The LAPD is moving along with the plan to train officers on the bike laws. You might have thought that it was just drivers and bike riders that were not aware of the law in this area, but many police officers are just as poorly educated here, too. The story is over at the LAist blog "LAPD Takes First Steps to Train Officers on Bicycle Laws," By Zach Behrens in News on March 11, 2010 5:45 PM. http://laist.com/2010/03/11/lapd_takes_steps_to_train_officers.php
This all came about from a City Council Transportation Committee meeting several weeks ago. The problems bike riders encountered were presented to the Committee and the LAPD Chief by a group of riders, the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, relating their views and experiences. A bike rider was hit by a motorist downtown while on his way to work at City Hall and left in the street seriously injured and nothing if any serious reaction by the police happened, even after the woman appeared at a police station later to tell of her action. This was the catalyst for bike riders to protest law enforcement practices that were either wrong or not being followed by police in all areas and not just the LAPD.
According to the agreement from the Chief, education of officers would be included with their other training in the police academy. Officers now on the job will be given training to update them to create a uniform and correct knowledge and application of the laws in this area. This means that enforcement of existing laws would be followed and it's a situation that cuts both ways as far as bike riders and motorists are involved.
More details from the meeting of March 11, 2010, with the LAPD Task Force and an LAPD Commander and sargeant are reported by the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, at http://lacbc.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/lapd-task-force-meeting-update-%E2%80%93-internal-code-enforcement-and-education-released/
Running stop signs and red lights will be worth a ticket for bike riders just as it is for motorists, for one example. I think the size of the fine for a red light ticket is up around $500 now, and possibly several times that figure with all the penalty assessments added in. Did you know that a $20 ticket for "using a cell phone hand-held while driving" is totalling between $120 and $145 when all the fees have been tacked on at court? So it is with all the other moving violations. I've read comments from law enforcement offiers that finding violations of that law is like shooting fish in a barrel, and could issue ticket all the time. Of course, that did not mean that there's much "enforcement" done, only that it's possible. And from seeing so many on their phones while driving, it's a law ignored by many who may think they only risk $20.
Read the LAist entry and check the ORDER issued to the officers to see some curent laws that will be getting some use for all sides:
http://lacbc.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/paysingermemo.pdf
There is law that requires a driver not to just open the driver's side door carelessly- often the reason for bike riders to crash or react quickly to avoid injury. It also can get a door knocked off by a passing vehicle. In each case the driver has the duty to use caution and a violation there means you lose in traffic or civil court when the excuse, "it was an accident" is used. You actually are required to check first to be sure it is safe before opening that door.
Well, there's a lot that many drivers don't know about, period. I may make a list of what I commonly see that demonstrates that but someday, not now. So, for Cars & Bikes, this will at least make everyone follow a few laws equally and with enforcement done properly to get some safer conditions to exist for all concerned.
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