Ticket for driving with a bike rack? Help Ryan Metcalf fight this crazy interpretation of the law

In December 2010, Ryan Metcalf received a ticket from Creve Coeur police because his bicycle rack obstructs the rear head on view of his license plate.

All hitch mounted racks and some trunk mounted racks block some part of our plates at any given time, and all bikes block some part of the plate when being transported regardless of the kind of rack.

And, as Ryan pointed out in media interviews, all trailers obscure the license plate and bike racks used on government and police vehicles do, as well.

After consulting with his local bike shop, the bike rack manufacturer, talking with other cyclists (including becoming aware the same ticket had been issued to other cyclists in Creve Coeur in Nov-2008 and in Maryland Heights in Oct-2010), looking at the Missouri law and Creve Coeur law on the subject, and consulting with a lawyer, Ryan decided to fight the ticket.

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Since this is an issue that potentially affects everyone in Missouri who transports a bicycle on a rear-mounted bicycle carrier, and Ryan's case could set a precedent affecting bicycle rack use that could then be used statewide, he is asking for help in paying the legal bills of the case.

We want to make sure Ryan has the legal helps he needs to ensure this case has the best possible outcome. If a positive outcome is achieved, we can use this to encourage state legislators to amend the statute that effects all of us and it can be used as a precedent by anybody else who receives this ticket in the future.

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