A ticket for a Red windshield

[Heyzeus]

I got a ticket today for the red windshield on my XB12R. I told the officer this was how they came from the factory but he said it did not matter. He said no Red, Blue or Amber windshields. Has anyone else got one of these? I have the double bubble shield. This is in CA. He was nice and so was I but I did tell him I thought this was crazy since this was a factory color option. He said I brook no other rules. I thought my D&D was in trouble.

 

[xtreme]

That's crazy I would be screwed there since mine is painted. Crazy Ca laws

 

[oh9bolt]

Go to court!

 

[Theycallmecrash]

yes i dealt with this, (we met at the hide out remember?) no use fighting it, you cant. the system is setup where you cant argue a fix it ticket. mine was also red, told the judge the facts, the vehicle code even specifically states "aftermarket" doesnt matter, judge says dont want us looking like cops. i went in had it removed from the motorcycle $25 and i was done. i painted the back side black and reinstalled.

 

[Global Eyes]

What a bunch of **** this is.

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Firebolt-XB12-XB9/Ticket-for-wind-screen

 

[XRorXB]

I don't understand. If you're gonna impersonate a police officer (or police mcycle), it takes a lot more than just a red windshield. And I thought the trouble colors were having a blue or red *light*. Sorry to hear that.

 

[Loki]

I would go as far as pressing charges against either the cop, judge, or state and get a good lawyer, even if it is just 25$.

 

[RamAirZ]

^ how is that gonna work? First off the factory didn't offer a double bubble so it's technically not factory (even though the color was offered), but even with a factory screen, how do you expect to win this unless you get a judge who thinks like you (which is rare). My argument would be if my windscreen can be looked at as possibly impersonating an officer then why not pull over red and blue painted vehicles? That's alot more prominent than just a windscreen. BUT I guess their argument can be since the main body isn't colored and it's a different piece that it makes it look like an emergency vehicle. The law is stupid but being through it before, there is not much you can do really. You'll spend more money on a lawyer fighting it to MAYBE win than to just A: fix it or B: pay the fine and don't change the screen. Do I agree with it, no. Have I realized that sometimes we can bitch and say "oh fight it" and be wrong and lose, yes.

 

[twoguns]

you should be able to argue that as the bike has been certified by your ruling powers that hte bike is provided and designed legal for sale, then teh responsibility falls back to that government department. if hte bike came approved for sale and meets design rules then you can not get a ticket. this would not matter where you are. design rules are made for that reason. if the local departments have different rules then teh design rule holds predidence. afterall you shouldnt be able to buy something certified for sale in your country only to have to modify it to meet a local rule within that country. otherwise how ***'d is it where you all live?

if its an aftermarket part, then you are screwed!


weve had the same issue here with driving lamps. these are the lights beneath your headlamps that are only to be used in bad weather. ie heavy rain etc. fog lamps are the same. only for use in fog.
we also have a advertsing campaign for safe driving by driving with your lights on during the day. so a lot of drivers use their driving lamps all day and the headlamps can still be used to warn drivers etc of something.
anyway police are busting drivers for driving lamp use. kinda wrong but fair.
now new cars come standard with daylight running lights that are on all the time. lights separate to driving lamps or in leiu of driving lampds, and a feature that has been certified approved for sale. now you cant turn these off, yet people are being fined for having them on. this has been to caught and the police have lost many times. as the vehicle needs to be modified for use even though approved for sale. outdated rules and lack of thought by governing bodies of rules and designs.

 

[RamAirZ]

From the sound of it, he's running a Zero Gravity Windscreen, but even if it's stock it's not going to be that simple. They can say "well that's fine, pay the fine and take your own actions to turn it over later". So the design rule MAY turn over the ticket you got but the local department isn't just going to let it slide, your going to have to go to the big dogs to get that, so basically they will tell you pay now and hope that if you continue that they will pay you back for your trouble which the majority will not do and even then it's unlikely to succeed. Rules change all the time and not everyone is grandfathered in, it sucks but it's the truth. They always say ignorance is no excuse. They could have changed a law 2 days ago and will tell you well it's your responsibility to know

 

[vtech007]

I have an '05 XB12R, Thrust Blue, with OEM amber windscreen. Maybe I get them saying no blue, and the same with red, but amber? Wow, I hope I don't get pulled for that here. But I doubt I will.

 

[wolfo68]

If you have a colored windscreen and have all laws and ordinances associated with it that say "aftermarket" and you can prove that it is in fact a factory piece the judge will have to void the ticket. If the law is written to say aftermarket and the state allowed the colors to be sold within the state they do not have any way to prosecute it. However, if you're going to argue it you need to be thorough and also make sure nothing else is wrong with your bike since it will probably be inspected if you fight. Given your pipe, I would just pay it because you're looking at more of a price to pay with that.

 

[deathandtexas]

That is such garbage. As mentioned above, I think it should take more than a red windshield on a bike to be considered "impersonating a police officer." If that's the case, then all the people driving around in their old, auctioned-off Crown Vics with hood lamps should be pulled over too... I always think they are cops when they are behind me...

 

[konarider94]

california is gay. I dont know what can be done. I would get a lawyer for sure but im fortunate enough to get $2k for legal fees as a company benefit. You can at least call a lawyer and see what they think, that wont cost you any money. It would be wise to get an official factory buell windshield in red though.

 

[WALLSXB]

That's nucking futs man! Unless there is some sort of illumination behind it besides day light like a strobe or something I can kind of get it but that's ridiculous. [down]

 

[Thaloc]

Wowza. I have a blue windscreen, had several run ins with the police, some of the times they werent so happy with me and never heard a word about it. WA State btw

 

[jerrythor]

id put the oem windscreen back on and take it to court and say wtf is this its oem...how can i get a ticket

 

[Theycallmecrash]

The lawyer i contacted, told me to pay the fee and replace it with a black one, said simply wasnt worth his time or my own. Its make sense, might not be fair but lets be serious, how important is it that the screen be red, blue or amber? Just paint the back side with flat black, it still comes out dark red in sunlight looks good and you won't be harrassed.

Its stupid i know but judge joe doesnt give a **** about your windshield DOT or factory made, just like your president doesnt give. **** about your freedom of speech or right to own guns.

 

[Thaloc]

I dont know about tickets in California, but in Washington you can plead guilty and still go explain. I would just explain is was factory color that way, you did not know it was illegal, that you already have had it changed, and bring pictures to show thus. You wont get away from it completely, but a fair judge will at least knock some money off the ticket.

Just might not be worth it depending how large the ticket is, what reductions the judge might make, and if you have to take time off of work to go to court. Your call, Pal. Best of luck to ya.

 

[konarider94]

The lawyer i contacted, told me to pay the fee and replace it with a black one, said simply wasnt worth his time or my own. Its make sense, might not be fair but lets be serious, how important is it that the screen be red, blue or amber?

Im too damn spiteful. I would do it out of principle.