NYS PL 240.20 Disorderly conduct. A person is guilty of disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof: He obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic. (Disorderly conduct is a violation.)

If you read the above, all that needs to occur is to have a RISK of recklessly obstructing pedestrian traffic. I'd say thats for the officer to explain, and for a Judge to decide (he'll take into account time of day, location, etc). The officer had to get creative, because as everyone pointed out, there is a loophole in the law and the normal "riding on the sidewalk" statue does not apply. While the Disorderly Conduct summons is a pain in the butt because it is Criminal Court (still only a violation, not a "criminal misdemeanor"), I would not say it is outright wrong for the officer to write it like that.

So is Gothamist now officially a space for New Yorkers to post their one sided complaints about getting tickets? Or is this only posted because its a cycle issue?

In other breaking news, a driver was ticketed for double parking but there were no other cars on the street that he was impeding, this is so unfair...those damn quotas!!!

NO ONE CARES

i care

so you are wrong.

Another bull$hit "crime fighting tool" instituted by the brass to show that their troops are productive. Crime is up, go write some BS summons.

do not ride a wheel on the sidewalk.

the end.

this story is inteesting, but im sure as a media savvy goofy white guy on a unicycle he gets press, but thousands of underprivledged disenfranchised minorities get the shaft everyday in nyc by way of tickets, violations, and misD arrests.

the funny thing is he refused a miswritten ticket and opted for recevieving a criminal summons for DC. which technically as the statue is vaguely written he committed the crime and should do the time. it will cost time time and money to fight or he can plead to Community service type plea.

and he will meet dozens of minorities and uninformed who plead guilty to silly no victim crimes and they will be doing their CS bid in some high falutin park usually not servicing the community where the guilty come from.

so you go white guy, you will make your park beutiful and have help from the darkies who are chewed up by the system to keep your hood clean.

should you go that route you should insist on servicing a community of color that really needs help.

I didn't refuse a miswritten ticket. I pointed out to the officer that unicycles aren't covered in the traffic code. I'd love to refuse a ticket, but as far as I know, you're not allowed to refuse tickets.

Yes, I am a white guy, and I realize that I'm not special or unique for being harassed by the police with frivolous tickets. I live in Crown Heights, 77th Precinct, and I see the police issue BS summonses all the time. I see them stop and frisk law-abiding citizens for hanging out in front of the wrong building, or wearing the wrong color jacket.

The police spent 20 minutes issuing me a bogus ticket that they told me "would probably be dismissed" at 8pm in Crown Heights. It's a misuse of police resources. It's a waste. It causes distrust and strains within the community. Ask the average person on the street in Crown Heights what they think of NYPD and you're sure to be on the receiving end of an expletive-laced tirade. We have real problems in this neighborhood. Problems that cannot be solved by issuing bogus citations to our citizens.

This is why I came forward with my story. My story is only unique because I was riding a unicycle, and that's why the story landed in Gothamist. But it exposes the abusive practices of NYPD, especially in particular precincts. Cops in crime-ridden districts should be focused on reducing crime. As of right now, cops in Crown Heights have an adversarial relationship with the public. Once they begin to address the needs of the community (rather than continue their campaign of harassment) they will gain the trust and respect of the neighborhood.

Wow, you are right, this whole story is about race.

Although this situation is quite odd and unique, Kyle Petersen is still taking more than his fair share of shit from the Gothamist tribe.

Overall I like his use of a technicality when it comes to the obscure law surrounding "cyclists," even though I don't prefer any wheels whatsoever on the sidewalk. I understand the haters and all, but the cops are pigs and the BS he is dealing with might be insignificant in the long run, yet still very annoying and deserving of sympathy.

People do non-normal things in nyc, and a unicyclist taking shit from the pigs shouldn't be deserving of getting scolded by other people that appreciate the oddness of nyc. Especially because he's already been to court in the past and won the battle. When I had a speeding ticket thrown out by a judge 5 years ago because the cop misquoted the day, it was pure bliss.

All this talk about the circus got that Big Apple circus jingle stuck in my head. no seats are farther than 50ft from the ring and it's back in town.

NYC Cops should have to patrol on bicycles. Unicycles would even be better. It's more efficient. Think how in shape they would be! Whenever I see a patrol car pulling into a park walkway or idling in a bike line I get an awful wasteful disgusting feeling in my gut.

Should the unicyclist also had front and rear lights and reflectors? I'm guessing those were the tickets the cop wanted to write him up for. you know, to bust chops.

but it will balance out in the end, but what does that mean? It could mean anything such as, the ticket will get thrown out or something else. The universe is crazy, man.

You're a "professional circus performer"? What do you do there, Bozo? Let me guess?

Stay off our sidewalks. You look a lot older than 14.

Maybe you'd do better as a shyster lawyer, the way you parse the law with your lame sophistry.

Circus performing is an art. I'll bet this guy is way more talented than you are.

I bet you lose.

Yes, I am a circus performer. I make people happy for a living. I've never done anyone any harm. I wonder why you feel that is so far beneath you. What do you do for a living, may I ask? You must be of one of those noble professions, like a special ed teacher or a missionary.

However, I am flattered that you think I'd be a good lawyer! I know enough that it's an abuse of police power to issue misdemeanors for moving violations.

PS. The photo is a stock photo, it is not of me. I am in my mid 20s, but I actually do look like I'm 14.

Thank you for your interest in my story,

Kyle

you riding that unicycle on a sidewalk, a place that a unicycle has no business being, makes me and everyone else UNHAPPY. stay off of the sidewalk.

Just because you look like 14, doesn't mean you must act like it.

There are bike lanes. Use them.

You are new to Gothamist, so you wouldn't know that "thefacts" is our resident bike-hater par excellence. Anything having to do with bikes or bike lanes, he'll come out and rant and rail against. You can get a taste of that here. Just be aware that that taste of "thefacts" can only be eliminated by gargling with sulfuric acid.