AGATT

[madmike2]

Check out the avatar...no ticket...but I think the gray hair may have had something to do with it also.

Not according to Grumpy. He just holds his hand out in appreciation of the award.

What??? So he can go to dinner, show the ticket and say, "See, I told you guys I was fast!" :lol:

 

[rammer9460]

I also don't cite for things that I regularly do. If the speed limit on a road is 45 and I normally find my self doing 60, I won't cite you for going 58 because I think that's kind of chicken ****. I may stop you and ask you to slow down just for everyone's sake but no ticket until over 60 unless you cop an attitude...Then I write a novel. That's the reason I am more lenient with bikes. I normally find my self riding faster than the speed limit and take that into consideration. FYI, I have NEVER pulled over an FJR 'cuz I haven't yet seen one that needed stopped.
The people who get tickets without fail are: Anyone without proof of insurance, anyone who wants to be an ass, EVERYONE who cries, shows skin, or name drops, and most people with radar detectors. Anyone who pulls into their driveway because they think its home-base, and anyone who tries to hand me a phone to talk to their Spouse, parent, lawyer, etc. Anyone that makes me pull them over in the rain, and anyone who tells me they are not from here so they don't know the speed limit (law), and anyone who runs a red light.

Although not always, the people most likely to get breaks are those that are polite, and have all their stuff. So everyone out there be polite and safe......

HotRodZilla, Amen Brother.

I'm in my 19th year as a Deputy Sheriff. I feel the same way as you on a lot of things. One thing a little different about motorcycles is all of them are a lot quicker/faster than a Crown Vic. I've let some pretty fast speeds get off with a warning because they pulled over and stopped and I didn't have to risk my life and safety of others trying to catch them! ATGATT, a mature attitude, and the fact we're in the middle of nowhere, helped too.

I've had people write the Sheriff and thank him for having me ticket them. I never write chicken s*** tickets either.

We have a department that has had a lot of retirements lately and the subsequent replacement of Patrol Deputies has brought out a different attitude (rookies) in Patrol. It has caused me to move on to prisoner transport in the department.

Erik.

 

[ponyfool]

Gotta go with HotRodZilla for the most part. I'm in my 20th year as a cop, and I share many of the same sentiments. I'm significantly more lenient when I stop someone who acknowledges why I stopped them, expresses some type of understanding as to why what they were doing was inappropriate, etc.

Anyone who says, "I wasn't speeding" when I stopped them for speeding gets a ticket regardless of who they are.

I stopped my first FJR a week or two ago. He worked at a local hospital, although I don't know what he does. He was going 80+ in a 55, but acknowledged it, apologized, and said he'd keep an eye on his speedo. I told him about the forum, but dunno if he joined or not.

But back on topic. If you are being a ******* on a public street (wheelies through traffic, etc), ATGATT or not, you may end up with a ticket.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Ponyfool, Rammer Et Al,

Just for the record, I've never run from an officer, I'm always polite, respectful, take off my helmet immediately and sit with my hands visible. No BS responses from me, "Yes Sir, I was speeding".

Wish there were more officers like you guys still around NC SHP. Those of us that aren't out to show-off and who worry a lot about harming someone else, DO appreciate it when you give somebody a break.

Just so you know.

HA

 

[Kevin Daly]

I had not thought of that possibility. However, while geared-up, I was let off with a warning three times. One, 64 in a 45 (city cop/fellow biker), two, 67 in a 35 (county deputy), and three, 76 in a 35 (State Trooper).

Jesus! 76 in a 35 what the **** were you thinking? At more than twice the posted speed you are tre lucky.

PS I wear ATGATT and I have never had a ticket (of any kind in close to 20 years), though a month or so ago me and my buddy were hunted by a bunch of State troopers and the other day I got on the freeway and got up to about 120 before getting off the next exit a mile up the road. At the first stoplight a stater pulled up behind me but he didnt pull me over.

 

[Kevin Daly]

I also don't cite for things that I regularly do. If the speed limit on a road is 45 and I normally find my self doing 60, I won't cite you for going 58 because I think that's kind of chicken ****. I may stop you and ask you to slow down just for everyone's sake but no ticket until over 60 unless you cop an attitude...Then I write a novel. That's the reason I am more lenient with bikes. I normally find my self riding faster than the speed limit and take that into consideration. FYI, I have NEVER pulled over an FJR 'cuz I haven't yet seen one that needed stopped.
The people who get tickets without fail are: Anyone without proof of insurance, anyone who wants to be an ass, EVERYONE who cries, shows skin, or name drops, and most people with radar detectors. Anyone who pulls into their driveway because they think its home-base, and anyone who tries to hand me a phone to talk to their Spouse, parent, lawyer, etc. Anyone that makes me pull them over in the rain, and anyone who tells me they are not from here so they don't know the speed limit (law), and anyone who runs a red light.

