Via: http://gowjobs.blogspot.com/2010/03/illegal-soapbox-racing-turns-out-its.html
the County of Los Angeles has put a code into place forbidding the use of non-powered vehicles on county roads with a grade of more than 3%, including skateboards, street luges and our "box-car coasters"

So.Cal Illegal Soapbox Racers race the 3rd sunday of every month. Our gravity powered racers are fast, fun and not expensive to build or race!
Basically your cart needs four tires, brakes on two wheels, no weight or ballast, no weapons, and must be gravity powered (no engines or drivetrain of any type). We require all drivers to wear a helmet, and strongly suggest gloves and other protective gear.
Two goups that have terrific naems and race downhill?
VULGR The Ventura Underground League of Gravity Racers
MISFITS Maryland Illegal Soapbox Federation & Incline Trials Society
See the Australian group AIGRF here: http://aigrf.blogspot.com/2009/08/race-21-hamptons.html
Skip the first 45 seconds

The view looking north up the 805, the bridge over Mission Valley ... the cop car is sitting in the center of the photo

You see they sit at the connection from the 8 East
He found the speed of the Isuzu to be over the limit



Somebody's day just got more expensive
If you know other locations they always frequent in San Diego, email me at jbohjkl@yahoo.com

Dozens of detectives say they have had their department cars towed — by their own department.

On at least 35 occasions, have walked outside to find their cars hooked by a special detail of the Internal Affairs Bureau that hunts for illegally parked cop cars.

From http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/detectives_getting_tow_nailed_KmuIlC8eJkI9k1WDyHFOcJ
Via: http://gothamist.com/2010/03/09/detectives_say_their_cars_shouldnt.php


Comments in this news article point out that the cops took overtime pay to get the cars out of the tow yard. Further endearing is that the city cars, were being locked up... by... the city. So, stupidity abounds, NYPD cops are hypocrites and not aware of the oath of office they swore (and that pisses me off) and then complained about Internal Affairs busting them for being parking a-holes. Int he word of the great Walter Matthau "Putz!"


But when their former leader New York City police commissioner Kerik just plead guilty to no less that 8 Ferderal Felony Charges, what can you expect of leaderless NYPD? That their integrity would be scupulous? http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/bernard_b_kerik/index.html?inline=nyt-per

not that I'm on a roll, but everywhere you look at New York news the cops are hypocrits and worse http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2010/03/another-cop-claims-he-was-pressured-to.html

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord Acton's dictum, April 1887
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton,_1st_Baron_Acton

According to law enforcement agencies, the California Vehicle Code doesn’t specifically say that lane-splitting is illegal. That doesn’t mean a motorcyclist might not get ticketed for it, though.
Motorcyclists could still be cited for unsafe driving and it’s up to the discretion of the ticketing officer and the court to determine what’s safe.

The California Highway Patrol’s Web site says lane splitting “is permissible but must be done in a safe and prudent manner,” while the DMV’s Motorcycle Handbook warns that lane sharing is dangerous.

San Diego police Lt. Tim Saelens, who works in the traffic division, said motorcyclists who split lanes are sometimes cited under three sections of the state Vehicle Code: Section 22350, the basic speed law; Section 21658, which governs lane changes; and Section 21755, that allows passing on the right only under safe conditions.
From http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/19/sign-of-trouble/ via a tip from Zina at http://piratemonkeycult.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/molesters-and-whatnots/

He wants to change parking everywhere in California: http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/02/long-beachs-state-senator-lowenthal-takes-on-parking-requirements/

And eliminate free parking http://www.lbpost.com/ryan/8196 in the whole state of California, now isn't that jsut a new tax on cars... requiring them to pay to park everywhere, every time? How the hell can anyone with a real job pay for that, 'cause I gaurantee Senators don't pay for the gass hog vehicles they drive, are driven in, are flown in, or the fuel that moves the free gas hogs they are provided, nor do they have to pay for parking. But they are consistant in trying to eliminate any fun you can have with yours.

"Lowenthal reiterated his point that free parking is free only to the person parking, where the costs of parking lot construction and maintenance are passed on in the form of higher prices for goods and lower wages for employees. Lowenthal views the bill as a tool to encourage cities and counties to examine ways to manage their parking in order to meet regulations that they will be forced to adhere to by 2020. " Long Beach Post news, Feb 2 2010

There is a hoax email running around that the fine is 754 dollars, nope: http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/automobiles/a/move_over_law_ca.htm
and http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp both prove it was a hoax, and

it looks like the BS started here http://www.mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/335730-move-over-law.html

THE STRAIGHT SCOOP:
The “Move Over/Slow Down” law, signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger in October, adds Caltrans vehicles (with flashing amber warning lights) to the list of other emergency responder vehicles working roadside that require all motorists to move over or slow down when they see them. The revised law also removes a pre-existing 1/1/10 sunset date (when the law terminates), which now makes the safety protections permanent.
The previous law required motorists to only yield to law enforcement, emergency responders or tow truck operators who are working on the roadside.
The law does not apply when the vehicle with flashing warning lights is not adjacent to the freeway or is separated from the freeway by a protective physical barrier.
In California, violation of the new provision carries a fine of not more than $50. Comparing other states with similar laws, West Virginia has the steepest penalty: 60 days in jail and a $500 fine; Wisconsin’s penalty is a 15-day driver’s license suspension and a $40 fine.

Traffic Tickets Fines (01/06/2010)

Failure to notify DMV of address change within 10 dayd..................................... $214

Failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility (insurance) ....................$796

Failure to stop at a red signal. ..................................$436
Failure to stop at a stop sign. ....................................$214


Unsafe Speed, 1 to 15 miles over the limit.................$214
Unsafe Speed, 16 to 25 miles over the limit...............$328

Passing a school bus with flashing red signals............$616

Drive using wireless phone not hands free, First offense ....................$148

Drive using wireless phone not hands free, For each subsequent offense. ...............$256

Drive while wireless device to send, read or write text.........................$148

Minor drive using wireless phone.....................................$148

Parking in a bus loading area ...................$976

Violation of disabled parking provisions, first offense................$976

Violation of disabled parking provisions, second offense...............................$1876

Unlawful material on vehicle windows...........................$178

Adequate muffler required ................................$178

Mandatory use of seat belts...............................$148

Mandatory use of child passenger restraints.....................$436

Headsets/Earplugs over both ears.....................$178

Motorcycle safety helmet requirements.......................................$178

No evidence of current registration...................................................$256