[pct-l] hitchhiking in general

[chiefcowboy at verizon.net]

In general, I would recommend standing well off the pavement so as to not 
become a hazard (to yourself of drivers).  Try to hitch only in areas where 
there is sufficient room for drivers to pull off the roadway.  Whether legal 
or not, officers are not mandated to issue citations for hitchhiking.  The 
less of a hazard you present, the less the chance of a citation.

Now, on a sad note, keep in mind that many local governments are broke and 
looking for ways to generate revenue.  If you look at the cost of citations 
now and what they were years ago, it is obvious that the state (California 
at least) is more interested in how much money they can generate rather than 
causing better driving habits (the legislative intent assumed when passing 
traffic laws).

-----Original Message----- 
From: sabra985
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 5:12 AM
To: pct-l
Cc: sauntrer at gmail.com
Subject: [pct-l] hitchhiking in general

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).
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