Although not always, the people most likely to get breaks are those that are polite, and have all their stuff. So everyone out there be polite and safe......

HotRodZilla, Amen Brother.

I'm in my 19th year as a Deputy Sheriff. I feel the same way as you on a lot of things. One thing a little different about motorcycles is all of them are a lot quicker/faster than a Crown Vic. I've let some pretty fast speeds get off with a warning because they pulled over and stopped and I didn't have to risk my life and safety of others trying to catch them! ATGATT, a mature attitude, and the fact we're in the middle of nowhere, helped too.

I've had people write the Sheriff and thank him for having me ticket them. I never write chicken s*** tickets either.

We have a department that has had a lot of retirements lately and the subsequent replacement of Patrol Deputies has brought out a different attitude (rookies) in Patrol. It has caused me to move on to prisoner transport in the department.

Erik.

Gotta go with HotRodZilla for the most part. I'm in my 20th year as a cop, and I share many of the same sentiments. I'm significantly more lenient when I stop someone who acknowledges why I stopped them, expresses some type of understanding as to why what they were doing was inappropriate, etc.
Anyone who says, "I wasn't speeding" when I stopped them for speeding gets a ticket regardless of who they are.

I stopped my first FJR a week or two ago. He worked at a local hospital, although I don't know what he does. He was going 80+ in a 55, but acknowledged it, apologized, and said he'd keep an eye on his speedo. I told him about the forum, but dunno if he joined or not.

But back on topic. If you are being a ******* on a public street (wheelies through traffic, etc), ATGATT or not, you may end up with a ticket.

While I am not going to try to convince you guys to change your lenient ways (espcially if you work near me ) but I would ask, philosphically speaking, and only in reference to not writing for speed, are you being more lienient as a means to rationalize your own speeding habits on a bike? I mean I understand all of the conditions you highlight for why you DO give a ticket; basically when driver trying to shirk/deny responsibility for their actions or being an ass. And of course I am like 90% of FJR riders, i dont get 50 MPG for good reason. But... posted speedlimits are based on assessment of what is a safe speed to travel on a given road and it is not always apparent to the driver why that road has a posted speed. I mean when hear Scab gettin away with 76 in a 35 (more power to ya Scab) I just think someone is not doing their job.

-jes askin, please dont write me up officers

 

[Kevin Daly]

Ponyfool, Rammer Et Al,
Just for the record, I've never run from an officer, I'm always polite, respectful, take off my helmet immediately and sit with my hands visible. No BS responses from me, "Yes Sir, I was speeding".

Wish there were more officers like you guys still around NC SHP. Those of us that aren't out to show-off and who worry a lot about harming someone else, DO appreciate it when you give somebody a break.

Just so you know.

HA

here ya go jeff:

:lol:

 

[worldbound4now]

I've been waved at, sternly looked at, and lights flashed at by local LEO while riding at a "safe" but over the speed limit speed but only pulled over once. ATGATT? Not sure, but I always wave back and slow down to provide some kind of acknowledgement.

I did have one moment of extreme ignorance though. Jackrabbit start on a 6 lane wide surface street in town within a mile from work so I could clear the other traffic and slide from far left to far right lane. Posted limit of 45. I was speeding for less than 15 seconds, but speeding is speeding.

Local constable in his Tahoe comes driving down the sidewalk/city landscaping lit up and screaming. I hit my signal, pulled off on the next right turn small side street, stepped off the bike, and opened my visor. I always wear earplugs while riding, so as soon as the door to the Tahoe opened I yelled that I probably couldn't hear him talk and needed to take my helmet off and earplugs out. At this time his partner in the front passenger seat stands behind his door, weapon drawn. This is where I **** my pants and tested the waterproof coating on my aerostitch.... from the inside.

So, helmet off, earplugs out, gloves off and all this on the ground. The officer stared at me. The silence killed me. I openly stated what I did and why. I apologized for speeding while trying to make a safe lane change away from traffic. He asked if I knew my speed. I stated it was over 80 at the top end. He stated it was 95 mph. Maybe, but I wasn't about to argue because I knew that there could be jail time involved.

He asked for the typical license, registration, and insurance. I asked permission to remove my seat to get to the requested papers (he was in control, not me). When I went to pull out my wallet he noted I was in hospital scrubs with my ID from the local ED/Trauma center.

