who has benn stopped by the popo?

[Eric G]

Many Many years ago I was in a car with 3 friends in transit to another friends house with an open case of beer in the car and all of us with a beer in hand (yea I know really stupid but we were young).Next thing is we were surrounded by 3 cruisers and were told via bull horn to exit the car.Sh*t they had their guns drawn...We all carefully exited the vehicle emptied everything on our person on the hood of the car and after they thoroughly checked us all out sent us on our way.Apparently there was an armed robbery a few minutes earlier and we happened to fit the basic description.Thinking back it seemed that the police with their guns in hand were just as scared as we were.Funny thing though they saw the beer and never mentioned anything of it,just told us to go straight home.

I've had a few run ins with the police over the years and have found if you're pleasant with them they're usually pleasant with you.I tend to use the yes sir no sir approach.I've driven past them on my ebike and just wave and they usually wave back.Twice I've been stopped on the bike and they ask what it is,I tell them and then I'm sent on my way.The one time the officer told me to be careful as there's a lot of drunks on the road.( during the Niagara Grape and Wine festival)

Eric

 

[mikereidis]

I've had a few run ins with the police over the years and have found if you're pleasant with them they're usually pleasant with you.I tend to use the yes sir no sir approach.I've driven past them on my ebike and just wave and they usually wave back.Twice I've been stopped on the bike and they ask what it is,I tell them and then I'm sent on my way.The one time the officer told me to be careful as there's a lot of drunks on the road.( during the Niagara Grape and Wine festival)

Eric

You in St. Kitts ? I grew up there. Wonderful biking area.

Yeah, I'm sure most cops are scared when they get to the point of even touching their guns. Years ago, I would get out of my car and meet the cop half way when I got pulled over. Up to 10 years ago, I think they appreciated that. Now they don't and just want you to stay in car with hands visible on wheel. Canada always seems to be 10 years behind US and this is one example. In US it's been true much longer they don't want you out of the car.

I've long found being polite and co-operative will get you a warning most of the time in Ontario. Here in Quebec though they just give you a ticket.

If you are in any serious trouble though I think it's best to say nothing and refuse all "friendly requests" to search your self, car, bike etc. For example, apparently they closed the loophole that allows you to legally refuse a drug test if pulled over while driving. (You can't refuse Breathalyzer, but apparently you could refuse drug test.) I had no idea this loophole existed, but if you don't know your rights, cops are often happy to trample them by making their requests appear to be legally binding demands.

 

[Eric G]

You in St. Kitts ? I grew up there. Wonderful biking area.

Yep,born and raised here...There's now a trail that stretches along the lake shore from Port Dalhousie all the way to Port Weller from there at lock one of the Welland Ship Canal you can ride along the canal to lock 7 in Welland if you wanted to...

Eric

 

[dogman dan]

Back to the NY video, if true, its definitely not good for the cops to know you. He sure did seem to be picking out a biker. Back in the day, my older brothers did things that got cops recognizing me when pulling me over years later. And when they saw my name, they would write all the tickets they could think of. Being young and dumb, this did not wise me up untill I had done several trips to juvenile probation. Been pretty much yes officer and yes sir for me since then.

 

[dermot]

So, what country are you in?

Sounds a dictatorship somewhere like Zimbabwe, N. Korea or maybe Cuba?

I thought it might be the USA, but the police there just seem to attack cyclists there without warning:

http://gothamist.com/2008/07/28/cop_caught_on_video_assaulting_cycl.php

 

[dogman dan]

If you are talking to me, that was in the sixties, seventies, when the usa was a police state. or before the current state of being a police state, after 911. At least this time they are after real bad guys. Back then long hair was enough. The cops really didn't like some of the stuff my brothers did but couldn't get anything to stick.

 

[Lock]

This guy was ...stopped
http://break.com/index/how-to-slow-a-biker-down.html

Wow. I read about this vid. Why didn't that second officer charge the first w/assault? ... well. Never mind

Lock

 

[Lock]

Over eight years of surfing urban pavements (sidewalks) on a Canadian RUM ("Restricted Use Motorcycle") I have been stopped more than a dozen times by police (a few hundred times by my fellow commuters on bikes and pedestrians.)

