Attorney Gives Up Traffic Ticket Fight

A Harley-riding attorney has given up his fight against a $104 traffic ticket issued in Simi Valley. But he still believes the ticket was issued to harass him.

Tarzana attorney Allan B. Gelbard was ticketed for an illegal left turn at a September motorcycle charity ride that ended in Simi Valley.

The “poker ride” was sponsored by the Hells Angels, prompting Gelbard and others to believe they were singled out for tickets due to the Angels’ renegade reputation.

Gelbard had hoped to peek at Simi Valley Police Department records and logs in the hopes of proving the department discriminated against bikers at the “poker ride.”

But a Ventura Municipal Court judge turned down the request, which scuttled Gelbard’s chances of having his ticket dismissed.

“Based on the judge’s ruling, it would have been a waste of time to fight the ticket in state court,” he said.

So he ponied up the $104 locally and enrolled in traffic school.

But he is still pursuing an $11-million class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. In that lawsuit, he charges the police and the city of Simi Valley with violating bikers’ civil rights under state and federal law.

Police Chief Randy Adams has said the only people ticketed had broken the law. No harassment occurred, he said.

Part of Gelbard’s suit cites the action of eight Simi Valley police officers who returned their “Officer of the Year” plaques to the Elks Lodge this summer. That action was a protest against the fraternal organization’s decision to allow the Hells Angels-sponsored event to be held at the lodge.