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Old 01-07-2005, 06:50 PM   #8 (permalink)
Bill Baka
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Re: Pushing a bicycle illegal

alan wrote:
> Ed Chasteen, a cyclist with multiple sclerosis, was charged with
> "pushing a bicycle" in Lawson, Missouri, population 2300, in an
> area where bicycle travel is prohibited both on the street and
> the adjacent sidewalks of the business district. Local law
> forbids even pushing a bike.


Was he supposed to carry it over his head?

The area has several "No Bicycles"
> signs, but Mr. Chasteen assumed they were to prevent riding a
> bicycle on the sidewalk.
>
> His trial was held January 4th. Lawson's mayor, chief of police,
> and the officer who wrote Chasteen's ticket all testified.


The first 3 idiots, err *******s.

> Chasteen's attorney asked questions during the trial indicating
> that Lawson's previous city prosecutor had refused to file the
> case as unprosecutable.


One honest man, at least.

Although the judge refused to allow the
> questions, a different prosecutor was handling the case.


Idiot/******* number 4.
>
> Chasteen's attorney argued that the law is unconstitutionally
> vague, includes an inappropriate penalty designed for parents of
> children, and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.


So this town considers riding even for a charity to be illegal?
Has anybody informed the governor of the state that some house cleaning
needs to be done?

> Parents who permit violations by their children may be charged
> with a misdemeanor.


I suppose they have a sign at the entrance to town that reads something
like "A wonderful place to live.", yeah, right.
>
> Local media reports erroneously indicated that Lawson's mayor is
> against any changes to the "no bicycle zone" law. Lawson City
> Manager John Tracy indicates that an update to the law is in fact
> on the agenda for this spring.


He is about 50 years behind in his work.

Lawson is looking at bicycle law
> in nearby cities as a model, and will work with local bicyclists
> and bicycle groups, as well as local citizens. Note, however,
> that at least some local citizens support the bicycle ban.


Ban their damn cars and make them walk, as in speed limits of 5 MPH.
Ticket the dumb asses if they run too fast.
>
> The judge will consider the case and issue a verdict within 10
> days.


If he says "Guilty" the state if not the feds should come down on him
hard, like a loaded cruise missile.
>
> Chasteen's group rides to Lawson about once every 5 weeks. In
> July, he was entering a restaurant when he met Lawson's Police
> Chief, who ordered him to remove his bicycle from the street.
> Mr. Chasteen refused, and the Chief had a waiting officer ticket
> him for the offense.


Sure sounds like a corrupt little "Dukes of Hazzard" town to me.
>
> Mr. Chasteen first encountered the police in May of 2004, when
> police told a group of cyclist volunteers supporting a local MS
> ride that they could not ride in Lawson.


A nice place not too live, shop in, drive through, or sell to. Boycott
the *******s out of their prissy little town.
I had a great day until I read this.
Bill Baka, with one less place to ever ride.
>
> For more information:
> http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/cyc...sclerosis.html
> http://www.hatebusters.com/article.a...0&NavButton=06
> http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/...71/detail.html
>
>

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