Motorcycles and Police

I have a quick question. Do you guys think that police officers tend to be more lenient towards those of us on bikes not driving like idiots as compared to cars? Maybe they appreciate that we can enjoy ourselves without endangering others and doing 140+ down the interstate?

Why I ask....


Before I laid my bike down I was on one of the largest highways in Missouri on my way to work. Tons of semi traffic as well as just a ton of people who speed. To keep people from running over you it is necessary to do 75-80 mph. It is a 60 but its not uncommon to have people doing 90+.

I was tucked in doing 80 and had a white impala follow me for around 10 miles at this speed. I even rolled it up to around 85 to pass a semi. (Who like to go atleast 75.

Anyway I kept thinking there is no way this is a cop. Well at one point I went to pass another semi and he cracked his siren for half a second. I slowed back down to 75 and he pulled up next to me and waved.... This is also before I had a plate on it.... Maybe I just got really lucky? Maybe he was seeing if I would try to run? So I am curious anyone else have any similar experiences?

 

Honestly I think it varies from different parts of the country, but I would have to say that in my experience law enforcement officers do treat responsible motorcycle riders differently than cars.

Are they supposed to? No. But I really think they do.

One instance:

One time I wasn't paying attention and a light turned red. The bike in front of me decided to make a very fast stop instead of go through the yellow. Luckily we were staggered and I didn't hit him (you know, the whole point of staggering), but I made a skidding stop and ended up in the middle of the intersection. Well, not staying there!

I make my way down the road and pull over to wait for my brother. When I look in the rear view mirror, there was a officer walking up to me. I had no idea he had been behind me and it was lucky I pulled over when I did haha.

The point of this story is that I had to "listen to his safety speech for a couple minutes in leu of a citation." This officer had apparently been a motorcycle patrolman for ten or something years. We ended up talking on the side of the road about general motorcycling in the area, bikes we've owned, places we like to ride to...

Like I said, should officers show a little mercy towards bikes? No.

Can they help it? Probably not >

 

Heh,

I just think he liked listening to your engine man. I've very loosely tried to keep up with some bikes for that reason.

 

+1 on that anytime I have a sport bike come up on me when I'm in my car the radio goes off and the windows go down!


Keep the answers coming!

 

Funny I do the opposite when a straight piped Harley comes up on me.

 

I do the exact same thing... I personally hate that sound. I love the sound of a super sport screaming though. Sounds like an f1 car almost.

 

I've sat next to those V-Rods with the open exhausts, and although I can't argue the big booming exhausts will likely save lives, they won't save ears.

I thought my MAC Header was loud, i can't even hear it revving next to a big HD, for reals.

 

Ya know, I kept thinking about that a few weeks ago when a guy with one of those was following my pickup onto I94. He managed to stay in my blind spot the whole damn way. I could hear him, but not see him. Annoying. And doubtful that it would help him nearly as much as backing up a couple of feet...

 

In any of the modern vehicles I drive for work with the windowns up and radio on (moderate volume) you still don't hear them until they are alongside

Personally I think the whole "loud pipes save lives" was something dreamed up by inconsiderate arseholes to justify having obnoxiously loud pipes

We have some bike police on our local forum, I'd say they tend towards a bit more lenience for riders, but don't expect any mercy if you're riding like a dick

 

+1 It is the people in their houses or front lawns that get the brunt of loud pipes IME. I would rather drive the quiet bike and not piss of the neighbors.

 

Quoted for truth. Hell, I don't even need to have the radio on to not hear them.

 

Sorry for straying off topic but I totally agree

The sad reality is that 9 times out 9 after a motorcycle accident you will hear the person who hit the bike say "I didn't see them."

I have NEVER heard anyone say " I didn't hear them".

 

9 times out of 10, you mean.

And of course it was dreamed up by them. But it's a valid point. I hate loud pipes as well, in general--when my exhaust had a leak in it and I went a few weeks with the sound, finally patching it felt like such a relief! Still, lots of research shows that the more obviously you stand out, the less likely you are to wreck--there's no reason that shouldn't apply to sound as well.

As far as no one saying "I didn't hear them," what does that prove? That people don't rely on sound as their primary sense? Doesn't mean it hasn't prevented wrecks; just no way of quantifying that sort of thing.

I digress.

When my uncle was talking to me about riding street bikes for the first time, he gave me several tips. One of them was pointing out that cops pretty much leave motorcyclists alone unless they're doing something stupid or asking for trouble; case in point, he has never had inspection in date on any of his motorcycles, and has yet to ever be pulled over.

I have found it to be true, at least in Texas. I don't even have an inspection sticker--and one time when I was stuck in a median in between a highway split and had three cops pulled up behind me while we were waiting for a tow truck, no one noticed that I had not gotten my registration in date (had just bought the bike) and didn't have inspection. I also generally speed just a little bit everywhere; never been pulled over or gotten any attention for it. I just don't do anything outlandish. I have sped past cops waiting in speed traps, but they just don't care.

