Officer Green

2005/02/03 @ 10:15PM --Jordan

Last night, I was cruising my electric foot scooter into town, down Sim's Way, when Sergeant Green pulled me over next to the boat yard, lights, siren and all. Ten seconds later, another officer arrives to the right of me, for backup, I suppose.

"Here we go again..." I thought to myself, "I wonder who's law I'm breaking now."

The officers stepped out of their cars, and together, they confronted me. "What are you doing on the road with this thing?" Green asked. "Don't you know, this is untagged, unlicensed and is illegal on the road?"

"Officer, if you have a moment, let's read some of the RCWs and find out what I'm doing wrong. This foot scooter has the same rights and follows the same laws on the road as bicycles." as I reached into one of my scooter pouches for Senate Bill SB5450, which passed the Washington Legislature on 4/27/03. This bill provided incentives to reduce air pollution through the use of Neighorhood Electric Vehicles and Motorized Foot Scooters.

"No it doesn't. They are offroad vehicles.." he exclaimed, while his partnering officer nodded silently in agreement, "Do you have ID?"

I pulled out my wallet and handed Officer Green my ID.

I began to read Sec. 5. RCW 46.61.710 (5), "Electric assisted bicycles and motorized foot scooters may have access to highways of the state to the same extent as bicycles. Sir, I don't see how I am breaking the law."

"You're only reading part of it!" he blurted..

"Let's read the whole thing then.. Nowhere does it say a foot scooter is not allowed on the roadways." I replied.

After a quick negotiation over his shoulder mic with dispatch, he said "You have a criminal history! No wonder you like to argue. Well if you're gonna keep argueing with me, I'm going to write you up." with an "I-got-you" look. "I'm going to let you go this time, but if I see you on the roads on my shift, I'm going to write you up. Don't drive this on the road anymore." Officer Green said sternly.

"Can you prove to me that I am breaking the law?" I questioned.

"I just did!" he said. "If you want to keep argueing with me, I'm going to write you up."

"Officer, I would rather you write me up now, because I will keep riding this, as the law permits me to. If you write me up, we will be going to court over your error." I was getting frustrated with his behavior in not being one bit curious to read or know the law that purtained to the reasons he pulled me over, detaining my time and turning down my volunteering effort to educate him on 3 or 4 RCW sections.

"I'd like your card or badge number please." I bit my tongue in politeness to ask.

He handed me his card and said "get this off the road," as he and his partner departed in their cars.