He ran my plates, came back, and we had a chat about safety and what he should be doing with me. Then informed me that he will never issue a ticket to another local police officer, firefighter, or ER RN unless they cause harm to someone else or their property.

PHEW.

I shook the turd out of my boot and off I went. Slowly. With the officer following me to the local beltway.

Was it my willingness to pull over before he was immediately behind me? Was it my ATGATT and saddle bags? Was it my demeanor? Was it my ID from work? I believe it was a combination of all the above as well as hitting an officer on a good day.

 

[Scab]

Jesus! 76 in a 35 what the **** were you thinking? At more than twice the posted speed you are tre lucky.

It sounds worse than it actually is. It is a rural, uncongested, wide, well-paved road that should be posted at speeds of 55. Why it is posted so low is a mystery to all.

The day in question I was being tailgated by a psycho in a truck. It made me nervous, so I left him. Topped a rise, there was Mr. Trooper.

I apologized for my speed, explained that the truck behind me was riding waaaay too close, and that I had waaaay too much horsepower to allow that.

He understood and asked that I slow it down.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Have a nice day."

 

[twowheelnut]

While I am not going to try to convince you guys to change your lenient ways (espcially if you work near me ) but I would ask, philosphically speaking, and only in reference to not writing for speed, are you being more lienient as a means to rationalize your own speeding habits on a bike? I mean I understand all of the conditions you highlight for why you DO give a ticket; basically when driver trying to shirk/deny responsibility for their actions or being an ass. And of course I am like 90% of FJR riders, i dont get 50 MPG for good reason. But... posted speedlimits are based on assessment of what is a safe speed to travel on a given road and it is not always apparent to the driver why that road has a posted speed. I mean when hear Scab gettin away with 76 in a 35 (more power to ya Scab) I just think someone is not doing their job.
-jes askin, please dont write me up officers

Ya know, that's a slightly different take on what I was thinking, but I will add the the described varying actions by the Johnny Laws here smack of discrimination. Quite frankly, I've copied all posts and have tracked their IP's. This information will be sent to their local ACLU, SA and HQ offices.

Of course, I might could be convinced not to do that...

:lol:

 

[Tim05fjr]

No TWN,

We are not buying you that watch.

 

[twowheelnut]

Dammit!

:lol:

 

[Checkswrecks]

I've been waved at, sternly looked at, and lights flashed at by local LEO while riding at a "safe" but over the speed limit speed but only pulled over once. ATGATT? Not sure, but I always wave back and slow down to provide some kind of acknowledgement.
I did have one moment of extreme ignorance though. Jackrabbit start on a 6 lane wide surface street in town within a mile from work so I could clear the other traffic and slide from far left to far right lane. Posted limit of 45. I was speeding for less than 15 seconds, but speeding is speeding.

Local constable in his Tahoe comes driving down the sidewalk/city landscaping lit up and screaming. I hit my signal, pulled off on the next right turn small side street, stepped off the bike, and opened my visor. I always wear earplugs while riding, so as soon as the door to the Tahoe opened I yelled that I probably couldn't hear him talk and needed to take my helmet off and earplugs out. At this time his partner in the front passenger seat stands behind his door, weapon drawn. This is where I **** my pants and tested the waterproof coating on my aerostitch.... from the inside.

So, helmet off, earplugs out, gloves off and all this on the ground. The officer stared at me. The silence killed me. I openly stated what I did and why. I apologized for speeding while trying to make a safe lane change away from traffic. He asked if I knew my speed. I stated it was over 80 at the top end. He stated it was 95 mph. Maybe, but I wasn't about to argue because I knew that there could be jail time involved.

He asked for the typical license, registration, and insurance. I asked permission to remove my seat to get to the requested papers (he was in control, not me). When I went to pull out my wallet he noted I was in hospital scrubs with my ID from the local ED/Trauma center.

He ran my plates, came back, and we had a chat about safety and what he should be doing with me. Then informed me that he will never issue a ticket to another local police officer, firefighter, or ER RN unless they cause harm to someone else or their property.

PHEW.

I shook the turd out of my boot and off I went. Slowly. With the officer following me to the local beltway.

Was it my willingness to pull over before he was immediately behind me? Was it my ATGATT and saddle bags? Was it my demeanor? Was it my ID from work? I believe it was a combination of all the above as well as hitting an officer on a good day.

95 in a 45? He let you off for just the reason he said. He doesn't want to be looking up at you from a gurney someday and have you remember losing your license from his stop. Still, at 95 I'm surprised he didn't write you for a lower speed.

