Comments on: Tickets dismissed in Ainsworth case http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Mon, 28 May 2012 19:25:30 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Joe Rowe http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1101654 Joe Rowe Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:45:53 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1101654 While driving his car this one officer broke laws followed by most cops. However, the same laws are violated by most car drivers: Not giving the full lane to cyclists ( 811.140 ) and reckless driving. ( 814.430(2) ) The case is now dismissed, so let's move on to this huge unanswered question: What will the police do about the majority of car drivers who put cyclists at risk in this same way? If we have 2 witnesses we should be able to call in the license plates of cars who put cyclists at risk and get them a ticket, or at least something on record for future hearings on the driver or that spot of roadway. Jonathan, please promote the B-Smart tool with a mention in more news stories. Please put a link on the right column. The cycling team never reported this close call. http://tinyurl.com/bikeportlandclosecalls other close call links http://tinyurl.com/pdxcopsqueeze http://bikeportland.org/closecall While driving his car this one officer broke laws followed by most cops.

However, the same laws are violated by most car drivers: Not giving the full lane to cyclists ( 811.140 ) and reckless driving. ( 814.430(2) )

The case is now dismissed, so let's move on to this huge unanswered question:

What will the police do about the majority of car drivers who put cyclists at risk in this same way?

If we have 2 witnesses we should be able to call in the license plates of cars who put cyclists at risk and get them a ticket, or at least something on record for future hearings on the driver or that spot of roadway.

Jonathan, please promote the B-Smart tool with a mention in more news stories. Please put a link on the right column.

The cycling team never reported this close call.
http://tinyurl.com/bikeportlandclosecalls

other close call links
http://tinyurl.com/pdxcopsqueeze
http://bikeportland.org/closecall

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]]> By: Paul Tay http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1101286 Paul Tay Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:58:20 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1101286 #34, Oh Word, they're serious. It's in writing. #34, Oh Word, they're serious. It's in writing.

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]]> By: Jim http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098988 Jim Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:54:25 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098988 "that the officer got off" He wasn't the one with charges against him. The cyclist is the one who "got off". "that the officer got off"

He wasn't the one with charges against him. The cyclist is the one who "got off".

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]]> By: Oh Word? http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098937 Oh Word? Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:40:00 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098937 So, is "training video" code for doughnut break? So, is "training video" code for doughnut break?

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]]> By: Paul Tay http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098658 Paul Tay Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:13:55 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098658 M, #32: "Another lawbreaking police officer escapes accountability!" Oh, fo' shure. Just like lying Mayors and Presidents. Gimme me sumthin' new like violin-playing chimpanzes. M, #32: "Another lawbreaking police officer escapes accountability!"

Oh, fo' shure. Just like lying Mayors and Presidents. Gimme me sumthin' new like violin-playing chimpanzes.

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]]> By: M http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098654 M Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:03:03 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098654 Another lawbreaking police officer escapes accountability! Another lawbreaking police officer escapes accountability!

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]]> By: Paul Tay http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098652 Paul Tay Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:02:48 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098652 Buglas, #28, ditto. It's a HUGE step forward. With nice guys like Pryce, who needs another lying Mayor? Buglas, #28, ditto. It's a HUGE step forward. With nice guys like Pryce, who needs another lying Mayor?

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]]> By: Paul Tay http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098651 Paul Tay Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:59:41 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098651 a.O., ditto. Laws are supposed to be ambiguous. Everything from the tax code, social security disability, to traffic ordinances are subject to interpretation. That's why a.O. and company get the big bucks. But, are traffic laws, in and of themselves, the REAL<a href="http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/06/25/do-traffic-laws-cause-accidents/" rel="nofollow">problem?</a> a.O., ditto. Laws are supposed to be ambiguous. Everything from the tax code, social security disability, to traffic ordinances are subject to interpretation.

That's why a.O. and company get the big bucks. But, are traffic laws, in and of themselves, the REALproblem?

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]]> By: buglas http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098644 buglas Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:46:27 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098644 Red face. Ok, it's "Messieurs." I ain't so practiced with all that classy stuff. Red face. Ok, it's "Messieurs." I ain't so practiced with all that classy stuff.

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]]> By: buglas http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/29/exclusive-city-police-and-riders-reach-settlement-in-ainsworth-case-14064#comment-1098643 buglas Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:43:32 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=14064#comment-1098643 In a view from out of town, I think this looks like a pretty big win. Vyn and Welte got their tickets dismissed, which I seem to remember was all they really asked. The city of Portland isn't facing a potential liability for any wrongdoing or harassment. The cycling community will get a better trained police force and officers who don't learn from the training video will have no excuse for future ignorance. Some are lamenting that Officer Pryce seems to be getting off easy. Remember that personnel issues are usually held in confidence. The police training video will not be free to produce. Officer Pryce's actions are costing the city money. I suspect that will be noted. Big kudos to a.O for stepping up on this one. Also to Messiuers Vyn and Welte for standing up rather than folding under. In a view from out of town, I think this looks like a pretty big win. Vyn and Welte got their tickets dismissed, which I seem to remember was all they really asked. The city of Portland isn't facing a potential liability for any wrongdoing or harassment. The cycling community will get a better trained police force and officers who don't learn from the training video will have no excuse for future ignorance.

Some are lamenting that Officer Pryce seems to be getting off easy. Remember that personnel issues are usually held in confidence. The police training video will not be free to produce. Officer Pryce's actions are costing the city money. I suspect that will be noted.

Big kudos to a.O for stepping up on this one. Also to Messiuers Vyn and Welte for standing up rather than folding under.

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