Traffic Ticket for my Bike rack

I just got pulled over and issued a ticket for my bike rack by a Virginia State Trooper. The trooper stated that I ran a stop sign, which I told him I stopped. He said no you didn't I said yes I did. He said "Well i'll just give you a break and write you for your bike rack because its obscuring your license plate, this way you wont get any points against your license". I was like...Ok have at it.

I must say it is against the law in VA to have anything in front of your rear License plate...However...

I really think it was because I flashed my high beams at him. He was sitting on the side of the road in an unmarked car and I hit my high beams, because I was trying to see if anyone was sitting in a strange car near my house.

The funny part of the story is he didn't see my gun which was sitting in plain view on my passenger seat

The rack is like Jon's and this picture below. I guess I'll be making a trip to court.

 

Geez, don't cops have any REAL criminals to catch anymore?? Just like me getting a ticket a couple of months ago on my bike!!!

 

Wounder what would happen if you took that picture into court with you?

 

I am going to find out...I will be taking pictures of all the local Police Cars with Bike Racks..lol

Plus I got a few other tricks up my sleeve..lol

 

Is that your bike rack on the back of his car???did he confiscate it? Is that his own? Talk about obscuring the license plate...

Oh I don't believe he didn't "see" your gun, he probably noticed it but probably assumed you had a concealed carry, they are trained to notice all types of little stuff, just so they can be nit picky if they need to. Possibly, VA has an open carry law? Since you didn't try to hide it or act suspicious he probably just didn't care, he had a ticket to issue you know. Got to get those tax payer dollars.

 

No i just found the picture as an example.

 

By gun I'm assuming you meant a pistol. Aren't you required to notify an officer immediately that you do have a gun? Concealed weapons permit?

As for the ticket, it does not seem that you should have a problem getting that thrown out but the hassle is crazy. Looks like one officer had too much time on his hands.

 

Or not enough doughnuts

 

KEILA!!!!

And we have officers in your family!!!

Actually this controversy brewed in St. Louis and was talked about extensively on BROL and some other forums I believe. I think there are laws noting that you can't obstruct the plates. You may still be stuck with the ticket.

If indeed you didn't run the stop sign you probably would have been better fighting that.

Before you go to court, call the DA's office and speak to the DA about the issue. He may just drop it right there.

In the meantime, I would suggest getting one of those license plate racks that go on your bike rack. The issue you bring up is happening more and more. And if you can find a rack on your local dept's cars, take a pic and bring it to the DA.

 

What??? Oh please Shark is a ranger, not a "cop"...he doesn't eat doughnuts...he eats bear claws.

 

What??? Oh please Shark is a forest/park ranger, not a "cop"...he doesn't eat doughnuts...he eats bear claws.

 

:nah:I must be blessed or lucky. Haven't had any trouble with my locals around here at least as of yet. Of course the retired chief of police is one of the pastors of my church. They just pass me and I just sit there and wave like hi. Of course I make myself well seen by everyone my flag and now at night need more lights and thinking of putting one on my head rest and two on the back. Have all 3 flashing at night and if I can find another light will put that on my accessory mount. 5 lights all flashing at once an indenfied rolling vechile. have to get another helmet light. so 6 lights flashing that's going to be funny and costly all of the batteries.

 

Not sure how the road code reads in the US, but here in Oz, it is an offence to obscure the number plate, and it must be able to be read from up to a 45 degree angle from the rear, and a 45 degree angle above the plate.
It is also an offence here to drive a motor vehicle with an empty bike rack!
When a bike rack is fitted to a vehicle, then a specific bike rack number plate is to be fitted to the bike rack. This number plate is a duplicate of the vehicle's number plate.