New Bicycle License
Thread started by
furbrats! at 09.18.08 - 6:21 pm
I decided to be a law abiding citizen and get a bicycle license. I phoned the LAPD station that serves my area and was told the only place that does licenses is the Central Community Police Station downtown...yes..it's in Skid Row. I phoned the CCPS to confirm and was told they would be there until 8pm today and that I needed to bring $3 and my bike.
I loaded the rack and off I go...(I unloaded my bike under the watchful eye of quite a few homeless people so I decided to put take the trunk rack off and put it inside the car. It may have been the entertainment value of a crazy white chick in skid row unloading a bike, but.. I didn't want to take that chance. One woman did comment that it was great to see a woman riding..so...take that for what you will.) After wheeling my bike into the front office I noticed a note taped to the back of a computer monitor. It said that as of August 1, 2008 any person in possession of an unlicensed bicycle would be cited under LAMC 26.01. After 15 minutes, paying $3 and giving them my drivers license I was out the door with my new bicycle license...although for some reason it's only good for 2 years.
So.. here's some helpful tips.
Licensing hours are 10am to 8pm Tuesdays and Thursdays and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.
The address of the Central Community Police Station is 251 E. 6th Street, L.A. 90014. It is on the north side of the street between Maple and Wall. 6th Street is a ONE WAY STREET going from West to East. If you're driving there are parking meters on Maple and Wall south of 6th Street. You cannot go North on Wall since that is police parking.
The first officer I spoke with did not know they did licenses there.. so.. you may have to educate them. If nothing else point to the notice on the back of their computer screen.
Payment is by CASH ONLY and they cannot break a large bill like a $20. They do require a drivers license or state issued ID.
You will get 2 labels with two different numbers on them. One is the license and one is some other weird tracking number with the expiration date.
I asked what happens if the license gets peeled off and I get stopped. Supposedly the officer can enter the bicycle serial number and confirm it's yours without needing the actual bicycle license number. However, that would mean that you would need to carry some form of identification on you.
On a side note I contacted the Community Service Director for my L.A. Coucilmember. All the email contacts should be on the members page, so go ahead and email the hell out of them
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GREAT info. thanks. I'm heading down there right now fuck it.
2 years only?? what kind of bullshit is that. mopeds are lifetime registration.
Roadblock09.18.08 - 6:25 pm
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we should mob the hell out of that place and have a party in the lobby. License to Ride ride.
Roadblock09.18.08 - 6:27 pm
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fuck a license.
no thanks. i think i'll take my chances... that shit's ridiculous.
Jazzy Phat Nastee09.18.08 - 6:37 pm
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it IS ridiculous to the billionth degree.... excpet because of my big mouth and sticking up for my rights on friday I got a ticket. so I have to do it unfortunately.
Roadblock09.18.08 - 6:39 pm
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BTW.. if anyone is going to the Urban Expeditions ride tomorrow (http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=2062#body) it is the 3rd Saturday of the month so they will be doing licenses.
The Central Community Police Station is south on Los Angeles St. then a left on 6th from Union Station..or... if you hit the license first.. Union Station a right on Los Angeles St. from 6th. 1.2 miles either way.. Los Angeles hits Alameda right in front of Union Stations.. so it would be an easy trip.
furbrats!09.18.08 - 6:39 pm
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I don't live in LA, I need no license.
franz09.18.08 - 6:41 pm
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i know... i was there. but to think that it's only purpose is to locate your bike should it get stolen, and i mean come on, that's a pretty tough cookie there, as if cops are actually on patrol looking for missing or stolen bikes. i mean, i understand what's going on and $3 is better than whatever your fix it ticket amounted to... i just see it more along the lines of them wanting to know everything... like the all seeing eye and shit.
Jazzy Phat Nastee09.18.08 - 6:42 pm
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Just get your bike chipped. That way a sticker cant peel off, and the officer can just scan the chip in your hand to verify that the bike belongs to you.
http://www.verichipcorp.com/
Mook09.19.08 - 1:05 am
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I'm going to get IFTA stickers for my bike.
If they work for trucks in different states to ensure your Diesel Tax is paid, then LA will be a cinch!!!
bentstrider09.19.08 - 1:22 am
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I sent in my $3 and bike information to the City of Santa Monica and got my license in 10 days, not bad. However, the license expires at the end of 2009, so they shorted me two years!
According to section 39001(c) of the CVC:
" Bicycle licenses shall be renewed uniformly throughout the
state on January 1 of the third year following the year of
registration."
That would mean that a license issued now would be due for renewal January 1, 2011. I got cheated.
Harv10.19.08 - 11:35 am
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harv: that's for the statewide license, which you are supposed to get if your local community doesn't have licenses of its own.
stevestevesteve10.19.08 - 12:29 pm
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@ stevestevesteve
If your city does not require one, you do not need one, even if you do ride in an area that does (i.e. Santa Monica or LA).
Alex10.19.08 - 12:56 pm
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Oh yes, and the whole thing is ridiculous, for reasons that we've mentioned already. Aside from those who have received citations for not having one (and that's the only choice), I wouldn't get one if I was 'required' to do so.
You do know that this has nothing to do with licensing and everything to do do with our conduct?
Alex10.19.08 - 1:00 pm
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@Harv:
That wording isn't very clear but I don't think they shorted you. The third year from now is 2010 if you start counting at 2008. (2008-2009-2010) You said your license is good till the end of 2009, meaning it has to be renewed jan 2010. So this matches the description.
professor fate10.19.08 - 2:21 pm
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>harv: that's for the statewide license, which you are supposed to >get if your local community doesn't have licenses of its own.
I live in L.A. The City of Santa Monica mailed the license to me at my L.A. address. The license tag reads: "California Bicycle License". I thought this IS the statewide license. Do L.A. bike licenses read, "Los Angeles Bicycle License"? If so, what happens if I get checked by LAPD, showing them my I.D. which indicates that I live in L.A., but I have the California Bicycle License sticker on my bike.
All this is giving me a headache.
.
Harv10.19.08 - 2:32 pm
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