehicle Code, which defines “mobile billboard advertising display” as an advertising display that is attached to a wheeled, mobile, non-motorized vehicle that carries, pulls or transports a sign or billboard and is for the primary purpose of advertising. This bill also amended Section 21100 of the Vehicle Code to give local authorities the ability to adopt rules/regulations by ordinance/resolution to regulate mobile billboard advertising; this includes establishing penalties that could authorize removal of the mobile billboard advertising display. In addition, VC Section 22651 was amended to say that the mobile billboard advertising display may be towed when left parked or standing in violation of a local ordinance. Warning citations advising of the consequences, including towing of the mobile billboard display, are sufficient enough warning to the public.

registered in California, which does not bear the required applicable federal Environmental Protection Agency exhaust system label consistent with federal regulations. This law only applies to motorcycles manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2013, or a motorcycle with after market exhaust system equipment that is manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2013.

I just remembered, the fine for running a red light

went from $350 to about $430. This couldn't have anything to do with more cities, counties, states and our country going bankrupt and more stop light cameras getting installed, could it?

Los Angeles Red Light cameras, the city says it's losing money on the whole thing

http://www.knx1070.com/Red-Light-Cameras--Good-or-Bad-for-LA-/6639883#

To listen to the podcast (it's a short news clip) click on the link.

Briefly, the city of LA stop light cameras make 4 million a month, and LA says it's costing them 100,000 dollars a month.... yeah, they say they are losing on the stop light camera system.

What possible reason can there be for this newer "security" runabout having 1967 license plates?

Did you know unpowered kart racing has been made illegal in Los Angeles county?

Via: http://gowjobs.blogspot.com/2010/03/illegal-soapbox-racing-turns-out-its.html
the County of Los Angeles has put a code into place forbidding the use of non-powered vehicles on county roads with a grade of more than 3%, including skateboards, street luges and our "box-car coasters"

So.Cal Illegal Soapbox Racers race the 3rd sunday of every month. Our gravity powered racers are fast, fun and not expensive to build or race!

Basically your cart needs four tires, brakes on two wheels, no weight or ballast, no weapons, and must be gravity powered (no engines or drivetrain of any type). We require all drivers to wear a helmet, and strongly suggest gloves and other protective gear.

http://www.scisr.org/

Two goups that have terrific naems and race downhill?

VULGR The Ventura Underground League of Gravity Racers

MISFITS Maryland Illegal Soapbox Federation & Incline Trials Society

See the Australian group AIGRF here: http://aigrf.blogspot.com/2009/08/race-21-hamptons.html

Skip the first 45 seconds

Speedtrap on the 805 southbound at the south end of the i8 bridge, they sit here all the time, if you know of other San Diego sites, email me

The view looking north up the 805, the bridge over Mission Valley ... the cop car is sitting in the center of the photo

You see they sit at the connection from the 8 East

He found the speed of the Isuzu to be over the limit

Somebody's day just got more expensive
If you know other locations they always frequent in San Diego, email me at jbohjkl@yahoo.com

NYPD detectives parking illegally, and getting towed!

Dozens of detectives say they have had their department cars towed — by their own department.

On at least 35 occasions, have walked outside to find their cars hooked by a special detail of the Internal Affairs Bureau that hunts for illegally parked cop cars.

From http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/detectives_getting_tow_nailed_KmuIlC8eJkI9k1WDyHFOcJ
Via: http://gothamist.com/2010/03/09/detectives_say_their_cars_shouldnt.php

Comments in this news article point out that the cops took overtime pay to get the cars out of the tow yard. Further endearing is that the city cars, were being locked up... by... the city. So, stupidity abounds, NYPD cops are hypocrites and not aware of the oath of office they swore (and that pisses me off) and then complained about Internal Affairs busting them for being parking a-holes. Int he word of the great Walter Matthau "Putz!"

But when their former leader New York City police commissioner Kerik just plead guilty to no less that 8 Ferderal Felony Charges, what can you expect of leaderless NYPD? That their integrity would be scupulous? http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/bernard_b_kerik/index.html?inline=nyt-per

not that I'm on a roll, but everywhere you look at New York news the cops are hypocrits and worse http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-cop-claims-he-was-pressured-to.html

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord Acton's dictum, April 1887
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton

Lane splitting, I was curious and wondering about it, here's what you might like to know

According to law enforcement agencies, the California Vehicle Code doesn’t specifically say that lane-splitting is illegal. That doesn’t mean a motorcyclist might not get ticketed for it, though.
Motorcyclists could still be cited for unsafe driving and it’s up to the discretion of the ticketing officer and the court to determine what’s safe.

