Also, I've been informed on several occasions that I look suspicious.
Motorcycle-riding police unnerve me extra because, for one, they don't wave back and for two, they're better at being invisible than I am.
This afternoon as I rode home from work, I took advantage of a lull in traffic and opened up the throttle a touch. Not much at all, compared to traffic. Of course, 75 in a 55 is still 20mph over the speed limit. If you're counting.
There was another rider behind me, and he actually passed me as I moved over. I gave him a wave as he went by, and noticed another biker out of the corner of my eye. I gave that fellow an up-nod, and then noticed he was a cop.
So I gracefully slowed to a more prudent speed. Which is to say, I dropped anchor and wondered if traffic school might be fun.
I sort of expected the cop to pass me. Usually, they do.
This one didn't. I moved over another lane and continued decelerating until I was moving at a totally legal 56 mph. Except for in Wisconsin, going exactly the speed limit seems to be like a big flashing light screaming "I'm up to something! Follow me for days."
He didn't pass. I got a little more nervous.
He continued his "not passing" ways.
I checked my mirrors to see if there were any pretty red and blue lights back there. There weren't.
And there was no cop.
Where the Hell did he go, I wondered. And how did I get out of being pulled over?
I see four possibilities:
1. He was in a good mood and let it slide.
2. He felt a certain bond with another motorcyclist stupid... er... rugged enough to be out in this kind of weather.
3. He was messing with me.
4. It was too hot out, and there was no cop, just me losing my mind as my skull-fluids boiled.
But seriously, do they give those guys ninja-vanishing lessons? Irondad?
8 comments:
If you weren't causing a danger to self or others he wanted you to slow down. You did and he went back to looking for people who could cause a dangerous situation on the roads.
Or it was your lucky day and he got a higher priority call on the radio.
Messing with people is a popular concept but cops don't remember how unpleasant flashing lights in the mirror are. "Messing with" doesn't compute.
Several years ago I got pulled over by a cop I swear was dropped from a helicopter. I never saw him until there were flashing lights behind me.
Conchscooter - I expect you're right, though I'd still really like to know where he disappeared to. He just VANISHED.
Danny - It's thrilling, isn't it?
Had an unnerving moment myself the other day. I encountered a policeman with a speed gun standing by the side of the road under a tree. It was a 35 mph zone and my speedo said 43. My speedo is about 10% fast so I assume I was actually doing 38 or 39. Didn't get stopped, but slowed down quickly.
Always wondered how well the speed guns do with motorcycles. Around here the police are very clever in setting up speed traps.
we have a TON of mc cops here and ive wondered about the accuracy of their radar on bikes as well.
hmmm lucky, could it have been jedi mind trick?... ;)
Cops know exactly what you're thinking when they come up behind you like that. Here in CA, CHP will drive hidden in a pack of cars and wait until an offender whizzes by. Then they basically pop out of nowhere and next thing you know you've got him on your tail. I've also seen them cut to exits extremely quick and disappear as you say.
Maybe they really ARE ninjas!
First rule Lucky is just like riding, "Do nothing FAST, keep your actions slow and smooth." Smoothly rolling off the throttle will go over better then dropping anchor.
Second rule "Ignore the man behind the curtain." Once the cop is behind you, as long as your tags are in order, focus on your riding. The more you look in the mirror, the more a red flag you throw up.
As for accuracy, they are as accurate on a bike as they are a car, it only takes a reading from a roughly 6x6 inch square at max range.
Where did he go? He dropped behind that SUV two cars back.
Lucky:
I remember recently about a month ago, I was behind another bike. He took off from the light, I took off right behind him. He accelerated, changed lanes and was moving away fast. Then I noticed the LEO behind me. I stayed put and went the speed limit which is very hard to go that slow. We must have ridden for miles with her behind me. Then she finally changed lanes and made her exit. In the meantime, the other bike, oblivious to the situation was long gone.
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
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