Close Encounters of the #%&*@! Kind (Legal too)

Oct 23, 2013 at 11:52 AM

my sixty second google didn't turn up a NY statute or administrative code titled "reckless operation of a bike in a park"; the only "reckless operation" i found right away was for vehicles not powered by muscle. did they mention anything else about the offense? does VTL sound familiar? i'll look into it more later.

mostly curious because when i got a red light ticket in PP and pled not guilty i went to see an Administrative Law Judge off of Livingston St. in downtown brooklyn and was not offered any sort of option to take a class. i would've preferred the class option. i was ticketed by the Parks agency, not NYPD. trying to figure out how else our cases vary and get a clearer picture of the myriad ways a cyclist can be screwed.

Ryan J

Oct 23, 2013 at 12:09 PM

The class, I believe, is specific to the Red Hook Community Justice court to which I was sent.

dstokes

Oct 23, 2013 at 04:16 PM

There are (at least) 50 ways to leave your . . . to get screwed.

Here are the 3 I've personally experienced (maybe we should make a list):
Not riding in the bike lane (cost me $20 at pre-trial hearing)
Running a red light (dismissed at traffic court on 125th St)
Riding on the sidewalk (dismissed by mid-town community court with 1-day community service - note that this infraction can now be charged as a misdemeanor! A criminal offense!)

Then we have the general public yelling at us for . . . what is it this time? Riding circles on the grass, going too fast on the bike path, or just being an inconvenience.

As I've told some of you, the latter is my definition of being an a**hole.

http://www.khou.com/news/local/Video-shows-fiery-confrontation-between-74-year-old-driver-and-cycling-team-228423821.html

Myles

Oct 23, 2013 at 04:32 PM

I will point out that because hampton velo club is a 501 c3 organizations
helping out at Supercross will count for your community service

Just sayin
On Oct 23, 2013 12:27 PM, "dstokes" <

Brendan Rigby

Oct 23, 2013 at 10:51 PM

unfortunately, once they learn you're an evil cyclist the only 'community service' they will accept is cessation of cycling.

Myles

Oct 23, 2013 at 10:53 PM

I believe the technical term is "furthering international sporting efforts"
according to our 501c3 paperwork
On Oct 23, 2013 6:51 PM, "Brendan Rigby" <

Brendan Rigby

Oct 24, 2013 at 12:13 AM

501(c) is about federal taxes, not state or municipal court community service. IRS: 1; local cyclists: 0

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 12:24 AM

501c3 allows you to procure hours of community service legally while in
working in the service of one.

Run all the lights you want.
See you Nov 22nd.

M
On Oct 23, 2013 8:17 PM, "Brendan Rigby" <

Ryan J

Oct 24, 2013 at 12:49 AM

I for one feel comforted to know that they are still handing out 501(c)(3) status for activities that primarily impact wealthy white men.

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 01:32 AM

good to know you're part of the problem

Jules

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:14 AM

Reason number 43 why random group rides are dangerous crash fiestas... courtesy of @Myles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUF-RwY2rak

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:19 AM

bunch of yahoo fucktards

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:20 AM

although I do give high marks for moaning

Jules

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:23 AM

Grape Lady

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:46 AM

teflon

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/biking/road-biking/Chris-Horner-Bio-Passport-Raises-Doubts.html?page=3

Brendan Rigby

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:02 PM

i promise i'm not just being an internet contrarian! the distinction between 501(c)(3) and other types of nonprofit can matter sometimes. federal 501(c)(3) designation has several consequences, two of which are: (1) the entity is exempt from federal income tax on its own income, with certain exceptions; and (2) donors can deduct qualifying contributions they make to the entity from their federal income tax.

these federal law tax consequences don't necessarily mean anything for questions of taxes or other benefits under state law. i discovered this when i told the UPS store not to charge state sales tax on a huge order i placed for a 501(c)(3). UPS insisted on charging sales tax unless i had a NY state nonprofit tax exemption letter. we didn't, and we paid lots of state sales tax on the purchase.

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:09 PM

Yeah ive got one. Saves $.

I was told volunteer time counts for service....no?
On Oct 24, 2013 10:02 AM, "Brendan Rigby" <

David Yang

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:16 PM

Jules said:

Reason number 43 why random group rides are dangerous crash fiestas... courtesy of @Myles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUF-RwY2rak

NOPE

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:31 PM

The ensuing comentry is quite hilarious. I had heard a rumor that instead of completely open enrollment in the club there may be a move forward a try out process if you will. After listening to Mr the only way to learn how to ride a bike is to crash I completely changed my opinion on the matter

Brendan Rigby

Oct 24, 2013 at 02:39 PM

Myles said:

Yeah ive got one. Saves $. I was told volunteer time counts for service....no? On Oct 24, 2013 10:02 AM, "Brendan Rigby" <

probably! i guess my point, which i made poorly, is that the organization that is requiring the person to do service can define it however they want. it could be the case that mr. stokes' kangaroo court only lets NY state nonprofits, rather than federal 501(c)(3) nonprofits, count towards service. it's definitely not a misrepresentation to say that you're a 501(c)(3) if you are! it's up to the people volunteering to figure out if a particular volunteer opportunity satisfies their program's requirements.

mostly i jumped at the opportunity to actually use some of the very little knowledge i absorbed when i took nonprofit law pass/fail. that experience taught me that taking a class pass/fail is the best way to ensure you spend the entire class on the internet reading about bicycles rather than listening to the lecture.

Myles

Oct 24, 2013 at 03:11 PM

Im nys registered too run all the red lights you want
On Oct 24, 2013 10:40 AM, "Brendan Rigby" <

dstokes

Oct 25, 2013 at 12:46 PM

Security checkpoint at Pittsburgh airport:
Woman realizes she had a bottle of Pepsi. Hands it to her husband who asks a random airport worker to toss it in the trash.
Husband says, 'this will test whether you are a good shot."
Random worker says, 'I ought to be, I have a gun!' And proceeds to the front of the line where he throws two bags of cash on the converter belt and walks through the magnetic scanner.
He was a Brinks delivery guy. . .

Jules

Oct 28, 2013 at 02:55 PM

Ugh. This from the Foundation facebook page:

Mark Petimezas:
On Saturday's 6:30 EG ride, Mark Petimezas crashed badly as his front wheel hit the back wheel of the rider in front of him. He went down hard and landed on his head (lucky he was wearing a helmet!!!!). He sustained lacerations on his face, concussion, fractured cheek bone and bone above his eye, spinal fracture and at the time couldn't move his legs. The doctors at Nyack Hospital said that he should regain full movement in his legs (he moved his right toe this morning).

At the scene of the accident all hands were on deck immediately. Steve Magyera immediately called 911 for an ambulance (it took 20 minutes to get to the scene) , some tried to comfort Mark as others moved into position to handle the traffic. This was a team effort at its best!!!!!!!

Efrain took Mark's wife to the hospital. The Altchek boys got their father involved and made an action play to have him rehab at Rusk Institute later this week.

Thank you everyone for being there and our prayers go out to Mark to his complete and speedy recovery.

Thank you all,

Richard Wolf

Jules

Oct 29, 2013 at 12:57 AM

Some solid advice on how to avoid trouble...

http://m.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/injury-prevention/make-save?cm_mmc=Twitter-_-Bicycling-_-Content-Story-_-make-save

Myles

Oct 29, 2013 at 01:09 AM

it takes two people to have an accident.

Jules

Oct 29, 2013 at 01:35 AM