Challenged the law. Got $113 ticket for my trouble.

[lonesoldier84]

Saw a cop car on way to work. Wasn't riding very aggressively, just filtering through traffic at around 65-70kph as a cruising speed in a 60kph zone.

Went to pass the cop car in the same fashion. Lights flash, I pull over. She is SHOCKED when I ask what the problem is.

"You were doing 78 in a 60 zone!"

I see immediately she is the "I actually have a penix" type of lady-cop. She is not friendly and gets me to show my indicators and all that jazz. She goes back to car, comes back with $113 ticket.

I ask her nicely, "So, how am I supposed to pass someone who is doing 55-58kph? Do I pass them at 60kph and hang around their blind spot for hours on end? Or do I roll on the throttle and pass when there is little likelihood of them quickly changing lanes to make a turn-off?"

She responds, "Stay behind them, then."

The convo is summarized a bit but that's pretty much how it went.

I kicked her in the shin. Well, I didn't. But I wanted to.

Thing that irks me is she is going to go home today thinking she served her city somehow.

I swear, next time a cop is pulling me over for going over the limit when I'm not riding aggressively, I am going to EMERGENCY STOP and get them to rear end me. When I'm laying on the ground I'll writhe in pain and explain how I am going to sue them. Also, I will ask them, in feet or metres whichever they prefer, how much shorter my braking distance is than their's.

P.S.

Cops have rear-facing radar/laser in their cars. Bastards!


.

 

[Kazza]

I feel your pain Lone, but in the eyes of the law you can't speed to overtake someone.

I know where you're coming from but they don't care.

 

[keira]

I feel your pain Lone, but in the eyes of the law you can't speed to overtake someone.

I know where you're coming from but they don't care.

yeah...it isn't fair, but it is what it is.....

 

[lonesoldier84]

I feel your pain Lone, but in the eyes of the law you can't speed to overtake someone.

I know where you're coming from but they don't care.

Once again proving that the law has no foundation in reality. It is a theory that gets applied to life whether or not it fits.

Also, never realized cops have rear-facing radar/laser in their cars. Bastards!

 

[ELIZABETH]

78 in a 60??? Filtering or not, you were speeding enough to be asking for a ticket. I am sorry you got a ticket, that sucks, but it's one of those "play the game, pay the price" situations.
(and no, I do NOT have a penix. well, unless I get to count my husbands) :BLAA:

 

[lonesoldier84]

78 in a 60??? Filtering or not, you were speeding enough to be asking for a ticket. I am sorry you got a ticket, that sucks, but it's one of those "play the game, pay the price" situations.
(and no, I do NOT have a penix. well, unless I get to count my husbands) :BLAA:

I was @ 78 when passing the guy behind. Soon as I was passed I slowed back down to 65-70.

Yeah, I'm guilty and have to pay. I knew going into it that a ticket was a possible outcome. I just refused to behave differently in the presence of a cop than I would otherwise. I don't feel what I did was wrong or dangerous.

And yes, I'm sure your husband would be happy to share. Hopefully there's enough! jk




Should mention I've encountered many female officers who are able to assert their authority without being such jerks about it. This one was so uptight and aggressive trying to be something she wasn't when all I was doing was speaking politely and in a docile manner.

 

[Wolfman]

When filtering at any speed, which is normally below the posted speed limit anyway, if i see a Police car, i very discreetly, pull in behind a car at the first safe opportunity...there is no point giving anyone a reason to pull you over, even if you are riding responsibly in your eyes.

:thumbup:

 

[lonesoldier84]

When filtering at any speed, which is normally below the posted speed limit anyway, if i see a Police car, i very discreetly, pull in behind a car at the first safe opportunity...there is no point giving anyone a reason to pull you over, even if you are riding responsibly in your eyes.

:thumbup:

I was in a "rebel without a cause" mood this morning.

Bah!

The day was essentially volunteer day at work as a result of it.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

She was just doing her job. After all they are the professionals, they do this for a living :thumbup:

You were speeding :spank: If you feel you were in the right, you have the right to challenge it in court

We all have gotten tickets, including myself. Nothing new and it's not the end of the world.

