h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As I crawled past a speed camera this morning. A cyclist pased though the speed check point.

This got me wondering.

Does nay body know if cyclist can be done for speeding?
What unusual vehicle has been given speeding ticket.

Lightman

I know that once police in Edinburgh were baffled at a photo with no car in the distance whatsoever.

It turned out that there was a squirrel in the road that had set it off!

Yup, theoretically a cyclist can be done for the same things as a driver... of course it's a little difficult to give them points if they haven't a driving licence and it's even harder to identify them if they're not carrying ID, but theoretically they could be convicted of traffic offenses.

I know someone that was given a written warning for speeding on a bike- went zipping past a police speed check point at a daft speed in a 30 zone.

Yes, cyclists can be stopped for speeding, and have been myself. I received a caution 25 years ago for doing 35mph in a built-up area (speed-limit of 30mph) The copper was a little taken aback. At the time, I lived in Ramsgate, Kent, and a neighbour who was a Copper, advised me that if I had had a licence, it could have been endorsed. I seem to remeber that when I was a member of the London Cycle Campaign many years ago, they advised the same. However I can see nothing on the internet, and wonder what happens to those who do not have a licence. A bit harsh I feel.

They can be cited for any moving violation.

Not having a license, doesn't mean they can't get points. If they kept doing it, their license or privilege to drive could be suspended.

Not having a license doesn't mean you can't be suspended. If you commit a serious traffic violation or do one of the other things that automatically suspends a license, you'll be assigned a license number, and the suspension will go on that record.

It makes a difference between a relatively minor charge of driving without a license and driving on a suspended license. Driving without a license will get you a trip to jail with a bond and/or fine of a couple hundred dollars. Driving without a license will get you mandatory jail time, fines of around $1000 and another 6 months to a year on suspension.

I was once involved in an arrest of a person for DUI on a lawnmower. He was weaving as he went down the street in the middle of the night. He was on his way to steal some sod from a construction site. He had a few beers for the road and a little marijuana. When I asked if he would do some field sobriety evaluations he asked me why. I said, "To see if you're under the influence of alcohol?"

He said, "I thought that was obvious."

Once we convinced his lawyer that a lawnmower was a moving vehicle as defined by Georgia law, he pled guilty.

Shall I get the corny jokes about policemen being 'mown down' out of the way with

One of my friends was banned (for something he did in a car) for three years before he even got a licence. I don't know where they 'registered' it, but it meant he couldn't apply for a provisional until the ban was up. As it happens he didn't apply for about ten years, so it didn't make much difference to him. The fine did though!

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/28.shtml#5

Look, there appears to be an offence of 'dangerous cycling' but it doesn't carry points!

Here's some Scout info that I particulary like. You might tbe able to tell why when you see it...

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/activity/outdoor/cycle/thelaw.htm

I was a scout leader some time ago.
Back in the datk days that is pre h2g2 We looked at the highway code, mainly its relevance to persons on foot.

When marching at night the group must be clearly lit with a white lamp at the front and a red lamp at the back.
Except when you're pissed up Venture Scouts and you get the lights the wrong way 'round, leading oncoming traffic to think they're facing a reversing vehicle

Scouts P***d never.
Well never cought

Lightman - you asked about unusual vehicles...this was in Private Eye a coupla months ago:

Speed of ambulance carrying donor organ to hospital for transplant: 101 mph.
Speed of Jack Straw's chauffeur when late for Cabinet meeting: 102 mph.

Guess which one was convicted?

was it 1?

Of course it was the ambulance driver!

About speeding on a bicycle...

I once was riding my bicycle when a speed camera went off (hidden in a parked car.) It must have been me (no car in sight at all) but I cannot really have caused it, either. Going very slow (I was dead tired after a 12+ hour day at the university), I was not even on the road, but on a cycling path next to the road.

Y.

Perhaps it was just a photographer and not a speed camera. I've never heard of them being hidden in a car before.

You could be in the 'News of the World' on Sunday

F

Actually, the ambulance driver was clocked at 104mph:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/3018142.stm