| Author | Message | ||
     Cruisin |
I'll agree - be polite and it pays off. I got pulled over by a city cop a couple summers ago. He saw me accelerate from a stop light quickly and wanted to try to bust me. I saw his lights and pulled over right away. After playing the tough cop he finally lets me off with a verbal warning...and here's the funny part. To quote him: "I could write you a ticket anyway, but since I didn't get you on radar or laser, I'll let you go. But slow it down." I'm not sure what he would have given me a ticket for but I'm sure the courts would have dropped it with no proof. But I was polite, and even thanked him and shook his hand afterwards...that rattled him even more. I'm not gonna say it (no need to jinx myself) but I'll just repeat: Being polite to the police has more than paid off. | ||
| Henrik |
I stand corrected. I can see that it collided with one point but that is enough: Raraf, that is but the smallest part of it. You can easily add the following to the list of collisions: please use the same courtesy that you would show when speaking face-to-face with someone. Flames, insults, and personal attacks will not be tolerated nor will you engage in personal attacks or in derision of other users of the board. You agree to treat with respect and courtesy all members of this online Buell enthusiasts' community. Basically, you agree to treat others as you would hope to be treated In all cases avoid flame wars and hateful or divisive content. And last, but certainly not least: Those seeking to sow disharmony and malcontent are not welcome at BadWeatherBikers.com. I hope that clears things up for you. And now, please let it go. Henrik | ||
| Spiderman |
Ray, If he wasn't facing the same way as I was traveling and didn't have the radar gun out I would have had different answers. I have been pulled over many a times cause my "car looks like one that just left a robery scene and there were kids like you in it" That's when the yes an no answers come. | ||
| Cruisin |
I forget where I read it but I remember a post somewhere about law enforcement and how to answer them. The basic rule of thumb is (while being polite, of course) - don't admit to anything. For example: you're traveling at 15 over (although none of us would ever do this) and you spot the cop - you slam your brakes but he still pulls out. If you answer him that you were doing 15 over, he legally can write you a ticket for that (admitting to the crime). However if you say you don't know, he has to go by what he clocked you at...so maybe you slowed down enough, maybe you didn't. I'd take the chance... | ||
| Buelltroll |
Ok is it just me or does this thread need a little bit of the anal ones finesse? Were the hell has blake been anyway? | ||
| Johncr250 |
When i was 17 i was pulled over in NJ about a mile from where a lived, for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. I was actually going to the supermarket to pick up some grocery`s for my mother who was sick at the time with $40 she had given me. The Officer proceeded to dump the ash tray out on the seat, remove the backseats, and took off just about every panel in the car in his search for drugs and contraband. 45 minutes later after finding nothing, he issued me a summons and drove off leaving me and a pile of car parts pulled over on a busy road. The worst part was that he took the $40 from me and never gave it back. After that i wanted to be a cop so that i would never let cops treat people like that again. I actually ran into the cop about 3 years ago in a bar. I knew he recognized me from somewhere from the way he kept looking at me. It felt good to tell him what a piece of •••• he was right to his face. | ||
| Cruisin |
Troll - why? We're just reinforcing the need to be polite and respectful to law enforcement. That has been the theme of the thread (for the most part) and I think it's good. It doesn't hurt to know a few tips to prevent people from shooting themselves in the foot. I'm not saying anybody should lie - I just suggested not to offer any information that would get you in any more trouble than you're already in.  | ||
| Bomber |
Cruisin - these thread can rapidlly descend into name calling and the like -- Troll's got a point, but we shouldn't need a moderator to stop the nonsense -- although avoidance tips are good (and I for one welcome them), the other stuff can easily be done without -- we'ev all run into good and bad folks in every type of job -- no surprise there, I'm thinkin, and dwelling on bad apples is not very productive, I'm thinkin | ||
| Cruisin |
Agreed - I've been pulled over quite a few times and had to really try hard not to laugh at the guy playing "tough cop". Ultimately, though, these are also the people we rely on to help us. No matter how hard it is to do so, be polite - it's worth it. | ||
| Ray_maines |
Just to add a dissenting onion, and maybe a bit of fuel to the fire: I'm not so sure that being polite actually does any good at all. Two thoughts: 1) The policeman pretty much has his mind made up when he opens the door of his car whether or not he's going to give you a ticket and no amount of groveling is going to get you out of a ticket he already plans to write. 2) You can sure as heck talk yourself into a ticket by being a jerk. i.e. by NOT being polite. Overall, being polite is the better path to follow, but don't kid yourself about getting out of tickets. If you didn't get a ticket it was because the officer was on his way home from work, he didn't get a radar fix on you, he's too lazy to do the paperwork, or his pen just ran dry. It's NOT because you were polite. | ||
| Aesquire |
You've got it. Not nice increases the percentage & number of tickets. Nice does not. | ||
