While I didn't get a ticket... a LOT of riders received tickets around here last month. Our lovely PD decided that due to the number of motorcycle accidents that resulted in death, they were going to target riders for the month of May. Keep in mind that the 5 fatal accidents they mentioned were all caused by a cager except one. The one that was the rider's fault, he was drunk and hit the median, then a tree, throwing his passenger off and killing her.
They mostly targeted crotch rockets.
Here's the press release:
"In an effort to reduce the number of injury and fatal accidents involving
motorcycles, the Bakersfield Police Department Traffic Division will begin some
special enforcement efforts targeting common violations that contribute to
accidents involving motorcycles. Just over 2% of all registered vehicles in the
State of California are motorcycles yet they contribute to over 10 % of all fatal
accidents. There have been 5 fatal accidents in the City of Bakersfield involving
motorcycles since September 2007.
This will be an effort by the entire traffic division with some special enforcement
periods where extra traffic officers will be out targeting motorcyclists committing
violations frequently seen as primary causes of accidents. Some of the common
violations are excessive speed, frequent/unsafe lane changes, failure to signal,
following too close, right of way violations, and reckless operation.
The goal of these efforts is to reduce the number of accidents, injuries, and
fatalities by raising the awareness of all motorists on the streets of our
community. "
