Stopped by Highway Patrol

[BlackBeauty]

Hello All - well, on my way into work (yes, Sunday...) I was stopped by a HighWay Patrol car in San Diego (5S just past the 805 split). Anyway, as soon as I saw the lights, I pulled over whilst sweating quietly, knowing full well I deserved a ticket. I resolved to be as courteous and upfront as I could because it can only help. The Officer was very calm, quickly looked over my bike ('06 Triumph Sprint ST ABS) and my gear (my usual two piece leathers etc etc) as I took off my gloves, helmet and ear-plugs. He appreciated being asked if I could stand off of the bike. He said I hasd been doing almost 90 mph as I passed a few cars but he noted that I slowed down again to around 80 mph. He said that he rode bikes himself and wanted to just give me a warning as there are lots of Patrol cars that are just dying to ticket motorcyclists because they often run!! He said he could see that although I was speeding, I rode carefully - I dare say that my usual full leathers and full gear helped the appearance (and I am NOT implying that partial gear wearers are not careful!!). I explained that I had passed the cars at that speed as the far left lane was being occupied by cars that were not moving over and that when and if I do pass, I choose to do it quickly rather than dawdle by. As a biker himself, he understood this and also understood the rationale of moving slightly faster than the general flow whilst in the far left lane.

So, he also asked me where I was going. I told him that I was a scientist and was checking on my experiments - he asked me about them a little so I explained what I do.

Anyway - I got off with a warning after he asked me whether I had been ticketed before (no - except for once in the State of Washington). Clearly, I was lucky and was stopped by a reasonable Officer who genuinely wanted to warn me about my speed and the other Officers in the area who would love to ticket me (he said we are all over the place!). I told him I appreciated his efforts and thanked him.

Don't know what my message is!! Uuhhmmhh - if you are pulled over, don't be a smart ass and own up to it. If you are lucky, you will be treated accordingly.

Take care - BB

[oldndumb]

I was stopped by the Fla H'way patrol for using the right hand median to go around a major traffic jam (only one lane open) on Interstate 10. Same deal, I had all the protective gear, was polite, said I understood why I was stopped, and that I was in the wrong. He talked with me for a while and then stopped traffic so I could pull back in.
No ticket, no warning ticket.........just got by on dumb luck.
But, I'll take luck anytime. :-D

[seumas]

I've only been stopped once since I started riding again four years ago. I was on my way to work at 0400 at the time. I had my helmet and gloves off before he made it up to the bike. I think the fact that I was old fart (just ask my kids) on the way to work instead of some squid out playing around helped. Just a warning with no ticket.

[oldndumb]

On 2007-06-10 13:59, seumas wrote:
I've only been stopped once since I started riding again four years ago. I was on my way to work at 0400 at the time. I had my helmet and gloves off before he made it up to the bike. I think the fact that I was old fart (just ask my kids) on the way to work instead of some squid out playing around helped. Just a warning with no ticket.

Yeah, I've had the one mc stop and a few in my truck and have noticed they cut me more slack than when I was in my twentys. Mellowing out and being less of a smart ass could have something to do with it also. :-D

[steventhechef]

They have a sh1tty job in all and most of the time respond to a polite retort as opposed to the smartar5e one.

"most of the time"

[denman13]

Last time I was pulled over was over twenty years ago. I DID get the ticket and deservedly so. I was polite to the officer but popping the wheelie from the light and being a twenty-something at the time just didn't help. He even said that it wasn't so much the speeding part as much as it was doing it right in front of him (he was the car directly behind me) so I kind of got the idiot ticket.

Older and wiser now.

Although, I whizzed past a local on Skyline (a nice twisty here on the NorCal coast) doing about 75 - 80 but he was facing the opposite direction and looking down. Used up a karma point on that one. :-D

[DaveM]

Good lesson,
being polite always goes a long way with anything I find. Being properly dressed and not behaving like an idiot also obviously helps.

Age does have some advantages

DaveM

[smegin]

A group of us were pulled over for a rego and licence check (a regular thing in Victoria), 3 police and 15 of us. The banter started immediately sort of making the policeman's lot a little more bearable. One of our guys got to asking why we had been pulled over, the answer came straight back "the guy at the front has lost his wide load sign". The guy at the font had his wife on the back, as planned by the officer she overheard the comment and he got his duley deserved mouth full. LOL

All paperwork in order on our merry way, shows they are human after all. It just depends what you are doing and what sort of day they are having.

[jefftarlton]

I was behind a line of 20-30 cars on a two lane last year. We were running as slow as 35 in spots. I could see an RV at the front of the line. When the road turned to 3 lane I pulled out and started passing the long slow line. I noticed the cop car on the other shoulder way too late.
I immediately coasted to a stop on the shoulder. The cop was nice to me and asked me why I was doing what I was doing. I told him I felt safer out all alone with a space cushion around me than in a long line doing the accordion. He agreed with my thinking. He said he knew I could have run 130 or so in that space if I'd really opened it up. He thanked me for not running. Then he wrote me a ticket for improper passing. He could have written me for much worse. 76 in a 55, wreckless driving, several other things probably.
I don't know if my bright yellow riding gear helped.