I just got back from a bloody cop fining me $140. For one thing, I didn't have a tail light, and also only had a learners licence (it was midnight). So whatever, the bugger gives me a ticket. But after that, he goes on about how driving in winter is EXTREMEY dangerous and illegal!!! I'm still utterly pissed off from this. He flat out said "You cannot drive a motorcycle in the winter". Its not even winter anymore. Only wet spring. He said even if I had a tail light and a full motorbike licence I woud have gotten a ticket for dangerous driving!!!!!! This is b%$$s*&@!!!! I can't believe it. Apparently if I am driving safely on a motorbike (even with a sidecar), and someone hits me, I'll be responsible, basically loose my licence, and he also told me that it would halt my engineering career! I was ready to tear his eyes out! Even a sidecar!!! I'm ready to move away from this backwards safety-regulated country. Can't do anything out of the ordinary without loosing everything.
Does anybody live where winter driving is legal? I've read numerous accounts where people go on either reguar tires, studs, or with a sidecar. I cal tell you one thing, they are a heck of a lot safer than egotistical big-shots texting on their cell phones in their gas guzzling SUV's!
Has anybody at all had experience with this? Will you get a ticket on first sight by a cop? Will you loose everything if caught?
Police Encounter
Moderators: Dan J, Diesel Dave, Crazymanneil, Stuart
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D_Mold
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Police Encounter
Saving the world one motorcycle at a time...
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andrewaust
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Not really trying to be political here! But must comment.
Fair Dinkum! That's B.S, I heard Alex Jones going on about the US, civil liberties and that you guy's "Canada" and Mexico suppose to be getting joined with the US into one union = now that has also got to be a lot of fun.
D_Mold, I've never heard of that before, gee! In Russia they race/raced speedway solos on ice and I guess they ride bikes in the winter on the road too?
Sounds like your civil liberties are getting taken away mate! What ever happened to free-will/Freedom?
It's not illegal to ride in the winter here in OZ, even up in the snowy mountains, although black ice is a killer if you hit it on a bike.
That's got to be one for the books. What about the guy's in the UK etc, ever heard of it?
I agree with you, loose nuts behind the wheel of large vehicles are also a huge problem here, combine one with a cell phone, you have a recipe for disaster!
Society/Government is definitely getting weirder!
Fair Dinkum! That's B.S, I heard Alex Jones going on about the US, civil liberties and that you guy's "Canada" and Mexico suppose to be getting joined with the US into one union = now that has also got to be a lot of fun.
D_Mold, I've never heard of that before, gee! In Russia they race/raced speedway solos on ice and I guess they ride bikes in the winter on the road too?
Sounds like your civil liberties are getting taken away mate! What ever happened to free-will/Freedom?
It's not illegal to ride in the winter here in OZ, even up in the snowy mountains, although black ice is a killer if you hit it on a bike.
That's got to be one for the books. What about the guy's in the UK etc, ever heard of it?
I agree with you, loose nuts behind the wheel of large vehicles are also a huge problem here, combine one with a cell phone, you have a recipe for disaster!
Society/Government is definitely getting weirder!
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Byrdman
- I luv the smell of Diesel...
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From that sad story, I would swear you got pulled over here in Illinois. We can't pee outside without a permit!
I think it's another example of a cop with an attitude. "End your engineering career", how could a traffic stop do that!!!!!!!!!!!
I too am sick of the goverment trying to help us from ourselves!
I think it's another example of a cop with an attitude. "End your engineering career", how could a traffic stop do that!!!!!!!!!!!
I too am sick of the goverment trying to help us from ourselves!
Sorry to hear your tale. In the Uk we have a strange quirk where a large amount of Traffic cops are motorcyclists and providing you remain calm and polite you are just as likely to recieve postive discrimination than negative.
Having said that they are prone to getting there wires crossed with bike legislation and often need educating on stuff such as the correct exhaust markings, how tinted a visor can be, do you need a safety belt on a trike, day time running lights etc. But illegal to ride in the winter, what the f**k!
The whole city of london would grind to a halt without bikes in the winter.