Heck, we might even get a ticket together next month. The desert is just an open invitation to open up that throttle. Takes discipline.

 

[lonesoldier84]

She was just doing her job. After all they are the professionals, they do this for a living :thumbup:

You were speeding :spank: If you feel you were in the right, you have the right to challenge it in court

We all have gotten tickets, including myself. Nothing new and it's not the end of the world.

Heck, we might even get a ticket together next month. The desert is just an open invitation to open up that throttle. Takes discipline.

I did nothing wrong but I am clearly in violation of the law so I cannot fight it.

I'm okay with it.

Just getting irksome.

I'm nearing $900 this year including car and bike.

I don't have the discipline and don't think I want it. I'd rather pay my road tax and hold my head up high with that feeling of moral superiority and martyrdom.

 

[champion221elite]

Sorry to hear you got another speeding ticket Lonesoldier.

I understand where you're coming from about not wanting to remain in the overtaken vehicles blind spot any longer than necessary. As such, I fully understand that your speed in excess of the posted limit was your attempt to lessen the period of time required to overtake the slower moving vehicle.

The problem begins when you said that you were filtering through traffic at 65-70 km/h in a posted 60 km/h zone. I hate to assume here, but your original post implies that the vehicle you overtook was also doing approximately 65-70 km/h. To me, that means you had to speed to overtake a vehicle that was itself already speeding by 5-10 km/h.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and I know that we've disagreed in the past about your speed related problems. From a LEO's standpoint, this is how I'm breaking down your troubles...

In essence, you were caught on radar doing 18 km/h in excess of the posted speed limit. You were caught passing a car that was already speeding. Drivers Ed 101 teaches drivers that it's illegal to exceed the speed limit while overtaking another vehicle. For example, if a car is doing 58 km/h in a posted 60 km/h zone, you cannot exceed 60 km/h to do so. To that end, the lady police officer was absolutely correct in her interpretation of the law. From a LEO's perspective, there is indeed a thing known as "officer discretion". This allows an officer to apply a certain amount of leeway in the interpretation of the law. Think of it as the "spirit" rather than the "letter" of the law.

One more thing to keep in mind is that there is a such thing as an "attitude ticket". This relates back to an officers discretion. Officers have the option to warn instead of issuing a citation. After reading your initial post alleging the female officer had a ***** and the cartoon leads me to believe that your ticket may have been attitude related.

I certainly hope you're able to calm your nerves and continue riding. Be safe man

 

[lonesoldier84]

Sorry to hear you got another speeding ticket Lonesoldier.

I understand where you're coming from about not wanting to remain in the overtaken vehicles blind spot any longer than necessary. As such, I fully understand that your speed in excess of the posted limit was your attempt to lessen the period of time required to overtake the slower moving vehicle.

The problem begins when you said that you were filtering through traffic at 65-70 km/h in a posted 60 km/h zone. I hate to assume here, but your original post implies that the vehicle you overtook was also doing approximately 65-70 km/h. To me, that means you had to speed to overtake a vehicle that was itself already speeding by 5-10 km/h.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and I know that we've disagreed in the past about your speed related problems. From a LEO's standpoint, this is how I'm breaking down your troubles...

In essence, you were caught on radar doing 18 km/h in excess of the posted speed limit. You were caught passing a car that was already speeding. Drivers Ed 101 teaches drivers that it's illegal to exceed the speed limit while overtaking another vehicle. For example, if a car is doing 58 km/h in a posted 60 km/h zone, you cannot exceed 60 km/h to do so. To that end, the lady police officer was absolutely correct in her interpretation of the law. From a LEO's perspective, there is indeed a thing known as "officer discretion". This allows an officer to apply a certain amount of leeway in the interpretation of the law. Think of it as the "spirit" rather than the "letter" of the law.

One more thing to keep in mind is that there is a such thing as an "attitude ticket". This relates back to an officers discretion. Officers have the option to warn instead of issuing a citation. After reading your initial post alleging the female officer had a ***** and the cartoon leads me to believe that your ticket may have been attitude related.

