A little bit of the hooligan in me has died today

[Vindingo]

It finally happened.... I got nabbed by the CHP this morning.    [moto]   

I was going north on 101 past the Tam exit right over the bridge.  I was exiting on the Tiburon blvd exit, so I get onto the off ramp and I hear a "WHOOP WHOOP"  "Dont try and run I've got your plate number!!!"   There were about 4 cars infront of me on the off ramp, so I had every intention of pulling over as soon as I was off the ramp.  Then I hear "Turn off the bike right now!"  I pointed to the right side of the ramp and he said "NOW!" 

So I shut off the bike on the middle of the ramp and he gets out and yells at me to give my license.  I took my back pack off to get my wallet and as I was doing this I said "I pointed over there to show you that had every intention of pulling over once I got off of the ramp" to which he responded "just give the your license and then you can move"  I felt like such a jackass blocking the ramp like that, and I knew the cagers were hating me, but loving that I got pulled over. 

I pulled up and made a right to get off of the ramp.  I got out my insurance and reg which were all good, and then I took my helmet off.
He comes back and asks me if I saw him.

"No sir, I didnt see you at all until we were on the ramp"
"Well, when you didnt slow down I figured you had no regard for the law and that you were going to run"
"Thats just stupid, I would never run from the law" 
"You know there is this yellow Ducati that keeps running from me, and I dont like that shit!" 
Thatss right folks... the infamous yellow Ducati... I was pulled over by THAT COP! 
"The second time I had to call off the chase because he was going real fast and it was gettting dangerous.  I was hoping to come around a corner and just see him layed out on the ground with a crashed bike!"   
"I would never even think of doing that sir"

"I paced you at 75, but you were going much faster, probably 90 or so.  Why the hell were you going so fast?"
"Wow, I didnt think I was going that fast, I am a little late for work and I was late yesterday, so I didnt want to make it two days in a row."
"Im going to do you a favor and go ahead and right you a ticket for 75 in a 55."  (thanks for the favor)

as he is writing the ticket he asks me how many tickets I have gotten on the bike.  This is my first one (in the US) officer.  Then he looked at my bike and asked how often I speed...  This is only the second time     He laughed, at least you have a sense of humor, he said.  "I'm sure it wouldnt help much if I was an asshole to you"   "you would be suprised at how people act"

after he gives me the ticket he said that I can contest it, or just go to driving school and I wont get points.  When I told him that I had no idea what to even say if I were to contest it he replied "well I just paced you and I didnt have a radar, just show up to court and defend yourself"
I couldn't tell if he was trying to hook me up by saying that.  I was really bummed out getting the ticket.

After I got to work I pulled out the ticket and read it.  There is no mention of how much $ or how many points the violation will be.  I also looked and in the "race" column he put H for Hispanic!  Im Italian buddy!   

Should I contest the ticket?   If he said I was going much faster, but wrote 75 on the ticket, can I argue that I was going slower than 75.  Should I be glad he didnt write me a ticket for 90 (probably bullshit) and just pay the fine and do traffic school?  Can I make the case that I am not Hispanic, so it wasnt me on the bike 

A little hooligan in me has died... it was no fun for me riding home.  I tried to go 55, but I couldn't.  I acctually didnt think it felt very safe, so I kept it at 65-70. 

Coming up one of the hills on the way home a pick-up turned left infront of me because he couldnt see me comming up the hill. There is a reason you cant make a left there!  I actually did a stoppie up hill onto the flat part of the intersection and my heart just dropped.  It scared the shit out of me!!  I almost stalled because I didnt downshift, but as I pulled up to the next light all I could think of was "make the beast with two backs motorcycles, I hate them.... WOW that must have looked so cool from the sidewalk!"     

I think I will take it easy this weekend, I CAN'T get another ticket until I get rid of this one.  My 25th birthday is next week and I was just about to be out of the younge stupid male bracket      I really hope this doesnt kill my insurance

[ROBsS4R]

At first I thought the story was going to get worse but then the cop lightened up.

If you were really speeding I would Just pay it and go to school. If you were going the same speed as everyone else or slightly faster like that 5 mph faster rule I would fight it but its a crap shoot.

I don't know the rule is now but when I went to court and if the cop does not show up they use to just throw out the ticket.

The cop sounded jaded though with his bad experience with the Yellow Duc.

Just argue he was racial profiling and your not even Hispanic 

but my cop friend use to tell me they were taught to decide to give out  a ticket to someone prior to talking to the person so they would never change there mind

[Labbedds]

Go to the Court, tell them you want to fight it.  You'll have to pay for the ticket upfront but when you win you'll get a check in the mail.  If the  told you to show up and defend yourself then do it, it means he wont show up.  You dont have to prepare a speech or get a lawyer, just go on the court day and say you plead "not guilty".  If the isn't there, which he indicated he wouldn't, your case is dismissed and you're free to go.  I'd fight it, it's easy and you have nothing to lose.  Hey, the brake lever didn't work, pm me your address and i'll leave it on your bike or can deliver it back to you.  Thanks vinnie.  I just went to monroe and had them put a new one on $150 bones, faaak!