I think part of it in that last case is that bikes are a lot harder to hit with a speed gun; they're trained to aim for the license plate, and it's difficult to hit a bike with a clear beam of light and be sure you hit it.

As for motorcycle cops, though, I think they either give you more slack or give you a lot less, varies by cop. Them I watch out for.

 

I have also found out from a cop that followed me into work, That your insurance will double when you get a ticket whether it be from a car or bike. I got a ticket in Nevada and sure enough my auto insurance stayed the same. My bike insurance doubled. The cop came into my work after he heard me blast down the street, ( some dummy at the prior corner tried to run me over, so I took off like rocket.) Never been actually pulled over yet on the bike. But like you all say only the stupid riders get pulled over.

 

I have never heard that however.... I have had all my tickets "fixed".

 

next time a open pipe Harley pulls up next to you roll down the window and point to the back wheel then put your hand to your face like your yelling but don't make any sound, he thinks your doing him a favor as you drive away and he tries to figure out what you said

 

On my way to work this morning there were two Harley's both straight pipd... however the funny part is one of them was doing around 80 in a 50 with a chrome "brain bucket" and a sons of anarchy sweat shirt.

Gave me a chuckle.

Anyone else with any times they got lucky with a leo or things they've noticed?

 

'Loud pipes lose rights and places to Ride'
Must be different in the states I cant tell you how many times I've been pulled over for a 'licence check' but it's never happened once in the car in over 25 years.
Asked a copper about it one day,he sighed and said the sad thing is probably 80% of the time he pulls a licence check they have warrants outstanding and or no licence.
Makes a certain amount of sense motorcyclists tend to be risk takers compared to the great beige majority.

 

Yep, quite different here. There is no "license check" without a stop for some violation first. Every stop must be made for a lawful reason. That means either A) the officer has probable cause that the driver has committed a civil infraction / traffic violation, or B) The officer has reasonable suspicion that the driver has committed a crime. Once a lawful stop has been made the driver is required to display a valid license, and the officer may check the driver's information for warrants or license status.

I know this backward and forward because I do it almost every day.

 

Hey Sabre, how do I get out of a ticket? Nah, just kidding, I know I'm hosed, guy lasered me doing 49 in a 35 over the Burnside Bridge in Portland. Sad thing was, it was in my car. I used to drive for a living, and raced around all the time all over the state, hard to keep a clean record. But for the last 4-5 years I was clean.

No more, dang it. I even told him "come on, man, I'm trying to keep my record clean here" haha, there was a speed trap, they pulled over me, then another cop pulled over, I was like "oh, man, am I going to jail?" but it turned out the other cop was pulling over the guy behind me. I pled "not guilty" out of principle, on the off chance he doesn't come to court. I always fight them, but I've rarely got out of anything except fixit tickets and one b.s. no insurance one.

Seriously, no way was I doing 49, where he was sitting I had to make a sharp turn onto the bridge, so I was almost stopped, so supposedly I got up to 50 before I was out of range of his gun? I was in no hurry, I honestly don't know what speed I was going, as I didn't look at speedo.

I have gotten out of some stuff for being on a bike. Motorcycle cop pulled me over when I had NO motorcycle endorsement (for down-under folks, at least in my state you don't get a separate license for bikes, just your car license with what's called an "endorsement" for riding bikes) Anyway, I was planning to take the test that day, was doing 69 in a 55 on my old Honda CB. He said "most people trailer their bikes to take the test" LOL, b.s. dude. But he let me off

I got off from way more tickets for being in the Marines, though, usually the cop knew my unit or even some of the same people, the USMC is a small world. But since I've been out so long, I don't try to play that card anymore

 

Couldn't hurt to just have it fixed. I have had several tickets in my car but none on my bike. I have a lawyer in the family that will fix mine for $50.00 to drop to a non moving violation. I think most lawyers do it for like $100.00. Thats saved me from higher rates plus no going to court. It may be different here in M.O... But just a thought.

Other than that I was only let off a ticket once when I was actually stopped. It was 2am I was going a lot faster than I should have been. The officer came up told me he could take my license. Looked in my car and it was a guy i go to church with. Told me to get home and that I had better tell my Mom before he did. I was 16 and terrified.

 

Idk about leaniacy towards bikes, I do however know that when I go by the "your speed is" signs they always read super erratically.

I got one speeding ticket in my dads car once because mine had broken down. His is this big ol boat and an automatic and I just diddnt realize how fast I was going. I went to court for it and had the option of either changing it to an ordinance violation or getting it reduced. Basically, with an ordinance violation, it doesent get reported to the dot or on your record at all. It just stays in the township or city that it was cited in.

It was changed to disorderly conduct of a motor vehicle.

Cost me 180 bux over the 114 it was going to be or the 80 he would reduce it to, but I saved so much on insurance.

Since the ins. Man is my dads college buddy, I just asked him for kicks. Turns out that my car insurance would have been 285.00 more EACH YEAR for three years. That's a TON! Considering I don't even pay that much now!

