Further on the Nanny State

The last protest I went on was in February 2003. It didn't achieve
anything, which was rather dispiriting.

 

Concurs with my suspicion, too. A clumsy set-up.

 

I'm a regular couch potato and UKRM armchair warrior, but I suspect we all
know that.

However, being stopped when minding my own business out on my bike would piss
me right off.

I am curious as to why the average UK person would probaby be happy to ride
around with no numberplate / snapped numberplate, which could land you in the
shit, but CBA to attend rallies about this kind of thing? I'm as guilty as
the next person of doing it, and for me it's a refusal to believe things will
get that bad, even though the signs are there for me to see all the time.

 

More recently than me then but the same end result.

I'll just carry on doing whatever I want to and keeping an eye out for
plod while I'm doing it until changes in the law make me decide to
pack it all in.

The last bit of legislation affecting bikes that I really objected to
was the change in the provisional licence rules preventing learners
from riding 250cc bikes. I still think that allowing riders to get
their licence through DAS is stupid but it benefits others who want to
ride bikes so it's an overall gain.

I actually believe that the big manufacturers will do more to take the
fun out of bikes than the government which is why I'll be hanging onto
my 10R and anyone with a K5 or K6 gixxer thou should be doing the
same. That bitch switch that cuts the power is only a short step from
a sensor that does it for you and most of the other 'benefits'
recently discussed on here are ways of taking the control out of the
riders hands because it's safer that way.

 

How sick would you feel if you were out with a couple of other riders
who just nodded their heads and got away from plod fairly quickly yet
you, the one standing up for all of our rights, were still there 30
minutes later having your bike checked?

I've done the protest rally bit on a number of occasions and I'd
probably do it again if it was to do with something that I felt would
affect me but I'm certainly not going to waste my time protesting
about local councils making bikes pay to park or stopping them using
bus lanes.

 

And me as well. Still, it hasn't happened yet. The last time I was
stopped by the police (in the UK) on a bike was about 2 years ago at 5AM
on a motorway; no rear light and they were extremely helpful, giving me
light to **** around with it and escorting me to the services then
telling me to stay there until I fixed it or it was light, no producer
or document check. Before that jumping a red light, again a bit of a
telling off and told to clean my number plate no document check (but
they did check my address against the computer registration check...
once I told them what the reg was.) Before that, well I can't remember
probably 10 years ago and then I think the policeman wanted to chat
about my 9r, no producer.

I think I've got away with so much on bikes (and in cars) that I find it
impossible to believe I'm ever going to be harshly dealt with. I think
I'm invisible.

Probably because to date I've not really been directly impacted by any
of the legislation apart from MOT test stuff and insurance tax.

I guess when it comes down to it I don't expect any severe legislation
that's going to limit my enjoyment of motorcycles because I figure the
government's going to have enough to do over the next 5-10 years...

 

<waves> but oddly, the two times I've had it drawn to my attention by plod,
they've let me on my merry way with nothing more than a "Get a new one ASAP"
admonition. The rear facing camera's wouldn't do that.

Reclaim North Wales?

I'm just thankful I'm not a yoof at the start of my bike riding life. I just
see the whole biking thing being closed down to the point where average
speed cams set to check you over a massive area will result in bikes being
nothing more than cars with no heaters. Overtake? No chance, that's now
against the rules. Dare to stop on double yellows? **** that, a camera will
see you, read your plate and send you a 60 squid fine. Transgress the bus
lane rules and once again, a nice fat fine drops through your letter box, or
better still, 100 of them.

Pop a wheelie and you're looking at "Driving without due care" as a minimum
or "Dangerous Driveing" at worst. Do a decent job of breaking the speed
limit and you're in fucking jail.

Murder some **** and you could actually get away with a non custodial
sentence.

Riding's fucked unlessyou have a half plate.

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

And you're never going to win a roadside "debate" with Plod, because you''re
a "one-off" whereas he's been doing the "I know my rights" dance with
motorists of all persuasions for years and he'll just be silently laughing
his cock off at you. After all, he's got **** all to lose by keeping you
from doing what you were doing.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Yeah, happens all the time since the mandatory life sentence was
introduced.

Idiot.

 

On 20/02/2010 14:17, Ben wrote:
snip

One of the reasons I like riding a bike is the ability to bypass other
road users fuckwittery. No amount of horn blaring or finger saluting is
going to modify their behaviour and it's far far more satisfying to just
make progress and leave them behind.

 

Andy Bonwick took a blunt brush and painted...

I don't understand why I'd feel "sick". I'd feel even more annoyed at the
plod for mis-using their powers.

I suppose if I was on the way to catch a ferry, or a job interview, or I had
10 minutes to get somewhere to collect a £10,000 prize I would shut up, lie
on my back and let the master do as he wanted to.

Would you call it protesting? I'd just call it expressing my opinion and
annoyance at having been inconvenienced.

 

You obviously put a lower value on your leisure time that I do. I
don't go out on my bike to stand arguing with a minnion at the side of
the road but I'll be more than happy to laugh every time I see someone
taking plods attention away from me.

Lie on your back? I prefer to look on it as dumb ignorance but see it
your own way.

Would you go if there was a mass rally in Hyde Park to protest about
threats to make you listen to plod at the side of the road? If you
feel strongly about it then get organising...

 

Six feet under? Surely burned?

They do take the piss tho Des.

 

I'll re-word it.

Kill some **** and you could actually get away with a non custodial
sentence.

And a "Mandatory life sentence" is what, these days?

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Andy Bonwick took a blunt brush and painted...

I don't know if you'd call it compartmentalising but if I was stopped and did
the "yes sir, no sir, 3 bags full sir" to get out of there as quickly as
possible I'd feel annoyed at myself the rest of the day.

If I had a rant I'd feel a lot better the rest of the day.

Note this feeling isn't to do with the being stopped as such, but to do with
the giving out high viz jackets to save lives just bugs the hell out of me
with my experience. (which as a poll count of 1 cannot be conclusive but the
outcome of the accident has made me feel that way regardless)

Hey, we're all different, I respect your opinion and actions.

Probably not as I can't think of any government that has listened to public
opinion.

However the git that knocked me off does have pride of place at the top of my
list if I ever go postal.

 

But they will try and get you in the end.

If they can't abuse the laws brought in to protect us (Section 44) they
will lie and make up fictitious complaints to arrest you. Just so they
have the last word and aren't made to look the idiots they appear.

I think the guy involved is very restrained and in his reference to the
lady Blunket special (PCSO) polite.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/21/photographer-films-anti-terror-a
rresthttp://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/21/photographer-films-anti-ter
ror-arrest

 

Pretty much what I said. Safest way is to assume none of them see you and
make rapid progress on that basis.

 

This may be connected only tangentially, but there's three reports here
relating what happened to photographers (all of whom are obviously very
aware of their rights to go about their business) who were apprehended
when taking pictures in public places:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/21/photographer-films-anti-terror-
arrest

One is the direct link, the other two are video links on the right hand
side. This may be the other side of the Nanny State, obstructing you
for your own protection, but it quite graphically illustrates what
happens when you give in to the impulse to "waste a bit of police time"
or bash their ears a bit about infringing your civil liberties.

 

Disgraceful. I mean, part of me wonders why he let it go so far, but at
the same time, he'd comitted no crime, and the acting sergeant ended up
having to use a completely unrelated law to get the cuffs on him.

Still, in the US, the PCSO would have probably tazered him in the first
instance.

Not sure how it would work out in NL..... <paging Spete>?

 

Oh, I'm not displeased about anything.

You made it clear that you don't like the UK, I asked you to **** off.

Quite simple really.

No, its not.