How Law Inforcement views the Sport Bike Community

"OH'
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they are people just like everyone else with preconceived ideas. Remember some people think Hillary is the Smartest Woman on Earth  
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and Al "The Sky Is Falling" Gore invented the internet  
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Yeah its sad but IMO, we have to take this with a grain of salt. If we judge all LE, (Law Enforcement) by their worst examples then we are no better then their worst examples. We would be doing the exact same thing as the closed minded LE officer who views any bike with plastics as a "street stunter" who has no regard for his or her own safety or the safety of those around them. Judge the person and the action, not the appearence. If you read that whole thread theres plenty of LE who are part of the sport bike community who chimed in on our behalf.
 
I agree. It's not that they are bad cops... in fact those are probably some of the best cops you would ever meet. It's just like us, they like their job so much that they actually get together on their off hours to talk about work. That's dedication.

Now as for their misconceptions...there is a post in there from the Brit that nails it, somewhat. I am not a runner, but I plan to alter my plate to make it a little less visible, but still compliant. I don't stunt, but I do race, and poorly at that.

The problem that I have is that difinitve rules are always the same, wrong, just like stereotyping. If you are not willing to extend an understanding attitude (like blue who "tickets no matter what", but will cut slack to the same mom who will later slaughter her kids in the bathtub) then you are going to make a judgemental error.

It's a position of ignorance, one that is funny because after the Bril tells him about Harley performace he flat out ignores it and just keeps on with his stereotype.

Maybe it's a part of the package if you think about it, we really didn't buy this Busa because it was "the most efficient and responsible" machine. We bought it because it was the "fastest production motorcycle in the world". Same with the R1s, GSXRs, and ZX-10s.

Unfortuantely, a portion of their ignorance is seeded in truth. But not all of it, and thats why I disagree with his assessment.
 
One of those guys that posted is very close to where I am, based on the info he gave in the post about where he was located. It makes me sick that these guys are backed by the law and truly believe that they are above the law. Yes I know, we can't pass judgement on all LEO based on this but how about going public with this information and taking badges from the guys who are admitting that they would use vehicular force to stop a bike. I would love to see this in the hands of the AMA or another organization who could take some action. Clean up the streets by first putting honorable people in the position to clean up.


How about this.
Last year just before the riding season ended, I was stopped by a LEO because as I went through an intersection the front wheel came off the ground. The reason, was that a girl began to turn right in front of me and instinct is to try and drive around these situations. Needless to say he let me go with a warning, no problem. He asked why I did what I did, and I told him he saw her pull into my path. His response:

"You should be used to it by now riding a motorcycle."

BOGUS!!! We are always the ones at fault with most of these guys and this guy I know is part of a Harley group around here. The girl never got stopped she drove on with a dumbfounded look on her face like it was my fault.
 
This was posted here shortly after it originated last year. A couple of our LEO members actually posted replies there.
 
I don't know if you all remember, but about a year to a year and a half ago, there was a guy in a Mocked up Crown Vic that was running bikes off the road... the link was sent out to several sportbike forums and the response was so overwhelming that the local news went after the guy and soon after, so did law enforcement.

Now, please do not misconstrue what I am about to say - but let me ask - what is the difference between them posting on thier police forum that they ticket every sport bike and us posting that we will always run from the lights?

Unfortunately, there is a small bit of truth to what they are saying about a good percentage of riders... think of how many people we refer to as squids... I am saying this about the ticketing stuff, the intentional accident stuff gets me spun up, just like all of you...
 
I read some of it...and, its just like us, some of em been doing that job long enough to be cool and some are just get started and try to change the whole world...
(just get your finger crossed for not to run into one of those hot headed adrenaline over flowing cop who just had one too many donut and coffee having a sugar and caffeine rush...)
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I'm a sport bike rider and I agree with a lot of what they are saying.

If you stunt in the city or in traffic, you are totally irresponsible and deserve everything they can throw at you.

Take the stunt and agressive riding out to the boonies.  Take it to the track.  Stop endangering other people for your own amusement.  Get a clue.

Yes I ride fast in the twisties, but I pick spots that are devoid of traffic and out of the city.  I may not be perfect, but at least I consider the safety of others vs my fun on a bike.
 
I'm not saying these guys are all bad, but to admit that you would use excessive force when you are sworn to prevent those very actions from taking place is out of line. Yes, people post stupid things on here and are very quickly ridiculed for doing so, but I have never seen anyone threaten harm against anyone because they are protected by their profession for doing so.

