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[Update: False] SFPD Cites Bike Rider for Driving With a Suspended License

Update 9/21: SFPD said on its Richmond Station Facebook page that the person cited was driving, contradicting the report printed in the Richmond Review which described a "bicycle rider": "The story is not correct. On the time and date indicated the only misdemeanor citation issued for that night was to the driver of an automobile."

Update 9/21: SFPD said on its Richmond Station Facebook page that the person cited was driving, contradicting the report printed in the Richmond Review which described a “bicycle rider”: “The story is not correct. On the time and date indicated the only misdemeanor citation issued for that night was to the driver of an automobile.”

A San Francisco police officer cited a bicycle rider for having a suspended or revoked automobile driver’s license. You read that right — even though no driver’s license is required to ride a bicycle in California (or anywhere?), it happened.

From the SFPD Richmond Station police blotter, via the Richmond Review:

Driving with a Suspended License: Aug. 8, 2:42 a.m., Geary Boulevard
An officer on patrol noticed a bicycle rider making an unsafe lane change while riding eastbound on Geary Boulevard. The officer enacted a traffic stop and discovered the rider had a suspended/revoked driver’s license.

The bicycle driver was cited for a misdemeanor offense of driving with a suspended license.

The officer’s baffling application of the law is especially strange considering the fact that this person could have been riding a bicycle because they lost their driver’s license.

Well, if that’s the new order of things, police ought to start ticketing all children who ride bicycles on sight.

(H/T to Reddit user dxtr3265)

Photo of Aaron Bialick
Aaron was the editor of Streetsblog San Francisco from January 2012 until October 2015. He joined Streetsblog in 2010 after studying rhetoric and political communication at SF State University and spending a semester in Denmark.

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