I just got screwed by the police

M

Mariana D

New member
Well, since i posted this i had my day in court, i have my license back, its off my record, and it only cost me 4 months of inconvenience, a half of a vacation day, $250 lawyer fee and a $ 240 court fee for a whole 20secs in court. But My V1 is running at all times, and i would not ride with out one. It has worked flawlessly since being on the bike. I didn't expect to get this many responses, but thanks for all who posted.

Johnnyduc- I got busted in Lakemoor, you gotta watch out for the Mchenry cops, Its all BS. And im probably going to be moving to Mchenry in a couple months.

Jonvan - The majority of cops have hard mounted radar guns fixed on their front and rear dash, some carry portable radar guns with them, and laser guns as well, laser can only be opperated if the cop is stopped. They can also monitor your speed by pacing you, or by plane or helicopter, so be aware if your flying down a hwy with white horizontal paint marks every couple hundred feet.

Radar jammers are illegal in everystate and you will be busted hard if your caught with one. Laser jammers are are not illegal in every state, click here to find out more info.http://guysoflidar.com/usa-laser-jammer-laws.html , and some do work very well. Im using a V1 detector and it is my best friend when im on the bike, it hasn't failed yet.

More info can be found here
http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/radar-detector-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/laser-jammer-test.html
http://www.valentine1.com/home.asp
 
After reading this thread..... I cant help but chime in, in the defense of police. After all, I am one myself.

When I hear things like "I see cops break the law all the time" or "he turned on his lights, went through the red light and then turned them off, thats bullshit," I usually just sneak a quick laugh and allow the ignorance to roll off my back. But being a fellow 1098 rider, I would rather inform everyone here, rather than give that insulting laugh.

Most if not all Police Departments have a code 3 policy which governs when they can and cannot use their lights and siren. Driving code 3 means driving with your lights and siren on. Most departments limit their patrolman to driving code three only when a signifcant threat to life exists.

So lets say you wake up at around midnight and look out your window and see some asshole riding off on your brand new 1098r. So you call 911 and say "someone just stole my bike." If the officer that is responding follows his department policy, he will not be responding code 3 to you house or neighborhood to take the report or look for the bike. He will stop at every single stoplight as he should right? Or say you wake up and someone has just broke into your house and you see someone loading up a truck full of your shit. You call 911. That officer wont be driving code 3 to your house. He will stop at every stoplight. Wouldn't you want him there as quick as possible? Thats why cops do that.

So in all reality, that officer is putting his ass on the line, everytime he turns his lights on, goes through that intersection, and then turns them off because he is violating his department policy which could get him in trouble. He is doing that for you, because he wants to recover your shit and protect your shit. Maybe not you specifically, but "you" in the whole scheme of things. Dont be so quick to judge the police, it just might be one who pulls up on a matching 1098 along side you.
 
I assumed 918on1098 is a Police Officer, related to one, or know of one. I truly believe Police Officers are under paid, and under appreciated for the work, and the abuse they go through everyday. I would rather be a firefighter. However, there are a few, very few, whom abuse their power. All of us have seen them in the news. Personally, I have not experienced it. However, I have seen a woman Police Officer parked her patrol car at a curb side painted red to get a cone of ice scream in Seal Beach, CA. of PCH. The same thing happened in Avondale, AZ. An Avondale Police Officer parked his patrol car at a curb side painted red to pick up his lunch at Red Robin. Last, I have been told that Police Officers are to follow the same rule of the law as all citizens. If that is the case, why do I continue to see patrol cars and unmarked cars in the carpool lanes with only the drivers in the cars? Be safe 918on1098.
 
Police are no different from anybody else. There are good ones and bad ones. Some will abuse the privileges and some won't. One of the guys that used to be in my band is a city cop and I would trust him with my life. Some others I wouldn't trust to take out my trash. We've got a cop in another small town near here who runs a well known speed trap all the time (well known by locals that is). If you're passing through, you just might get nabbed. Had a local highway patrolman in Mecklenburg County who was also well known as someone who hated motorcyclists and would ticket them for every imaginable violation. Another would look at the 1098 and admire it and the person riding. Just my two cents.

Jet
 
918on1098 says:
When I hear things like "I see cops break the law all the time" or "he turned on his lights, went through the red light and then turned them off, thats bullshit," I usually just sneak a quick laugh and allow the ignorance to roll off my back. But being a fellow 1098 rider, I would rather inform everyone here, rather than give that insulting laugh.

