View Full Version : Have You Ever Been Stopped By The Police?
I'd be interested to know how many Org-ers have actually been stopped by the police while out and about on their bikes, and what the outcome was.
Pete and I have been stopped twice in the last 8 years. Both times we have been lucky enough to be stopped by a copper who used his judgement, had a conversation with us, then allowed us on our way with no repercussions.
What was your experience and what did you get done for?
Milky Bar Kid
30-07-09, 05:59 AM
I just got stopped for a routine check, hadn't done anything wrong and they were stopping everyone.
rictus01
30-07-09, 06:10 AM
I think it's a rather ambiguous question really, it all depends on so many factors
a. how much you ride
b. how long you have been riding
c. where you ride
d. how you ride
e. what the current police agenda happens to be
so what exacrly are you after, is it the fairness of stops and has it changed, or do there still target regular bike meets, or even the fact they are told on occasion to push bike ticket to meet some internal target ?
Cheers Mark.
lukemillar
30-07-09, 06:14 AM
I got stopped for doing 70mph in a 30 and somehow got away with it.
(This was about 12 years ago now)
I was driving home from work about 9:30pm and my mate, Dan, was driving behind me. We get into our village and I didn't see this police car drive right the way around the roundabout and follow us (their resasoning was that we were racing which we weren't). I look in my mirror and see two headlights pull out from behind and then pull in again. I assume it is Dan trying to overtake me. My rear windscreen is covered in dirt, so I can just see headlights.
We eventually turn into the last road before our houses and then car behind starts revving, getting a few metres from my bumper and flashing their headlights frantically. I assume Dan is up for a race so I floor it! (yeah yeah, young and foolish :rolleyes:) Anyways, I get up to 70, apexing corners and the car behind stays glued to my bumper flashing their headlights. Just as I get to my house, they put on their blue lights. I **** my pants.
They wave Dan over as well, which I don't get as he had done anything and then start shouting at as, saying they could take their licences away and stuff. Then they say they are going to remember us and they know who we are - get into their car and drive off. I don't know if they got an important call over the radio or what. Random.
I think it's a rather ambiguous question really, it all depends on so many factors
so what exacrly are you after, is it the fairness of stops and has it changed, or do there still target regular bike meets, or even the fact they are told on occasion to push bike ticket to meet some internal target ?
Cheers Mark.
All of the above. :D
We're constantly hearing of clampdowns about small plates, loud exhausts etc, so I'm curious to see whether those reasons are mostly why people get stopped, or whether it's for going a little faster than the limit, or something else.
kellyjo
30-07-09, 06:19 AM
My OH got a talking to at the weekend cos he was doing 40 in a 30 zone, so fair enough. The thing is that i was a way behind also doing 40 so cop caught me up and overtook me then caught up my OH and when we got to lights he got out and warned OH that if he continued to speed he was risking points. Thats is all fair enough, just seems a bit hypocritical cos the cop had been going faster than both of us to catch OH up!
rictus01
30-07-09, 06:30 AM
Hmmmm well having a fair number of friends either in traffic or have been, they indeed do have targeted groups and certain times of the year (as it when it first gets sunny and all the summer riders come onto the road) and also sunny sundays, they will also have a few swings at regular bike meets such as Boxhill or Oakdene (in between the nicey nicey we're here to help you ones),likewise the DVLA will have police to enforce their stops.
So if you only go to regular bike meets on a sunny sunday you stand a good chance or more than most anyway.
But in the main, the normal coppers aren't that concerned as long as you don't do something right infront of them, and actually finding a real traffic cop these days is hard enough anyway.
But in answer to you poll question yes to the first two, and also several other outcomes.
Cheers Mark.
custard
30-07-09, 06:41 AM
got stopped for accelarating faster than area car could :)
tells me i must have been going for it cos he could hear me half a mile away.
me - really? thats the standard exhaust.
him - and i know you were speeding because i had to do 90 to catch you up.
me - puzzled expression, trying not to laugh given previous statement about him being 1/2 a mile behind...
and 110 down an empty slip road. rolled off as a coach moved inot my lane, sat up looked in my mirror to see a grey skoda trying not lose control and ram me. check mirrors again and notice blue lights...
am being given a proper telling off when his partner notices warrant card in tank bag... reduced to 90 and 3 points... :)
madness
30-07-09, 06:43 AM
Never been stopped since geting the SV (6 months).
However, when I was 18, I got pulled on my 125 for doing 70 in a 30 and just got a talking to. Also, in my younger days, I got pulled quite a few times in cars, but only ever got done once.
Mr_Chin
30-07-09, 06:53 AM
In the last 9 years, I've been stopped once.
It was about 4 months ago - I was stopped for my private number plate. I was kindly told about the regulations about private number plates, as my plate is 7 x 5, has a small font (but not ridiculiously small or tampered with to look like any other digits), and that one of the digits on the top line should have been on the bottom line.
Anyways, I was only given a verbal warning about it, and told to go on my way. No points, fine or even recorded.
Not all PCs are bad!
Chin
Samurai Penguin
30-07-09, 06:59 AM
Riding up the road minding my own business some years ago and see police cars racing along in the other direction with blues-and-twos. I assume there must have been an accident somewhere.
Approach the roundabout and suddenly i'm blocked in by a police car and a bike. Two very nervous looking officers are telling me to get off my bike. I'm thinking to myself that this is a bit of an over-reaction as i'm darn sure I wasn't speeding, and if I was it was not enough to warrant such rudeness.
