Is biking is better than driving? Depends where you are. Westside bikers take note: Under current Santa Monica laws, police can fine cyclists up to $1,000 for not having a bike license, and even throw them in the clink for up to six months.
According to the City of Santa Monica website, the State of California requires a license for any bicycle used on any street. However, the actual law allows cities to choose whether or not to keep such a law on their books, and earlier this year the City of Los Angeles responded by striking theirs down.
The Santa Monica regs are also in direct contradiction to a section of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) written in 1996, which states the law only applies to residents of the city issuing the licenses. And in 1984 a CVC code went into effect stipulating that the fine for not having a bike license cannot exceed $10.
Over-zealous enforcement was first reported by local bike bloggers who fear that this fuzzy and obscure license law will allow SMPD to arrest and fine bikers.
But a city official responsible for issuing bicycle licenses, Don Patterson, told laist.com, “We do try to get people to get licensed because it makes the return of stolen bikes easier.” Patterson assured the blog site the SMPD had no intention of jailing cyclists.
“The bike license law is poorly supported, not well-implemented, and just not designed to be user-friendly,” complained A.P. Lawrence, an L.A. resident who bikes regularly on the Westside and throughout the county.
State licenses are available for $3 at the City of Santa Monica Licensing Division, 1685 Main St., and must be renewed every three years. They’ll send you a sticker to put on your bike frame.
And if you get a new bike? You’ll have to contact the SMPD for info about transferring your license: 310.458.8745 or go to smgov.net.
—S.T. Alcantara