THAT JUST PISSES ME OFF. Turning without signaling. Excessive speeding above the pace of traffic without having lights on. Parking - without cause - in areas not meant for parking. Chatting unecessarily to one another, blocking two rows of traffic behind them. Tailgating - while I'm on my 998. I almost stopped in the middle of the road to rip him a new ass...

DON'T YOU EVER READ THE NEWS?!!!! No, you don't. Moreover you obviously turn a blind eye to what your fellow officers do. So here are some recent "officers always obey laws" incidents:

Officer Accused Of Driving Drunk; Crashing Into Wal-Mart
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/15226113/detail.html
Plainfield cop accused in DWI crash heading to trial
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/plainfield_cop_headed_for.html
The Beaufort Gazette: Officer accused of stealing from motorists
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local/story/182603.html

And there are many, many more... In Warwick, NY I have seen PLENTY of examples of officers breaking traffic laws. And I could care less - provided everyone is treated equally.

However, what I want to know is - what do cops feel they have the right to dispatch their own brand of personal justice, harassment and intimidation to the community they are supposed to be serving?!!! Or was it taught in Police Work 101 to:(leverage/employ - chose most fitting)(gun, nightstick, badge, pepper spray, taser, self-enforcement/abdication of laws - like you can't curse towards a police officer, but can you remember when they last cursed at you?, and what did they get? Nothing., ALL OF THE ABOVE, - again, choose most fitting)against Joe public without any provocation regardless of which, still leaves Joe in most cases without recourse?

It is truly open season on american citizens who aren't a member of the law enforcement community. They are supposed to protect us. Who's going to protect us from them?!!!

When police officers commit crimes:
The police department never has any comment. (While Joe public gets all the gory details spilled out on CNN.)It's always "alleged" or "accused". Police are either CERTAIN Joe public did it, or they just yet haven't found the dirt they're still looking for to support their pre-conceived, obtuse and prejudiced conclusions.When they are innocent, it's "...in no way whatsoever on any possible level, without any prior knowledge, never present at any time..." For Joe public its "...well, we couldn't find any proof but they are still looking...They get put on paid administrative leave - even if the proof is in hand. Joe public is out of work for a few days for the same reason, he gets fired or is considered voluntarily separated.Police officers are almost always given the additional benefit of doubt and spared the "justice" and "equality" the rest of us would be levelled with. What, doesn't anyone else serve the community besides a cop? Do only rock and movie stars and public figures additionally matter? Police officers should be persecuted far more heavily because they SWORE to uphold the laws of the community and enforce them. They signed agreements and received training to the same effect. I don't recall as one of the many "Joe public" to ever have done the same... yet we're given far less leeway on a regular basis.As far as reality goes, police departments do their very best to protect their own and spare them from the justice we are dealt. Let's take a moment to remember all of the videos of the Los Angeles immigration demonstration. The highly trained tactical LA SWAT -- REPEATEDLY ASSAULTED reporters. Career impacting??? YOU MEAN THEY ARE STILL COPS????? YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. That's the equivalent of trader committing fraud and the company saying "Well, he's no longer trading FX, he's only doing municipals now..."

Oh wait, and I'm sure Rodney King couldn't have possibly been taken down any other way, right? It takes upwards of a dozen police officers to from a ring around him and watch - much like I watch movies in a theatre for entertainment, while he is beaten within inches of his life. I've watched cops enough times. You get 4-5 polices officers on the guy, and he's wrestled down. Then again, they do like night clubbing... but I'm digressing.

COPS BREAK LAWS TOO. AND THE ONES WITH WHO ENJOY DISHING OUT THEIR BAD, SELF-RIGHTEOUS ATTITUDES, ENJOYING PROTECTION FROM LAWS AND DEPARTMENT POLICIES THAT ALLOW THEM TO GET AWAY WITH DISCRETIONARY DISPENSATIONS OF PERSONAL JUSTICE MAKE ANY GOOD ONES THAT ARE LEFT LOOK BAD. ALL THE WHILE, FULLY PROTECTING THEIR OWN AT ALMOST ANY COST.

And that, makes me feel so very sad because there are some truly great officers out there, including ones I've met and known.

