After a seven-hour ordeal Wednesday at Van Nuys Municipal Court, [Jeremiah] Gerbracht, of Woodland Hills, and his Siberian husky Harley were declared not guilty of violating Section 21712-A of the California Vehicle Code, the section titled "Unlawful Riding."

The tale started tongues wagging almost four months ago, when Gerbracht, a retired dog trainer, was driving his motorcycle down a street in Canoga Park with Harley seated in front of him, as they usually ride. As Gerbracht prepared to make a turn, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Terry L. Webb, cruising in his patrol car, spotted them.

"It appeared to me to be an unsafe riding situation," said Webb, who ticketed Gerbracht under a section of the vehicle code, which, in his police manual, states that no passenger or "load" can be carried on a part of a motor vehicle not intended for use of a passenger.