Outdated bike code likely intended as theft deterrent

PORTALES — Bike riders rejoice. You can save your 50 cents.

An antiquated chapter from the Portales municipal code requiring bicycle owners to register with the city will be deleted, following an ordinance approval Tuesday from city councilors.

Acting on a city initiative to eliminate old codes no longer relevant or effective, City Manager Sammy Standefer noticed the outdated section and brought it to the City Council last month.

Adopted March 4, 1975, the rule required a 50-cent annual licensing fee for each bicycle operated within the city. The license, a one-inch by two-inch reflector tag, was to be issued by the police department pending inspection and determination of the bike’s “safe mechanical and operating condition.”

Transfers of bike ownership were to be reported to the police department, with a transfer fee of 25 cents to be collected by the city clerk.

The code was likely intended as a theft deterrant but never really worked that way, said Portales Police Detective and Public Information Officer Charlie Smart.

“I’ve been here close to 19 years and it was in place when I first came here,” he said. “It was barely being enforced and utilized at that time, and just shortly thereafter it kind of just faded away. And that’s the thing. Laws become antiquated because of technology and because they just don’t make any sense or there’s no need for them anymore.”

Smart said he worked in Lea County before coming to Portales and was aware of a similar city code there.

“Back in the ’70s I think a majority of the cities and towns had some type of registration ordinance for bicycles, but over the years they pretty much just all went away,” he said. “It was one of those deals that at the time was supposed to help us in theft situations if a bicycle was stolen. If there was a number attached to the bike we found we could match it up to the owner.”

Smart said the ordinance was “absolutely not” effective.

“Even back then if we found a bicycle the sticker would be scratched off of it. In theory it was a good idea. In practical application it lacked a lot of validity.”

Eliminating the ordinance from the city code was not exactly a momentous occasion — many longtime residents said they didn’t know it ever existed.

“I’ve had a lot of bikes,” said Jane Christensen, “I never had them registered and I never knew it existed.”

“I don’t recall ever even knowing about it,” said Victor Baca. “I never paid any licensing fees or registration fees or anything like that.”

“Vaguely I think I was aware of it, but I don’t recall it ever being enforced,” said Karl Terry.

Clovis has no such existing ordinance pertaining to bicycles in its current city code, city officials said on Wednesday.