Question posed on the SB's board this morning.  Care to comment?

I had an interesting phone call the other night from a friend who lives down in Yorkshire, (he's Triumph owner ;-o) He was out for a ride with a couple of mates when they where stopped at a Police check point, ONLY STOPPING BIKES!  
One of his mates is a lawyer, and he starts giving the copper a hard time for them being stopped.
Pointing out to the copper , would he get away with the same thing if he was only stopping "blacks"
The copper of course says that he wouldn't, at this point the Lawyer states that the cop has no legal right to pull "bikers" over unless he has probable cause, and has the were not committing any offence he has stopped them illegally. The cop tells him to take it up with his superior and points at another cop with a fancy scrambled egg design on his cap peak.

On hearing the complaint from the lawyer the senior cop, looks over at their bikes, seeing they are all riding non-sports bikes (Trophy, Pan European & a VFR800) tells them they shouldn't have been stopped and lets them go.

Question is, do cops have the right to pull over bikers for a "routine check" (or anyone for that matter) if they are not committing an offence ?  

Or is it a case of "well you 'MIGHT' have had, bald tyres,no tax/mot/insurance etc etc

just food for thought


~Stef~

This wasn't around the sherburn area by any chance?
Yes i know yorkshire is big but squires and surrounding area is notorious for speed traps and routine checks, surrounding area being abot a 10 mile radius.

Having said that considering the behaviour of some of the riders we saw on sunday, small wonder as anyone there i'm sure will testify.

You weren't running round Oxford in the early 90s were you  :devil:

I agree with tc that if youre not doing anything wrong then just be courteous and get on your way quicker!  I can also understand how people can become frustrated and annoyed at being "Targeted" though. I know it's not the same but my brother gets stopped at least twice a week walking to his flat in the town centre simply because he's a young man and it's late at night.  He gets really annoyed and refuses to give his name or adress or answer any questions.  This usually results in all sorts of aggrovation so now he just complies.
Targetting bikers is what we're talking about and although it may be legal it does seem to be unfair and many coppers are busing their powers by doing things such as tc has mentioned ( deliberately delaying people simply because they feel they have a right to question things) - coppers are coppers, not judge dredd.
Bikes should not be targetted as such but simply pulled if they are or appear to be doing something wrong.  Putting a unit next to gt bently village for instance and then stopping every single bike that visits the meet is just taking the piss.
The point tc makes about stopping bikes in case they are commiting an offence could be applied to any group, social or ethnic.  For instance, in brixton most violent crime is commited by young black men ( only because they form the large part of the local population - if you come to colchester the same would be true of young white men) So using the 'in case' idea the police should stop them all and search them. Im sure they wouldnt mind.
Why not target all large expensive mercedes and bentleys and jaguars etc.  These are driven by rich blokes in their fourties and fifties and if they were stopped in the afternoon maybe they could bust a few drink drivers following the business lunch?

That seems fair enough Tc and I agree that rediculously loud cans and postage stamp sized no plates whilst wheelying away lights is asking for a pull!
I was pulled over near bently village one fine wednesday bight and the copper said ' dont worry sir im just going to check your bike over to see if you are commiting any offences'.  Right, i thought, cheers!  Its like being stopped when entering a shop and being told youre going to be searched just in case you're doing any theiving today.

TBH as i have said before I have not had a problem with coppers - im courteous and dont argue and im on my way again with no bother.  I still feel a little hacked off for being stopped though!

It reminds me of all the whinging about speed cameras when if you werent speeding theres no problem and if you were wtf are you complaining about?

Still seems that over zealous policing is being used to target bikes and when four cars and upto eight coppers are employed in checking bikes for cans and plates when they always complain of undermanning seems to me to be a strange use of resources.

Ok, I've, never been pulled, never been stopped and thats in the last 12 years.  BUT, have legal 'plate and end can. Reckon you're right - seems to have a lot to do with attitude...(and living in Scotland?) and 'own house in order' seems fair comment. Its hard enough avoiding car drivers on the phone whilst they're checking on the kids in the back seat!

PS: If TC's about - what's the position with loose livestock on the road? Biker killed locally after hitting a sheep (then a car of passerby who had stopped in the road to try and move sheep.) I ride this road daily, and often have to slow or stop for sheep and cows who have escaped and are unattended. (Young heffers do not like Thundercats...) Who is at fault? I can't believe it was the biker, whom, by all accounts was doing 40 in a 60 zone? )

Regarding loose livestock on road:

One of the questions I was asked on my (driving) test, was: 'What are you likely to meet coming towards you on a country lane?'

My answer: 'Oh Tractors, walkers, pushbikes, animals'

Examiner, shouting (clearly furious at my answer): 'Yes, anything really wouldn't you say?'

Not that this proves anything of course

I had that question too - must be a favourite. First thing that came into my mind for an answer was cow sh*t!

(Frozen cow sh*t is flaming slippery you know!)

I would hope it wasn't actually coming towards you though more already in the road!  :laughcont:

Can't describe just how much cow sh*t I've encountered, lying AND flying. Little did I know how pertinent the examiners question would be...and yes, my kit smells choice! But its better than finding deid fish in your bellypan. (I'm resisting the urge for comments about how my motorcycle smells!!!)

hoohoo this one could get as juicy as the speed camera one did

it would seem the police tend to target high profile biker areas,
cafes, hangouts and race meets seem to be prime targets.
so whats the problem here?
How many of you actually have small number plates? or loud exhausts?
and if you do and get a pull what can you do about it?
put it right of course, smile take your ticket and get it sorted.
as a matter of interest what would happen if you did get stopped with above mentioned?
Are we talking points, fine, here what?

Go on then, i'll bite, how the f***?

Is there a good way to raise this with the farmer? Whenever I go 'exploring'  on foot, I tend to end up on the end of a double barrel shotgun...'Gerrrofff my laaand' type thingy (footpaths mapped...naturally.) Would dearly love to remove livestock obstacles from trip to work - any suggestions as to how to broach this tactfully...Other than staging an impromptu BBQ! Its not right - that man should not have died, and on the day of his funeral I had an emergency stop due to loose sheep again. (Mint sauce anyone?)

Ok. I can take it. The obvious commment re: deid fish in the fairing - bearing in mind I've a 'cat...has to be...no, wait for it...'smell my 'pussy!'
There. I've said it. I accept most of the consequences :-) but certainly not all. I'm mad y'know!