LAGUNA BEACH : Police Cycles Ticketed for Paint Jobs

Determined not to have any more traffic tickets thrown out of court because its motorcycles are the wrong color, the Laguna Beach Police Department on Thursday began repainting them the “right color.”

The department has been embroiled in the color controversy since October when Traffic Commissioner Matthew J. Flynn dismissed a speeding ticket issued by a Laguna Beach motorcycle officer because he said the city’s motorcycles were improperly painted.

In response to that action, dozens of motorists called Laguna Beach police hoping to have their tickets thrown out as well.

When Flynn dismissed six more tickets last week, frustrated police officials decided to take action.

“I’ve ordered that the sides of our tanks all be painted white and that’s being done right now because I’m not going to lose another ticket over this,” Deputy Chief Jim Spreine said.

The commissioner’s action revolved around an obscure state law that says police motorcycles used primarily by traffic officers must be painted either black and white or completely white, except for the trim.

Laguna Beach police officers have for 10 years driven white motorcycles with blue trim and mostly blue gas tanks.

Flynn said that using improperly painted motorcycles constitutes a “speed trap” and means the ticket must be dismissed.

Police Chief Neil J. Purcell Jr. had asked Ronald P. Kreber, presiding judge of Municipal Court in Laguna Niguel, for clarification on Flynn’s ruling.

In November, Purcell had said the judge told him that officers could continue writing traffic tickets without fearing they would be dismissed while the matter was being researched.

Neither Purcell, who is now recovering from heart surgery, nor Kreber could be reached for comment.

Spreine said he has no idea why more tickets were tossed out of court. “Once I saw they were being dismissed, I felt I had to react to the situation,” he said.

The new paint job for the city’s five police motorcycles is expected to cost the city about $1,000.

As a result of the controversy, Spreine said, a California Highway Patrol commissioner reviewed the state law and has recommended that it be amended, allowing slightly more color on the motorcycle trim, but not on the tank.

“Based on what their recommended amendment is, it still will not accommodate our color scheme,” Spreine said.