Do you have a decent riders rights organisation in Canada? My advice would be to check out whether this apparent legislation is factual or a figment of the officers imagination, get the support of an experienced team behind you and file a complaint.
At least it might prevent the harrassment of other winter riders.
Cheers, Mark
Having said that they are prone to getting there wires crossed with bike legislation and often need educating on stuff such as the correct exhaust markings, how tinted a visor can be, do you need a safety belt on a trike, day time running lights etc. But illegal to ride in the winter, what the f**k!
The whole city of london would grind to a halt without bikes in the winter.
Do you have a decent riders rights organisation in Canada? My advice would be to check out whether this apparent legislation is factual or a figment of the officers imagination, get the support of an experienced team behind you and file a complaint.
At least it might prevent the harrassment of other winter riders.
Cheers, Mark
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oldbmw
- I luv the smell of Diesel...
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- Location: near Poitiers west France
on sky channel 413 they often have french motorcyclists racing on ice.... Is scary to watch but surprisingly they do not fall very often. Sadly I forget the name of the program 
I suspect though you were stopped because of no tail light.. and it went downhill from there.
here in France the cops genuinely seem more concerned with road safety than getting their quotas of fines. I was stopped a ta little under 60kph ina 50 kph zone and let off. conversly some pratt ( english) was caught doing about 100mph through avillage with a 30mph limit. he was also well over the drink drive limit. He got carted off to teh cells and was released to relatives when he was deemed to be sober, minus his licence and car. The car was released to friend who was insured to drive it home and the courts will decide when he gets his licence back.
seems fair enough to me.
I suspect though you were stopped because of no tail light.. and it went downhill from there.
here in France the cops genuinely seem more concerned with road safety than getting their quotas of fines. I was stopped a ta little under 60kph ina 50 kph zone and let off. conversly some pratt ( english) was caught doing about 100mph through avillage with a 30mph limit. he was also well over the drink drive limit. He got carted off to teh cells and was released to relatives when he was deemed to be sober, minus his licence and car. The car was released to friend who was insured to drive it home and the courts will decide when he gets his licence back.
seems fair enough to me.
Larry
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D_Mold
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I wish it was like that here. Indeed, the cops are all about power trips and giving tickets. Last year I even got a ticket for driving a couch down the street!! I couldn't believe the cop didn't even smirk. The kind of people that the police force attract really appalls me.
I went down to SGI (government insurance) today, and the lame woman there was just like everybody else: "Thats a very foolish and un-safe thing to do" she said. Society is so safety driven that it is becoming unbearable. Its taking the common sense out of people, and the good old fashioned fun. She probably thinks I'm going to be riding a sportbike at 100km/h down mainstreet on pure ice or something. If your a teenaged male here, nobody will believe anything you say. Anyway, she directed me to the police station across the street, so I huffed and puffed my way over there. The first thing I noticed as I walked in was the typical, no-life, no-fun, lamo police officers sitting at their desks with blank expressions. I asked one dullard if there was any law against driving a bike in winter. He just stared blankly and said "uhh no". Then I spilled the beans and told the whole story in a very angry tone (I have been fuming mad the entire day). He basically said that its only illegal when your causing danger to yourself and to others. Well...this doesn't solve ANYTHING!!! I could be riding on a clear road with tiny little ice patches every few kilometers and that would still be deemed "dangerous". Where is the line? If its too dangerous for me to ride, then it sure as heck is for SUV's. I bet none of the cops there had even ridden a bike, and yet they make all of these false judgements as to how unsafe they are. Just because its a wet road doesn't mean I will be racing around corners! Just like in a car, I don't automatically drive fast on ice...its just common sense. From what I gather, motorbikiing is only safe in ideal conditions. The cop who ticketed me said "bikes are only for summer, we can charge you for dangerous driving on wet or icy roads". He actually said that!!! I think each cop has their own idea of how things go down, and its only a matter of luck as to which one gets you.
Common sense is becoming a thing of the past. You can't even make simple mistakes anymore without paying in some way or another. The overwhelming rules are thinking for you.
