rookie

I was riding up I-5 to Olympia Washington yesterday, when an unmarked cop pulled onto the freeway. Of course every a** hat slowed down to 40 mph. In doing so, they boxed me in, so I legally passed a vehicle to free myself of the dangerous situation knowing a cop was there. Of course the cop lights me up. I proceeded all the way over to the right hand lane. I was unable to pull over immediately due to construction that I felt was unsafe so I pointed up at the next exit sign, less than a 1/4 mile, exited the free way and pulled over at the end of the off ramp. I than put the kick stand down. As I turned around to deal with the police, I was rushed by multiple police officers accusing me of eluding and many other bogus charges. After long arguments with the local cops a state officer arrived, issued me a citation for "following too close" and sent me on my way. (TOO CLOSE? THE COP MADE THE TRAFFIC SLOW DOWN!!)

Now this is a classic example of the police completely and totally stepping outside of the boundary's of civil servitude to abuse of power just because someone owns a shiny bike. I will be fighting this as hard as I possibly can (possibly with council) not because of the ticket (only $42), but the principle of how I was treated and what I was put through for riding in a manner suggested by their state issued motorcycle manual. So I say to everybody...


(so that I do not "offend" those with delicate senses)

DAMN THOSE DARN POLICE OFFICERS!

D_Rail

Blah blah blah, you're going to admit that you committed the offense and then say fuck the police.

Dumbass..

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endeRR

so you weren't following too closely?

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CurveRider

So do you think the officer knew that you were boxed in and knew what your signal meant telling him you would pull over at the next exit?
I am sorry but I just can not understand the reasoning behind your post and I can not understand why the police were so overboard in the situation. Next time pull over in the construction area....you can fit where a car can not. U see lights you pull over period!!

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MattandAmber

hmmm..could have sworn he said that he wasnt following too close..

MattandAmber

Curve..
Actually the law states that you are to pull over when and where you feel is the most safe. Personally (from a bikers point of view) on the side of the freeway in rush hour is NOT the safest place.

SRWitt

I feel sorry for you. You pull over when safe to do so, you do not have to pull over immediatly, in fact he probably did the right thing and got off of the freeway, after pointing at a sign, if the cops cannot understand that, they shouldnt be cops.

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2008 Buell XB12R ~Still stock~

2003 Mustang 3.8l ~A few mods~

rookie

The bottom line, I went from being attcked and cuffed , almost charged with a fellony elluding ;to a small following to closly {AFTER PASSING SO I WOULD NOT FOLLOW TO CLOSE} becase all the stupid cars slamed there brakes because a cop was on the freeway

Mr. P

More power to you if you're doing this based on principle. However, I see you losing more out of it (financially, energy expended, riding time, etc.) for a $42 ticket that will NOT change "the system." I'd consider fighting it if it would affect my insurance rates though (long term costs).

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zooki600

haha. Damn big D.


You make me laugh man.

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Brady

you never listed "being attacked and cuffed"...and..."all the stupid cars slammed there brakes" in your original story so why list it now.

If the cops lights you up pull over, even if its a construction zone. When the officer approaches you, you can then request a safer location and he will tell you if you can or not.

In your original story you said you were boxed it, sounding like there was cars all around you. If thats the case how were you safely and legally able to pass a car.

there seems like theres a lot of pockets in the story as well as a bit of aggression and adrenaline still brewing in you causing things to sound a bit more than they actually were

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Armand

I'm not going to give an opinion on this but from personal experience I'll say you'll typically run into one of three types of officers.

1. the new officers that think they're gods, know everything, and are always in the right
2. the officers that are completely retarded and are often as bad if not worse than the new guys
3. the cops that have a clue, know what they're doing, are typically nice even if they give you a ticket... they're just doing their job. regardless of if you like it or not

remember MOST cops think if you're on a sportbike you're going to run from them. personally even if it's construction if I find a nice safe spot near a truck or something there, I'll pull over. this way the cop knows i'm not going to run, and he'll most likely ask me to move. the idiots that dont are the ones that are half way in the street an dputting their own lives in danger. darwin awards are offered to everyone, not just motorcyclists that dont wear gear

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SpeedGeek

WRONG!

WRONG!

You MUST IMMEDIATELY pull over and stop. It is up to the officer when and where to have you stop. I was cited for this exact thing when I went about 200 feet and turned onto a side street parking area to pull over. I was cited for "Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle".

I quote the judge and officer:
"It is not up to you to decide where is safe to pull over. It is up to the officer. Once you stop you can request to move your vehicle to a safer location, but it is at the discretion of the officer."

