Ticket or warning?

[ponyfool]

Point taken. I re-read the one post that caused me to respond and it wasn't what I originally thought. Was close, but not what I thought. So, my original post should have read, "For those of you that haven't responded yet that are thinking this way...."

But the rest of my post was in regards to the "judgment and discretion" stands. The question will always be, whose judgment and whose discretion? On the street, it is usually the officer's. In the courtroom, it's usually the judge's or jury's. The collective majority's is pretty well reserved for politics and societal pressure (such as on this forum).

But I'd still like to know where the helmet was.

 

[madmike2]

So, my original post should have read, "For those of you that haven't responded yet that are thinking this way...."

Please understand and don't be offended, but to me, it sounds (in type--hard to read your attitude, see your facial expression, know your sense of humor) like you are coming to this discussion with the attitude that we are all going to begin "cop-bashing" at any moment, with the least provocation, and that simply isn't the case.

The original post has been answered repeatedly by other members, in MY words: "You should have had your helmet on, dummy!" And, IIRC (having not re-read every post), "The officer was correct. You attempted to break the law and got caught." Additionally, the reason for the law and the corresponding ticket have been defined (again in my words): "The streets leading to the motel are just as dangerous @ 20 mph as the highways are at 65 mph, plus the pavement is just as hard and abrasive."

 

[flapsup]

I spent a lot of years behind a radar gun. The officer uses his discretion everytime he makes a stop, or chooses not to, and writes a ticket, or chooses not to. Yours was an easy ticket, and your out of state status almost guaranteed you wouldn't show up in court to protest it.

Some days I was in a good mood, other days, not so good. If you made me laugh you at least had a chance. If you "broke bad" or lied (imagine that) you got the whole enchilada (license, registration, insurance, turn indicators, headlights, brake lights, etc). His sergeant may have been on his *** that day. He may have just received his annual evaluation or it was the end of the month and he had to get his numbers up, or his wife may have just called and pissed him off. You never know.

Will you go without a helmet again? Not for a while I'd bet!

I went 29 years from Jul 4 1972 (speeding, 85/40) - Jan 14, 2001 (speeding 45/35 and no seat belt) without so much as getting pulled over. Did I deserve the tickets I got? Absolutely! Did I wish the officer had used his discretionary powers? They both did! I got 10mph off the first ticket and only a seat belt violation on the second. But I've been lucky a lot more than I was unlucky because I really like going fast! Like Fencer said, Yin and Yang!

Did I use my discretion every time I lit up someone who did something stupid while I was a cop? Every damn time!

My apology for participating in the dogpile!

Flapsup

 

[Silver Penguin]

Oh, and I would've issued the citation. I hate making death notifications, especially on fellow motorcyclists.

Here's another thought - you don't know what that officer saw yesterday / last week / last month. Perhaps while he was scraping someone's brains off the road, he vowed to get tough with those lives that he could save. Perhaps it wasn't revenue that he was looking for, but a way to help a decent guy live a bit longer. Perhaps he saw the FJR and felt compelled to help you.

Of course, I'm biased. My DH is alive and well, thanks to a well made, full face helmet, worn during his accident last year.

Jill

 

[evilmedic13]

I crashed 3 blocks from home! Disaster has no sympathy for distance. It sucks you got tagged but, better a ticket than an ER bill, no matter how unlikely it seems, trust me on this one. Just in case you're curious, I did have all my gear on, always do.

Just a personal decision, I can't stand the wind noise in my ears and don't have enough hair to feel the wind in . Also, it shields the public from my massive ugliness!

 

[evil_henchman]

Yeah, I haven't seen anyone siding against the officer's decision here, yet. My guess is Ponyfool is preparing for the inevitable anti-cop rants that will surely appear in this thread, as they usually do from a couple of the usual characters. Ahh, another good cop, bad cop topic. Hang on for the ride...

There's baiting and there's chumming. Nice try chum! :lol:

 

[RenoJohn]

Helmet?

LOL, geeze, and in that small town how many kids were buzzing around on licenseless without street legal bikes. You probably got buzzed by a few when he was giving you your tab for the next round at dunkin' donuts for him and his buddies. OH, and what corner did you pull over? was there any drug dealing or prostitution going on ....sure there was, but he was too busy screwing with the nice guy on a cool bike who went 100yards without a helmet. Why, because you're an easy mark and you have money -

You think he's really concerned about your safety? Hell no, if he was conerned about the public's safetey, he'd be getting those kids on dirt bikes, he'd be getting the violent drug dealers. But no, there is no donut money to be gained from that ...easier to hit the nice out-of-state guy with the fancy bike and fat wallet.

Sure, many will say you should have had your helmet on for those 100yards, I likely would have (been wearing mine -just out of habit) ..but the ones voicing that easy way out ...are the ones that have all the tags on their mattresses, the ones that just like this cop look for the easy mark. Sure, easy to criticize, easy to jump on a dog-pile.

at some point, perhaps we'll have cops going after criminals. IMO you are not a criminal, let's just hope they enjoyed their donuts. Lord knows you worked hard to pay for them ...but what do they care .......you're an easy mark.

Moral to the story: Don't make yourself an easy mark. Criminals and and animals prey on the small and week. cops prey on the easy mark.

Keep your helmet on, or be prepared to pick up the donut tab. As simple as that.

PS: is that a "moving" violation??

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

RenoJohn, looking forward to your wit in Reno at the V-Strom gathering. And you are right about an easy mark. They know who will pay. Its usually a hard working person with a home and a family. They know where you live and you don't want to chance the loss of your retirement account and home. The MAN can make life miserable for you.

And shame on you cpsfjr for not putting on your lid.

 

[beerme]

...let's just hope they enjoyed their donuts.

They're POWER RINGS, dammit.

 

[Thug]

Well I for one think it's ********!... and if you the copper in question is a member of this forum then you should hang your head in shame because I think, given all things considered, you are a complete ******* ****** for what you did...you had discretion and did not use it. Just remember this, I am a very big believer in Kama and Pro copper, but what goes around comes around believe me it surely does.

You have a think about that the next time you are giving a pitiful ticket.

Sorry folks I think this copper is a grub for what he did.....

Several hours later....

I want to claify some things above, I most certialy do not have any regrets to what I have said so far. I have many friends who are coppers and I when Paramdeicing for many years worked with many of them time and again I don't know why but I gravitate (or they do) to coppers profesionally and socially. I know how it works, if you gob off for a small infringement, trying to br a smart arse or worse forget it take it like a man and get over it because you will get a ticket for sure. If you are genuine and made an honest mistake or got caught doing something silly and no harm has been done and both can see the funny side etc you will walk with a warning. If you are a copper and you think you are going to do everyone over you come across then look out....because when it is your time for someone to assist you it may never come, believe me I have seen it and know about it from coppers who I have worked with and coppers who have worked with such arseholes. They don't last too long in the job.

I am taking the story above on face value, the copper could of said ...no worries mate just wack the helmet on to the motel and have a good day, no he booked you...pissweak, if his boss was watching and he was being "assessed" then the copper could have said mate, the boss is watching me and I have to give you a ticket otherwise I'll get a kick in the pants...no worries cop (no pun intended) it on the chin and away you go.

 

[Malve]

I would have anticipated a warning in the situation that you described. I have received several warnings for much worse.

Apparantly you may need to work on your suck up skills.

 

[Nightshift]

For the record what state was it that required a helmit be worn?

 

[cpsfjr]

For the record what state was it that required a helmit be worn?

Nevada.