Sorry for the long, un-organized rant. I just can't get this frown off my face. This and many other things in this country tick me off. If you try and be just a little different in this vast collection of normal-ness, you will suffer. I'm ready to move away...far away.
Wish I was born 100 years ago.
I went down to SGI (government insurance) today, and the lame woman there was just like everybody else: "Thats a very foolish and un-safe thing to do" she said. Society is so safety driven that it is becoming unbearable. Its taking the common sense out of people, and the good old fashioned fun. She probably thinks I'm going to be riding a sportbike at 100km/h down mainstreet on pure ice or something. If your a teenaged male here, nobody will believe anything you say. Anyway, she directed me to the police station across the street, so I huffed and puffed my way over there. The first thing I noticed as I walked in was the typical, no-life, no-fun, lamo police officers sitting at their desks with blank expressions. I asked one dullard if there was any law against driving a bike in winter. He just stared blankly and said "uhh no". Then I spilled the beans and told the whole story in a very angry tone (I have been fuming mad the entire day). He basically said that its only illegal when your causing danger to yourself and to others. Well...this doesn't solve ANYTHING!!! I could be riding on a clear road with tiny little ice patches every few kilometers and that would still be deemed "dangerous". Where is the line? If its too dangerous for me to ride, then it sure as heck is for SUV's. I bet none of the cops there had even ridden a bike, and yet they make all of these false judgements as to how unsafe they are. Just because its a wet road doesn't mean I will be racing around corners! Just like in a car, I don't automatically drive fast on ice...its just common sense. From what I gather, motorbikiing is only safe in ideal conditions. The cop who ticketed me said "bikes are only for summer, we can charge you for dangerous driving on wet or icy roads". He actually said that!!! I think each cop has their own idea of how things go down, and its only a matter of luck as to which one gets you.
Common sense is becoming a thing of the past. You can't even make simple mistakes anymore without paying in some way or another. The overwhelming rules are thinking for you.
Sorry for the long, un-organized rant. I just can't get this frown off my face. This and many other things in this country tick me off. If you try and be just a little different in this vast collection of normal-ness, you will suffer. I'm ready to move away...far away.
Wish I was born 100 years ago.
Saving the world one motorcycle at a time...
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greg123
- Been here a while now..
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Re: Police Encounter
You were riding at midnight and you didn't have a rear light? And you were riding without a proper licence/not having passed your full test?
And you only got a £70 fine?
Personally, as we get parking tickets double that value, I'd have thought being locked up for the night and appearing in court would be more appropriate. Diesel bikes are great but riding without a licence and with no rear light at night is, well, stupidity. And no I do NOT mean you are stupid, I just mean if you look objectively at what you did it probably isn't up there with inventing the wheel as one of the best ideas since sliced bread.
I shouldn't worry about the 'riding in winter is dangerous' thing, true - statistically you are something like 10 times more likely to die than in a car, which could be regarded as dangerous, however it's not illigal. I think the cop was probably just out of bed the wrong side with you when he saw you had no rear light and no licence, which to be fair is worth a deal more than a tongue lashing. Try being 100% legal and I'm sure you'll get a better reception if you get pulled again, which you probably wouldn't have done if your light had worked.
As for it being a police state, anyone that bulks at having to have a rear light is deserving to be run down by a big rig
The fact that SUV's use a lot of fuel is totally irrelevent to safety and I for one don't use a cellphone when driving, period - the type of vehicle is irrelevant. Two wrongs don't make a right and another person using a phone while driving doesn't excuse riding without a light.
IMHO of course, but then I teach the security services part time so am not known for a soft line where safety is concerned....
Greg.
And you only got a £70 fine?
Personally, as we get parking tickets double that value, I'd have thought being locked up for the night and appearing in court would be more appropriate. Diesel bikes are great but riding without a licence and with no rear light at night is, well, stupidity. And no I do NOT mean you are stupid, I just mean if you look objectively at what you did it probably isn't up there with inventing the wheel as one of the best ideas since sliced bread.