Get off bike, making sure to make no sudden movements, slowly remove my helmet and say hello to the officers (one of whom I knew). Look of relief on both their faces :)
Turns out there had been an armed robbery by a guy on a bike at the post office. All the other police cars had just passed me, and these two were following along behind when they were told to stop me at the roundabout.
454697819
30-07-09, 07:04 AM
All of the above. :D
We're constantly hearing of clampdowns about small plates, loud exhausts etc, so I'm curious to see whether those reasons are mostly why people get stopped, or whether it's for going a little faster than the limit, or something else.
once for no L plate and once for loud exhaust, that was during a crack down...
STRAMASHER
30-07-09, 07:08 AM
I expect to get stopped twice a year.
A consequence of where I live, the amount of miles and whereabouts I venture to out in the sticks.
Sometimes deserve it sometimes not. About 50/50. In recent years just producers and rectifiers.
Part and parcel of biking I'm afraid.
Got stopped 3 times by the same policeman for having a pillion passenger whilst displaying 'L' plates (31yrs ago). The pillion had a full licence. The policeman was downright obnoxious, he had a rep for it - a few months later he was done for D&D and sacked.
Stopped twice for wrong way up a one way. "Arrows officer? I didn't see any Indians." Doesn't go down well but just got a talking to.
Stopped once for pulling out a bit quick from a junction. It was a Xmas time. "Have you been drinking?" "No" "Please be more careful, have a nice Xmas Sir." Really nice guy.
Apart from the first policeman they've all been decent guys. And when i've needed them following a couple of break-in's, and a mugging they've been brilliant.
Only incident I got was a telling off in NW, when I stopped to mark a turn opposite a speed trap.
Alpinestarhero
30-07-09, 07:17 AM
Not been stopped yet. My dad says with the way my bike is, how I dress myself (dayglo) and the way I ride, I dont attract attention from the police that much. I think he;s right, but this dosnt mean i relax!
Gazza77
30-07-09, 07:18 AM
Once, for a loud exhaust. After checking it and radioing back to the station for someone to look up the manufacturer details on the net, I was let go as although it was loud, they decided I was road legal. They'd missed the point about the removable baffles being out, not that I was going to point that out. :rolleyes::cool:
stopped once on the bike, clocked doing 78 in a 50 (was "gradually" slowing from a 70mph zone)
mr policeman was extremely courteous, did the usual and asked if i knew why he stopped me, he then told me it was excessive speed. i said sorry ossifer i was concentrating on the road and must have forgot to regulate my speed. he grinned and said yeah i've read thats what you ought to say...:)
took me over to his patrol car, showed me the readouts of my speed (was hoping to see a video! gutted!) ticked me off after highlighting the dangers of being a new rider (had been riding 4 months at time of collar feeling), and sent me on my way. no fine, no points, nada.
i believe i even posted a thread about the polite somerset police the day after it happened!
dizzyblonde
30-07-09, 07:34 AM
nope, never. I ride like Miss Daisy though. So I suppose don't really attract attention.
I'm likely to have jinxed this now
stopped once on the bike, clocked doing 78 in a 50 (was "gradually" slowing from a 70mph zone)
mr policeman was extremely courteous, did the usual and asked if i knew why he stopped me, he then told me it was excessive speed. i said sorry ossifer i was concentrating on the road and must have forgot to regulate my speed. he grinned and said yeah i've read thats what you ought to say...:)
took me over to his patrol car, showed me the readouts of my speed (was hoping to see a video! gutted!) ticked me off after highlighting the dangers of being a new rider (had been riding 4 months at time of collar feeling), and sent me on my way. no fine, no points, nada.
i believe i even posted a thread about the polite somerset police the day after it happened!
i actually had a feeling he knew who i was, he must have done a data check prior to pulling me over, "keithd? really? oh yes....."
fizzwheel
30-07-09, 07:47 AM
Yes several times :oops:
Only been given points once though. The other times I've had the mother of all rollockings and sent on my way. All of which I thoroughly deserved as I was driving like a twit.
I've been done twice by speed cameras that annoys me more than being stopped by a police officer, but again I was speeding so took it on the chin....
glsuk1970
30-07-09, 07:59 AM
I've never been stopped on my bike but then I only ride about 3,000 miles each year so it's hardly surprising. I've been stopped twice in a car though but both occasions were over 20 years ago. The first time I was speeding in a built up area, the copper pulled my over gave me an almighty rollocking and sent me on my way. The second time was Christmas Day, the copper said I'd run an amber light (I hadn't), breathalized me and off I went to visit my dear old aunty, God rest her soul.
I regularly clock in excess of 40k miles a year in a car so I can't complain.
STRAMASHER
30-07-09, 08:03 AM
Not been stopped yet. My dad says with the way my bike is, how I dress myself (dayglo) and the way I ride, I dont attract attention from the police that much. I think he;s right, but this dosnt mean i relax!
Thats spot-on.
I "got away with it" after being very naughty on a country road.
Traffic motor stopped after turning into a junction after being probably attracted to the wobbling headlight on my approaching GSX14.
I banged on the back brake , kicked into 6th and straightened my back in a BMW style and hummed past them. Cue a mile of "fight or flight" indecision and mucho subtle mirror looking.