I certainly hope you're able to calm your nerves and continue riding. Be safe man

Don't get me wrong I was definitely guilty of breaking the law and the correct course of action would have been to back off until the cop was no longer in front of me. As I decided not to, I got dinged for it.

I simply maintain that I was not being unsafe. I have GREATLY toned down how I ride in urban areas. And I mean that. I used to be much more aggressive. Now, I am infinitely more patient and many times am below the posted speed limit as I wait for things to clear in front of me rather than pick through them when it is unsafe to do so.

In this instance it just was simply not unsafe.

And I was not rude to the lady. I seriously was not. I was being polite and docile. I was not being condescending or rude or anything of the sort. I respect cops that show me respect when I am obviously showing them respect to begin with.

She wasn't really that bad, I am giving her a bad rap. It just makes me feel better to refer to her as a $@%$ing @#$$. I don't know why, it just does. I'm sure she is a very nice person. That's exactly why I treated her as such when I was pulled over. We courteously went our separate ways after I got the ticket.

I just posted this to share and to enlighten people as to the existence of rear-facing radar in traffic cops' cars.

If I was doing 70 I don't think would have pulled me over.

But we are forgetting the real villain here.....the car I had to overtake....why was he doing 65 or so and forcing me to go 78 to overtake him!??!!? What a JERK!!!!

lol

 

[lonesoldier84]

Also:

I am genuinely incapable of doing 60 in a 60 zone. It is just retarded. I am sorry but it is. I pick a speed based on conditions. 60 is a "safe" speed when 78 is not? I don't accept that given proper awareness, technique, and current-gen braking technology.

 

[NineseveN]

I did nothing wrong but I am clearly in violation of the law so I cannot fight it.

I'm okay with it.

Just getting irksome.

I'm nearing $900 this year including car and bike.

Then perhaps you should:

A. Learn to not drive-ride like a person that wants $900 in fines per year.
B. Stop getting caught riding-driving like a person that wants $900 in fines per year.
C. Move to someplace where there aren't any of those stupid, useless laws that shouldn't even pertain to you anyway
D. Get a bus pass.

Beyond that, I am, quite frankly, at a loss. 18kph really shouldn't be a big deal, but you know it is and doing what you did with a cop right there was just asking to be pulled over IMHO.

I don't have the discipline and don't think I want it. I'd rather pay my road tax and hold my head up high with that feeling of moral superiority and martyrdom.

If you don't have the discipline, and you don't want it, and knowing this means that you will continue to be caught and penalized, then quit complaining about it. There is no moral superiority for knowingly taking a risk and then whining about the consequences. Speed to your merry heart's content, pay the fines and hush.

Above all else though, be safe.


P.S. I find this thread rather funny given the conversation about speeding that you had here most recently.

At least you don't have to sell your bike.

 

[Geoff]

It makes me wonder why we have cops like that... Sorry for your misfortune.
Some days I feel gutsy to pass a cop but only when they are doing 5 under the speed limit in our area. I havent had a ticket on the bike yet, but im sure I am do for one.

Please dont hurt your self if you get road rage and decide to brake check someone...

 

[lonesoldier84]

Then perhaps you should:

A. Learn to not drive-ride like a person that wants $900 in fines per year.
B. Stop getting caught riding-driving like a person that wants $900 in fines per year.
C. Move to someplace where there aren't any of those stupid, useless laws that shouldn't even pertain to you anyway
D. Get a bus pass.

Beyond that, I am, quite frankly, at a loss. 18kph really shouldn't be a big deal, but you know it is and doing what you did with a cop right there was just asking to be pulled over IMHO.



If you don't have the discipline, and you don't want it, and knowing this means that you will continue to be caught and penalized, then quit complaining about it. There is no moral superiority for knowingly taking a risk and then whining about the consequences. Speed to your merry heart's content, pay the fines and hush.

Above all else though, be safe.


P.S. I find this thread rather funny given the conversation about speeding that you had here most recently.

At least you don't have to sell your bike.

Lol. What do I have to say to that? Not much.

Just, if I could just "hush" my post count would be much lower.

