Safety Question (CHP related...)

[Wang]

So, I got pulled over the other day by CHP.  It was nothing serious.  I mentioned the experience on another forum and had a fairly negative response to what the CHP officer did, so I wanted to get some input from the DMF crew.

Scenario:

I'm in the far left lane (4th lane? The lanes increase and decrease coming out of Long Beach) on the 710 Northbound going about 70mph, splitting with free-moving traffic (everyone was just about the speed limit).  I come up behind a CHP officer on a BMW, but instead of staying towards the right of the lane he's in the left third.  I'm not even used to this, because normally I'll see two CHP officers on BMWs or Harleys riding side-by-side.  As I'm coming up he doesn't indicate that he's moving elsewhere so I just stay on the right third of the lane and pass him.  I get a little ways ahead of him and then he shoots up alongside me.  No lights, he just pulls closely alongside me at 70mph and taps me on the shoulder three times, asking me to pull over.  He stops ahead of me in the shoulder, not behind -- I don't know if that's SOP but it seems like an officer safety issue to me.  Anyway, I hit the killswitch, take the key out and put it on the gas tank, and then go to the other side of my bike for a little chat with the  ...

The issue that people griped about was the officer tapping me on the shoulder.  They claimed it was unsafe practice and could have caused an accident.  I felt perfectly safe when it happened, if a bit surprised that he would do it instead of turning on his lights.

What are your thoughts?

[ducpainter]

What does it matter what anyone else thinks?

You were OK with it.

[Grampa]

it kinda depends on his reach

[Statler]

people want to discuss touching a motorcyclist while riding fine, but let's not turn this into a cop thread.


how do you not notice someone getting close enough to you at that speed to tap your shouder?

[sbrguy]

if i get this right, you passed a chp officer going around 70mph on a road that probably only has a 65mph limit on it? 

there really isn't much to be said here, that wasn't the best move to do..

my main thing would be if the leo or you crashed because he tapped you on the shoulder rather than put on the lights and siren well that would be totally on him.

[Spidey]

I don't know if I'd "gripe" about it, but I think it's an unsafe practice to tap any stranger on the shoulder if they're not a riding buddy of yours.  I wouldn't want to defend that move in court if something happened, which it easily could have.  If he wanted your attention, he could have flagged you down or lit you up.  

That said, it turned out ok in this instance and it didn't bug you.  He obviously thought that if you were comfortable enough to pass him (and he probably observed how comfy you were on the bike) that a tap wouldn't freak you out.  It's kinda his call.  So it's a no harm, no foul thing.

And part of me thinks it's kinda cool in a brotherhood-of-bikers sorta way.   [moto]  

[Monsterlover]

Cop or not I think I would flip if I looked over and someone was riding close enough to touch me.

I think the danger is less him touching your shoulder and more how close he rode to you to be able to do it.

[zooom]

ummm...I could see how some might be a little freaked out by being tapped on the shoulder on the bike at 70mph....a less comfortable person might have freaked out and locked brakes, but you didn't....a judgement call by the LEO after you comfortably scooted by him I guess...

[Grampa]

in my bestest Tony Orlando voice..... "tap three times on the shoulder if you want me.... twice on the pipe, if the answer is no...."

quick question.... was his name officer Larry Craig?

[VisceralReaction]

HA ^
i know I would jump like crazy if someone taped me on the shoulder.
Totally unexpected. what if that "jump" bumped the bars enough to move me
over a foot into him? Doesn't seem the safest idea, i would rather be lit up.

[Triple J]

Normally I'd be pissed...but you had already passed him at 70mph in his lane. IMO he should be pissed at you.

[Autostrada Pilot]

Normally I'd be pissed...but you had already passed him at 70mph in his lane. IMO he should be pissed at you.

I dunno, cops around my neck of the woods can frequently be seen passing people at 70. Our freeways here travel pretty fast under normal conditions (ie, whenever there isn't snow.....and even when there is snow, traffic is usually going 70+).



I would have been startled and a little annoyed with him tapping me on the shoulder, but you kalifornians are crazy with your lane splitting.

[NoisyDante]

I wouldn't be so much freaked out at a LEO tapping me on the shoulder because I know the type of training they receive, they're probably some of the smartest riders on the road.  A riding stranger however doing this, not the best idea.

I would however be freaked out if this were the fellow who tapped me:

[Triple J]

When I'm on my motorcycle I expect my lane rights to be observed when I'm at speed. I don't like anyone, especially someone I don't know, passing me in my lane. Strangers have no idea how I ride, and if I may move to the other side for no reason (that's apparent to them at least).

From the cop's perspective, a stranger passed him in his lane going 70. That just seems unsafe to me. It's one thing for a cop's partner to do that...but a stranger who doesn't know the cop's riding style...and the cop doesn't know the proficiency of the stranger...it would have pissed me off if I was the cop.

It wouldn't make me mad if I was in a car because if the stranger on the moto make the beast with two backsed up...it won't hurt me, only him. Different story if I'm on a bike and both of us are taken out.

<20 mph....no problem. 70 mph is a bit different.

[Vindingo]

Normally I'd be pissed...but you had already passed him at 70mph in his lane. IMO he should be pissed at you.

+1  That just seems like you are asking for a ticket.  AND... splitting at 70 when everyone else is going that speed is squidly.   I never found the need to split at anything above 40 or so.  One person doesn't look in their side view mirror and at that speed, you are done.