I shouldn't worry about the 'riding in winter is dangerous' thing, true - statistically you are something like 10 times more likely to die than in a car, which could be regarded as dangerous, however it's not illigal. I think the cop was probably just out of bed the wrong side with you when he saw you had no rear light and no licence, which to be fair is worth a deal more than a tongue lashing. Try being 100% legal and I'm sure you'll get a better reception if you get pulled again, which you probably wouldn't have done if your light had worked.
As for it being a police state, anyone that bulks at having to have a rear light is deserving to be run down by a big rig
The fact that SUV's use a lot of fuel is totally irrelevent to safety and I for one don't use a cellphone when driving, period - the type of vehicle is irrelevant. Two wrongs don't make a right and another person using a phone while driving doesn't excuse riding without a light.
IMHO of course, but then I teach the security services part time so am not known for a soft line where safety is concerned....
Greg.
D_Mold wrote:I just got back from a bloody cop fining me $140. For one thing, I didn't have a tail light, and also only had a learners licence (it was midnight). So whatever, the bugger gives me a ticket. But after that, he goes on about how driving in winter is EXTREMEY dangerous and illegal!!! I'm still utterly pissed off from this. He flat out said "You cannot drive a motorcycle in the winter". Its not even winter anymore. Only wet spring. He said even if I had a tail light and a full motorbike licence I woud have gotten a ticket for dangerous driving!!!!!! This is b%$$s*&@!!!! I can't believe it. Apparently if I am driving safely on a motorbike (even with a sidecar), and someone hits me, I'll be responsible, basically loose my licence, and he also told me that it would halt my engineering career! I was ready to tear his eyes out! Even a sidecar!!! I'm ready to move away from this backwards safety-regulated country. Can't do anything out of the ordinary without loosing everything.
Does anybody live where winter driving is legal? I've read numerous accounts where people go on either reguar tires, studs, or with a sidecar. I cal tell you one thing, they are a heck of a lot safer than egotistical big-shots texting on their cell phones in their gas guzzling SUV's!
Has anybody at all had experience with this? Will you get a ticket on first sight by a cop? Will you loose everything if caught?
Greg
Freelance Mechanic specialising in vegoil conversions and VW TDi engines
Freelance Mechanic specialising in vegoil conversions and VW TDi engines
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Anorak_ian
- I luv the smell of Diesel...
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- Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:21 pm
D_Mold, imagine this:
You’re riding down the road, your bike freaks out for what ever reason and hit's a car, the driver is a woman who just had a baby a few months ago, the baby is in the back seat. The driver swerves to miss hitting you again and hits an on coming lorry (18 wheeler), both dead and your responsible for the accident.
sh*t happens in a real world, and it can happen to any of us any time, but the difference between me and you is this, I have a full licence and 100% legal, and I have insurance that will pay for the mother and Childs funeral expenses, pay for the farther to look after his other Childs future, who now no longer has a mom.
A guy in the north of England loved to pull wheelies down the street, one day his bike went out of control, crossed the road missing on coming traffic, mounted the pavement and ran down a little school boy. The boy died instantly, the rider had no licence. And if there’s any justice he’ll be spending a long time in prison.
No rear light, no licence, you got of extremley light. Grow up...
You’re riding down the road, your bike freaks out for what ever reason and hit's a car, the driver is a woman who just had a baby a few months ago, the baby is in the back seat. The driver swerves to miss hitting you again and hits an on coming lorry (18 wheeler), both dead and your responsible for the accident.
sh*t happens in a real world, and it can happen to any of us any time, but the difference between me and you is this, I have a full licence and 100% legal, and I have insurance that will pay for the mother and Childs funeral expenses, pay for the farther to look after his other Childs future, who now no longer has a mom.
A guy in the north of England loved to pull wheelies down the street, one day his bike went out of control, crossed the road missing on coming traffic, mounted the pavement and ran down a little school boy. The boy died instantly, the rider had no licence. And if there’s any justice he’ll be spending a long time in prison.
No rear light, no licence, you got of extremley light. Grow up...