When the new law takes effect next September, a violation will be an infraction punishable by a base fine of $35 plus court fees. For violators who collide with a bicyclist, causing injury, the fine is $220.
The cyclist could be hit by a motorist at an intersection if said cyclist runs a red or stop sign and not by the motorist in passing.
If there weren't enough witnesses the motorist could be in for a rough ride...pardon the pun.
When I was younger cyclist I was cut off by a motorist at an intersection on purpose. They then took off. Really fucking funny. The effect was that I had to lock up my brakes and nearly fly over my front tire...so I know that shit happens all too well. I have also been on the other end where a cyclist hit my car trying to run a red while I was stationary waiting for the green.
I felt terrible about that, but I got mad pretty quick when after picking himself up off the street the cyclist attempted to assign blame to me. "You hit me", he said.
"Dude, you were running the red and hit a stationary object", was my reply.
He limped off, but my point is if this law was in effect in Massachusetts what would be the legal ramifications? Could he have hit me and still used the law to his benefit?
One more story, and I understand that this has to be taken as an anecdote. A friend of mine, not always that bright on the road, was riding his cycle in Cambridge. He came to an intersection with a red light and a big truck waiting for the green. Does he hang back like a normal vehicle would do? No. He gets right up along side the truck and curb to wait. The truck moves forward on the green and runs over my friends foot. Instant litigation. Instant settlement for my friend.
I never asked how much his settlement was, but he could have been hurt far worse since he never wore a helmet. I was also peeved at him for acting dumb and getting rewarded for it.
That would be my concern in how far any cyclist-friendly legislation would go if it was lopsided.
So my point is
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