I'm sure if I was on a 600cc sportbike hanging of like a goon at 13,000rpm they would have maybe wanted a word, but cos I was dressed up like an old dude (whadda ya mean I am!?) on a "grandpa" bike........... my license and ears survived.
Still much to vain for the fluro gear though.:rolleyes::)
I voted Yes as the poll doesn't state in which country.
The russkies got me a few times for "speeding" - they were just after a quick bribe and as I didn't know the russian for, "When was your speed gun last calibrated?" I couldn't really wriggle out of it.
hindle8907
30-07-09, 08:09 AM
I was pulled on my 125cc on the way home from work I had all my gear on but my font L plate had come off while I was driving to work ... I washed my bike the day before and it came off I stuck it back on but ithink it lost its stickiness and it blew off . I still had my back one on though.
I was pulled by a bike cop for going a little fast I apologised and he PNC'ed me ect ect and was going to let me go ……… and then he noticed my Font L plate was missing he said my bike was getting impounded for this ..... I pleaded with the copper I want being rude and I really upset as I had just moved out with my Partner and we was really skint, He told me it would be 105 Pounds to get the bike back out of the impound. I asked the copper could he just not let me off this time and ill pick another L plate up on the way home and he was having none of it ...... I lost allot of respect for police that day as this guy didn’t give a flying ****. I have insurance. I have all the gear on Boots / Pants / Jacket / Helmet / L Plate on the back. You could even see the square on the front of my bike where then front one had been. But he didn’t care .
i wasnt one of these idiots on a scooter with shorts on and no insurance . so didnt feel my bike deserved to be taken
so yeah thats the only time i have been pulled .
Erm *counts on fingers* been stopped and done 4 times, once also by a camera van, erm and possibly about 10 times ish for otehr chats and offences from having my front fog lights on (in a chav stylee) to not wearing a seatbelt, driving like a loony, undetaking on my old 50cc, oh and part of a murder equiry!! :smt017
appollo1
30-07-09, 08:47 AM
nope, never. I ride like Miss Daisy though. So I suppose don't really attract attention.
I'm likely to have jinxed this now
i am not saying whether i have or have not been stopped for above reason as I am very supersticious (sp)
plowsie
30-07-09, 08:49 AM
Stopped once, all okay, papers in order, restriction in order. Off you go sir.
Came round my house second time, 'your a plonker, have a section 59, you non law abiding citizen you!'. Was fair due's though...
on the bike - numerous safety as a group at the weekend - great fun when the cops can't see your exhaust.
once two weeks after my test when i got lost and was crossing the the A80 for about the 60th time. THey did actually stop to ask where i was going and to find out what type of bike it was - didn't get pulled by lights as i had stopped to pull my hair out.
Never been done so far - had three tickets torn up by the Chief Const as all of them had a different date and time on them (obviously failed the intelligance test)
and the other twice called a technicality on the guns - soon as i started asking questions they gave me a talking to and let me go - had obvioulsy been a lucrative day and didn't want me making then recinder all the tickets issued.
Speedy Claire
30-07-09, 09:06 AM
I`ve been stopped twice on my previous bike for speeding but fortunately for me got away with a talking to, once on my SV for a "safety check". Numerous times in my car as it used to come up with no insurance on the computer thing.... I always did have insurance tho so soon learnt to carry my documents with me.
timwilky
30-07-09, 09:20 AM
Only once in recent years by a copper setting up a check point for all passing bikes. I was his first victim of the day and fully legal. He was kind enough to advice me that there were to be 3 pursuit cars out in the area and they had been told to be a right pain in the neck making there presence known to all passing bikers and that there were to be other checkpoints further on. So expect to get pulled again.
Guess what, I changed my route, cut short my day out and bimbled home sedately.
Luckypants
30-07-09, 09:22 AM
Well up until the GMII I could have ticked the never stopped vote. I got stopped for a 'safety check' as I entered Perthshire on the Sma' Glen road. To be fair the coppers were perfectly up front about it, they had been told to stop bikes, doc. check and warning to 'behave' every weekend. I did give some banter about how did that constitute a safety check and were they gonna check my brakes for me etc. It was pretty good humoured on both sides.
So stopped once in 12 years biking and god knows how many miles, despite living in N. Wales for last 7 years. Shows you just need to avoid the hot-spots (similar to what Rictus says about Boxhill et al).
PsychoCannon
30-07-09, 09:23 AM
Stopped twice on the bike.
First time was a 2month ban for enjoying an empty M4 on a hot day =p
Second time was in a rush (late for work and an emergency phone call), luckily as I wasn't being dangerous the officer whilst stern, let me go and I could of hugged him :)
Also stopped once in a friends car as we got reported as a possible drunk driver, in fact the car was just weaving a bit as it was overloaded...with our airsoft gear..luckily they didn't search the car so we didn't have to explain the boot full of body armour and very real looking assult rifles ;)
Dicky Ticker
30-07-09, 09:24 AM
Yes,sorry another one of my stories.
I had been to Poland[Poznan] to load bacon with another two trucks and on the return journey one truck broke down.We fitted a ridged tow bar between the two trucks which means my Scania141 is now towing about 80tons gross with the other lorry at the rear with spinners on protecting our back. Anyhow the roads are very quiet and we are getting a crack on,about 55-70mph when we passed an East German TRABANT/or/ZASTAV police car in a lay-by,we never thought anything of it and carried on our way.
