Image via CHP – El Centro/Facebook
Cops can make up some rather interesting reasons to pull over vehicles, but this weird bike painted to look like a classic Ferrari racecar is equally weird. California Highway Patrol in El Centro pulled the thing over, only realizing afterward it’s legally a bicycle, not a car or motorcycle. But the reason for the traffic stop has people rolling their eyes.
Are cyclists becoming the new biker gangs?
The state law enforcement agency posted a photo of the Quatrevelo as well as a CHP cruiser with lights activated sitting behind it. Trying to play the whole thing off as just a funny incident, whomever is in charge of the Facebook account said “our Officer wanted to make sure the rider was safe and hydrated as he continued on his journey.”
Even though it was hot, over 100 degrees on May 22 when this stop was done, people aren’t buying CHP was just wanting to make sure the guy inside the weird contraption was hydrated and safe. Instead, many accused the agency of trying to find a reason to write a citation, then turning it into some public good will move when officers realized the thing isn’t technically a motor vehicle.
We’re not attorneys, but we’re pretty sure police can’t pull someone over because they’re concerned about their electrolyte levels. Instead, we wouldn’t be surprised if an officer thought the Quatrevelo might be an illegal and unregistered vehicle.
In case you’re not familiar with the Dutch-built Quatrevelo, it’s a velomobile or a faired cycle where the rider is reclined while pedaling. This one has four wheels whereas other velomobiles often have three.
For the state of California, and pretty much everywhere else we know of, they’re considered bicycles, not motorcycles or cars. Even though this one is painted and even has stickers to make it look somewhat like an old racecar, it’s far from such a thing.
Why do you think CHP pulled this thing over? If you were the rider, what would you have done?
Image via CHP – El Centro/Facebook
