Arnold driving with no license - cops can't decide to cite him or not

[donsu]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060111/ap_on_re_us/schwarzenegger_license;_ylt=ArFoE7d5Ei12rdqo8BAaIaCyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--


Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed to update his driver's license after police determined he had been riding his Harley Davidson illegally when he got into a minor accident over the weekend.

Schwarzenegger "will move forward to get the appropriate endorsement," the governor's spokeswoman, Margita Thompson, said Tuesday, two days after the accident that left him with 15 stitches in his upper lip.

Police did not cite the governor because they arrived after the accident. Officers referred their findings to the city attorney's office, which will determine whether Schwarzenegger should be cited for an infraction.

City attorney spokesman Jonathan Diamond said the office had not received the LAPD report. Driving a motorcycle without the proper license can result in fines ranging from $100 to $250 or more.

But while police determined that the governor had violated a traffic law, other agencies disagreed, citing different sections of the state vehicle code.

Spokesmen for the California Highway Patrol and state Department of Motor Vehicles said the governor's basic Class C license allowed him to ride the motorcycle with its sidecar attached.

Schwarzenegger's 12-year-old son, Patrick, was riding in the sidecar during the accident but was not injured. Both Schwarzenegger and his son were wearing helmets.

Schwarzenegger, a Harley Davidson owner who rides regularly with friends along the California coast, said Tuesday that he never bothered to obtain a California motorcycle license because he "never thought about it."

Schwarzenegger said he had a motorcycle license when he lived in Europe but never considered obtaining another one after he immigrated to the United States in 1968.

"I just never really applied for it," he said.
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[realFedUp]

1. Equal treatment under the law for actors and acting governors.

Cite him. I think he can afford it.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. Exactly

If that was you or me our asses would be fined and if we couldn't pay in jail. He should pay since he's still driving without the proper licenses. It doesn't matter whether he was driving a state car or not. He wasn't acting on government payroll or anything like that. It was on his own time. Same thing if the guy was a democrat.

[realFedUp]

15. and if he wasn't a girlyman, he'd insist on a ticket...nt

[SpiralHawk]

2. No man is above the law

But apparently most of the Republicans are beneath it.

The Republican culture of corruption marches on...

[bunkerbuster1]

3. I've had a motorcycle license for 20+ years.

I'd never consider riding without the proper papers.

I'd assume that it would be illegal. As it most surely is in, say, Austria.

What a scheisskopf...

[FredUptoHere]

30. i finally gave mine up-

i haven't ridden in years, and probably never will again- but i liked having the designation.
i had to renew my driver's liscense, as it had expired without my noticing, and we were leaving on vacation.
i went to the secretary of state's office(illinois' version of the DMV), and found that if i wanted to keep the motorcycle designation as well, i needed to take a written test- i said ok, but i hadn't studied for it, and haven't ridden in awhile- i missed one question too many- they said that i could come back the next day to re-take it if i'd like- but i didn't have the time, so i had them drop the M...
now if i want it back, i'll have to take the full test- written and outdoor course...but since i don't have/want another bike, that ain't gonna happen.

btw- i was in an accident...a guy went thru a stop-sign and hit me broadside on the bike- the highway bars saved my leg from being crushed, and i went airborne over his car(he was turning, and hit me from the side at an angle). i landed on my fortunately helmetted head, and broke my collar-bone and shoulder blade.
after that, i never really felt safe on a bike again- when you're in an accident in a car, you usually still end up on all four wheels- in a bike accident, you NEVER end up on two wheels.

[jobycom]

4. You never see stories like: Michael Irvin caught with crackpipe. Cops

can't decide whether to cite him or not.

Wonder why? I think John Edwards is right.

35. I had same thought - Two Americas - for the rich and the not rich

:)

Is Michael Irvin rich? Maybe my comparison doesn't really work, oh well.

[LincolnMcGrath]

5. People, this is his SECOND motorcycle wreck! (that we know of)

You and I would still be paying for the first infraction, let alone a second.

[Atman]

6. Do you think the cops would treat YOU this way?

It's good to be king. Even king of Cali-foor-nya.

[acmejack]

7. Wouldn't pose quite such a dilemma if it were you or I!

The police should be cited for offering the lamest excuse ever for not citing him, arriving after the accident. I have never, ever seen that stop them, let alone even give them pause, from doing anything.

[BOSSHOG]

8. "Move forward to get the appropriate endorsement???"

Is that what we do when we renew our driver's license? There is no "GRAY" area here. Site him as appropriate and fine accordingly. Unless, of course, laws in California don't apply to republican governors. Its really quite simple. A no brainer if you will. Even a conservative should be able to understand the concept. Law and Order you know.

[Beetwasher]

9. What A Fucking Idiot

Douche.

[dogday]

11. Bet they did not check him

for DUI either. Anyone think of that? If it was you or me and we had our kid in a sidecar and turned it over, we would be walking the chalk line.....

[Benhurst]

12. Leve the poor man alone.

This is BushAmerica. All the pigs are equal, some are just more equal than others. And Arnold is definitely one of the pigs who is much more equal than most.

[oioioi]

48. three wheels good, two wheels bad.

[stopbush]

13. "I just never really applied for it," sez Ah-nold.

So sad to see him using the Xtian fundies' favorite word, "just." When the facts aren't on your side, well, you know, I "just" think etc...

And what does the qualifier "really" mean? As opposed to "falsely" applying? That's another dodge word, meant to excuse his actions as an oversight, as in "you don't really think the world is flat, do you? (as in, c'mon, we all know it isn't)."