12 or 15 miles further on I see a big empty lay-by so a brew is in order,we pulled in. Remember you have 3X38 ton artics with fridges on,the front two connected with a ridged tow-bar. Having made the brew we were all sitting on the tow-bar drinking our tea when this police car from the lay-by came "Clattering" into the lay-by and when it stopped it was spewing steam/oil everywhere.Two big East German police got out and started reading us the riot act.They asked who was driving the two linked trucks so we told them and the started on about massive fines. I explained that the truck I was towing couldn't use his brakes because he had no engine and we were going so fast because he was pushing me. [We had linked air lines between the trucks and this was bull ****]. They then started jabbering on at John C about this big fine as it was all his fault for pushing me so fast[The other driver and myself trying hard to keep straight faces and not burst out laughing]
East Germany was a VERY poor and luxury goods very hard to come by.simple things like toilet soap,toothpaste or chocolate were almost impossible to get.
Currency controls existed and as we hadn't declared the money we had brought into the country I could see us in the poo big time,firstly for the fine and secondly for non declaration. At this I see one of the police having a good look at the trailer box that was open from making the brew.
BANTER TIME COMETH--------------------
Lets say it all ended happy with two East German police who had a dozen eggs, tins of fruit and meat and two tubes of Colgate toothpaste and a half a liter bottle of Black Label whisky having drank the other half-------plus one completely ***ked police car sitting in the lay-by whilst we proceeded on our merry way------somewhat slower I may add.
As a postscript we got all the way back to Dover without further problems by running in darkness and it was then that the British Police said we had to have a proper breakdown truck because of the length of the tow.
I got stopped for following a police motorcyclist past a couple of cars and up to about 85mph in a 60mph zone :oops:
First thing he said to me was "Would you follow me off a cliff?" Gave me a stern talking to whilst I tried to tell him I love the way they ride and was looking for tips :lol:
He let me off thank goodness!
Speedy Claire
30-07-09, 09:27 AM
I got stopped for following a police motorcyclist past a couple of cars and up to about 85mph in a 60mph zone :oops:
First thing he said to me was "Would you follow me off a cliff?"
I`d have replied "yes sir"!!
Bluewolf
30-07-09, 09:29 AM
.
ThEGr33k
30-07-09, 09:31 AM
I have but it was just to be given a leaflet about a bike safe course or something...
Funny story really as the guy checked my bike (to be expected) with the police data base and the first time the guy on the other end said 1000cc aprilia Scooter... WTF!? Police man said no you better check again and he did and all was dandy lol
Never on the bike but the police did attend the off I had 5 years ago. I was stopped while driving a car and prosecuted for speeding (this predates cameras:rolleyes:) and for failure to produce my driver's licence but as I had produced it I wrote a stroppy letter saying if they didn't cancel all the charges then I'd ask for costs etc. They did too, even though I had no defence to the speeding. Mind, 46 in a 40 was hardly anything for them to have got excited about in the first place.
Wideboy
30-07-09, 10:05 AM
yes and got my wrists slapped :(
JamesMio
30-07-09, 10:24 AM
Only been pulled once on the bike, but that came with a lovely day out in court, a whopping fine and 6 points for my 'overly enthusiastic overtaking' of a camper van...
Straight after my accident, I was sitting in the back of the cop car after having being looked over by an off duty paramedic, I was given a breath test.
I was handed the breathaliser test and told "You will be used to doing this by now!" er no, I explained that it was the first time. They seemed very surprised. A common misconception about bikers, or just expect the majority of people to have been pulled over at some point for routine checks?
STRAMASHER
30-07-09, 10:34 AM
Only been pulled once on the bike, but that came with a lovely day out in court, a whopping fine and 6 points for my 'overly enthusiastic overtaking' of a camper van...
Would not have happened if you had been on the Pan!;):p
the_lone_wolf
30-07-09, 10:39 AM
I'm sure I've posted this previously but as I'm here and there's nothing on at work today...
Only time I've been pulled was with two other guys on the KTMs. We were entering a village where the approach road had recently been widened and resurfaced, but the 30mph limit remained several hundred yards further back, pointless and unnecessary.
We approached this village from a NSL, so probably ~70-80mph, as we pass the 30mph sign we roll off and begin to slow down for the built up area. At this point there was also one of those speed activated signs, it went berserk as we cruised past doing ~60mph or so, the lead rider gave it the Vs and it was only a moment after that when we saw the high vis emerge from the bushes up by the first house... s***...
So we all pull over, and get shown the speed gun, 48 in a 30mph limit, tbh it was then that I started bricking it a bit, my KTM was taxed and insured and I was licensed to ride it, but it had no speedo, nowhere to attach the tax disc, the most offensive exhaust known to man and I was wearing my orange iridium goggles, so not much of it was legal.
