[MARRC-announce] I fought the law and the law...

[Tight Squeeze Racing]

LOST!

Last month, while riding my Suzuki DRZ400, I was pulled over on the
Dulles Toll Road after zipping through the SmartTag lane(a lane
dedicated for transponder users only) in the Rt 28 North toll booth. 
Typically, cops stand there and bust people for State Inspection and/or
county tax stickers. A fine waste of taxpayer money.

For those of you that aren't familiar this tollroad charges $.50, $.35,
or $.25 (depending on the the booth) to ANY two axled vehicle,
increasing $.25 for each axle.  I feel this is a grave injustice to
motorcyclists, so I don't pay them.  I've been doing it for 5 years,
and NO they don't send a picture to your house.  They're legalling
allowed to, but they don't have the resources to do it, yet.

---

Today was my day in court, and with a few tricks, I got a 'Not Guilty'
verdict.  
The items I used to prove my innocence were:

1. I took pictures of the Big white signs that say, "EXACT CHANGE $.50
CARS ONLY"

2. I took pictures of my pickup truck and my motorcycle.

3. I took my SmartTag that I use in the truck.

For my presentation to the judge, I handed the cop the picture of the
bike and verified that it was the bike that I was riding at the time. 
Of course, he couldn't remember.  Then had the baliff give it to the
judge. 

Next, I gave the judge a picture of my Pickup, and showed her my
SmartTag transponder.(If you don't have one, just borrow one, they
won't check.)  I then launched into a diatribe complaint about the fact
that my pickup has a GVWR of 6400#, and my motorcycle only 740#, and
that there's no way that I should have to pay the same amount on the
bike, as when I'm in my truck... less wear and tear on the roads, HOV,
congestion, etc...   

During the arrest, the cop yelled at me that I didnt' pay the toll. 
"But motorcycles don't have to pay?!" I retorted.
"EVERYONE MUST PAY!", the evil troll growled, and he stormed off to his
car to write the ticket.

Back in court, I then handed the picture of the three signs to the cop,
and stated that I was under the impression that motorcycles would not
have to pay, and recalled our roadside  "Conversation" to the judge. 
The baliff passed the photos to the judge, and I saw her demeaner
change.  At first, she was ready to slap me with some huge fine and
points(and maybe contempt), but now she was rubbing her forehead in
disbelief.
She asked what my interpretation of the signs were, as to whether this
meant that "only cars" could use the Exact Change lanes, or if it meant
that non-cars weren't responsible for the cost.  I shrugged my shoulder
and said,"Both?" and again started the rant about the truck weight vs
bike weight.  She quickly defused me, and turned her attention to the
cop.
(Game!)   

(To really appreciate my mood at this point, imagine an egomaniac Hank
Hill with a fat belly hanging over his cop belt, and a fat turkey neck
sticking out of his starched collar.)

She inquired to him about the signs around the particular tollbooth,
and tried to establish if there are any instructional signs giving
motorists information about who should pay, and what the rates would
be.  They both came up with the fact that the signs say $.35 per AXLE,
and the cop really screwed up and said, "...but those signs are for
trucks!"
(Set!) 

She then asked if there were any other signs, and the cop stammered and
muttered while shuffling some papers and then stated that he didn't
know.
(MATCH!)    

So, based on that, the judge stated that there was not evidence beyond
a reasonable doubt that she could rule that I should have to pay the
tolls when riding on my motorcycle.

Steve Clark
TightSqueezeRacing.org
'01 Suz DRZ400s
'99/'00/'01 Suz SV650




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