Did something stupid this morning …

Commuting to work, filtering through traffic that was doing ~15mph (2 lane duel carriageway, 30 mph limit) … saw a big police riot van in the traffic ahead, kept filtering … I then approached a pedestrian crossing (one with lights) the natural flow of the traffic (and me holding back a bit) meant I didn’t pass anything on the zigzags prior to the crossing, but things had slowed after and I kept my speed/speed up, I therefore passes/filtered by the riot van on the zigzags AFTER the crossing …

I’d ague as it is after the crossing I don’t know why there are zigzags anyway, but there is and the rules are no overtaking on zigzags … I didn’t get pulled, but I kicked myself for my stupidity and it made me pinch my behind for the next few hundred meters until I turned off from the road he was still on …

Anyone else kick themselves when they do something naughty KNOWING there is a police car right there?!?!

[G]

Following a Pan European Police bike at the weekend in derbyshire down a hill. Decided to take my baffles out completely rather than just half out for some reason that morning.

Anyway I'm following the Paneuro and come to the bottom of the hill where there is a long bridge to go under (tunnel like), so I need to stop coasting and put some gas on......as soon as i let the clutch out BANG BANG BANG, exhaust was popping all over the place.

Luckily he just looked around and went off in another direction lol.

I passed a police car (not traffic I think) filtering on the way onto the A3 the other day. Bike wasn't properly warmed up yet and started seriously backfiring (baffles are always out) and stalled. Took a few seconds trying to start her, in the middle of everything (ie blocking the traffic) and had to chuck full choke on again.

Doh! Felt a fool but a lucky escape not being pulled for noise- they might have inspected the tyres and given the look on the face of the tyre fitter yesterday when I took them in, I'd have been done easy!

Unless your riding like a monkey, the police are very unlikely to stop you - especially if they're stuck in traffic trying to get somewhere else.

I fliter on those zig zags all the time. If I saw a cop car though , like you I would hold back but a riot van is fine. As far as I remember a paddy wagon won't really pull you for traffic offences.

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I was on one of my favourite roads last summer when I caught a police Pan-Wuro up - he overtook a car and I followed (safely) - he then sped up to about 75-80 (in a 60 limit) and to be honest I was mesmerised with his riding and didnt notice the speed Next thing I know he is pulling me over and gave me a right ticking off saying "Would you follow me off a cliff" and "You couldnt have known what was over the brow of that hill at that speed" etc etc. I got the feeling I was very lucky to get away with it! Now if I see one I go another way!

Originally Posted by Skip

INext thing I know he is pulling me over and gave me a right ticking off saying "Would you follow me off a cliff" and "You couldnt have known what was over the brow of that hill at that speed" etc etc. I

What a n*b. So I assume he is exempt from traffic law and could magically see where you could not?!?

Some cops are real n*bbers.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by HooliganDan

What a n*b. So I assume he is exempt from traffic law and could magically see where you could not?!?

Some cops are real n*bbers.

I know - thats exactly what I thought! He gave the impression of "I am the law do as I say not do as I do" - didnt like him at all.

The particular brow he was referring to is one I often take at 85+mph too

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

I’d ague as it is after the crossing I don’t know why there are zigzags anyway, but there is and the rules are no overtaking on zigzags …

My POV too. I suspect it's probably for something as stupid as for aesthetic reasons of symmetry. I imagine if you challenged being booked on it, you'd either get the "because it's the law" response, or perhaps the argument that pedestrians often don't cross exactly on the crossing, but (particularly if it's crowded, eg in a busy city centre) to several feet either side. My view in the latter case would be, "well, if they don't want to cross on the crossing where they are protected most, they shouldn't expect any more protection than on any other bit of road". Seriously though, I have done what you have described in view of police on at least 3 occassions and never heard anything. That was in London mind and I didn't "traffic light grand prix" it away from the lights (just pulled away slightly more quickly than the other vehicle until I was in front).

Originally Posted by Skip
INext thing I know he is pulling me over and gave me a right ticking off saying "Would you follow me off a cliff" and "You couldnt have known what was over the brow of that hill at that speed" etc etc.

Sorry but I would have had to call his bluff.
I have no problems following speeding police, as long as it is safe and they are not obviously on a shout.
If you ever get stopped just say that you weren't aware of your speed as you were just going with the traffic (them) and it never crossed your mind that somebody in their position would be speeding without good reason, especially as speeding is still illegal even if on a call...........

Tell him that you are more than willing to accept a speeding ticket as you have, at the end of the day, broke the law.

Let them know that as you are holding your arms up admitting a crime that you fully expect them to do the same, especially as they have a duty to uphold the law.

And just a note to all the lads in the job on this site, I am not against all police, just those that think they can abuse the trust put in them by the public.