Strange LEO experience

roger albert · 08-12-2005, 08:41 AM

OK,

After finally getting the S out this last week (hadn't been riding much due to work and illness and injury and loaning the last 6 months) I got the duc out this morn. Nice morning for a ride but I left late after answering the phone on my way out the door.
No problem. Not running that late.

I'm about 20% of the way to work just crossing onto a fun little twisty backroad when a pickup pulls in front of me. Narrowly avoided him and and got back underway, wobbly, but pissed off.

Passed him on the double yellow (not blind, but one of those places where the double yellow runs on and on when it should be broken in a few places. Should have been cooler.

Immediately see a cop rounding the next bend (R1150RT) and know I'm had.

So, he nails me for crossing the yellow, but not for speeding, since he said he didn't have his radar on me. Fair enough.
I'm annoyed, but grateful, as it was at least one moving violation instead of two.

Then, since the duc hadn't been out in ages, he points out that my reg and inspection are expired. Sure enough. He said I'd been a good sport and asked me to be careful and handed me a quarter. I looked at him funny and he tells me to flip it.

I called heads the first time and got out of the inspection fine.
Called heads again the 2nd flip (wrongly) and got the registration fine. Sure enough, 50/50.

Never did the coin toss while pulled over thing before.

Anyone else?

shaffer · 08-12-2005, 08:51 AM

Coin flipping? I'm impressed that you kept a straight face through that. I've had my share of run-ins with LEO, but I've never been asked to do anything that odd. I did have a solid fifteen minute conversation about bikes while stopped on the side of Interstate 95 in Georgia with a Georgia state trooper. I was sure he was letting me off. After this long conversation on the shoulder of the interstate, he then says, "Oh yeah, the citation" and proceeeds to write me up for 89 in a 65. Oh well.

-Chris

Raven · 08-12-2005, 08:55 AM

They realy do things different in Texas!!!

The CHP don't have a sense of humor like that. I never get off at all. If they catch me they write the ticket.

foobeemer · 08-12-2005, 09:08 AM

Roger you shoulda told him who you were and how you could learn him a thing or two about his cruiser (I take it from your post he was riding, too) and how he could make that sucker SING!

ExarKunONe · 08-12-2005, 09:30 AM

that rocks

lemec · 08-12-2005, 10:08 AM

lol, that's a new one to me. Almost makes getting pulled over sound entertaining.

roger albert · 08-12-2005, 10:29 AM

If I hadn't just ruined a good record (i.e. <= 1 ticket / yr) by a good margin, which means my insurance is about to hose me then it would have been. I'll not only get this ticket, but another one that was on deferred adjudication. Damn, and to think that the ticket that got this all started was one I got racing between two cancer charity/volunteer events on my vacation just short of a year ago. Where's the good karma? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Maybe this track business hasn't been such a good influence. On the one hand, I never ride stupid in the street anymore, but on the other, my patience at stupid or stupid-slow traffic is less than ever and I've gotten to comfortable skirting the rules.
Ultimately all my fault, but that doenst' mean I like it

tominator · 08-12-2005, 10:48 AM

Strange place that Texas!

Passing on a solid line here in Canada is not a fine. Law states that its a recommendation (Safety) but not a law. Guess I'm old school, but many years ago we were taught it was the law not to pass on a solid. (And I don't, usually)

Tomas

markjenn · 08-12-2005, 11:03 AM

Sorry about the ticket Roger. I'm skating on thin ice as my record is clean for five years or so; I'm due.

It's always been my observation that cops will look the other way on speeding for a variety of reasons, but they're pretty anal about things like full stops, crossing double yellow, illegal turns, etc. I think it's just an easier ticket for them because it is so clear cut - it's almost like they can't let it pass for fear that such a clear-cut and blatant offense would go unnoticed - it says they're not paying attention.

Yes, some cops like to pay such games. A casual friend even had a run in with a MT cop where they went to lunch after the stop and played a game about whether my friend's picking up the check would cancel the ticket or add a briberly charge to the list of offenses. It was a clear-cut case of the officer flaunting the power of the situation.

On the coin flip, yes, you can argue that it is better than just writing you up for everything, but it is unprofessional and the same flaunting of power.

- Mark

roger albert · 08-12-2005, 11:43 AM

I hear you on all the above Mark.

But I didn't get the idea in this case that he was flaunting power
(and this is coming from me, a guy that has overall grown at least marginally anti-cop) It was more in the vein of giving himself an excuse (however legally invalid) to cut me a bit of slack, since I was very respectful and prompt in pullover even waving the second he flagged me.
A spoonful of sugar with the medicine. 2 of my last 3 tickets have been double yellow line, so I guess I should be getting a message.
The cop was actually cool. County Sheriff. I had a run of 11 years with only two tickets, twice getting warnings when I should've been nailed, and once being saved when the cop was called away for some sort of severe domestic dispute. He had bigger fish to fry.

I'm really only annoyed by the labor day ticket. I was driving only 5mph over the limit instead of my normal 10-12 on a highway where the traffic is ALWAYS 10-12 fast and you can regularly pass cops at 10 over.
Then a holiday weekend of enforcement/revenue of an arbitrary nature.
THAT bugs me a lot. Getting a ticket while running to do volunteer work is a bit annoying. The double yellows I can't complain about morally (though I'll whine a bit anyway, and soon feel it in the pocketbook)

steve abella · 08-12-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by roger albert
I
I'm really only annoyed by the labor day ticket. I was driving only 5mph over the limit instead of my normal 10-12 on a highway where the traffic is ALWAYS 10-12 fast and you can regularly pass cops at 10 over.
Then a holiday weekend of enforcement/revenue of an arbitrary nature.

