So...my Monster windscreen is illegal in CA!

[mangeldbug]

Hi All,  looking for unique ideas to keep with my blue Monster theme.

I got my first ticket in forever when I was up at Alice's Restaurant (Bay Area SF) this weekend.  A few friends and I came in slow and park for breakfast and   comes rushing over saying "license and registration"!  Everyone was pretty confused until we discovered he was ONLY asking me, and then everyone was very confused.  He then tells me my blue colored windscreen is illegal.  (Never heard this before.  I've only had it on my bike for 10 years.)



Apparently blue (or red or yellow) could be confusing, and someone might think I'm a cop.  (My blue jacket is a lot more visible than my windscreen, and what about people with blue bikes?? but I digress...)

So I have to fix it.  My bike is a 2002 M750S, and I'm only finding clear, lt smoke, or dark smoke from ZG or Slingshot.  Are there solid carbon fiber options out there?  Does anyone have ideas to keep some blue up front without it being a violation?

Pretty annoyed about this whole thing, and bummed because I thought the blue screen was a nice accent.

Thanks!

[Howie]

WOW!  been a long time, welcome back. 

How about this one?   https://monsterparts.com/collections/bodywork-carbon-1/products/carbon-flyscreen-fairing
Or  https://monsterparts.com/collections/windscreens-1/products/puig-cockpit-windscreen

Can't speak for Ca, but here in NYC people have been ticketed for made up equipment violations.  Blue lights make sense.  Blue windscreen

[mangeldbug]

Thanks Howie! Good to be back. I went a while not riding the Duc due to Gremlins no one could diagnose, but I still have the old girl. Finally got that sorted out last year, and this was my first ride since October after recovering from an injury. Not the way I wanted the day to go today...

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out!

[JonS2R]

That sounds ridiculous. What statute did he quote on the ticket? I'd make sure it's actually illegal before changing it. Just because he wrote you a ticket for it doesn't mean he's right.

What kind of seat and luggage rack do you have?

[mangeldbug]

I am looking into the actual law. It doesn't make sense at all. It's a "fix it" ticket, so the cost is $25 but I have to fix it and then go to court or a CHP to prove I fixed it and have them sign off. The officer literally told me he was writing me a ticket just to show others he was up there writing tickets so the word would get out and people would leave or avoid the area. But he's just trying to make it safer... I'd rather he write up real safety violations. There were plenty of others to choose from but for some reason he picked the only girl in the parking lot and a very silly reason.

[mangeldbug]

I have the Ventura rack on the back and my seat is the stock one shaved down with a gel insert (I have an old tutorial on here I think) and a Corbin seat cover.

[Speeddog]

I am looking into the actual law.
~~~SNIP~~~

This.

Do you know Warren? He may be able to help.

[stopintime]

Sheet of adhesive vinyl (mount on fresh wax for harmless removal), get it approved, remove vinyl, wait ten years for next idiot encounter.

 

[Speeddog]

Sheet of adhesive vinyl (mount on fresh wax for harmless removal), get it approved, remove vinyl, wait ten years for next idiot encounter.

 

Much like how I'd roll with this issue.

[chipripper]

You definitely can't count on cops to know the law. Do a little research, and evaluate what your time to fight is worth verses a "quick" fix. Lamesauce

[mangeldbug]

Well I discovered it's a ridiculous but real law and is specific to California.

26701(d) "No person shall sell, offer for sale, or operate any motor vehicle equipped with red, blue, or amber translucent aftermarket material in any partitions, windows, windshields, or wind deflectors.” 

[Speeddog]

Ah, to prevent knuckleheads from playing copper I wager.

"But I like those red and blue plastic panels on my roof rack. It's festive!"
"Sir, you cannot impersonate a police vehicle."

It's why we can't have nice things.

Sorry to hear that.

[mangeldbug]

This reaffirms my want of a solid blue or CF blue screen in place of the translucent blue one...

[Speeddog]

Waitaminit.

The above quoted VC says "translucent".

Searching several dictionaries online reveals that "translucent" requires obscuring the visual details of things on the other side.

To distinguish it from "transparent".

I can't see your screen real clearly, but I suspect it's actually transparent.

That looks like a rather large loophole that allows your screen.

[mangeldbug]

I suspect the way the law defines 'translucent' (because the officer said it has nothing to do with being able to see through the screen, which is why dark tint is ok) is from the roots trans = through and lucent = giving off light.  So if whatever your screen is made from allows light to pass through it and it is one of the offending colors, it is illegal.

All things transparent are also translucent, but all things translucent are not necessarily transparent.  I feel the language in this law makes it more restrictive, not less.

And yes, the cop said it was because someone could misidentify me as a  .  I find that VERY hard to believe, but it must have happened at some point which is why it's a law.  But only in California.