I do agree with a lot of what they are saying as well. We have a lot of those types of guys here in this area. Riding wheelies down the mainstreet to impress everyone around them. But if I ever heard an officer say, the next time I see him doing that I'm going to drum up any charge I can think of or I'm going to run him off the road. I'd be working my arse off to have that guys badge.

I've been profiled by the police in this area because they think all riders run. I had a cop come down a 1 way street, the wrong direction, at me to stop me because he felt I took a corner too fast since his car would not do the same. I showed no intention of running, as soon as the lights came on, I was stopped and took off the helmet.

You can imagine that these kinds of things hit home to me because I have seen the excessive force myself and it's scary to know that these guys have a lot of protection under the law for their actions.
 
(Charlesbusa @ Mar. 16 2007,19:35) I'm a sport bike rider and I agree with a lot of what they are saying.

If you stunt in the city or in traffic, you are totally irresponsible and deserve everything they can throw at you.

Take the stunt and agressive riding out to the boonies.  Take it to the track.  Stop endangering other people for your own amusement.  Get a clue.

Yes I ride fast in the twisties, but I pick spots that are devoid of traffic and out of the city.  I may not be perfect, but at least I consider the safety of others vs my fun on a bike.
Very well put!
 
I'm 51...52 on the 28th of this month. Been riding since I was 14. Had one spill on a bike about 12yrs ago because some old lady wanted to turn right....like NOW.
I've had a CDL for 20yrs. and July 7th of this year it will be 30yrs since I had a violation of any kind. I hit the twisties hard when I can but heavy traffic or traffic period gets my respect.
I say all that to say since I've had my Busa I've been stopped
@ least a dozen times. Often just to as me about the bike, and a couple times to tell me I'd done something that I knew I hadn't just to get my reaction.
It pisses me off that I get singled out because of the bike I choose to ride, not because of anything I done.
I'm not a fan of stunting though I respect the talent it takes to do it. But each time I see an Azz in traffice doing it it makes me sick.
As usual the many get blamed for the few
How come they don't hang out @ the bars the Hardley's are parked @? We had 2 DOAs last year from drunk motorcyclist, neither was on a sports bike
 
I was recently stopped by a Hwy Patrol officer for going 7 over. He flipped on me and caught up and then lit while 1/4 mile back. I seen him so I pulled over. He preceded to tell me how he was amazed that I had stopped. He told me he knew I was going to run, but almost crapped his pants in disbelief when I didn't. I asked him why did you think I was going to run. He replied: "Well, thats what most sportbike riders do and now that I see you are riding a Busa, I am really blown away that you didn't", I told him There was no reason I should have run and that yes I saw that I was speeding. We talked for about another 30 minutes and he really turned out to be a heck of a guy. Gave me a verbal warning and said that from now on when he saw me he would always know there are some sportbike riders out on the roads that respect the law. Now, don't get me wrong, I thought of running, but decided why should I. so I pulled over. I have seen him a couple of times since and he even snuck up on me once and lit me up, when I slowed he passed and waved. Kinda cool, but at least there are a few that learn we are not all that bad.
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I am an 18 year vet with 13 being in traffic enforcement. A lot of those comments probably are noobs. You gotta realize there are squids in police work too. A lot of guys I work with ride Harleys so it may be a bit of Bike bias....
 
(DC TONY @ Mar. 16 2007,14:54) THAT'S SO SICK TO READ WHAT THE PO-PO THINKS.  IT'S SO SAD WE HAVE SO MANY DIRTY PO-PO AROUND.          
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ALRIGHT, I'M COMING OUT ON THIS ONE.....
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 Leave the rant switch "ON" until the end of the thread, and don't give me any of that SHID about "dirty"Law Enforcement, with that Holy-er-than-thou-crap.........

I read that entire forum page from the disposition of an objecitve interloper.....What I found was that Law Enforcement have similar positions to what many of us here have.  In several instances I felt like I was reading "this" forum in a way.  What I found was that the "PO-PO" as you refer to them have preconcieved notions of their own, much like many of us do.  They have similar concerns about public safety, and who generally does most of the offending.  

I was interested to find out that the chap from England who now patrols Southern Cal, states that you're not allowed "near" a big bike until you've passed several qualifications, certifications, and plenty of time on smaller displacement rides.  That means that a whole lot of "us" that love the sport as much as our beloved Busa's wouldn't get the off-the-showroom shot if we lived "there".  He disertates to a great extent on where, and when he challenges himself noting anyone can triple-digit in a straight line.  One of his quotes I liked was, " it's not about speed, it's about control".

