Got pulled over yesterday

[Michael Moore]

I know you guys were all predicting imminent loss of drivers license when I bought the Streetfighter. Well, I got pulled over yesterday on the Marin side of the Richmond bridge.

Only thing is, I was on the Monster, not the SF, so there.

CHP comes up and says "You were doing 75 in a 55 zone." He then begins to examine my tail light, license plate light (non-op for, oh, I'd guess the last 5 years) and lack of reflectors.

It turns out he only writes me a fix-it ticket for the license plate light and the reflectors. He said he would have added my loud pipes but he didn't have any more room on the ticket.

I call that as close to getting off with a warning as you can get. Sweet!

Next time I'm riding the Vespa.   Not.

[sally101]

Thank the Moto-Gods for that one..

You would have been screwed on the pipes.. Prolly have to re-mount the stock setup to get it signed off (unless you have a system w/db killers)

[Michael Moore]

Yeah, fortunately I still have the stock pipes. It's the first time anyone's ever said anything though.

Funny thing is the guy obviously was a rider - he asked me why I got a black Aerostich, how expensive Ducatis were, and a bunch of other things. After my little chat I went over to Hattar and told Ben who works there about it, and Ben asked to see the ticket. It turns out the CHP is a friend, who does own a CBR 1000. I laughed that he was complaining about my speed if he owns a CBR, but Ben said the chipper absolutely rides like a cop - slow and conservative.  Go figure, I guess he was feeling benevolent, or maybe decided to be kind to an old person.

[desmoquattro]

Glad to hear you got off lightly. Still...a warning sounds like it would have been more appropriate. Dunno if he was short on quota.

[sally101]

Dude I think all the quotas have been raised.. For the last 2-3 weeks they have been poppin everyone on 80 between Berkeley and Vallejo.. One after the next... Gotta close that budget gap baby!

[jimboecv]

On a fix it, do you still pay penalties but no points?

[Drunken Monkey]

I got dinged for expired reg last month. No points and $25 for "processing"

This was Marin county however, and I've been hearing rumors that the same deal in SF runs closer to $100

[sally101]

On a fix it, do you still pay penalties but no points?

No points.. And the fine is much smaller than a moving violation. The catch is that you have to have an officer sign off that the problem has been fixed.

[desmoquattro]

No points.. And the fine is much smaller than a moving violation. The catch is that you have to have an officer sign off that the problem has been fixed.

...and I think there are big penalties if you get a subsequent fix-it ticket for the same violation.

[ROBsS4R]

I know you guys were all predicting imminent loss of drivers license when I bought the Streetfighter. Well, I got pulled over yesterday on the Marin side of the Richmond bridge.

Only thing is, I was on the Monster, not the SF, so there.

CHP comes up and says "You were doing 75 in a 55 zone." He then begins to examine my tail light, license plate light (non-op for, oh, I'd guess the last 5 years) and lack of reflectors.

It turns out he only writes me a fix-it ticket for the license plate light and the reflectors. He said he would have added my loud pipes but he didn't have any more room on the ticket.

I call that as close to getting off with a warning as you can get. Sweet!

Next time I'm riding the Vespa.   Not.

Sounds like my experience minus the speeding. I had changed nothing on my license plate and had another cop signed it off but I still had to pay the $10 processing fee.... What a Scam =(

[Coyote Kid]

...and I think there are big penalties if you get a subsequent fix-it ticket for the same violation.

I was also told that by the CHP that ticketed me for my reflector and turn sigs,
but after talking to several chippies  including the guy who works the front desk in Corte Madera,
it ain't so.. its only used on truckers who don't fix safety issues,
and If I remember correctly he also said that these non point issues are not stored in the computer record. Ahmen

I bought a stick on reflector that wedges in very nicely on top of the plate light
http://www.drillspot.com/products/540851/grote_40132_stick-on_mini_reflector

lately I've been riding with my Valentine radar detector, with an in helmut display,
and I will never ride without one again.

[Spidey]

Knowin' your rabble-rowzin' wayz, MM, I'm surprised you didn't rage against Da Man on the side of the road. 

BTW, if you buy a Buell taillight, it looks just like the monster one, but is clear at the bottom.  No need for a license plate light. 

Can't you just attach the reflectors from your SF to your monster?   

[Michael Moore]

Knowin' your rabble-rowzin' wayz, MM, I'm surprised you didn't rage against Da Man on the side of the road. 

BTW, if you buy a Buell taillight, it looks just like the monster one, but is clear at the bottom.  No need for a license plate light. 

Can't you just attach the reflectors from your SF to your monster?   

I've learned to keep the Rage-against-da-Man thing in check. 

And yeah, some SF reflectors and double-sided tape was my plan. Or maybe those sparkly little license plate bolts...

[Itsasickness]

KARMA, that's what you get for being a great guy!  , but I don't think the SF would have had the same sympathy

[Michael Moore]

I just got my first insurance bill for the Streetfighter - as expected it is more than the Monster.

A whole four dollars every six months more. Sheesh.