Texas troopers lying about motorcycle speeds?

That's not so much a function of the Corp as it is the regulations that
passed between 1990 and 1998.

--

Mark Johnson, Fort Worth, Texas; IBA #?; CM #1; DoD #2021
2003 FJR1300 "E²"

http://www.bikes-n-spikes.org

 

Geez, they haven't threatened to kill each other yet, so what's the
problem.

As for Mag, can you imagine what she would be like if she couldn't
blow off a little steam here?


84 - Virago 1000
http://www3.telus.net/public/dbinns/

Never mistake horsepower for staying power

 

Just doing my job sir. This is for your own protection. Enjoy your post.

 

Bill (or anyone else who knows),

Who was the radio personality? I obviously missed the info, as I quit
turning on the radio in the shop.

Thanks,
Rex S.


[snip]
Now I am

 

Never mind.. I found it... Kelly Howard of KEGL...


Rex S.

 

Not me,,, I didnt write that...Ive always said some tickets were deserved
and paying some of those was best...Others should be fought...and maybe they
all should be fought because of the bogus nature of the insurance cost links
in certain cases.

Andy and Doc and the boys run MC rides and events and give the money to
the local PD and fire depts ...it creates good will, not a bad thang.... but
leaves them perforce justifying much of what law enforcement does, which as
you know is not *always real kosher.




Phil Scott

 

Out of curiosity:

Who was the mentor?

When was this?

Where was this?

I remember reading about that incident - very sad.

I don't recall any similar statement in the class I took with my wife.
Different course, or perhaps somebody was adlibbing?

Good advice.

I'd sure echo that statement. My wife and I enjoyed the class a
bunch. The particular class we were in was actually quite good. Don't
remember the instructor's name -- US Marine, moved here from
California, rode a HD and taught the course at TCC NW Campus. The man
did a good job.

My wife had never ridden anything but dirt bikes as a youngster. I'd
ridden but had been off bikes for about 6 years. We both highly
recommend the class to anyone thinking about getting a motorcycle.
From what I've heard from other folks though, quality of the
instruction varies from instructor to instructor.

But to re-emphasize your point, there is no substitute for experience
and learning from others.

Oma

Walk with many, follow The One.
(to email, change nospam to w000023)

 

I basically took the class to:

skip the riding portion of the licensing process (Yes, it's
true, I rode for years with no license. They can't give retro-active
tickets can they?)

insurance discount

accompany my wife

see just what/how they teach such a class.

I didn't really expect to learn much, but I did. And, we both had
good time!

That's always cool.

Part of our course included statistics on accidents involving riders
of various amounts of instruction and experience. We were warned about
becoming over confident after a relatively short period of time.

I'm not too sure about the mandatory thing. It would be nice to see
biker awareness given some serious attention in cage classes.

I'd agree with that first year advice. Plus, the encouragement to log
lots of miles.

Oma - 97 Virago 1100

That's pretty good. ...


Walk with many, follow The One.
(to email, change nospam to w000023)

 

I think you might be taking a little artistic license with the facts,
Phil. I'm aware of these events having financially benefitted a fire
department, but I'm not aware that any police forces have received
money. Maybe you have access to some facts that I don't.

Either way, my view on law enforcement isn't affected by these events.
It may be more the other way around, that my willingness to participate
in these events is due in part to my feeling that the work they do in
general is important.

Like most others in this thread, I would prefer that police didn't show
the interest in my speed that they do. Unfortunately, accident stats on
backroads are usually followed by more vigilance from our friends in
blue. There is a relationship between accidents, public outcry and
increased enforcement.

It seems to me that where it begins to go wrong is that humans in any
organization strive to be seen as important. In any organization you
care to name, the prevailing tendency is to grow, never reduce its size.
Organizations reduce their size reluctantly; usually from outside
influence, like a market downturn, for example. Aside from that, you
can count on most of the people who build organizations to defend their
empires.

If you accept that the above is true more often than not, and then apply
the idea to law enforcement organizations, it follows that ticket
revenue could become a force with an agenda of its own.

A few others in this thread have suggested that speed limits are set
lower than virtually anybody wants. If that's really the case, where is
the lobby for higher speed limits or less severe enforcement? I'd love
to see such a thing happen, but sadly, I don't feel that, as a person
who would like higher speed limits, I am in the majority.

ab

 

....the event I attended at alices was benefiting both the FD and PD in the
area, and the next years also but you people RIDICLULED by plywood seat and
the remains of someones pet that I used for a cushion so badly that i
SKIPPED last years.... Jahaene has made it up to me though by trying flat
track and now Doc is running a flat tracking slide em sideways school in
Feb... so thats very good. I forgive em all now.

This spring I might show up on the KILLER flat tracker.

..

