Ducati Monster Forum

Well my ride was done and I was making my way back to Redwood on Skyline. I was just riding along side some SUV not really paying much attention when suddenly there's a guy standing in the middle of the road...

"Oh Snap that's the [leo]!"

He stops me and the SUV but then walks over to me and turns my bike off and pulls the key out then waves the SUV on. He then instructs me to pull off to the side of the road and says something about me running...

The conversation was as follows:

"You know the speed limit here?"
"I'm pretty sure it's 35mph"
"You know how fast you were going?"
"No, not really I was just riding along side that car."
"Well you both were going 51mph, but I had to pick one and I picked you."

At this point the book is already being filled out and it's too late to try and discuss my way out of it.

Now for the message the OPD would like me to spread to all my motorcycle brethren.

"Due to neighborhood complaints, officers are being ordered to be up on Skyline, Grizzly Peak and Redwood due to the motorcycle presence. They will be there all day Saturday and Sunday, for every weekend until motorcycles STOP riding on those roads."

So I got written up for 16mph over the speed limit which sucks cause I wasn't even being "ricky racer" but I guess it could have been worse and he could have gave me fix it tickets for the myriad of violations on my bike. Before I even had my ear plugs back in he had pulled over a car and was already writing him a ticket.

Then to finish it all off my bike wouldn't start... The cop asked, "uhh is that normal?"
"doh!" Then I bump started and off I went.

And the power of the white boots has faded. :P

But the military I.D. always works! [thumbsup]

DUDE!!!!!!!  that blows!  i guess its a good thing he wasnt there earlier, the ticket may have been for more...

so that make the beast with two backser actually grabbed your key and took it out of the bike?  that doesnt seem right.  

lets go back and ride that shit in first gear at 33mph.  (after we fix all the blinkers, brake lights, and license plate nonsense that is)  [evil]

that is just bullshit.  

Technically, you could ride the entire series of roads up there at 25mph. You are passing through residential areas, so 25 is perfectly legal. And for the winding twisting two-lane sections, you are just practicing safe and prudent roadway usage.

Meanwhile, all the folks who were so quick to call the cops on "those damn bikers," will now be stuck in their SUVs behind the "law abiding" motorcyclists.

When the residents up there start getting more tickets than we do, for making double yelow passes and speeding, I'm sure the cops will silently disappear soon after.

You haven't broken any laws, or "recklessly endangered" any other roadway users, so if they continue to single out "law abiding riders," it could become a case of profiling and harassment.

I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but it certainly does take some fuel from their fires. [thumbsup]

That key thing would have fried my ass.

Sorry to hear about the ticket Donovan.  I hate "targeted" stops. 

Yeah since I had my helmet on I couldn't hear everything he was saying, I just heard "had to take the key.... running..." I was too busy pushing my bike to hear. :P

*EDIT*
oh yeah we were half thinking you might show up this morning but I figured I gave you to late of notice of the ride...

I actually got to meet the guy that does all the painting and weird stuff up at the wall, like hang car fenders in tree's and small lighted buddahs... Let's just say he's an interesting fellow. Like Paul at the wall said, "It's hard to believe that he's such a loaner" (please read this as sarcasm)

I've heard claims from the cops like this for years.  If it's not Redwood, it's Skyline.  Or Grizzly or...  take your pick.  Fact of the matter is that they'll be up there until things get a little boring or the money runs out or another area gets more complaints.  It's wise to avoid speeding up there over the next few weeks, but I wouldn't assume that what this guy says is gospel about busting every motorcycle from now until eternity.  I find it really hard to believe given the crime rate in Oakland/Berkeley that we're gonna devote guys full time to the "menace" that is the speeding motorbike.  Robbery, beatings, muggings, sideshows, gang violence, rape, murder...none of 'em got nuthin' on those jerks on two wheels going 16+.  [laugh] 

+1

Don't get me started. I am sure one of the above mentioned crimes were happening as he was giving you a ticket so he could make his monthly quota.

Not that I am qualified but I could never be a police officer if I was told to hand out tickets all day.

Just FYI this is where I got busted, the spot which is not really a motorcycle road, no twisites, the houses are offset from the street, a four lane mini freeway marked at 35 :(
The Spot (http://"http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=10339994766470648793,37.801334,-122.175178&saddr=Skyline+Blvd+%4037.801334,+-122.175178&daddr=37.801333,-122.175125&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&sll=37.801299,-122.175125&sspn=0.002416,0.010235&ie=UTF8&z=17")

On BARF a guy said he got a 35 in a 25 by the same guy, and as they were gearing up the got a new 1098 for 50+ in a 25... doh!

.

Mostrobelle
Let department know , we will strike for this  :-X

Oh well look like I have to ride more my scooter , if  they set for limit

The  [leo] were stopping all bikes at the intersection of 92 and 280 today for the most ridiculous things. They pulled over DQ and a couple of friends, complaining that their license plates weren't visible enough and, "we always have to chase you guys." If only they would pull over REAL offenders, like squids!

Not all cops on the street are there to answer calls for service.  Most departments have a traffic unit consisting of one or more officers (especially on motorcycles) that do nothing more than enforce traffic and investigate accidents. And if they're CHP, then traffic IS their call for service.  CHP generally doesn't handle robberies, homicides, etc. unless they are backing up another department. The squeeky wheel gets the grease, and it sounds like the residents on Skyline are making sufficient noise about motorcycles to warrant a few traffic guys up there.  It sucks, but that's the way it goes.

That's shameful... associating a speed as low as 50mph with a 1098 - couldn't he have at least talked the cop into something above 90?!

Just saw some people on BARF get busted for no reflectors by the CHP...

Things are getting serious.

This morning on Taylor Blvd and Pleasant Hill Rd. there were two CHP  [leo] cruisers and three CHP M/C  [leo] with three M/C's  [moto] and two cars pulled over. 

As I approached, the CHiPpie in the first car stepped to the edge of the lane beside his car and pointed what I assume to be a radar gun at me.  As I passed he swung around and kept it pointed at me as I headed off up the hill.

Something is definately going on when CHP is patrolling surface streets!!

I normally run this same route at 65-75 mph (posted as 55) but after today, I'm either going to find another route or go a little easier on the throttle.  Too bad, there is a nice rising right sweeper and descending left sweeper on this route that are a rush at 75 mph.   :(

By the way, yesterday along this same route I picked up a red S4 (i think) - anyone? anyone? Buehler?

When does summer end around these parts?  Seems to be more fun then.

Freedom country turn into communist one now , no more fun  [bang].

This and other talk by others on BARF about getting nabbed by the po-po has me trained mentally to use the following routine if I ever have the misfortune of being pulled over:

1.  Ignition off.  Key out, on ground.
2.  Kickstand down.
3.  Helmet off, on ground.
4.  Sit on bike and wait.

THAT should cure the law-evading paranoia of any officer.

As for heavy patrol on Skyline/Redwood/Grizz (my local playground too), I'm OK with it if it somehow results in less squid traffic for a while.  Way way way too frequently have I been seeing riders blowing the DY on these roads in recent weeks.  I'll gladly put up with increased LEO presence if it shoos those bastids away.

Edit:  Real bummer that YOU (Donovan), had to be the victim of the ticket here, over a <15+ speeding SUV no less.   >:(