 

[Auburn]

Around here, the only pull over I have had was a Forest Service Rep who openly admitted that he was "cracking down on crotch rockets because he scraped one off the road the a couple of days earlier".

Never mind that I came up on him from behind, at less than the speed limit, that he had a dash mount radar unit point out the front of his vehicle and my V1 warned me at least a mile before I saw him. He still thought it necessary to have a conversation with me, (I was in full AGATT), and he even wrote a warning. Guess he had a bad day and I got to hear about it for 30 minutes.

 

[ponyfool]

I give very little leniency in school zones, residential zones, etc. When I pull someone over, my threshold (when I'm enforcing speed laws) is 21 over the limit on interstates and surface streets with a speed limit of 45, 16 over on roads with speed limits of 35 and below, and 11 over in school zones and residential areas when kids are, or could be present. I will still pull people over for lower limits when I am doing a pretext stop.

On red lights, when I'm watching a specific intersection, I will sit and watch the light. When the light turns red, I'll turn to the stop line and look. If you haven't crossed the stop line yet, I'm gonna pull you over.

So, if I pull you over for speeding or a red light, you already deserve a ticket.

But my philosophy on tickets and traffic enforcement is not the same as everyone else's. My philosophy has always been to correct behavior. If a person acknowledges their wrong doing, they have already gone a long way in not getting a ticket. It's not a guarantee, but it is the best way to get out of a ticket with me. You can argue all day long that the best way out of a ticket is to use those web site ideas, but I've only lost two or three traffic tickets out of the tens of thousands I've written over the last 20 years. Not one of the ones I lost were as a result of a clever defense tactic. In fact, one of my most savored victories was an attorney I wrote a ticket to who did everything in his power, subpoenaed everything, etc, and he still lost.

 

[HotRodZilla]

While I am not going to try to convince you guys to change your lenient ways (espcially if you work near me ) but I would ask, philosphically speaking, and only in reference to not writing for speed, are you being more lienient as a means to rationalize your own speeding habits on a bike? I mean I understand all of the conditions you highlight for why you DO give a ticket; basically when driver trying to shirk/deny responsibility for their actions or being an ass. And of course I am like 90% of FJR riders, i dont get 50 MPG for good reason. But... posted speedlimits are based on assessment of what is a safe speed to travel on a given road and it is not always apparent to the driver why that road has a posted speed. I mean when hear Scab gettin away with 76 in a 35 (more power to ya Scab) I just think someone is not doing their job.
-jes askin, please dont write me up officers

OH Kevin...How nice! Please don't get the idea that I am in any way lenient. I have been known to write 25-30 tickets a day just to stay busy. I spent 5 years in the Traffic unit and wrote 17 times more citations than the average deputy.

I do know however that while on my bike, I will move faster than traffic just to find a clear space. I figure ATGATT guys are probably doing the same thing. I also have not pulled over nearly as many MC's as cars just because most people drive cars. If it is midnight and I see a bike speeding down the freeway, I may write a ticket, I may not, but there has to be a balance.

I don't ever want to not stop a car/bike for speeding and then find out that person wiped out 2 miles down the road becasue they were driving too fast. It's just like any other job. You can cut a customer a price break, or go that extra mile to make sure they are happy, and every now and then I will let someone go with a warning.

Oh well, now I am just a big sissy detective with a desk and an office, so you are probably safe...unless I'm working overtime in my unmarked car

Edit: I just saw PonyFool's post and I have to say I agree with most of what he wrote; except my thresholds are lower. We are usually looking for "voluntary compliance" and if I feel that me just stopping you will do the trick, you are probably home free.

 

[gregory]

Thanks all you LEO's who responded, great insight to the "other side". I was hauling ass on a 2 lane, small hills and gentle twists in a Toyota Truck, when a very obvious "unmarked" cop passed me going the other way and I saw him in my rearview mirror pull over so fast I was suprised that he didn't snap his neck in the process of turning around. I was on a work run that I did every day, bored and trying to see if I could coast the truck up the hill, well the LEO spots me going down the hill at about 110 as he passes going the other direction and by the time he caught up to me, I was already on the side of the road, out of the truck, papers and licence in hand. He damn near overshoots as he brakes hard so he can pull in behind me. Now, I know that he never had time to pull a radar gun (this was in the 80's) on me, so he really couldn't know my true speed. I told him what I was doing and why. I got a ticket for 87 (he said cause of the year of the truck) in a 55, and because I was out of my home county, the driving class cost me all of $25. I am sure if I had made him catch me, I was going to jail!

