Biker pulled over for wearing flip-flops
By ROSS ROMANIUK, SUN MEDIA
The Winnipeg Sun


A traffic ticket for motoring around without back-strapped sandals? It's enough to make a driver feel like a heel.
But to Winnipeg motorcyclist Michael Bailey, the warning he was given by police for the infraction is more a sign of obscure laws appearing like potholes.
"This is the law, but I certainly hadn't heard of it," Bailey said after being pulled over by a city cop on Sunday while riding his 2002 Harley-Davidson V-Rod bike on Pembina Highway.
The infraction? Driving with flip-flop sandals -- the kind without rear straps to hold them on.
Bailey suggested he could have fallen off his motorcycle when told by the officer his footwear that day didn't meet requirements of the Highway Traffic Act. At least, it didn't before he did what was necessary to get the officer's permission to continue driving home.
When the cop told the accountant he'd have to leave his bike there near Jubilee Avenue until he found legal riding shoes, instead of proceeding home to Richmond West, he considered calling a taxi.
"Then I called Duffy's back to cancel the cab, and asked a restaurant if they have any string," Bailey said of his tactic to fix his footwear. "My thanks to the Pemby restaurant staff for facilitating my endeavour."
Elastics tied in place, he continued on his way home. But not before the officer explained the law on driving shoes applies to cars and other four-wheeled vehicles.
"We went back and forth talking about how in the world they would enforce that," Bailey said, adding he was informed that when pulling drivers over, cops "look inside to see if appropriate footwear is worn."
City police did not respond to a Winnipeg Sun request to explain their approach to driving-shoe enforcement.
Manitoba Public Insurance spokesman Brian Smiley said he's unaware of shoes, sandals or boots playing any real role in the Crown corporation's post-collision decisions.
"It has no consequence in terms of an accident," Smiley said. "If they're injured, we're going to look after their bodily injury. It would have no bearing on the insurance coverage -- as long as they have a valid licence."