How Police see Motorcyclist's

[bigjohnsd]

https://www.roadrunner.travel/2014/12/02/police-see-motorcyclists/

 

[Bugnatr]

Interesting read but .....

 

[steveoreno]

I read this, it's a fair article. I have not had an overtly hostile interactions with LEO's while riding and actually got out of a ticket once talking about armored jackets with a cop who's a biker as well. My most negative contacts have always been with "reserve" officers who suffer from "Barney Fife" syndrome.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

For the most part, the article states the obvious.... Officers are already trained to shield stopped vehicles, regardless of how many wheels there are. No-shoulder areas are always a concern during stops. No one is presumed to be good or bad. Usually, we find someone doing something stupid is probably doing other stupid things too (reckless driving, for example, is all too often coupled with suspended license, roach in the ashtray with an active warrant, etc.). Stretching the speed limit is not, in and of itself, a huge deal. Doing so excessivly, or while weaving in and out of traffic, that's something different. Politeness and decorum go a long way for those that are pulled over. When I see a sport tourer or cruiser, I expect to probably find an adult underneath that helmet (it doesn't tell me what wattage bulb I'm dealing with). When I see a squid bike, I expect to see a kid, or someone who is acting like one. Not always the case though.

 

[BkerChuck]

To date the only interactions I've had with police while riding have been pleasant considering the circumstances. The few times I've been pulled over, I generally knew I was doing something to merit their attention. Far too often as a younger man, I tended to think of speed limit signs as " gentle suggestions" rather than laws. Maturity and the desire to keep my money in my wallet have addressed most of these issues.

There was one occasion many years ago on my Buell where a township officer pulled me over for the simple reason that he wanted a closer look at my bike as he'd never seen one before! Nice conversation but my wife was worried why it took me so long to run to the store.

 

[hppants]

Been pulled over 4 times by LEO while riding. All 3 4 were for speeding 15-ish over and in all 4 cases, I had NO doubt why I was being pulled over and was fully prepared to pay the price for my indiscretion. In all 4 cases, the officer patiently waited for me to pull over to a safe place, secure my bike, remove my helmet, and locate/present paperwork. In all 4 cases, the officer asked me if I knew why I was being pulled over, and I answered honestly. In all 4 cases, the officer ran my license and presumably determined that I had a clean record. In all 4 cases, I was not given a ticket and simply asked to slow down, which I did (at least for a while).

On stop #2, after the LEO told me he was going to let me go, he proceeded to tell me about his own motorcycle and we talked bikes for a minute. Further, in a sincere and "non-bragging" tone, he told me that most LEO will give motorcyclists a little more leeway for speeding if they otherwise appear to be riding safely. I was intrigued by that statement, and often regret not asking him to explain that to me a little more. Not because I was looking for a new angle to push the speed limit, but because I just wanted to know more about his line of thinking.

FWIW - I'm not a squid, but I do tend to exceed the speed limit on the bike. I usually ride 5-10 over if conditions allow. For example on the slab, I always want to be a few mph faster than the surrounding traffic. I've thought about it a lot, and have some theories, but I can't definitively state why doing this actually makes me feel safer (v/s going with the flow). Does anybody else feel this way?

The first time I got pulled over, I was EXTREMELY nervous. I kept thinking "Oh **** - this cop is going to group me with squids and I'm going to jail." Nothing could be farther from the truth. The officer actually complimented me for wearing a F/F helmet and asked me about the rest of my riding gear.

This is an interesting topic for me.

BTW - the picture for the article in the OP is depicting one fine motorcycle. DAMHIK....

 

[Warpdrv]

FWIW - I'm not a squid, but I do tend to exceed the speed limit on the bike. I usually ride 5-10 over if conditions allow. For example on the slab, I always want to be a few mph faster than the surrounding traffic. I've thought about it a lot, and have some theories, but I can't definitively state why doing this actually makes me feel safer (v/s going with the flow). Does anybody else feel this way?

I agree with this 100%....

I don't like cagers coming up on me from behind, which means I can concentrate on 1 less thing thats about to end me / us.

 

[Old Guy]

FWIW - I'm not a squid, but I do tend to exceed the speed limit on the bike. I usually ride 5-10 over if conditions allow. For example on the slab, I always want to be a few mph faster than the surrounding traffic. I've thought about it a lot, and have some theories, but I can't definitively state why doing this actually makes me feel safer (v/s going with the flow). Does anybody else feel this way?

I agree with this 100%....

I don't like cagers coming up on me from behind, which means I can concentrate on 1 less thing thats about to end me / us.

Same here. In heavy traffic I like to roll with the faster traffic unless they're driving like maniacs. If most people are doing 75 in a 55, I'm there with them. Run too slow, and there's constantly someone on my tail trying to get by and constantly someone passing and cutting in way too close. In light traffic I'm more relaxed and will usually just set the cruise about 7mph over.

I've been riding these things for 49 years, and I've had one police officer act like a jerk. All the rest have ranged from courteous to downright friendly. I've also gotten off with a warning more often than I've been ticketed. It must be pretty disarming for a police officer to have someone say "I had my head up my butt, and you caught me fair and square."

 

[creg-ny-baa]

FWIW - I'm not a squid, but I do tend to exceed the speed limit on the bike. I usually ride 5-10 over if conditions allow. For example on the slab, I always want to be a few mph faster than the surrounding traffic. I've thought about it a lot, and have some theories, but I can't definitively state why doing this actually makes me feel safer (v/s going with the flow). Does anybody else feel this way?

