For the first two years I rode my Tiger I had no cop problems. I was quite smug about this because I do tend to hammer it out on the road from time to time (yesterday I got her up to 120mph on Hwy 4 in WA State - GPS verified).
Then about a month ago I got nailed out in the country. I failed to come to a full stop before crossing a bridge under repair. Fines were doubled due to "Workers present" signs (although being a Saturday there were no workers present). The fine was a huge $484. I went to court on Monday. The judge was a really decent fellow. He reduced the fine to the greatest extent within his power, $242. I was also referred to driver education. Four hours class on a Saturday costing $45 but once I do this the citation will no longer appear on my record, so this is quite helpful.
Last weekend I was riding through a small town. Was stopped at a red traffic light behind a truck, both of us turning left. The light turned green and the truck remained stationery. I could see the driver yacking on his cell phone oblivious to the green light. In frustration I cut left across the intersection. I was riding slowly down the main street when in my mirror I spy a cop car pull up behind me light flashing. I acted like I had not seen him and continued on well within the speed limit. I then made a big act of swivelling my head to look in my mirror, acted startled as if I had just noticed him, and pulled over. He acted as if he was going to cite me, making notes in that silver pad they carry containing the citations. However when he returned he gave me a stern warning about my impatience (I had told him about the yacking truck driver) and let me off with a warning. Phew!
Yesterday I was about ten miles from home after a 280 mile ride when I was passed by a car going about 70mph in a 55 zone on a main road. A few miles down the road I had speeded up to about 60 when suddenly about 75 yards in front of me a cop heading in the opposite direction pulls a sudden u-turn as he switches on his flashing lights. I had not seen him until he pulled this dumb move. Gave me a heck of a start I tell you. I had to stand on the brakes to keep back of him.
At first I thought he was going to pull me over but instead he pulled over the car that had passed me earlier. He must have got them with his radar while going in the opposite direction.
All this cop acitivity has now made me really skittish. Oregon has for years had fewer cops per capita than most other states due to funding issues. However new tax measures were passed that have allowed for an increase in the number of officers and I think I am now seeing the effects. Maybe it is a good thing that winter is almost here and I will be spending far less time on the bike for a while. I really preferred it when we were a poor state with few officers