Sometimes with hair over my shoulders and sometimes pretty much bald. Most of the time just a middle-aged accountant commuting to/from clients. Never because the officer saw me "endangering" others...

Never got a ticket. Never had my vehicles confiscated.

I do know that our police have to deal with "shit" every day so I have always approached `em with respect and addressed `em as Officer, and Yes Sir and No Sir EVen if I thought they were being "mean"... I suspect the truth is (watching the "wheels going around in their head") that they didn't wish to be laughed out of court.

For sure they have more serious things to do w/the REAL bad guys...

I usually try and slide into the conversations stuff about the environment and how my daughters had lung problems when they were little because of "air quality"... thinking that many police also have young families at home.

I do know that like the military, police work does tend to attract a certain "demographic" and while I try and treat `em as people I also do keep this in the back of my mind...

I only every lied once, to the last officer who asked me "Is it motorized?".

I said "No!" (displaying the left side of the Currie-built scoot while the motor was on the right.)

He said "Carry On", and I still regret that one...ummm...interaction.

Helps to avoid bored officers watching construction sites etc. Mostly I trust that they have better things to do.

I think every year the "stops" get better, where the officers are appreciating more and more the non-polluting and really benign mode I am using to get around town. Legal or not.
Cheers
Lock

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[karma]

its about the same here in hamilton. and in london ontario. its time to change some laws. only in canada 5 years or less for murder :?
i allready have a firearm going on 5 years now. locked up lucky if i clean it once a year

 

[Zoot Katz]

Today, for the first time ever, has a cop said anything about my helmet.
"Nice helmet", he said.
I joked that it's even CSA approved.
"Really?"
"Well, the CSA later pulled its certification because there is too much lead in the solder."
He chuckled and waved me on my way.

While this is a mandatory helmet law jurisdiction there is no specified standard by which bicycle helmets are judged. I doubt whether Constable Friendly actually knows that so I may have been skirting some thin ice.

Had I not been wearing a helmet at all he'd probably have not said anything. He was occupied directing traffic.

 

[Reid Welch]

They are not called "Pigs" for nothing. Some are OK for bacon.
Most are thieves, liars, fabricators, sadistic thugs who will beat you dead if they possibly can.

I know whereof I speak. Truth.
:|

 

[gogo]

Reid, my Grandfather was the Assistant Chief of Police in a town of 25K. He explained to me that there are indeed bad cops and that I should be careful not to "provoke" them. Conversely, if you can figure out which ones are good, show them the respect they deserve.

 

[will_newton]

interesting stuff, i have been stopped for similar excuses "You look like somebody that just commited "X" crime" I've been pulled over while walking! Just be polite and friendly, then be pissed and indignant AFTER THEY LEAVE.

I've been pulled over several times for speeding in my car and never,ever gotten a ticket. When they ask, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" I say, "Yes, sir. I was probably going a bit too fast for you, sorry about that." I think they are surprised to get an honest answer instead of some BS lie. I never admit the actual MPH I was going. I don't lie about speeding, but I don't help them out either!

Remember, they are the ones with the guns. Swallow your pride, no point in taking a taser, jail time, or a bullet just so you can be right.

 

[fifthmass]

interesting stuff, i have been stopped for similar excuses "You look like somebody that just commited "X" crime" I've been pulled over while walking! Just be polite and friendly, then be pissed and indignant AFTER THEY LEAVE.

I've been pulled over several times for speeding in my car and never,ever gotten a ticket. When they ask, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" I say, "Yes, sir. I was probably going a bit too fast for you, sorry about that." I think they are surprised to get an honest answer instead of some BS lie. I never admit the actual MPH I was going. I don't lie about speeding, but I don't help them out either!

Most cops are not thugs. Most cops are decent guys if you treat them with respect.

ALL cops ARE revenue collectors. In the current recession written and verbal traffic violation warnings have become history. Here in Massachusetts the state police have been directed by the governor's office to cease issuing warnings. If you get pulled over you will be paying out to support the town/state coffers.

Bill

 

[set]

Most cops are not thugs. Most cops are decent guys if you treat them with respect.