And I'm not really complaining. I factor my speeding tickets into my budget for the year. Just sharing is all.

My rule of thumb is that as long as my year's speeding tickets are less than 2 week's salary I am on budget. If I get over 2 week's salary then I will actually start going the speed limit until the year ends.

 

[lonesoldier84]

Please dont hurt your self if you get road rage and decide to brake check someone...

Nah, I was joking about that. That would just be retarded. I just had plus-sized grapes this morning for some reason.

Lady Cop sure showed me!!

They are now back down to average-grape sized.

 

[NineseveN]

Also:

I am genuinely incapable of doing 60 in a 60 zone. It is just retarded. I am sorry but it is. I pick a speed based on conditions. 60 is a "safe" speed when 78 is not? I don't accept that given proper awareness, technique, and current-gen braking technology.

Sure, technology has improved, but the human mind hasn't. Reaction time is still reaction time, we don't get automatic upgrades there (and since everyone is different, you have to sadly legislate based on the lowest common denominator). The average person can only react so fast to an animal that darts out or the driver that drifts…

The problem with the law isn't really a problem, it's a necessary evil. There has to be a law that applies to everybody (or at the very least, most people), it needs to be uniform throughout all or most conditions. This means that the speed limit is speed limit during the day, at night, when there's wind, rain, snow and traffic and to varying degrees and combinations of each. For those situations where the roads are empty and without weather or other poor road conditions so that one can exceed the speed limit with a larger degree of safety, law enforcement officers are equipped with nifty tools called judgment and discretion. Unfortunately, those are matters of opinion and yours won't always mesh with theirs. Otherwise, we're left with speed limit sighs that have multiple limits (for each set of conditions) or a vehicle code that rivals American income tax law in complexity. This would undoubtedly lead to more tickets, not less, since such a behemoth would be impossible for anyone other than a professional lawyer or a judge to understand fully. The police will err on the side of you getting a ticket.

What do you propose, do away with limits? Raise them just because you are capable of exceeding them safely? What about everyone else? I feel that I am safe at 80mph on the highway, but I don't think everyone else is. There's only 1 of me and millions of them...sometimes I'm glad the law is written for them (even if I object to it in principle).

Anyway, be safe man.

 

[nextfriday]

police dont like getting passed. Especially by bikes.

 

[lonesoldier84]

Sure, technology has improved, but the human mind hasn't. Reaction time is still reaction time, we don't get automatic upgrades there (and since everyone is different, you have to sadly legislate based on the lowest common denominator). The average person can only react so fast to an animal that darts out or the driver that drifts…

The problem with the law isn't really a problem, it's a necessary evil. There has to be a law that applies to everybody (or at the very least, most people), it needs to be uniform throughout all or most conditions. This means that the speed limit is speed limit during the day, at night, when there's wind, rain, snow and traffic and to varying degrees and combinations of each. For those situations where the roads are empty and without weather or other poor road conditions so that one can exceed the speed limit with a larger degree of safety, law enforcement officers are equipped with nifty tools called judgment and discretion. Unfortunately, those are matters of opinion and yours won't always mesh with theirs. Otherwise, we're left with speed limit sighs that have multiple limits (for each set of conditions) or a vehicle code that rivals American income tax law in complexity. This would undoubtedly lead to more tickets, not less, since such a behemoth would be impossible for anyone other than a professional lawyer or a judge to understand fully. The police will err on the side of you getting a ticket.

What do you propose, do away with limits? Raise them just because you are capable of exceeding them safely? What about everyone else? I feel that I am safe at 80mph on the highway, but I don't think everyone else is. There's only 1 of me and millions of them...sometimes I'm glad the law is written for them (even if I object to it in principle).

Anyway, be safe man.

I propose sportbikes be given a 30% leeway with speed limits.

Also, white Pontiac Grand AMs.


Lol, but seriously though, not all 60 zones are 60 zones. I can concede to your logic in its entirety, because it is not a flawed argument.

But not all 60 zones are 60 zones.

My personal opinion is that VERY few 60 zones are actually 60 zones.....even if human perception is what it is.