I couldn't begin to cite where, but I read a good while ago in a reliable source that motorcycles actually are safer moving incrementally faster than the flow of traffic. I definitely feel safer; probably because I'm more in control of my surroundings.

 

[HotRodZilla]

**cough************cough** Motorcycles moving faster does not make them safer. This is just an excuse to ride faster. Look up "rationalization" in the dictionary. This is a classic case of that.

Edited to fix typo. Stupid phone and fat thumbs.

 

[creg-ny-baa]

I don't need or want an excuse or rationalization to go faster than traffic. I choose to. 90% of the time. But 90% of the time that I am going faster than traffic, it's only incrementally, and there's no recreational aspect to it. For me, it's part of my situational awareness and preparedness when in traffic, along with lane positioning and scanning.

There was a study, but all I can find at the moment is the Berkely lane-splitting study.

 

[Geezer]

**cough************cough** Motorcycles moving faster does not make them safer. This is just an excuse to rode faster. Look up "rationalization" in the dictionary. This is a classic case of that.

That may be true, but rationalization works for me.

Actually, what I believe to be the safer practice is to stay away from clusters of vehicles. Stay between two clusters rather than riding along with one of them.

 

[Old Guy]

I have no studies to draw from, but I know I feel more vulnerable with a car a half second off my rear tire than I do without a car off my rear tire.

 

[BigOgre]

Actually, what I believe to be the safer practice is to stay away from clusters of vehicles. Stay between two clusters rather than riding along with one of them.

Bulls-eye. Noticed some time ago how I'll settle in and ride, and drive, more at the posted limit once traffic thins and I have some breathing room around me. Problem is of course there's less and less of that to be found.

 

[hppants]

HRZ is probably correct in my case. I've made no bones about the fact that I like to ride fast. Perhaps I'm just using this as an excuse. If the shoe fits, I'll wear it.

HRZ (and other LEO if you are with us) - is there any "universal" truth to the statement made by the officer that stopped me regarding (paraphrasing) ".... generally speaking police officers will give motorcyclists a little more leeway regarding speed if the biker is otherwise operating safely...."? What do you say, and what would you think your colleagues would say? BTW - what kind of LEO are you (State trooper, Deputy/Constable/Marshall, city/local LEO, etc)? I ask because the type of roads you patrol would seem to make a difference to me.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I don't need or want an excuse or rationalization to go faster than traffic. I choose to. 90% of the time. But 90% of the time that I am going faster than traffic, it's only incrementally, and there's no recreational aspect to it. For me, it's part of my situational awareness and preparedness when in traffic, along with lane positioning and scanning.There was a study, but all I can find at the moment is the Berkely lane-splitting study.

Haha...AND, that's what I was getting at. If you choose to ride faster, that's cool, but there is no study that bikes riding faster than other traffic makes them safer. That has been a MC claim for as long as I can remember. How the heck would one even "study" that? That's one of those deals where the proctor could come to any conclusion he wants.

I have never seen a study, but Geezer hit it right on. Cars on our ass are not good. It's also not good when we're sneaking up into people's blind spots. Too fast, and we're weaving through traffic. Too slow, and we are holding **** up. There's a medium we have to find, and on some roads, that's 15 over the limit.

As far as road type and the need to write tickets goes, that's totally dependent on the cop. I ride, so I give some leeway. I also speed, so I give a little there too. Dipshits without helmets or gear get less leeway than riders with gear; however, almost without fail, riders with gear have MC endorsements and those without gear don't. That last part does not include the Harley crowd. That's a crap-shoot for some reason. If I catch someone riding like a douche in the city, I'm gonna go all out. If I catch someone way over, in the canyon, leaned into the turns, I might just leave them alone, depending on traffic and what I see...Again, crap-shoot. It's good to keep people guessing. Lol...

 

[ShawnKing2]

If I catch someone riding like a douche...

I've heard that sentiment from a lot of LEOs. If you're being an ass, they'll *find* a reason to pull you over. As someone who tries to not be an ass, I think that's fair.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Riding 7-10 mph over the limit puts you in the middle of metro Atlanta traffic speeds. Thankfully there are enough lanes on our freeways where you can establish a buffer zone -- except during peak periods,

I, too feel like I have more control over my immediate environment if I'm traveling slightly faster than others. Don't need a study to make me feel comfortable.

..........

Back on-topic, I always give the biker-bro wave to City of Atlanta PD motor officers; they are skilled and fearless. For that matter, I always acknowledge LEOs, even if it's only an exaggerated nod of my helmet. Here's hoping those actions elevate their opinion of the average motorcycle rider.

 

[Old Guy]

If I catch someone riding like a douche...

I've heard that sentiment from a lot of LEOs. If you're being an ass, they'll *find* a reason to pull you over. As someone who tries to not be an ass, I think that's fair.

Ditto. I try to be courteous to other traffic even if I'm running faster. One motivation is simply to be a nice guy, but more often than not the courteous thing to do is also the safest thing to do.

I don't know if it's the same article that creg-ny-baa referred to, but I've also read an article advocating riding with all but the fastest traffic as being the safest. The author emphasized that if you're the fastest vehicle on the road, you're probably overdoing it. He made the point that the purpose was not to be racing through traffic darting from lane to lane but, instead, just to maintain enough speed so that you don't wind up riding in someone's blind spot or with an obnoxious tailgater.

In heavy traffic, I just try to stay out of the way, which usually means running with most of the faster traffic.