The copper however, was a star, said he was only there because the old people in the village had been complaining about bikes speeding through and he was ****ed off about being stuck there, asked us to avoid the particular village for a few weeks so they shut up about it and, quote, "so I can have a lie in on Sunday" and to let other riders know he was there too
Spot on policing...
never been stopped by the plod on the bike but had a plod catch up with me in dawlish a few months ago.
i drive a 7.5tonne truck in work all round exeter and plymouth. i had pulled up outside a shop i dawlish that i was about to deliver to (4am ish) and plod pulled up behind. i knew there was a vehickle behind me for a few miles but didnt realise it was plod, no lights on or number on his shoulder and he questioned me about my driving.
according to him i was doing 70 through the lanes of kenton into dawlish, he was doing 65 and couldnt catch me up (doesnt say much for his driving skills imo) i let him have his little 'im in a uniform you listen to me' speech and after threatning to get his sarge out of the car to deal with the situation i then pointed out that my vehicle is restricted to 56mph...
then he asked to see my tacho and because he didnt have a digital tacho reader he shuffled his feet, scratched his head and told me to be carefull got in his car and drove off
he looked about twelve and acted like a t!t imo
peolpe with power trips eh? :wink:
*Touches wood* no, although one time in my cage i thought they were beacuse they caught up with me pretty quick then followed me down a dark, narrow back road, then disapeared.
keith_d
30-07-09, 11:33 AM
Two stops.
Once for passing an amber light when they believed I could have stopped. It was pi**ing rain and quite slippery but I wasn't going to argue the toss. Just got a bit of an ear bashing 'til they got tired of standing in the rain.
And once for speeding.... on my pushbike :) Apparently I was doing 40 in a 30 limit, but it was downhill and I was a lot younger and slimmer in those days. No ticket, just a telling off for having no helmet at those speeds. Shame, I don't think he'd ever have lived down giving a speeding ticket to a push bike. 8-)
Since then, only an SP30 from a Gatso hidden behind a cottage when I was late for my mate's wedding. Fortunately, I'd slowed down as I entered the village. My recent failure to spot a scamera van on the M40 appears to have gone unrecorded (phew!).
Keith.
Once clocked 2 producers in a week back in L plate days. Wasn't actually stopped for anything other than a check though.
Most recently stopped for "Zig-Zagging" on the dodgy looking 400 before it lost the gaffer tape look. Very Fortunate because it gave me a chance to realise all my money/ cards/ phone were still sitting in my other jacket before I ran out of petrol somewhere in East Anglia.
So far - so boring.
trumpet
30-07-09, 02:03 PM
40+ in 30 I said revs were better up the steep at 40 had a discushion on bikes an let off.
45 in 30 said I was resetting twin spots on my bars and did'nt want to blind the cars i had just past,pc said it was a new excuse and let me go.
55 in 40 national speed limit was 50 got a bad tempered telling off an booked.
55 in 40 kirby londale got 7 bikes at one go,apart from one who changed his mind after stopping,got a pleasant ticking off for being fastest and twice as old as the others,I should have known better.booked.
Not bad it works out round 100000 miles a booking,trouble is I'm well into next
Luckypants
30-07-09, 02:21 PM
Not bad it works out round 100000 miles a booking,trouble is I'm well into next
you've got over 400K miles on a bike? Wow! :notworthy::riding:
On the bike, never.
In the car, plenty of times.
Rather Ironic considering I ride my bikes a lot faster and harder than I drive my cars.........
dj_pingu
30-07-09, 03:43 PM
I was stopped a few hours hours ago on the a40 dual carriageway as i had no number plate .. original tail tidy/plate snapped off when i dropped the bike at low speed on a wet cattle grid in Wales (which incidentally was on an MOD firing range!) .. anyways, he saw my bike with all the panniers on (and could see the plate through the see-through rain cover) and just said get it fixed - he was fine about it.
I've been stopped so many times that a couple of times we've recognised each other 8-[
I think it's a rather ambiguous question really...
Gotta agree and thats why I've not ticked a box ;)
But over the years (many of them) I have been stopped quite a few times, some for a telling off ;) some to be told I will get a summons and can expect my licence to be endorsed :smt085 and a couple for totally stupid reasons, ie:
A686 on way up to Hartside, it was a combination of the rusty ford transit and the very loud yamaha behind it making the noise, not me :rolleyes:
A5 heading towards somewhere :scratch: bike in front already fingered by cop at side of road to be pulled at checkpoint ahead, small plate, loud cans etc on a Sunday in N. Wales, a really good idea :smt021 and I'm pulled over as well, reason "though my visor might be a little dark". The real reason, cop in middle of road pulling traffic in got a bit confused having pulled it two cars and the bike in front and almost got himself run over by a cage going the other way which had to be pulled in as well :rolleyes:
MR UKI (1)
30-07-09, 04:33 PM
Once for numberplate about 4 weeks ago :(
trumpet
30-07-09, 05:10 PM
you've got over 400K miles on a bike? Wow! :notworthy::riding:
Sorry meant I'd done neally 500000mls on 20 odd bikes,an got stopped 4 times so should be due.:(
Sorry meant I'd done neally 500000mls on 20 odd bikes,an got stopped 4 times so should be due.:(
You sound a lot like Pete. Done at least that, but on 37 bikes. He must change more often than you! :rolleyes:
Pete's reminded me that we've actually been stopped by the police three times. I hadn't forgotten the third, but as it happened in Germany it wasn't really relevant to the poll, but I'll tell you the story anyway. :D
In 2005 we went out to Germany with some friends and acqaintances and stayed in a little village called Wissen, not far from Cologne. It soon became apparent that most of the people we'd gone away with weren't interested in riding much, but three mates agreed to accompany us on a trip to Buchenwald concentration camp, in the old East Germany. It was something I particularly wanted to do, it being the 60th anniversary of the end of WW2.