Let me see if I can make that work for me! "I never really paid my taxes." "I never really applied for a car loan, I just drove it off the lot. You know. Lots of people do it."

Works for me!

[RandiFan1290]

14. "Police did not cite the governor

because they arrived after the accident."


:shrug:

[Benhurst]

17. Yeah, that makes absolutely no sense at all. Exactly what

percentage of accidents do the California cops wittiness? What a joke!

[rinsd]

43. That part made me laugh too.....

Apprently CHP says no violation.

[stopbush]

18. Yes, the police can only cite someone if they were an

eyewitness to the accident. Works for murder investigations as well. If a cop didn't actually witness the murder, then you've got no worries if you did the crime. Otherwise it's he said/she said.

To prove a crime in America, you must have eyewitnesses. History shows that eyewitnesses are always correct and physical evidence is usually wrong. Just watch any of the CSI TV shows and you'll see it's true. It's unAmerican to cite someone based on evidence.

I know this is how it works for all Americans. I'm glad to see that we're not making life harder for Ah-nold just because he's a Republican/Governor/Actor/Asshole.

[dchill]

16. He broke the law...

and caused an accident. Where's the "decision"? It's clear - cite and deport!

[Benhurst]

20. It's not nice to

question our rulers.

[dchill]

46. That's OK -

I'm not nice, these days. I'm too Bushed.

[Skink]

21. To bad Abramoff's not around to bail him out.

This is gonna break him.

[Zambero]

19. Girly-man cops

The officers in question were both intimidated and starstruck, but mostly just afraid of any consequences. They feared instant termination if they gave this particular Terminator the type of citation that anyone else would have received for a similar infraction.

[zbdent]

22. If this were Charlie Sheen & son

the dept. of childrens' services would have taken the son away by now . . .

[dogday]

42. Absolfreakinglutely!!

[Zodiak]

23. Fascists don't get tickets...

from their own government. Now move on, citizen!

[dchill]

47. They get tickets...

to fundraisers. And parties.

[Little Star]

24. Say what???

This must be the reason he's a republican. Laws do not apply to them.
Throw the book at him! Hope California wakes up and throws his muscle ass out!

[CountAllVotes]

25. the gropenfuhrer got hurt too

That is what happens when you are driving without a license! He should be treated as any other person would be under these circumstances! And to think, he has his son with him!

:kick:

[LincolnMcGrath]

26. It would be Attempted Murder for the average Joe.

At the VERY LEAST it would be CHILD ENDANGERMENT.

[CountAllVotes]

28. they should throw the book at him!

Give him a taste of his own medicine so to speak!

:dem: :kick:

[Corgigal]

27. driving with a drivers license

and with injuries in a felony in Florida.

[Ksec]

29. Not a surprise in America

The rich and well placed run under a different rules than the rest of us.

Heres a guy who should be a role model breaking laws that should be obviously followed. The only reason we heard about this is because of the accident . Otherwise it would have been swept under the radar.

[FredUptoHere]

31. DCFS should take away his kid...or at least investigate.

isn't that how it happens in the real world?

[Lars39]

32. Yes, child endangerment perhaps?

Welcome to DU, FredUptoHere! Neat name. :) :toast:

[bullwinkle428]

33. "Don't be silly, Krusty...this is America - we don't put our

celebrities in jail!!!"

[rurallib]

36. Probably more concerned about getting his autograph!

Maybe let him grope a few female prisoners, too. I mean they asked for it. If they didn't want it they wouldn't be in jail would they?

34. The cops want to know if there are 2 Americas

and what will get them in trouble, enforcing the law or not enforcing the law.

Another rich white guy republican, above the law. There is no question he should be cited.

[Cleita]

37. Arnold has a habit of considering himself above the law.

They'd better cite him.

[eppur_se_muova]

38. Maybe he has 72 hours to get a license retroactively ?

Of course, even then, why not blow that off too...

[file83]

39. If I was the COP....

...I would have asked for his ID, and after he handed it to me, pause for a second... and say "I'll be back..."

Then, when I hand him the ticket, I would have said "Asta la vista....baby."

And then kiss my job goodbye.

[catnhatnh]

40. "Vowed to update"....

Wrong song steroid boy-you drove UNLICENSED....Every bit as much as grandma jumpin' into an 18 wheeler and letting it rip....or me piloting a 747 or ocean liner...licenses for different type vehicles are required because of the different skill sets needed to operate each....and this is NOT just a paperwork deal-in most states a motorcycle indorsement requires both a written test and a physical test course to display practical proficiency....Sidecar muddies the water-WRONG-all you have to do is look at the registration-it says MOTORCYCLE and that clown wasn't licenced to move it a foot....He's done it for years???Good he should be asked where and when and pay a fine for each of those occassions of willingly breaking the law too-unless he's willing to admit the law doesn't apply to him....

[Xithras]

41. They can't cite him, he wasn't voilating the law

As the article points out, you can ride a motorcycle with a sidecar in California with a Class C license, which he has. The real issue here is that he's been riding for decades WITHOUT the proper license, but I don't think you can get a ticket for something that the officer didn't personally witness.

It's a non-issue really. I don't like bikes, but many of my friends do and very few have their M certs. Even when they get pulled over, the police often ticket them for whatever they pulled them over for and then let them off with a warning about the license (if they ticketed them, they'd have to tow the bike which is time consuming).

[newyawker99]

44. donsu

Per DU copyright rules
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NYer99
DU Moderator

[cap]

45. his insurance isnt good for the accident

no license no insurance.

[oioioi]

49. no insurance, injury = mandatory DMV DL suspension = No Hummer driving :)

Win-win. His mouth is busted up too.