Was riding my bike on the wrong side of the road am not going to deny that I was doing that, I was riding the wrong side of the road for 30ft so I could make a turn looked and there was no cars at all, when the officer pulled me over I was his headlights were off I had no idea that he was next to my Bicycle. I find that driving on the wrong side of raod with no headlights is more dangerous. When he finally turned his lights on then his headlights went on and he almost hit me basically moved his car into me and the bike forcing me into the cub (What the hell was that for). Then told me to put bike on groud and sit down on the grass asked the officer respectfully if I could sit on the cement because the grass was wet he said no so I did not sit down I only kneeled. The officer in question was very rude unfriendly and just gave me a horrible aspect of SMPD, I used to live in San Diego were police do what they have to do to Protect and Serve I have and will always have mad respect for SDPD but in 5 years of living in Santa Monica have lost all respect when it comes to SMPD I dont belive in the protect and serve anymore I belive that when it comes to SMPD and Bicycles there objective is to scare and harrass because that is all that I see with bikes. I think that if SMPD should praise cyclists we are helping Santa Monica by not driving and poluting Santa Monica we are doing a part in helping this city and it is a load of crap to have to be harrassed for riding a bike. The officer had been following me for a while because he was telling me about all the things that I had done wrong, prior up the road the thing that I find funny was I kept on looking behind me with no cars were there atleast no headlights. Until he was right next to me hell when the officer was writing the citation he had that damn light in my eyes I even asked him if I could just take my pack off I told him I would not even touch it I would just drop it on the ground it was just making me hot and he immediately responded with a very rude a snide no you cant we are almost done and I was sitting there after that for another 20 minutes complete bullshit excuse my language am just still very sore about this incident. Incidents like this is why I ride with Santa Monica Critical Mass and Midnight Ridazz and Crank Mob because there when I get a ticket it is just stressing the cause even more.

I'm rather disgusted that my tax money goes to discouraging ridership in my city. Whether your police force is educated enough to realize the benefits of having a strong cycling community in Santa Monica is beside the point. My complaint is strictly dedicated to what I see as biased "law" enforcement. Your own officers show disrespect to the law when they sit parked in the bike lane before the ride even begins. This is reminiscent of last November, when they dared ticket cyclists for correctly and safely passing them on the left when they're parked in the bike lane writing other bogus tickets. Unbelievable. I found the cyclist crackdown a little comical at first when I first witnessed it last November, but after recently witnessing a ticket on May 2nd, handed out for riding on the sidewalk, I am downright disgusted. I will keep using that word because that's how I truly feel as a Santa Monica resident. If the group wasn't deliberately broken up, then people would have had to get off the road and onto the sidewalk in order to wait for the rest to catch up. I am disgusted because we introduced this month's ride as a "Safety First" ride, explaining good practices of Vehicular Cycling and telling newcomers to stay with the group. A few minutes into the ride, thanks to SMPD's enforcement of whatever they were fed by their supervisors, the group was fragmented. Because of this, the smaller groups of riders, especially the newbies, were intimidated to ride in traffic. The saddest moment of the night for me was noticing one of the newcomers that was enthusiastic at the beginning of the ride heading back alone on Main St after the riders were bullied South into Venice. Congratulations, you've succeeded in convincing us that we should all buy cars and become one with society. Breaking up Critical Mass instead of attempting to educate both drivers and cyclists only sweeps the problem under the rug. The popularity of cycling in this coastal town will continue to grow, SMPD may as well embrace it and work with us to ensure that the streets are safe. I would suggest that your police department get acquainted with CVC 21202 and start enforcing it even-handedly. Maybe Officer Ortiz could do a speech on bike safety before the beginning in the ride, that way he won't have to waste everyone's time writing tickets later. Don't just harass cyclists on a Friday night, but also ticket those parking in the bike lane at the Bodega Club on Broadway. Suspend the Crazy Taxi / Euro Taxi drivers' licenses when they speed within inches of us while honking and screaming. My respect of my own police force at this moment is so low, that I don't really even consider them officers, more like stocky bullies with too much free time and not enough individuality to disregard a close-minded superior officer's orders.

This comment is in reference to Citation #534392. The ticket was issued on the night of the Critical Mass bike ride, where several riders were issued tickets illegitimately with the intent of dissolving the ride. I myself was issued a ticket that evening for riding without a forward facing headlamp. The problem with this ticket was that I was walking my bike, in accordance with the law, and the violation was reported as 'under suspicion that' i was breaking the law. I realize the role of the SMPD is to enforce the law and keep the peace, but as I reach the 2nd and going into the 3rd month of my own personal ordeal, it is unfair to keep me on the line for unjust causes for the purposes of intimidation and coercion. I did not break the law, and now I have to take time out of my life to deal with, when several provisions are put in place for me to simply pay and be done with it. So I charge that SMPD participated in mass harassment and profiling, and because i was walking a bike in the vicinity of the Critical Mass incident for which they were trying to control, I am being unjustly punished. Public documentation in the way of articles and newspapers have reported on this incident, and should it continue, the role of the SMPD would come under further public scrutiny. Thank you for your time and review in this matter.

One of your motor officers was rude to me when he gave me a ticket for no headlight. I don\'t mind getting the ticket, even though it was not necessary. But can you talk to your motor officers about being rude. James

THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE:

• Briefly explain situation leading to your citation.
• Describe the condition of your bike, light, safety gear, etc if applicable.
• Mention any repressive comments the police officer may have made to you or nearby witnesses.
• Provide witness names, if available.