Heres the statement I wrote: To Whom It May Concern,

On Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at about 10:30 PM I, Max Shalitmontagne was riding my bicycle North on SW Fauntleroy Street approaching California Avenue at the Morgan Junction. As I came around the turn before the intersection I moved further into the lane for several reasons: I wished to increase my visibility, as I was going around a blind corner in the dark; there was serious construction being done on the far right lane, which prohibited me from riding there safely; I was about to move into the left turn lane in order to make a left turn. When I moved out into the lane a motorist behind me began to crowd me (give me less the the legal three feet of space,) and “lay on his horn” in a manner which I interpreted as hostile. I removed my mini u-lock from my pocket and proceeded to signal left with it, as it has a highly visible orange cover on part of it, and in the past I have noticed that aggressive drivers tend to give me more space when I am holding my lock. It was at this point that the aggressive motorist behind me turned on his siren, I realized the motorist was a police officer and pulled off to the side of the road. The officer got out of his car and informed me that I could not be riding my bike in the road like that. I told him that I could, that I was in fact well within my rights to do so, and that it would be unsafe not to have done so. The officer then told me that I could get myself killed for brandishing my bike lock as I did. I explained to him that motorists tend to give me more space when I do that, and that he had been crowding me in an uncomfortable and illegal manner. The officer demanded my ID, which I gave to him. I then asked him what his name and badge number were, to which he replied “go stand next to your bicycle” I repeated my request, but was ignored. When the officer returned form his car (which he had left idling) he issued me a a traffic violation ticket for one-hundred and three dollars, then returned to his car drove off with the parting words “try and ride more safely next time.”
The officer's unit number on the ticket was illegible as was his signature. His serial number was 4901, he was driving car number 176. The ticket claimed that I had violated statute/code SMC 11.44.040, and explained further: “drive on road (bicycle.)” Have since reread the law many times, and still feel that I had not broken it. I am a League Certified Instructor for the League of American Bicyclists, and at the time of the incident I was riding as I and all other LCIs instruct the public to ride. I do not think that we are wrong. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Max Shalitmontagne


SMC 11.44.040

Riding on roadways.

Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed slower than
the normal and reasonable flow of motor vehicle traffic thereon shall
ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe,
except as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making
turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or
vehicle proceeding in the same direction. A person operating a bicycle
upon a roadway that carries traffic in one (1) direction only and that
has two (2) or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near to the left
side of the left through lane as is safe. A person operating a bicycle
upon a roadway may utilize the shoulder of the roadway or any
specially designated bicycle lane if such exists. (RCW 46.61770(1))

(Ord. 108200 Section 2(11.44.040), 1979.)

The officer then told me that I could get myself killed for brandishing my bike lock as I did. I explained to him that motorists tend to give me more space when I do that...The officer demanded my ID

No rhetorical questions intended, so do you now think that did it? Did you actually say that? sorry

Your name is spectacular.

(give me less the the legal three feet of space,)