The California Highway Patrol’s Web site says lane splitting “is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner,” while the DMV’s Motorcycle Handbook warns that lane sharing is dangerous.

San Diego police Lt. Tim Saelens, who works in the traffic division, said motorcyclists who split lanes are sometimes cited under three sections of the state Vehicle Code: Section 22350, the basic speed law; Section 21658, which governs lane changes; and Section 21755, that allows passing on the right only under safe conditions.
From http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/19/sign-of-trouble/ via a tip from Zina at http://piratemonkeycult.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/molesters-and-whatnots/

What's with California Senator Lowenthal? He wants to eliminate free parking in California,... yeah, WTF??

He wants to change parking everywhere in California: http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/02/long-beachs-state-senator-lowenthal-takes-on-parking-requirements/

And eliminate free parking http://www.lbpost.com/ryan/8196 in the whole state of California, now isn't that jsut a new tax on cars... requiring them to pay to park everywhere, every time? How the hell can anyone with a real job pay for that, 'cause I gaurantee Senators don't pay for the gass hog vehicles they drive, are driven in, are flown in, or the fuel that moves the free gas hogs they are provided, nor do they have to pay for parking. But they are consistant in trying to eliminate any fun you can have with yours.

"Lowenthal reiterated his point that free parking is free only to the person parking, where the costs of parking lot construction and maintenance are passed on in the form of higher prices for goods and lower wages for employees. Lowenthal views the bill as a tool to encourage cities and counties to examine ways to manage their parking in order to meet regulations that they will be forced to adhere to by 2020. " Long Beach Post news, Feb 2 2010

Did you hear about the new "Move over" law? Similar to the double fine for speeding in a Construction Zone, it's to make it safer for Caltrans workers

There is a hoax email running around that the fine is 754 dollars, nope: http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/automobiles/a/move_over_law_ca.htm
and http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp both prove it was a hoax, and

it looks like the BS started here http://www.mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/335730-move-over-law.html

THE STRAIGHT SCOOP:
The “Move Over/Slow Down” law, signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger in October, adds Caltrans vehicles (with flashing amber warning lights) to the list of other emergency responder vehicles working roadside that require all motorists to move over or slow down when they see them. The revised law also removes a pre-existing 1/1/10 sunset date (when the law terminates), which now makes the safety protections permanent.
The previous law required motorists to only yield to law enforcement, emergency responders or tow truck operators who are working on the roadside.
The law does not apply when the vehicle with flashing warning lights is not adjacent to the freeway or is separated from the freeway by a protective physical barrier.
In California, violation of the new provision carries a fine of not more than $50. Comparing other states with similar laws, West Virginia has the steepest penalty: 60 days in jail and a $500 fine; Wisconsin’s penalty is a 15-day driver’s license suspension and a $40 fine.

2010 California traffic ticket fines, they don't make sense relatively, but indicate that the state looks at these fines as revenue, not as a deterent

If you are looking for 2011 fines: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-california-traffic-laws-and-fines.html

Traffic Tickets Fines (01/06/2010)

Failure to notify DMV of address change within 10 dayd..................................... $214

Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility (insurance) ....................$796

Failure to stop at a red signal. ..................................$436
Failure to stop at a stop sign. ....................................$214


Unsafe Speed, 1 to 15 miles over the limit.................$214
Unsafe Speed, 16 to 25 miles over the limit...............$328

Passing a school bus with flashing red signals............$616

Drive using wireless phone not hands free, First offense ....................$148

Drive using wireless phone not hands free, For each subsequent offense. ...............$256

Drive while wireless device to send, read or write text.........................$148

Minor drive using wireless phone.....................................$148

Parking in a bus loading area ...................$976

Violation of disabled parking provisions, first offense................$976

Violation of disabled parking provisions, second offense...............................$1876

Unlawful material on vehicle windows...........................$178

Adequate muffler required ................................$178

Mandatory use of seat belts...............................$148

Mandatory use of child passenger restraints.....................$436

Headsets/Earplugs over both ears.....................$178

Motorcycle safety helmet requirements.......................................$178

No evidence of current registration...................................................$256