918on1098 - you need your eyes and head examined. And I hope that you are one of the good ones... but with that comment you made totally arbitrarily disregarding reality... I just don't know. I wish you only the utmost safety in your job and on your bike. But I don't care what others say... in the financial world where I work, mistakes are unacceptable and large, high-level heads roll... and that's just money. In these cases we're talking considerable and palpable fear, and even lives in some cases. When you are responsible for a community's safety and you take an oath to abide by it, the tolerance for ANY error should be ZERO. Justice is only that when we ALL receive it. Not just some...
 
This is why I usually dont let this kind of info out or get in these kinds of discussions because it always turns out into a sounding board for people who feel they have been wronged by the criminal justice system. I didint want this thread to turn into that, but obviously it did anyways. There are always going to be bad apples in every bunch and I am in no way shape or form stating all peace officers are good people. We are humans not robots and humans error and make bad decisions. Scotty, you obviously believe everything you see on the news or read in newspapers, which sensationalize everything to sell papers or get ratings. I've been on the opposite end of that and I know this may come as a suprise to you but, newspapers and television lie and confuse facts, I've seen it firsthand. Consider the source and educate youself on the topic before you comment.

My intention here was to inform, not to start a debate which could go on for years.

Here in California, peace officers are allowed to violate the rules of the road while giving due regard to the safety of others. That right is granted to peace officers in the California Vehicle code. So everytime you see something like that, don't just automatically assume we are on our way to dinner.

So to all out there who have posted and understand what Im saying here I appreciate the understanding, because suprisingly peace officers are people too. Don't be so quick to judge someone by their profession. Scotty, I wont take the lashing out personally. I'm not here to insult people which you obviously felt the urge to do.My point was to educate.

Be safe everyone.
 
Well, I can say that although your response regarding how lights and siren are handled (code 3) was interesting....There doens't seem to be a way to guarantee that officers will follow this procedure correct? If an officer chooses to act under his own accord, it's not like his/her lights are tied to a computer where every use of these tools are scrutinized to assure absolute compliance to the guidelines of "correct use" For instance, just last year I was having dinner with a friend at a local bar. When we left, I noticed that his trailer lights weren't working. I flashed him with my lights at a stop sign outside the bar, got out and let him know. Unfortunately, my wifes pacifica had this issue of locking the doors on it's own (true story) if the engine was left running. So, my friend gives me a ride home where my wife will give me a ride back to the running locked car in the street. Well, about a minute after he left he called saying get ready the cops are flying down the street with lights on goin' like 50. Our road is a 30 and very windy. Why were they doing this??? Well, they assumed I was drunk and they wanted to arrest me. Of course it was all fine after they insulted me on being so stupid, after they made me jump through all the requisite hoops, stupid human tricks, and then after all that....blow in this straw. But let's not forget, flying down my windy road....lights on going 50. I have friends that are officers, I will definitely be the first one to stand up and say any intolerance is more like ignarance than awareness....but the courts will side with the police if there is no other evidence other than "he said he said." You have to understand that from our (non peace officer) perspective, one man is just as capable of lying as the next. So if the courts will believe you first and foremost, we are at a significant dis-advantage. I've found with my personal experiences (and trust me I'm holding my ace) that many peace officers have a certain sense of indemnity. Certainly, I've found many to be downright full of their own power, but let's focus on the indemnity. Look at this instance, instead of explaining (like in your most recent post) that there are good and bad eggs alike since we're all human, you went to the "their are procedures" card, without really addressing that we know there are procedures...we've just seen in many case these procedures aren't followed. The way you choose to view it it's we who don't understand, you blindly hand out a free pass....indemnifying any type of wrongdoing stating that we don't know that there are procedures. Is it possible that the officer with his lights on is not following the guidelines of "code 3"? Of course it is, why? Because like you said, officers are human too. However, it did give us another example where one officer will support another almost blindly. Like they say...."It's a fraternity". So with that being said let me just quote Lord Acton...Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
 
zman you made some oustanding points that were correct. I just dont agree with stereotyping, thats all. And I, like most other people, dont like ignorant comments. Im not saying you made them. But other people in this thread have. So I'll end it with this and then my participation in this topic is over:People can rant and rave all day long about how horrible the police are, but it is just a job. My job is not my life, there is no need for personal insults on a message board. People who do that are just proving their ignorance.

Be safe all.
 
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