Everything went fine to start with. Pete and I led, with our mates Al and Linda, and another Pete, following. We got a few good overtakes, Pete following, so a bit further up the road we pulled into a layby to wait for Al and Linda. Minutes ticked by, and we were just starting to get concerned when a woman pulled up in her car and made 'bike falling over' gestures. At exactly that moment a police car, lights and sirens going, flew past in the direction we had come from. Fearing the worst, we shot after him, and sat right behind him until he pulled over. We were mightily relieved to see Al and Linda apparently unscathed standing next to their bike, but not so relieved when the copper got out of his car and proceeded to shout very loudly at us in german. :shock:
It transpired that Al had overtaken a lorry, and as he pulled back in a doddery old geezer on a push bike pulled into his path and Al clipped him and knocked him off. :(
Luckily for Al the lorry driver said that he hadn't been speeding, but the coppers demanded all our passports and told us to follow them to the police station!
Once there, the shouty copper was really nice to me. Showed me where I could go to get a drink and have a cigarette, while we waited to be dealt with. Al and Linda went off with one copper, we got shouty copper. He took us into a room and began to tell Pete..........in German..........why we were in trouble. Pete's totally blank look obviously made him decide that Pete was a total imbecile, so he told me instead. I didn't understand any more than Pete did, but I just nodded and that seemed to be enough! It wasn't the following him at silly speeds we were in trouble for, it was crossing some hatchings! 60 Euro fine, about £30 then.
And we made it to Buchenwald, which was one of the most moving moments of my life......................but that is another story.
I got stopped in derbyshire by a traffic car tasked with fining small number plates......so I got a £30 fine no way of talking my way out of it but the policeman was nice enough, used to be a motorcycle copper until he had kids.
Could have been alot worse also because I was not quite going the speed limit which would have been fairly obvious to him.
Red Herring
30-07-09, 06:32 PM
I guess over the years I've been pulled a few times, first was when I was in my late teens and driving a souped up Mk.1 Escort (didn't we all?) Saw the copper at the last minute hiding in the petrol station so used my local knowledge to throw in a few quick turns and hid at the back of a car park. Just when i thought I'd got away with it he pulled in alongside me. His opening words were "everybody comes in here when they see me pulling out" and then he quite rightly nicked me. Didn't like being done but I thought he was totally fair with me, and it went a long way to motivating me to join up myself.
Since then I've been stopped a few times when I deserved to be, but been fortunate to be let off (and before anyone says anything you never flash a warrant card, that's the one way you're guaranteed to get done because coppers then get all official like), and I've been stopped a fair number of times for "routine checks". Being in the know that's when I have the most fun. I was riding once with a mate who had a 916, which was one of the first bikes to only run one headlight on dipped beam. This copper was convinced there was something wrong with it and my mate was getting all worked up trying to convince him otherwise. I'd spotted that the copper was a probationer so I leaned over and told my mate to calm down otherwise they might do him for his tyres as well. The officer obviously heard this (he was meant to) so he turned to me and asked what was wrong with them. I pointed to the chicken strips on the tyres and said, "look, see that, that's improper use of tyres that is". The poor lad then spent 10 minutes on his radio trying to get advice on how to deal with this new offence he had never heard off. He gave in eventually and let us off with a "warning", bless him.
Nearly came unstuck winding up the Met one night, sometimes you need a reality check and need to remember it could come down to your word against theirs. I try to act my age now.
Been stopped numerous times over the past 30 years, and been nicked on a fair few occasions.
In recent years I have only been stopped twice that I can remember, and both times got a ticking off even though the offences were probably worse than those I commited as a lad.
pencil shavings
30-07-09, 07:11 PM
I got stoped on my rs125 - they claimed it was stolen, it wasnt it was mine lol. just harrasing me for being young and on the coolest bike in town :)
Got stopped under section 44 stop+search (which the person who was searching promptly regretted after opening my tankbag to find my 13hr/day sweaty steel toe boots - and, to be honest, where exactly was I supposed to be hiding my terrorist materials on a ZX6R - you'd be hard pushed to get a sandwich under the seat). Also got stopped for not having insurance (I did have insurance, clearly their database is knackered). Otherwise clean sheet so far.
MT
I just got stopped for a routine check, hadn't done anything wrong and they were stopping everyone.
Same here, on the A40 towards Llandovery, all bikers pulled in for a 'safety chat', but as we'd had a weekend away and were all panier'd up they weren't interested in us. Made a totally mockery of it I thought.
aren't enough options...
been stopped coz:
they were board and wanted a chat
coz i was speeding and got done
coz i was speeding and got off with it
L plate come off told me to get it fixed, then cppl weeks later i got done by proc.
i used to get stopped about once a week when i was younger for 'routine checks'. where have you been, where are you going, what are you doing out at this time of night, could you blow into this bag please. etc. etc. its never bothered me getting stopped.
all that was years ago though, not been stopped for ages bike or car.
i would say that 90% of the time i got off with it for being polite.
sv-robo
31-07-09, 02:10 PM
Can i pick a & b??:(
I have been stopped by the police when I did a shift in plain clothes up town. I was walking down the street it was quite funny and helped with the cover.
timwilky
31-07-09, 02:52 PM
Some of these stories remind me of a mate in my teens.
He was a baker, consequently he started his shift at 2am making bread to be out the door first thing in the morning.