Certainly, we are on the same page.... and it varies with
juristictions..some have grossly used law enforcement to raise revenue even
shortening yellowlight times to trap drivers...and its those and that sort
of thing that has myself and some others on a path to beat all tickets....
on that basis... one valid ticket followed by one bogus one and your
insurance can double... so it can be seen as necessary to fight them both on
that basis, even though I dont myself, just the bogus ones...and ive only
had one of those.

I dont have much beef with the speed limits myself...but i do with the
insurance companies... and also with some of the enforcement approaches...
nothing is perfect.

The police Ive run into by and large have treated me very very well... it
still pays to know the rules as bownse has been posting..


the judge gets to see my imperfect self, contesting the imperfect ticket
scenario in the imperfect court....that seems fair.... no? We do that and
over time the system will improve. we bend over, and it wont improve.


Phil Scott

 

My very good friend Buddy Helscel.. At the time, he and I had been working
together for a few years.. We both lived in Irving.. The parking lot was at
Story Rd. and Irving Blvd.. Largely unoccupied shopping center.. Huge
parking lot.. First practice run was on the isolated country lane circling
DFW airport to the west.. It is now built up with airport related satellite
facillities.. LOL.. Lot's of changes..

This was in the early eighties or thereabouts..

Irving, Tx.. Buddy Helscel now lives in California.. Two years ago, shortly
after the ROT rally, which he rode back here to attend, he was diagnosed
with cancer in his face and head.. Later, it was discovered in his colon..
He is fighting a hard fight and doctors give him a good chance of survival..
Good man.. good friend.. and as I say "one of the best bike handlers in the
country".. As anyone who has rode with him, there are many, will attest..

As I stated, I haven't taken a course.. I hope that you don't have the
impression, that I am anti MSR safety courses.. That is hardly the case.. I
just took this opportunity to constructively criticize the comments I have
heard about regarding the completion speech by at least one instructor..

I'd take the class in a heartbeat.. As you know, I am retired and my income
doesn't allow me to indulge very often.. LOL.. I am sure, I could manage to
slide it into my budget, but it just isn't that high on my list of
priorities.. I am sure each one of us could benefit by additional learning
or training..

As I stated in one of the earlier comments in this regard.. I have been
present when a new bike was delivered to what I consider a rookie.. I have
advised many to take the course.. Thanks.. Oma.. See you on the road..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Thanks for the info. Sounds like you've got a good friend there. We
sure need to hang on to those when they come along!

I did not get the anti MSR impression at all. I have gotten the
impression that you firmly support just about anything that makes for
better riders and better riding.

I can relate to that on all counts.

I've also had to help at least one guy who had just bought his first
motorcycle. His dealer didn't even make sure he knew how to switch
his fuel supply to reserve. We sure need to look out for one another.

Glad you're here.

Oma
Walk with many, follow The One.
(to email, change nospam to w000023)

 

LMAO... Some are not... Thanks Oma.. Take care..

 

its a very good reason and well stated.... double jeapardy. is why..also
they count a 31 in a 25 ticket the same as 45 in a 25 in unsafe
conditions... that compound ufairly and slowing ones life to crawl as other
cars blaze by beside you is not an answer.... its a racket to a large
extent.

Phil Scott

[/QUOTE]

 

I think a better response would be ...
"Your Honor, I was on a Kawasaki ! There is no WAY that I was going over
85MPH"
Just kidding.
Dave

--
Ride like they are TRYING to hit you
http://profiles.yahoo.com/whiteknight32_1967
1991 CR500R
1979 XS Eleven
1973 GT750 waterbuffallo (two stroke)
1990 CR125r
1982 XR100

 

Scufflaw. I like that.

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but not all laws are good
laws. If you're happy obeying them all for no other reason than
because "the law is the law," then I kinda feel sorry for you.
Restrictive highway speed limits are there for little reason beyond
revenue generation. There are plenty of examples abroad of how
excellent driver training and road culture results in fewer traffic
fatalities per-capita than in the USA, even with much higher speed
limits (or no speed limit at all in some instances).

Tim Kreitz
2003 ZX7R
2000 ZX6R
DoD #2184
http://www.timkreitz.com
-----------------------------------------------------
"When I buy pistachio nuts, I never waste my time
prying open those nuts which are completely closed.
It's more productive to spend my time with those that
are partially open and willing to be opened further.
And so it is with people's minds." - Zarlenga
-----------------------------------------------------

 

I'm with you, Tim. I think it's high time we elected some transportation
officials like Pietro Lunardi:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/detail?sectionID=50677&documentID=163895

 

Show me the safety instructor who swears he obeys all traffic laws at all times
and I'll show you a liar who is also not a particularly convincing safety
instructor!

Tim

 

Ever considered emigrating to Europe?!