Sounds like some poor judgment on all parties involved - overzealous police, and the rider antagonizing the situation by continuing to ride while they were following him with their lights on. You should KNOW you are on a sportbike and therefore have a bullseye on you. Why push it?

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dizriz

i 2nd that

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tokin

this is gonna get good

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:(

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Ice Cube would be proud

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wmcarr47

i must admit, i've had lots, lots, lots, lots of experience in dealing with police. i'd run..... just kiddin, however it is lawful to pull over when you feel safe to do so but with your flashers on and at a slowed speed.

UhOh

i don't ride in packed traffic where i live, but if i did and it slowed suddenly, you bet i'd move - for my safety.
shoot, i use throttle blips to get away from being in anybody's blind spot, although not enough to arouse attention.

as far as pulling over right now, irregardless, i would choose the spot putting my safety and the safety of the officer first, and minimum traffic disruption second. within short limits...

i would do the same. good luck.

edit: hey, the forum has a brand new section called 'ask an officer.'

why don't you cap your emotions, delete the 'screw the police' sentiment,
and make your experience the initial thread in this, as yet, unused section?

$.02

Brady

wrong...The officer 99% of the time has already called in the traffic stop prior to turning his overhead lights on as it is sort of a unwritten policy.

They officer plans ahead to pull the subject over in the area he does. You are to pull over when he turns it overheads on. After you pull over, if you feel it is a unsafe area to be stopped at you address the matter to the officer when appropriate.

He will then decided weather to move to a new location or not.

The officer isnt only worried about you safety in a traffic stop but his own, so you think he would risk his own life as well as your by pulling you over in a unsafe location.

If the individual getting pulled over pulls off in a unsafe location alot of the times the officer will either get on his PA, or walk up to the subjects window asking them to pull off to a safer location.

simple as that, pull over when the officer lights you up to avoid any further conflict regarding the traffic stop/infractions.

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~Brady

Nicegy525

parhaps one should ask in the ask an officer section wether or not you can pull over when safe to do so or if you have to pull over immediately.

I can understand the frustration, but the attitude of F* the police is not the right perspective. yes there are some bad apples on the force, especially it seems in traffic enforcement, but the majority of police officers have to deal with shitty situations, solve the communities problems and get no thanks for it. I have a lot of respect for someone who chooses to be an officer (well except for the bad apples)

I got a ticket for speeding when I was really moving through traffic to be in a safer position. yeah it cost me, but id rather pay for a ticket than risk being hit by a non-attentive cager on the freeway. Consider the $42 a safety toll.

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rowlex

hey i had a "following to close" ticket once, the officer (state patrol) forgot to mention how long/etc he was following me for and I was able to BS that I had just merged into the lane and the car infront of me had hit their brakes and i was in the process of creating more distance, since the officer didn't include how long he had been following me the judge dismissed it.

good luck with that shit, if there is an officer on the road and you know it get in the slow lane and try to be un-noticed. its well known by now that motorcycles are being profiled.

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Scott

the perfect refund policy:

Are_Six

This is not legal advice. This is what I did in your situation. First off I have only every been pulled over in Washington State so obviously this only applies in Wa.

I looked up Infraction Rules for courts of Limited Jurisdiction (WA IRLJ).

Specifically 2.2d and 3.1b.

I contested the ticket.

I filed for discovery EXACTLY!!!! 15 days before the court date (unless there are 2 national holidays in the window which I think isn't technically possible, but I digress). My discovery request is reasonable but involves a lot of work for court clerks. Video from the officers car, any and all communications between the officer and dispatch/other officers, all officers notes (name every officer involved in pulling you over).

Of course 3.1b doesn't require they send you anymore than the officers notes because this isn't a criminal trial. But if you ask for a lot of stuff you can discourage the court from sending the stuff too you.

I you do receive discovery check the date the ticket was filed. Also check the date any officer’s notes were filed. The officer has 5 days from issuing the ticket to turn it into the court house. As do any officers notes that are included in your discovery.

So I have had almost 75% of tickets dropped because either A. I never recieved discovery, or B. The ticket was submitted outside of the 5 day window (used to be 3 days).

Those are the 2 most common technicalities and the only I know of which apply in non-speeding infractions.

If the court did a good job adhering to the law I would try and show the Officers statement showed Prejudice (legal mumbo jumbo). But you can get it suppressed if he used terminology or language that suggests a biased opinion.

If none of that works then I get sworn in. Explain my side of the story. See if the Judge will go your way.

But in this case it's only $42 (I think it should be ~$140) so it may just be worth paying it...

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY (yet). This is simply a story of what I have done in the past.

FASNOPWATP [F--- a small number of Police who abuse their power]