ALL cops ARE revenue collectors. In the current recession written and verbal traffic violation warnings have become history. Here in Massachusetts the state police have been directed by the governor's office to cease issuing warnings. If you get pulled over you will be paying out to support the town/state coffers.

Bill

knowing that all cops are revenue collectors, isn't that the definition of thugs or goons? I'm sorry, I don't buy into that "most cops are good people" statement. When cops put on their uniforms and get on the clock, they are on duty for one thing, to make money for the state at your expense. Cops are not your friends. Respect should be not be given at will. If they show respect, you give it.

 

[Muad'dib]

Reid, my Grandfather was the Assistant Chief of Police in a town of 25K. He explained to me that there are indeed bad cops and that I should be careful not to "provoke" them. Conversely, if you can figure out which ones are good, show them the respect they deserve.

This seems reasonable and accurate to me, so can we let the thread get back to its topic: experiences of people that have been stopped on their ebikes?

 

[broloch]

not sure if this has been posted, but in reference to the "pig" post several posts back, has anyone seen the video of the cop who ran over to a cyclist and knocked him down?

[youtube]bhxjxAMQXpY[/youtube]

 

[fifthmass]

Bill[/quote]

knowing that all cops are revenue collectors, isn't that the definition of thugs or goons? I'm sorry, I don't buy into that "most cops are good people" statement. When cops put on their uniforms and get on the clock, they are on duty for one thing, to make money for the state at your expense. Cops are not your friends. Respect should be not be given at will. If they show respect, you give it.[/quote]

How about I say 'most cops are decent professionals'. Better? They're only job while on duty is to make money for the state? You're kidding, right?

Cops are not thugs or goons for issuing tickets any more than the town hall clerk is a thug or goon for collecting property taxes or the RMV are thugs and goons for collecting auto registration and license fees. They are doing their job. The few cops I know actually dislike writing traffic tickets. Traffic stops are dangerous and boring work.

This is going off topic, should this go to the cesspool?

Bill

 

[set]

How about I say 'most cops are decent professionals'. Better? They're only job while on duty is to make money for the state? You're kidding, right?

Bill

Only if you give me data backing up your statement. Have your little cop buddies stop writing tickets for few months. Only issue warnings. Lets see how far they can keep their jobs.

 

[fifthmass]

Will a mod please either kill this thread or move it to the cesspool?

Bill

 

[Takemehome]

Today, for the first time ever, has a cop said anything about my helmet.
"Nice helmet", he said.
I joked that it's even CSA approved.
"Really?"
"Well, the CSA later pulled its certification because there is too much lead in the solder."
He chuckled and waved me on my way.

While this is a mandatory helmet law jurisdiction there is no specified standard by which bicycle helmets are judged. I doubt whether Constable Friendly actually knows that so I may have been skirting some thin ice.

Had I not been wearing a helmet at all he'd probably have not said anything. He was occupied directing traffic.

A girlfriend of mine got a ticket last year for not wearing one. $100 if I remember well.
She had a helmet but forgot it home for the first time. She ride a E-scooter.
Funny part: I've been riding 4 years without helmet and never even had a warning.
Once, I got a warning for my MP3, but not a word on the lack of helmet while riding my E-bike.( likely because I'm stealthy )
This year I didn't take a chance and bought one: $35. Safer and cheaper than a $100 fine.

 

[Muad'dib]

In California I'm pretty sure the law is that helmets on bicycles are only required for minors. Good idea for everyone though. Is this a national policy or do some states require all bikers to wear helmets?

 

[Takemehome]

In the province of Quebec, Canada, the helmet is mandatory for everyone on an electric bike but to your discretion on a plain bike.
When you think of it, with the speed we can get with our mounts, the helmet is not a luxury.

 

[david_a_moore]

In California I'm pretty sure the law is that helmets on bicycles are only required for minors.

No, the nanny-state of California requires them for e-bikes. From the CVC:

24016.
(b) All of the following apply to a motorized bicycle described in
subdivision (b) of Section 406:
(1) No person shall operate a motorized bicycle unless the person
is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets
the standards described in Section 21212.