Thats not even counting the bike! I was to scared to ask that, lol

 

Here we have random stops, anyplace anytime for no reason although unless you're doing something dumb it's unlikely to happen

 

I have no idea what this means. I don't think we do that here. I've even asked about traffic school, after a lecture from a judge. I said "if you're so concerned about my driving, send me to traffic school" he said it's not an option. But the only thing you can "fix" is like, tinted windows, if you prove you fixed them, they *used* to dismiss it. Not anymore, state needs money. Once I fought an unsignalled lane change, because I'm a nazi about turn signals, NO WAY did I not signal. Got it reduced to some kind of equipment violation, doesn't count against insurance.

 

ive noticed for awhile overhere now that 24 hour fixed speed cameras are on the rise and now they have point to point cameras that can tell if you have been speeding by the time it took you from getting from a to b, our government is that much in debt that as far as im concerned its revenue raising at its best, to a degree its getting more dangerous i think cause everybody is looking at their speedo all the time,i wouldnt be surprised to find rear enders are on the rise, its hard to stay under the speed limit in modern vehicles because of the effortless power they make and are very smooth,

 

Friend of mine is an Ambo and he was telling me that every camera installed on the Highways or Tollways is already set up as a point to point camera network all the govt has to do is flick a switch and it's cameras are go.
God help us all.
Get booked for speeding in the blink of an eye, book nobody for not keeping left or not indicating FFS even road rage incidents dont get the attention speed gets.
Apologies, rant over[till next time]

 

Google local traffic attorneys. Im 99.9 % positive that it can be done in any state. You call them bring in your ticket. Give them around $50-100. They go to court for you. Talk to the judge. You get a letter with the amount you owe the state in a few weeks. It is NORMALLY a bit higher than what the normal fine costs but it is worth having a clean record for insurance and should you get stopped again. The state likes it. They get MORE out of you.

I just had a 15 over ticket fixed. The lawyer fee was 50. The ticket was 175.00. Says they dropped it to an "excessive noise" violation. Which is a non point. Non moving violation. So no added insurance and if my plates are ran again... They come up clean like I have never been stopped. Actually got me out of a 25mph over ticket. The cop said my record was spotless and so he'd right down that I was only going 19 over. Had that one fixed as well...

 

guess its time to 'accidentally' let the luggage bad cover the license plate :lol:

 

I got a red light camera ticket by my house. Apparently you have to wait a full 5 seconds before turning right on red.. anyway... Turns out they actually make a spray that you put on your plates that when the camera flashes it reflects enough light to "blur" out the plate in the image... :twisted:

However they did just decide that they were illegal here in St.Louis but its in a bill that will take awhile to be put into place.

 

You can buy license plate covers that only allow light to exit from certain angles--from the angle of a camera it looks like a mirror. (It's for cheating toll roads, but it should work for those cameras as well...)

I've never heard of 5 seconds for right on red, just a full stop. In Texas, a stop on a motorcycle is legally defined as having your foot touch the ground. Which is stupid; I can hit zero and balance for a second without having a foot touch the ground.

Now I don't fully stop--I just get down to two or so mph and graze my foot and keep going.

Most stop signs should be yield signs anyways...

 

FYI, tricks like sprays and covers to obscure your license plate from the cameras don't work. Heck, they did several "Mythbusters" episodes on them.

 

Yeah what is funny here is that you have to wait that long at a stop... Yet if you are at an actual STOPLIGHT and you feel that it is taking to too long on a bike you can go as long as it is clear. The law states that you must wait an "appropriate amount of time" but that is not defined. From LEO's who are close friends.. "that can be 5 minutes, or 30 seconds" it is up to the rider. Supposedly as something to do with traffic signals not registering our bikes sitting at a light in comparison to a car. Which I have seen on several occasions and gone when it was clear.

 

When you are driving your modern car with tightly sealed doors and nice stereo, just how well do you hear those pipes coming at you from down the road? Or coming toward you at an intersection? You don't. Most people can't even hear sirens until the EMS vehicle is right on top of them. How are you going to hear pipes? The only people who hear those damned things are the people they in front of, the poor saps walking down the street, and the mom trying to get the infant to sleep when it goes booming down the street! Loud pipes do NOT save lives, they just annoy the hell out of people and local noise ordinances should be applied and tickets written.

The modern car isolates the driver from the noise outside, its a big part of many advertisements, especially the mid to high end vehicles.The way to save lives is to drive responsibly and make yourself as VISIBLE as possible while imagining yourself to be completely invisible and expecting the cage drivers to NOT see you.

 

I have never had a problem with a police officer on my bike. On the freeway, my habit is to ride in the left lane at or slightly above the flow of traffic.

Being in the left lane, I only have to worry about cars cutting me off or into me from one direction, and most of the time I have an emergency lane/shoulder to swerve into. By driving slightly above the flow of traffic, I have much less to worry about behind me and can focus more on what is in front of me. I am never racing around at a high speed.

If an officer ever pulls me over, I will explain why I go slightly faster and he can write the ticket if he wants, I will tell the judge the same thing: it is much safer than going at or below the speed limit and being a like a rock in a stream.

 

This describes how I ride to a "t". Always left lane and just slightly above the flow of traffic.