| Sportsman |
I've been laying low on this one, I've spoke my mind before and sure didn't make any friends. JohnCR, you are lucky you still have a licence. The truly power crazed wouldn't have let that go. Fear them, all of them, all of the time. You never know what kind of psyco you're dealing with and he and his buddys really could have ate you for lunch and walked away. | ||
| Ironfish653 |
More for cars, but: If you're near a state line (like VA/NC) where the other state doesn't require a front plate, keep this in mind: The NC local Smokies will be able to spot your Virginia car a mile away, with a front plate on it. The reasoning is that you're less likely to drive out-of state to fight a minor violation. Ask me how I know this...  On another note, I've actually been stopped in front of my own house before. I used to work a second shift weekend job, and would often get stopped on my way home from work at 2 or 3AM, on the pretense of DUI checks or 'Safety Inspections.' Of course the car was a TransAm, with a cowl hood and the front clip in primer. (not exactly low-profile) I had an unmarked unit follow me all the way to my street, and when I got to my house, I pulled to the curb, turned off the lights, and started to get out. This is when the cop hits the lights, and gets on the PA, telling me to 'Get Back in the Vehicle,' which I do. I hand over the license and Registration when he asks me why I pulled over and shut it down in the middle of the block like that. I tell him to look at the license, and then look at the number on the mailbox right here. He gave me back the DL, and told me to have a good night. I told him to 'Drive Safe.'  | ||
| Sardawg2dpd |
I forget where I read it but I remember a post somewhere about law enforcement and how to answer them. The basic rule of thumb is (while being polite, of course) - don't admit to anything. For example: you're traveling at 15 over (although none of us would ever do this) and you spot the cop - you slam your brakes but he still pulls out. If you answer him that you were doing 15 over, he legally can write you a ticket for that (admitting to the crime). True the cop can leagly right you the ticket for self admision, however as a LEO myself, I would rather have someone tell me they know what they were doing. If you say no its kinda like a slap in the face. You're telling me you didn't know you where speeding? comon we all know. I usually take the attitude of theperson followed by there previous driving record to make my decision. 99.9% of the time if your polite and have a good (one or two tickets is still good in my eyes) record its "Drive safe and what your speed." Anyway, drive through Davenport on your Buell and You better believe I'm gonna pull you over, but thats just cus I gotta talk to fellow Bueller's hehe. SAR  | ||
| Jon |
Nice thread. I have several cop friends and all five ride bikes. Two ride for service as well as fun. The most skilled of them on a bike are my two motor cop buddies. One is downright scary. He is a California Highway Patrolman and can do things with his Harley (personal ride) that you would think are reserved for sport bikes. He has pulled me over twice as pranks...once all the way over to a stop just for a chat, another time he lit me up at speed and as I was starting to pull over he got on his PA system and said, "See you later!" and then sped off. He has been struck twice on duty by cars, but continues to ride. My other motorcop friend has been struck once by a car, and just a few months ago was knocked off his bike by a charging Rottwieller. He received minor injuries, but the dog got two broken legs and was later destroyed. | ||
| Lpd22 |
Everything SAR mentioned. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Sportsman - I believe when JohnCR250 told the cop what a piece of **** he was. John was himself an LEO. So it was a peer to peer interaction. | ||
| Sportsman |
OK, that makes sence then. I thought he might have been suicidal.  | ||
| Cruisin |
SAR - if there were more LEO's like you, I would have no problems admitting to what I've done. There are a few (like in my previous post - he didn't catch me on laser or radar - if I had spoken up, I probably would have gotten a ticket) that make it difficult for the rest. Sometimes it depends on the officer. If they're polite to me, then I may just admit to it. The second they start playing the tough cop, well...my short term memory just goes out the window. Ray - you're right as far as attitude goes - being polite will only keep you out of more trouble. Around here it pays to pull over quickly. We have the common problem of jap bikes that love to try to outrun the LEO's. Since we don't have any dealers in the state most LEO's don't know what a Buell is - it falls under the general "problematic" sportbike category. I know a few people that have been told by the cop "Since I didn't have to chase you, I won't write you a ticket." I also leave my engine running (after taking off my helmet to reassure them I'm not going anywhere)...it helps peak their curiosity since it almost sounds like a Harley - which has gotten me a question about the bike a time or two. | ||
| Henrik |
In the NYC/NJ area, leaving the engine running is not a good idea - removing the keys and dropping them on the ground next to the bike is more like it. Henrik | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Henrik, oh yeah. Engine off, helmet off, gloves off, kickstand down. Patiently wait. Don't be fumbling in your jacket or tail compartment for documentation (he has no idea what you are going for). When he comes over tell him/her where your documentation is and ask if it's ok to get it. Be polite, even if he's a jerk. If you're lucky you will get off, if not take it like a man and be on your way. I've gotten off the last 3 encounters & currently have no points. | ||
