Would you all run from the cops?

Done it once.....
I've been close numerous times. I primarily live in a rural area, I'm speeding all the time but in the day I always keep my eyes open and way alert. Night time is difficult. I have always try to take different ways home just so I don't annoy neighbors and become noticeable, but one night as I was coming home, I seen the sheriff sitting at a crossroad with his lights already on ahead. I assume he was giving me a warning. I turned around in the middle of the road and didn't want to find out.

Another time I passed one and didn't realize till I saw brake lights. At that moment I gave her all I got in a about 1 mile from town, and slowed to a cool 35 then made a quick turn, then another through an alley. Turned off the bike and coasted to another ally so as to be stealth and not wake up the town folk. I waited at this location for 10 min. in the dark and was able to get a good view of both main roads. Well, I took the back way home and the sheriff was already on this country road facing the US Route. Shit. I just turned around and hauled ass back the normal way. They don't have a chance in the country, there are not enough of them to set up road blocks within a small area. I'm gone.

I wouldn't run.... Not worth it. I own the bike, I have current insurance / papers and license so there is no reason to run. I can pay for a $300 ticket, its not worth risking my life.

I have a friend in a coma right now. No one knows what happened but we all think the cops ran him off the road and left him there.

Here in NYC it's against policy to chase motorcycles but they do and when they result in an accident the cops leave the scene. I've heard a few stories about this from very creditable sources.

Most cops are lazy and will not bother to chase you, I got pulled over a few times on my bike for various offenses:

Speeding (a few times)
Driving recklessly (on the other side of the road)
White lining
Making an illegal RIGHT turn (whatever that is)

And Every time the officer gave me a warning, no tickets.

I haven't, largely because I don't trust my riding skills enough to know that I won't kill myself trying to get away. But the last two times I've been pulled over, both cops have said something to the effect of "why did you stop? There's no way I could have caught you." Grr. Both times I pulled over before they even had to turn their lights on, thinking they might like that and cut me a break, but nope. I guess I won't do them that favor anymore.

Of course, that said... a month or so ago I did triple digit speeds into a bike cop's freeway speed trap, and he just signaled me to slow down. I gave him a nod and a thank-you wave and proceeded to rethink my position on religion.

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Edited by - dav on 11/12/2002 16:52:34

Okay guys, lemme give you MY insight, and I have some since I AM a cop. First there's a MONSTROUS difference between a speeding ticket and a potential criminal charge of dangerous driving plus HTA offences like Fail to Stop for Police and careless driving. Personally, I'll take the speeding ticket.

God forbid you ever do run and crash, which is proven to be the case in a scary proportion of motorcycle chases. People get excited and try to overdrive their abilities... not me making this up, it's TRUE.

Imagine trying to get a vehicle insured down the road. Imagine losing your licence. Imagine losing control and crashing bad. It just ain't worth it.

People in general (bikes or cars) who do it aren't thinking. Period. You're so focussed on getting away that you are putting lives at risk (most notably yours). Your judgement is all off.

Like you said, cops have manpower, radio, video, the ability to "call" a chase from a central location with maps and a thought process, and more importantly if you're on a bike, less to lose. Having said that, I personally would never initiate a dangerous chase with a bike while on duty but I'd do my best to i.d. you or at least grab your plate.

Hope you guys don't think I'm preaching at you, it wasn't my goal, but I mean, what's a ticket compared to the possible consequences of trying to run? The truth is, most chases end up BAD for the driver, and normally in a short period of time. It just ain't worth it.

Again, apologies, had to be said.

I felt I have to provide some feedback how I feel on the matter. Lets face it anyone whom has a sportbike or sportscar for that matter is going to speed. OK, I generally ride at about 80mph. no matter were I go. I have never been caught on the bike and however only think they would of pulled me over the one night I chose to outrun before he turned around. I don't live in any major city and would only recommend running if out in rural areas just for those reasons of being caught, traffic ect. Whats the difference of outrunning say take it up to 150mph than just normal hard riding doing 150mph? The difference is someone is chasing you. See my point, everytime we ride we are taking risks, so why would I pull over and get a hell of a ticket for 80 which probably same as for 120 or any other speed. I had currently 3 tickets in my pickup over 3-4 years for like 10 over stuff and an accident on ice doing 20mph. no control. My driving record is shit because of this and us consumers get screwed over by fines and high insurance costs mostly for really "STUPID" people that can't drive in winter and young teenagers stealing cars. Its getting to the point were you are either getting really high insurance premiums or insurance companies refusing to cover people and including sportbikes. Insurances companies are paying out the wazzooo for natural disasters, 9-11 ect. Some of it justified but alot shouldnt be in my opinion. I chose to outrun not to get caught and to keep another ticket off my record. If you can't ride fast and safe anyways you should be on a Harley instead.

I actually got pulled over for the first time on a bike the other week. I was with some vietnamese guys from school. I barely eveb know them that well. Anyway, we're going down a local street (long and strait) and they are doing trick after trick...and since I can't even do a wheelie, i was just watching in ahh. Happen to be our luck that 3 motorcycle cops were off the road behind a big bush...so we all got pulled over. We could of ran, but turns out...all the cop did was make sure we all had up to date insurance and our licenses were stamped for motorcycle privledges...and that was it! In fact we sat there and swapped motorcycle stories for a while with the cops. When they left they told us to be safe and keep it on one wheele...AND THAT WAS THAT. Now imagine if we would have ran or acted disrespectful to the cops? Completely a different story. Knowing that I'm still kind of new to riding...I'm sure I would have wrecked and probably wouldn't be here today, but since we all pulled over, I'm alive and well and enjoyed about 30 minutes of bike talk with the cops that pulled us over.



02 ZX6R (Yellow)

Edited by - Marine on 12/06/2002 14:30:13