My chain tensioner had fell apart at Mission & Valencia. Took off chain to pedal home. Going North on Mission just past Ajo got pulled over. Cop said I was doing 22mph. I said," I dont think so but okay." I didn't think I had anything to worry about because my motor was not running and my chain was wrapped around my handlebars which I pointed out to the officer.
He said," It doesnt matter because it is a motorized bicycle and I still have to stay under the 20mph limit." He did not give me a ticket but gave me a warning.
Is this true? Even if I'm pedalling my bike I have to stay under 20mph? Or did I run into a cop that was having a bad day? Has anybody else encounter this?

Ouch. That's like the time I almost got a ticket for speeding on my 50cc scooter. G's some cops are justr like that.

If it IS law, I'd say they'd have to be pretty chickenshit to hassle you for 2 mph over.....while pedaling.

I asked this some where else
Maybe I should register my ride so they can go #### them selves when the pull me over ansd see I gto a plate, license, do I need insurnce too, I do that. JUST TO MAKE THE COP LOOK MORE STUPID WHEN WE GO TO COURT, THEN COUNTER FOR HARRASMAENT.

fairracing31 wrote:
My chain tensioner had fell apart at Mission & Valencia. Took off chain to pedal home. Going North on Mission just past Ajo got pulled over. Cop said I was doing 22mph. I said," I dont think so but okay." I didn't think I had anything to worry about because my motor was not running and my chain was wrapped around my handlebars which I pointed out to the officer.
He said," It doesnt matter because it is a motorized bicycle and I still have to stay under the 20mph limit." He did not give me a ticket but gave me a warning.
Is this true? Even if I'm pedalling my bike I have to stay under 20mph? Or did I run into a cop that was having a bad day? Has anybody else encounter this?

Here is Tucson Law about motorized Bicycle's. It doesn't say anything about weather you are under pedal power.
http:/dot.ci.tucson.az.us/bicycle/pdfs/moto_bikes.pdf

alanb wrote:
I asked this some where else
Maybe I should register my ride so they can go #### them selves when the pull me over ansd see I gto a plate, license, do I need insurnce too, I do that. JUST TO MAKE THE COP LOOK MORE STUPID WHEN WE GO TO COURT, THEN COUNTER FOR HARRASMAENT.

alanb, I am not pos on this but this is what you will need.
You will have to title your bike. You may have to have it inspected. You will need insurance. Your bike must have, mirror, speedometer(which we all should have) brake light, tail light,I'm not sure but I think headlight also. Driver's license, and a horn.
But I would like to point out that my friend went to the DMV to get a off-road plate for his ATV asked the lady at the DMV what he has to do to get a street plate since so many people are riding ATV's on the street now. She said he needed insurance, well it just so happened he had insurance for it, showed the proof and walked out with a street plate for his ATV.
He has nothing on it for street, speedometer, mirror,horn, ect. I supose if he ever get's pulled over he will be in trouble.
Me, I wanted a motorized bike for cheap transportation. If I have to go threw all that trouble, I would rather have a full size motorcycle.
If you do it, please let us know what step's you had to do so that maybe sombody else may want to do it. I would start with a phone call to the DMV. They have a number for you to ask any ?

I will look into getting a MOPED plate or whatever, that way IF, 'IF' I do get pulled over for doing 21 or 22 mph instead of the LAWFUL 19.5 I can tell JOHNNY BLUE LIGHT to step off. He can still ask me for License (I have ) insurance (I can get) and registration ( deal with DMV; crap) and then if he continues to give me a hard time or I go to court I have some LEGAL LEG TO STAND ON,

anyway I hate the thought but I just can't see a better way since I know my bike is fast and I don't try to stay under 20 it will only be a matter of time.

Just wish it did not have to come to that.
I agree a REAL MOTORCYCLE WOULD BE COOL but the cost of that would be to high for me and a car would be safer in tucson, I hate car drivers and ride my bikes on the smaller side roads when ever it is possible, I won't ride down oracle or speedway or thornydale, ina river.......never during the week mostly, sunday are still cool almost anywhere in town, but why do that when you can slide over to a side street and get where you need to with less pig attraction.

I will attack this issue next week when I have more time and let every one know what I did, how to do it, what contact people to talk to at DMV.......I hope it is not that hard and the cost will be well worth just so I can go where I want , how I want to, at the speed I want to go! This might go against alot of the MOTOR BICYCLE IDEALS but I do not want to deal with more dick cops with an axe to grind or a hidden agenda.

Now I have to see if the BIKE LANE is illegal for me to ride in, then contact Tucson P.D. tell them my situation and see what they tell me with regard to what lane I can or can not use, they may say I have to KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC 45-50 in town on a motor bicycle, not cool.

I hope it won't be too much trouble alab. I would think the first thing to do is get a tittle for your bike. To get a tittle you have to have it inspected at the DMV if I remember correctly I believe it is a $5.00 charge. You may want to check out Arizona Department of Motor Vehicle web site. They may have info there that is helpful.

fairracing31 wrote:
I hope it won't be too much trouble alab. I would think the first thing to do is get a tittle for your bike. To get a tittle you have to have it inspected at the DMV if I remember correctly I believe it is a $5.00 charge. You may want to check out Arizona Department of Motor Vehicle web site. They may have info there that is helpful.
fairracing, since you like tittles so much, I thought you might enjoy these.