Leyland police had a new boss and he wanted a purge on drink drivers and all others out late at night.
Tony goes into Leyland police station and asks the desk sergeant for a permit to be out after dark. Seeing the P taken the guy reacts to the bait and demands to know why he is taking the P. Because your eefing coppers are taking the P out of me and slams down 4 producers for one week all on his way to work.
Word soon got round that the guy on the xs1000 coming off dodge city at 2 in the morning was OK and he managed about 6 weeks before his next producer.
BanditPat
31-07-09, 08:27 PM
Stopped once, Going quick round town maybe 60mph about midnight they followed and pulled into the petrol station as I finished filling up. He was a nice guy he just said that he'd struggled to keep up and couldn't after the first lap and said if i knock some one over I'll end up in jail.
kwak zzr
31-07-09, 08:34 PM
Ive been stopped twice in about 15 years, my impression of cops where bikes are concerned seems very good.
phi-dan
31-07-09, 09:24 PM
I've been stopped 3 times in a cage and twice on a bike - every single one for lights!
1) Plug fell off the cycle carrier lightboard - swift kick fixed that
2) Alleged obscuring of number plate and lights with bicycle on cycle carrier - they must have been really bored that day as yes, the car number plate and lights were obscured, but that was why I had a lightboard on as well!! Doh!
3) Tail light blown on CB250RS (at night) - Hampshire police gave me a blue light escort to a truck stop as my spare bulb was also broken. They were more interested in getting me off the A303 in one peice than writing anything up. It was very nice of them, but it was sooooooooo embarrassing riding along with the blues going on behind me, and everyone coming past signalling that I was being followed :oops:
4) Headlight fuse blows on CB250RS just as I pull out of the Wentworth estate, and co-incidentally just as a police car pulled up, at dopey o'clock at night, while I'm wearing my best Bike magazine "Nice Queue Sucker" bomber jacket. They start coming on heavy thinking I've just nicked something from somewhere, so I decide that honesty is the best policy - "Is this your vehicle sir?", No officer it isn't. "er, have you stolen this then sir?" No, my name appears as the registered keeper, however the legal owner is my father... one producer and a recommendation not be out of doors when they next drove through :rolleyes:
5) both tail lights blown on the cage - had moved house that week so much confusion as they struggle to reconcile the address on the computer with the one I'd given them, especially as the estate I now live on used to have a reputation for <ahem> aquiring vehicles. Ended up having the same conversation when I produced the docs at the station, with added fun as I'm a named driver on the wifes policy, so wrong address, wrong name, wrong gender :smt081
pencil shavings
02-08-09, 08:34 PM
got stoped today...
BanannaMan
02-08-09, 11:04 PM
Only once on a bike. (other than roadchecks)
After having a chat with me...the nice policeman knocked my speed down to 83 in a 55 zone if I would agree to plead guilty to speeding. (which I did)
Got clocked well above that so was lucky to get off with a $200 (121 gbp ) fine.
Could have got done for wreckless driving which is big points against your liscense...or worse.
100 mph + can land you directly in jail.
Amazing to see so many on the poll who have been stopped and let off.
That doesn't happen here very often.
A12 heading into London, I went through a set of lights, followed by a red Fiesta. Police bikes chase us both and stop me for running a traffic light, the Fiesta continues on its merry way and I get 3 points.
Not sure how two bikes make sure I'm brought to account and the Fiesta (which was behind me and therefore if I ran a red was even later through) was left, but never mind!
jamesterror
03-08-09, 04:59 PM
First time today, well not pulled over.
Had a word with me through the window at a T junction, warned me about my speed.
Balky001
03-08-09, 06:04 PM
Got pulled twice and given points when I first passed by car test in 1985 for minor speeding offence. Also got a stop and search as there had been robberies and as I looked about 12 when I was 17. Copper thought I was a dodgy chav. Also speeding at the time, when he asked for my license I gave him my pass certificate, I'd only passed the day before. Actually made him laugh and said he could tell! He let me off
I've been pulled twice on the bike, first for a small plate on the day I bought the bike and was going to get it changed, it was tiny. The copper was on a crackdown but let me off. Second time, a couple of months ago, got pulled for 86 in a 70. Said I was riding well but just be careful (I was quite chuffed). Let me off with a brief talking too. Both times they were very nice people.
SAMMY650
03-08-09, 06:08 PM
I've been stopped once, had been out all day down to squires etc and they pull me 100yrd before my flat! Hadnt done anything wrong, officer said I looked 'unsteady' going round the roundabout, i had my right leg out in case I went over due to massive chunks of tarmac missing all over the place (nice to see my road tax going to good use:rolleyes:)
All he did was ask where I'd been, where i was going and then checked plate, exhaust and under the engine.....I was a little confused, what might i have under the engine that wouldnt be road legal??? But he did just send me on my way so its all good :D
Dave20046
03-08-09, 06:11 PM
Think it's 2.5 times thus far. One of the times on the bike and got a fine and another time in the car for 'going through a redlight' (it was green/amber as I went through it) and atleast one other car went through after me so I guess they knew that. Got breathylized and sent on my way.
Stopped once, all okay, papers in order, restriction in order. Off you go sir.
Came round my house second time, 'your a plonker, have a section 59, you non law abiding citizen you!'. Was fair due's though...