[duckwrench13]

"You know there is this yellow Ducati that keeps running from me, and I dont like that shit!" 

I would just like to say, for the record, it wasn't me. TCK did it!

[Hollywood]

after he gives me the ticket he said that I can contest it, or just go to driving school and I wont get points.  When I told him that I had no idea what to even say if I were to contest it he replied "well I just paced you and I didnt have a radar, just show up to court and defend yourself"
I couldn't tell if he was trying to hook me up by saying that.  I was really bummed out getting the ticket.

From that paragraph I would say, fight it. He gave you the key, "well I just paced you and I didnt have a radar, just show up to court and defend yourself" he was not using the radar. Plus, like the others have said, if he doesn't show your good to go.

[TCK!]

TCK did it!

I can not confirm or deny that these statements have any validity.  [moto]

Looks like the race for pinks on Mines is going to be an easy win this weekend.

*Side note* If I continue to pester my Pop's about your 750-four he might buy it, it was his very first bike, I just gotta catch him drunk enough to consider doing wheelies on it again He said he had the same one but had naked women painted on the tank.. lol.

[Juan]

Happy Birthday Vindingo..!!  What a story ....     I believe you are ready for a S4RS.   

Ride safe.

[smducman]

Just fight for citation , look like he does not has speed scan on you , he 's seem sleep in the dog house lately or she does not let him own the bike  .

Good luck for it.

[beat up duc]

Probably a good move stopping even though you probably could of fled. Sounds like you'll get out of the ticket, and if you have to go to work that way every day, the dude will be looking. Chances are he won't stop you again.

[Snips]

Great write up. Pretty dramatic pull-over, was there a chopper and snipers too? 

...glad it lightened up (somewhat) from there on.

I'd pay the ticket and do the traffic school.

If the  does show, he might allude to that yellow ducati that runs from him, and they'll make you pay for his sins.

Over here in the UK, there's no school option to avoid points: it's 3 points (minimum) for speeding, and 12 points and your license is automatically revoked. There are automatic speed cameras *everywhere* so it's pretty easy to collect points. Points stay on your license for 3 years  

[rafa]

Sounds like the cop is a Ducati hater! When I ride in Marin,specially when I still had my M900 with loud pipes,I always kept the revs low.

[Bad Dog]

Enjoy your Birthday, Vinny !  

Speed Safely

[desmoquattro]

Sorry to hear about you getting harassed, but yeah...fight the ticket. If that doesn't work do online traffic school...30 minutes and it'll save you points.

I'm always wary of CHP on the freeway in Marin. Gotta have an eagle eye...or just take it easy.


If it's any consolation, I pulled a huge wheelie past an SFPD motorcycle unit a couple of weeks ago. I didn't see him until the front wheel was 4 feet in the air...he was tucked in front of a parked car writing a ticket so he couldn't do anything. He gave me a stern look...I just kept the front wheel up, sort of smiled at him, and kept going....

[Michael Moore]

Yeah, for some reason they've been hanging out at the north end (both sides) of the Richardson Bay Bridge on and off for 6 months. Sounds like you were cool about it. I think Warren's standard advice is to request a trial by written declaration. Basically it is like going to court without actually having to go to court. As I understand it, the paperwork on the cop's side is a PITA so it might get dropped. But I'll let anyone who's done it elaborate.

[Desmostro]

I got a ticket last year by a moto-cop. He told me flat out they were out for quota and finished with - "just go to court. Most of us don't have time to show up there."
In fact, I went, he didn't, the court threw out the ticket. It took 10 minutes total and I was out the door.

I think if you believe that was a little hint, just GO TO COURT. If he shows up, and you loose, ask the judge if you can then go to school. You don't have to say a word when contesting. The cop will go blah blah blah. You say nulla, if you don't want. Its not like a trial with witnesses and sh*t. Judge says pay. It's 0 different than where you are now.

PS I've never seen so many cops out than this week. Its like the Pres. is here or something.
I have  strong suspicion its CRACK-DOWN weekend.  Better for us - keep the drunk fools off the road for Memorial Day.

Eyes open folks! 


EDIT:

Yeah, for some reason they've been hanging out at the north end (both sides) of the Richardson Bay Bridge on and off for 6 months. Sounds like you were cool about it. I think Warren's standard advice is to request a trial by written declaration. Basically it is like going to court without actually having to go to court. As I understand it, the paperwork on the cop's side is a PITA so it might get dropped. But I'll let anyone who's done it elaborate.

+1