Wilsons Sandbox

I thought I would share... Stopped in California- It was Spring of 1993. My BMW R100GS was only 7 months old. I was riding over CA-178. The desert was in full bloom and the view of the mountains was breathtaking. I was in a cluster of 5 or 6 vehicles, all doing between 60 and 65mph indicated, in a 55mph zone. I already knew my BMW had a bit of speedometer error, and that my actual speed was less than 60mph. I was enjoying the scenery when the red and blue lights came up from behind. I pulled over and flipped up my face shield. The CHP walked up as I was pulling my license, registration and insurance out of my wallet. "I'm sorry," I said. "The mountains are just so beautiful that I wasn't paying attention to my speedometer." I tried to hand him my paperwork. "I know," the officer said. "Keep your license. You weren't running the canyon. But that line of cars that you were in all slowed down when they saw me and you didn't. So we are just going to sit here for a minute till they pass. It would look bad, otherwise." Then he asked me where I bought it, how much I payed, and told me to have a nice day. Stopped in Washington- It was around 10:00 pm in August of 1982. I was riding through King County on I-5, riding my fairly new 1982 Yamaha Virago 750 to California. I was doing 60 in a 55. I was the only vehicle on the highway. It was pouring rain. I was southbound and the Washington State Trooper was northbound. I knew what was coming even before he made the u-turn. I told him that I couldn't believe he was pulling me over. I was the only vehicle on the freeway, and my indicated 60 was probably closer to 56 or 57. He just grinned and kept writing. I told him I was about to deploy and was riding down to meet the ship in California. His grin just got bigger. He knew I wouldn't be around to fight the ticket. I drove through that same stretch of road a year later, driving my tastefully restored 1968 Cougar. Knowing the county I was in, I kept it at 55mph. My tires were undersized so I was doing about 52mph. They pulled me over again (California plates). I used my sailor's vocabulary to let the Trooper know just exactly what I thought of his speed trap. 18 wheelers were passing me. He tried to tell me I was doing 60+. I continued to tell him I would see him and the County Mounty in court. (One was running the radar gun, the other was pulling people over, just as fast as they could.) As I continued to cuss him up one side and down the other, he backed off telling me I was right, and that they had absolutely no reason (other than California plates) to pull me over. Sometimes ya win and sometimes ya lose, and sometimes it pays to speak your mind. Bill

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "transalp 1" wrote: > > > I got pulled over early one morning about 6 years ago. The traffic and road conditions were not safe to stopping by the highway itself. So, I hit the right turn signal then motioned at myself and then the officer and pointed to softball field parking lot just ahead. After stopping in the parking area, I watched as the officer pulled in at least 3 spaces away. That can't be good, right? Well, I'm off the bike with my helmet on the ground and license & insurance card ready when he gets out of his car and over too me. > "Slow that thing down!" , he said with a suprisingly pleasant grin. "Where are you going in such a hurry?" > Me, " Home to bed. I've been at work since 6pm last night." > Him spying the dealer tag, " Is that a new motorcycle?" > Me, "Yes, sir. Just got it last week." > Him, " It sure is pretty." (As he hands me my license and ins. card back and reminds me to be careful.) > When he turned to walk back to his car, I asked him how fast I was going? > "60." The limit was 45. > Amazed, I put away my ID and helmeted back up. I looked and he'd stopped so far away so he could turn around to leave more easily. > That's when I noticed I'd been stopped by the chaplain! > Could he have written me up? Definitely. Why not? I guess because he was a nice fellow & trying to help out a sleepy biker with a heavy throttle hand. > He did, too. > =) > eddie >