How did they test your restriction plowsie? :confused:
MiniMatt
04-08-09, 10:08 AM
Just realised I voted in the wrong category :D Have been stopped multiple times and never been done, ooh, but then remembered the time I did get done :D
Time I did get done I deserved it and all was pleasant and suprisingly sarcasm free. Think I've discussed that one before but the basic cause was being young, stupid and in charge of a SS400 prepped FZR (which age and common sense now tells me has no place on the public highway).
Times I've been stopped and nothing happened have varied. Nodding to a police biker caused me to get stopped because "nobody ever nods to me" was a bizarre one. In hindsight, spray painting my RG250 in halfords rattle can black was a mistake (again, young, stupid, and it looked "cool") and caused me to regularly get stopped, poked and prodded and various producers produced.
vardypeeps
04-08-09, 12:11 PM
I ride around 9000 miles a year and been riding "big" bikes for two years.
Been stopped on my 125 scoot for doing 70mph in a 30mph at 1am in the morning.
Got a producer but nothing got followed up.
A routine stop just as I was going to turn into my drive at home. When asked if I had my papers I said I could go get them for you if you like!
Traffic cop had an R1 n was a nice chap.
Didn't spot a Police van on a 40mph road and opened the taps to about 70mph on a three lane dual carriagway. He chased me down in the van and I was going to get a ticket but he changed his mind as I was being nice (it normally helps if your not a t***) and managed to get away with that.
End of the day you take the risks and I don't ride fast all the time. I'm lucky to get away with those and touch wood I don't get told off ever.
vardypeeps
04-08-09, 12:21 PM
never been stopped by the plod on the bike but had a plod catch up with me in dawlish a few months ago.
i drive a 7.5tonne truck in work all round exeter and plymouth. i had pulled up outside a shop i dawlish that i was about to deliver to (4am ish) and plod pulled up behind. i knew there was a vehickle behind me for a few miles but didnt realise it was plod, no lights on or number on his shoulder and he questioned me about my driving.
according to him i was doing 70 through the lanes of kenton into dawlish, he was doing 65 and couldnt catch me up (doesnt say much for his driving skills imo) i let him have his little 'im in a uniform you listen to me' speech and after threatning to get his sarge out of the car to deal with the situation i then pointed out that my vehicle is restricted to 56mph...
then he asked to see my tacho and because he didnt have a digital tacho reader he shuffled his feet, scratched his head and told me to be carefull got in his car and drove off
he looked about twelve and acted like a t!t imo
peolpe with power trips eh? :wink:
I recon his Sarge did it for a laugh as he had seen the sticker :p :D
MCN_LiamM
04-08-09, 03:59 PM
Stopped outside Westminster while on a road test....
under the Prevention of Terrorism Act
Red Herring
05-08-09, 08:25 AM
All he did was ask where I'd been, where i was going and then checked plate, exhaust and under the engine.....I was a little confused, what might i have under the engine that wouldnt be road legal???
An engine number that didn't belong on your bike?
Dave20046
05-08-09, 08:37 AM
An engine number that didn't belong on your bike?
It's quite impressive they actually do that. My last 'safety check' included fining me for an exhaust and nothing else.
timwilky
05-08-09, 10:28 AM
OK, my first ever pull from plod was in a cage when I was 17.
I had a car but no licence, easter monday bike racing on at Oulton so a mate with a licence sits in the passenger seat and bro and mate in the back.
Going through Warrington (on L plates so no motorway), I pick up a copper behind and my brother keeps looking behind and telling me what I could see in the mirror, yes he is still behind us. Next thing on come his blues and I pull over. what have I done? Nothing but as your mate in the back keeps turning round to look at me there has to be a reason. So I get a producer and so does the lad in the passenger seat.
He thinks it is a joke, sets fire to it and gets done for failing to produce his licence.
I get home, get out my docs. V5, provisional licence, insurance certificate, MOT - Oh feck. So a quick phone call, nip out to pick up my new MOT certificate and off to produce. Plod is a bit suspicious, pulled easter monday, MOT dated the saturday. I explain I had to use the car that monday so got it MOTed especially. Result on my way and a years MOT for a phone call.
the white rabbit
05-08-09, 07:22 PM
To save me reviewing the thread, has anyone mentioned being harrassed by the annoying do-gooder crooner Gordon Sumner and his cronies?
SAMMY650
05-08-09, 08:13 PM
An engine number that didn't belong on your bike?
Ah, didnt think of that. Just found it odd that he spent quite a bit of time looking at the engine and only glanced at the exhaust.
Would the engine/frame numbers etc show on the police system when they check your reg then?
Stewart.C
05-08-09, 08:18 PM
i have never been stopped by the police while on my bike but have been done in my car.
im surprised at this though i have passed them over speed limit on motorway & they did nothing
SAMMY650
05-08-09, 08:22 PM
I might also add that all the engine/frame numbers on my bike are for my bike lol ;)
Is it true that even when buying from a dealership you should be checking all the numbers are legit?
Red Herring
05-08-09, 11:34 PM
Ah, didnt think of that. Just found it odd that he spent quite a bit of time looking at the engine and only glanced at the exhaust.
Would the engine/frame numbers etc show on the police system when they check your reg then?
Yep, Engine and frame numbers come up when they do a PNC check on your reg number. Generally very easy to check on a bike so any copper worth their salt should be passing an eye over them.
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