Greg

 

[Kevin Daly]

While I am not going to try to convince you guys to change your lenient ways (espcially if you work near me ) but I would ask, philosphically speaking, and only in reference to not writing for speed, are you being more lienient as a means to rationalize your own speeding habits on a bike? I mean I understand all of the conditions you highlight for why you DO give a ticket; basically when driver trying to shirk/deny responsibility for their actions or being an ass. And of course I am like 90% of FJR riders, i dont get 50 MPG for good reason. But... posted speedlimits are based on assessment of what is a safe speed to travel on a given road and it is not always apparent to the driver why that road has a posted speed. I mean when hear Scab gettin away with 76 in a 35 (more power to ya Scab) I just think someone is not doing their job.
-jes askin, please dont write me up officers

Ya know, that's a slightly different take on what I was thinking, but I will add the the described varying actions by the Johnny Laws here smack of discrimination. Quite frankly, I've copied all posts and have tracked their IP's. This information will be sent to their local ACLU, SA and HQ offices.

Of course, I might could be convinced not to do that...

:lol:

HA! :lol: dat was a good one !

 

[Kevin Daly]

While I am not going to try to convince you guys to change your lenient ways (espcially if you work near me ) but I would ask, philosphically speaking, and only in reference to not writing for speed, are you being more lienient as a means to rationalize your own speeding habits on a bike? I mean I understand all of the conditions you highlight for why you DO give a ticket; basically when driver trying to shirk/deny responsibility for their actions or being an ass. And of course I am like 90% of FJR riders, i dont get 50 MPG for good reason. But... posted speedlimits are based on assessment of what is a safe speed to travel on a given road and it is not always apparent to the driver why that road has a posted speed. I mean when hear Scab gettin away with 76 in a 35 (more power to ya Scab) I just think someone is not doing their job.
-jes askin, please dont write me up officers

OH Kevin...How nice! Please don't get the idea that I am in any way lenient. I have been known to write 25-30 tickets a day just to stay busy. I spent 5 years in the Traffic unit and wrote 17 times more citations than the average deputy.

I do know however that while on my bike, I will move faster than traffic just to find a clear space. I figure ATGATT guys are probably doing the same thing. I also have not pulled over nearly as many MC's as cars just because most people drive cars. If it is midnight and I see a bike speeding down the freeway, I may write a ticket, I may not, but there has to be a balance.

I don't ever want to not stop a car/bike for speeding and then find out that person wiped out 2 miles down the road becasue they were driving too fast. It's just like any other job. You can cut a customer a price break, or go that extra mile to make sure they are happy, and every now and then I will let someone go with a warning.

Oh well, now I am just a big sissy detective with a desk and an office, so you are probably safe...unless I'm working overtime in my unmarked car

Edit: I just saw PonyFool's post and I have to say I agree with most of what he wrote; except my thresholds are lower. We are usually looking for "voluntary compliance" and if I feel that me just stopping you will do the trick, you are probably home free.

Just so all ya coppers know, I wasnt judgin ya as being nice or lazy or anything. And I am sure you have your actual reasons. I have a brother who is a WSP (Washington State Patrol, he is now a detective) so i have an idea about the process. My question was purely a curiosity. does it make it easier to justify your own speeding? I am a real speeder on my bike. I always slow down whenever I get to a community because I would hope others do the same in my neighborhood; I guess this is how i justify it.

 

[EODSarge]

I don't think it justifies my own speeding. If I get stopped on my bike or POV and get a ticket, I pay it like anyone else.

15 over was my threshold to start issuing citations; but I spent 99% of my time on high-collision rate roads. The other 1% was in subdivisions where the neighbors complained. I didn't encounter that many bikes over the limit; around here, it was mostly college kids going to or from school or "fast and furious" ricers convinced they could outrun motorola. The only motorcycle chase I was involved in was a black and yellow bike that passed me going the other way at 144- fast enough that I couldn't get a make or model. All I could do was keep him in sight at the crests of hills; but when he started lane-splitting heavy traffic (on the double yellow!), I had to call it. The Diablo chip and drilled airbox wasn't going to make a Crown Vic any narrower.

I did let a guy on a nice Monster go with a warning after I watched him wheelie from a light... I didn't really buy his "I guess I dumped the clutch a little too quick" story, but he stopped immediately when I got behind him and didn't give me any grief. Reckless driving = trip to jail, and I didn't think he deserved that.

My biggest peeve while on Traffic was DUI and tailgating. I never understood how anyone could think that tailgating a fully marked, lightbar equipped Sheriff's car with "Traffic Enforcement" written in big yellow letters on the rear window was a good idea.