[pct-l] hitchhiking in general

[sabra985]

I just went to this website out of curiosity, considering the plight of the
recent poster on the Arizona Trail:

http://www.hitchhiker.50megs.com/custom.html

California

Code 21957

No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride
from the driver of any vehicle.

The way I read the California statute, attempting to hitch a ride is
illegal. Have there been PCT'ers ticketed like this in CA? I'm sure that
local police are aware of the trail running near their jurisdictions - I
seem to remember a cop even passing me as I was trying to get back to the
trail in Mojave (and he didn't bother me).

If it were I, I would go before the judge and try to explain my situation -
that I'm walking a long-distance trail etc. I once vastly reduced the fine
of a speeding ticket (from $250 to $25) (shortly after the AT, I was moving
my stuff and was only marginally employed, and I told the judge my weekly
income and how I'd just gotten off the trail etc etc - she was actually
very sympathetic).