Now I'm not sure how many squids are in the crowd here, but "I'm not one of them".  I also know that a whole lot of riders get killed every damn year due to excessive speed in an unsafe environment, i.e. neighborhood streets, freeways, local strips, city streets....not to mention "unskilled" stunters doing unpracticed stunts in these very same environments.  

This is as much Law Enforcement's workplace is at is "our" asphalt and concrete to commute and play on.  They spend as much time, if not more, out there as we do.  You'd piss me off too if you told me, "OK here's your Busa, but you can't take it past half-throttle EVER, because legislation has provided you with a throttle-linkage-limiter".  There are plenty of riders, and we jest about it all the time, that intentionally move our license plates so they're harder to read.  DON'T WE
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?.....  So give the working stiffs with the badges a break here.  

As I get older I realize that people are people in any job description.  So don't give me any of that kid-crap about "PO-PO with bad attitudes" and the likes.  That just degrades the atmosphere here.  I haven't been a member of this forum half as long as many here, but I certainly wouldn't stick around if I had to read that sort of ignorance.  

If you want some interesting reading, read the whole post and all the directions it went in.  It certainly wasn't, "Boy I hate anyone on a sportbike", "Boy I hate sportbikers", "Man I wished they'd outlaw those sportbikes".....one of the most poignant lines was this, "we can't lay out the strips".  Know what that means ?, that means they have no desire to take out the tires of a sportbike doing triple digits running from a cop as they'll probably "kill" the rider in the process.  For all I care about "runners", they could pull out the strips ALL the dang time.  They do it once or twice, and squids will think twice about endangering some innocent mom who's now paralyzed, and has to raise kids.  Read the whole forum post, for Pete's sake.    

I'm not a saint around here, and please don't take that EVER as a sign of disrespect to the org or it's members,  directly or indirectly, but if I get stopped for a triple-digit run out in the middle of BFE-Nevada, "I'm pulling over".  You're not ever going to catch me doing it in freeway traffic because freeway traffic "ISN'T" a Moto-GP closed course.  

Law Enforcement has a job to do, so do I, not getting run over by SUV's, and not getting into it with a kid who probably broke the bank to buy the ride, skipped the schooling and licensing, hasn't the money for gear, and hasn't got insurance to boot.  I have ALL the above.  

There are plenty of "dirty" people out there irregardless of their profession.  

"IGNORANCE" is like pi$$ing on my food, and unlike some, "I come here to get fed".  
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Someone can flip the switch to the "OFF" position now.  My apologies to the Admin folks, if any of this is over the top.  I like it here, very much.

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(Kweave @ Mar. 16 2007,23:flamethrowing:) I am an 18 year vet with 13 being in traffic enforcement. A lot of those comments probably are noobs. You gotta realize there are squids in police work too. A lot of guys I work with ride Harleys so it may be a bit of Bike bias....
Right, but that noob squid of a cop can still write you a ticket.

Some of the stuff there is just asinine. I'm tempted to print some of this stuff off in the event that I ever get pulled over for something i didnt do. I'd take the ticket to court along with the printout, hand them to the judge, and say im bwing singled out by a prejudiced officer.
 
(MC MUSTANG @ Mar. 16 2007,18:30) I don't know if you all remember, but about a year to a year and a half ago, there was a guy in a Mocked up Crown Vic that was running bikes off the road... the link was sent out to several sportbike forums and the response was so overwhelming that the local news went after the guy and soon after, so did law enforcement.

Now, please do not misconstrue what I am about to say - but let me ask - what is the difference between them posting on thier police forum that they ticket every sport bike and us posting that we will always run from the lights?

Unfortunately, there is a small bit of truth to what they are saying about a good percentage of riders... think of how many people we refer to as squids... I am saying this about the ticketing stuff, the intentional accident stuff gets me spun up, just like all of you...
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Honestly, I have rode sportsbikes since I was 18, I have worked as a police officer then went to private security. I was riding sportsbikes before, during and after my time as a cop. I was around cops like that. but actually if you think about it. There is a lot of younger squid, stunt bike riders that give the other riders a bad name. I am in my cage and see guys pulling wheelies and riding like idiots on Sportsbikes everyday. You can see why someone with a badge could feel that way. But they do not know the guys I have rode with in groups that are considerate careful riders. They don't see the cagers running us off the rode, sometimes on purpose and see that we may speed once in a while just to stay away from some chick putting her friggin makeup on while driving in traffic. There are cops out there that will write a ticket to anyone on a sportsbike. But I have been pulled over on my bike but NEVER have gotten a ticket (knock on wood). Being polite and admiting I was wrong has gotten me out of tickets
 
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