Comments on: Fun With Florida Statutes

By: Matt Cringe

Matt Cringe — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:46:32 +0000

This was a funny article. Cited for bald tires?! What will they think up next. I think someone has to much time on their hands.

By: Mighk

Mighk — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:22:48 +0000

Julius wondered “if they think that bikes without traditional brakes can be deemed “unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property.””

Officers are expected to use judgment. If one has a fixed gear bike and has the skills to stop the bicycle as effectively as the law requires (within 25 feet at 10 mph), then the spirit of the law is upheld. If the fixie rider crashes due to the inability to stop in time, then a citation of “no brakes” or “defective brakes” might be warranted.

By: Brian in So Cal

Brian in So Cal — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:19:08 +0000

A bald motor vehicle tire is one that formerly had tread and has worn sufficiently so that the tread is gone. Thus the danger may not be lack of tread but lack of rubber. That is not the case for bald bicycle tires right off the shelf.

By: Julius

Julius — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:28:02 +0000

I wonder if they think that bikes without traditional brakes can be deemed “unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property.”

By: Mighk

Mighk — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:05:04 +0000

I queried my 2003/04 crash database:

Out of 885 crashes, 3 were coded as “Worn Tires” for the bicyclist. But all those were on “Clear” days. Only one involved motorist fault; drive-out at an intersection. Tire condition would of course only be relevant if the pavement were wet.

By: fred_dot_u

fred_dot_u — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:46:07 +0000

I suppose in the case of tires we are lucky that law enforcement officers have more important aspects of the law to address when it comes to bicycles.

Alternatively, since one can purchase tires in new condition without tread at all, one can argue that having tires in such condition is not a danger to anyone. Oh, shucks, I used the word argue. That never works, does it?

“other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required in this chapter” might be motor-vehicle specific.

Has anyone heard of a cyclist or person on a bike being stopped for unsafe, worn tires? There’s been a post in another forum about officers stopping a rider for having only one brake, but the officer was told it wasn’t illegal and wanted to find something to cite the rider. Portland, OR, I think.