| Along4theride |
Well here's one for ya I had a officer behind me in marked car the other day. No big deal there was traffic and I wasn't doing anything wrong. Well all of a sudden his blue lights go on, I pull over and he pulls up next to me. My window is up and so is his and he begins yelling something at me and motioning with his arms then drives off. I'm like what the hell?? and drive off too. I see him pulling over the car that was in front of me and think oh well I guess I just didn't get out of his way quick enough and go on by. I look in my mirror and he has pulled up next to the other car, blocks traffic and sits there for a second. Then all of a sudden he's behind me again and blue lights me. I pull over into a gas station and he gets out of the car and tells me "If you can tell me what you did back there I won't give you a ticket" Well this guy is NOT in a police uniform, he has on like an employee uniform no gun belt or badge. He does have laminated employee badges hanging from his neck but I can't read them. Apparently when the lane widened there was a car making a left turn and the car in front and myself took advantage of the widened lane and passed on the right to avoid stopping the flow of traffic. I guess that got this guys undies in a bunch and he was trying to pull both of us over. He said that when a cop pulls up next to you and waves his arms at you you're supposed to stay there and wait for him to come back??? He also said that I could have gotten in trouble for not waiting for him to return??? I have never heard such a thing. Isn't it THEIR responsibility to make their intentions clear like roll down the freakin' window and tell ya in plain understandable english?? He didn't give me a ticket but I don't think he could have legally anyways. Can mechanics or other 'police' employees have the authority to ticket people? | ||
| Buell2001b |
well if you are a girl and you show cleavege you get of always. A friend of mine she alwyas pulls the zipper down enough, and the cops always let her go. she has done 3 times with me and who knows how many other times she has done it,lol | ||
| Cruisin |
Maybe he was a mechanic taking a test ride in a car he had just worked on and decided to have some fun. I have to admit - I have many more good cop stories than I do bad ones. I was drive along in my car at 75 (in a 65) on a NY state highway - the police car caught up to me but had no lights flashing. He slowly inched up next to me...blipped his siren for a second, and held his hands up with all five fingers stretched out - twice. That's when I realized that he was pointing out that the speed limit had dropped to 55 - so I promptly slowed down and he went on his merry way. Some LEO's do things the nice way, a few don't. Either way, there's not much you can do about it. | ||
| Henrik |
Yep, Steve; that sums it up exactly. Henrik | ||
| Midknyte |
well if you are a girl and you show cleavege you get of always. A friend of mine she alwyas pulls the zipper down enough, and the cops always let her go. she has done 3 times with me and who knows how many other times she has done it,lol Only thing it proves is she ain't run across a gay cop yet.   | ||
| Along4theride |
Maybe he was a mechanic taking a test ride in a car he had just worked on and decided to have some fun. Whomever he was I think he was on a power thing. What's odd is he never asked me for my DL or Registration. They ALWAYS do that first thing, even if their gonna give you a warning. We have had quite a few incidents in the area where fake cops are pulling woman over and well... I typically only pull over for an officer in well populated places for safety reasons. I certainly am glad I did so in this situation for sure. I have had 50/50 luck with cops I think it depends on their mood and if they've had a good day or not. after all they are human and they do have to deal first hand with more stupid people than anyone else on a daily basis. I'm sure their patience grows thin at times. I will admit I'm glad I'm a girl cuz it has gotten me out of a couple jams when I was younger. Let me add I hadn't been pulled over for anything in almost 6 years until last week, except once on my bike when I had a drive out tag. The cop wanted to verify ownership, which I can appreciate since he said people had been stealing bikes in the area and slapping drive out tags on them. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Cops are like Buell Dealerships, some great, some good, some bad, some just suck!! ... That said, a good attitude may or may not help you out of a ticket, but a bad attitude will definately NOT help you out of a ticket and may even lead to further tickets and/or a night in the county Hilton via the blue light express... For what it is worth, 98% of the time I treat people the way I want to be treated... The other 2% don't allow me to do that...  | ||
| Jlnance |
well if you are a girl and you show cleavege you get off always. Reminds me of that last scene from "Cannonball Run." "I don't suspose you got a license tucked in there somewhere where?" | ||
| Blake |
I honestly have never had a bad experience with a police officer, traffic or otherwise. I don't hang out in shady bars or stuff like that much either. I was sweatin' it staying at a friend's place in Queens not too long ago though. I almost left the van parked on the wrong side of the street during a street sweeper Wednesday. So be warned and watch out for me, I'm a hardened criminal.  |