Memorial Day 73 in a 65 IN AZ 1st ticket in 5+ yrs
I had been doing the triple digits a few miles earlier in the twisters and had slowed down to smile and relish the ride and I let my Giraud down since I wasn't in my opinion doing anything when he pulled me over

Dr. Curve · 06:33 PM

Its that insurance part Roger that I don't like and I am sorry that you got a ticket, especially one that mundane, but which still adds points that hurt. I was stopped once in N. Georgia for not dimming my lights. I never met a car and the roads were tightly curved but there was a car running at a good clip up ahead and every once in a while I would catch him in the tights even though it was very dark that nite. My lights would flash his mirrors I suppose. It was the infamous "Fontana BMWRA" meet and things were already tense. The car ahead of me (I did not know this) was a local sheriff. He called ahead and a car came out of a side road from nowhere and pulled me over. The lead car turned around and came back. At once thay both started in about a Breathalyzer test and had me pull the seat and tools out of the bike. I said of course I would do the "breath in" and took the test but the thing did not turn blue. I still figured they would give me a ticket but to my surprise he looked down closer at the bike and said, "Oh, you are on one of them shaft ones aren't you? I don't ticket ya'll much, its the chain squids that rip us around here."

As they left I was very glad to have been on a K12RS instead of a regular bike. Did the bike you were on have chain drive Roger? You never can tell. Sometimes its better to be on something that looks slow even if its going fast....... than to be on something that looks fast but actually isn't. I fear insurance rates spikes and am sorry if that occurs to you. Each ticket stays on for 3 years in Florida, but I never got too many tickets in Texas. Shaft drive saved me.

lemec · 08-12-2005, 08:24 PM

I'm pretty sure my recent non-ticket for doing 51 in a 25 (didn't know it was a 25 zone) was b/c I was on the R bike -- pure speculation, of course, but I'm kinda sure that's why. My friend who's a WERA endurance racer laughed at me, said, "yeah, it's because you're one of those old guys on a BMW, that's why he let you go." I'm not old, though. But I had the cases on, wearing all the gear, used my blinker to pull off the road, etc. First thing the cop said when I pulled off my helmet was, "don't worry, I'm not writing you a ticket for this, but..." I'm done testing that theory, hopefully.

roger albert · 08-12-2005, 09:11 PM

Good points Jim and Lemec.

I was on the duc this time. Very much mess greasy chain drive.
I'm 99% sure I've been let off before on the beemers (R11S and R90/6) both times with luggage. I always attributed it to the luggage, but maybe the boxer or roundel played a role too.

ExarKunONe · 08-12-2005, 10:37 PM

I've had the S described to me as a "Death Rocket" by an Oklahoma State Trooper when I was pulled over. Maybe he was giving me a hard time cause he thought I should be riding it rather than toting it from SC on the Mototote.

shovelstrokeed · 08-13-2005, 02:29 AM

Curve,
Just so you know, the ticket comes off your driving record on the Florida DMV database in 3 years. Insurance companies look back 5 years.

wswartzwel · 08-13-2005, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Curve
I still figured they would give me a ticket but to my surprise he looked down closer at the bike and said, "Oh, you are on one of them shaft ones aren't you? I don't ticket ya'll much, its the chain squids that rip us around here."

As they left I was very glad to have been on a K12RS instead of a regular bike. Did the bike you were on have chain drive Roger? You never can tell. . Shaft drive saved me.

LOL Dr. Curve, Thank you for a good laugh this morning!!! That is very funny, especially in light of the recent cold water that has been thrown on your personal passion for all things roundel.

Effervescent · 08-13-2005, 08:27 AM

Talk about getting the shaft!

-Eff

ejfbmw · 10:34 AM

Most recent LEO experience here was very different. There is a section of straight road that is flat, with no obstructions for a couple of hundred yards back on either side and a good mile long. If anyone wants to go fast in a straight line, safely, anywhere around here, this is where it is done. So I'm safely full throttle and full tuck, enjoying the ride. End of straight, off the gas, leaning into a sweeping right, LEO passes me going the other way. I see him brake. Now I'm cruising 55 when he pulls behind and lights me up. All he said to me was this. "I had you at XXX mph back there, is there any reason you were going that fast". My answer "Nope, no reason". He told me to slow it down and be careful. This guy was decent.

shovelstrokeed · 08-14-2005, 04:40 AM

Rode from Baton Rouge to Nashville yesterday taking the Natchez Trace Parkway (pretty but boring). Got off and ran across rural MS and AL. Not pushing, just running 65-70, went through a town near the Alabama border and on the other side, an SUV in front of me practically parks to make a simple right turn, no traffic coming so I just arced around and continued. "Heart of the Sunrise" at pretty high volume on the XM at the moment and I'm kinda zoning for a couple of miles.

Glance in the rear as I hear a whooper behind me and I'm all lit up. I indicate and then pull over waving the LEO to a safer zone about 100 yards up the road. I pull over, raise my face shield and indicate, via sign language that I'm gonna take off my helmet. Out of the LEO car steps the biggest cop I have ever seen in my life. This guy has to be 6'10" and at least 350 lbs. Think Shaq. Yells at me that I need to get my head out of my butt, respect the double yellow line and slow down. Then laughs, points at the sock monkey bungied to my duffel and with a farewell "Slow Down" gets back in his car and leaves.

Now sitting in my wallet is an expired driver's liscense, an expired insurance card and my current registration. Both the others are up to date, I just haven't been home in a few weeks to pick up the renewals. I leave with pictures of a rural Mississippi jial running through my head and my speed no higher than 60 till I get to Alabama.