Two arrested after 118mph

[waylap]

Just thought I'd share my memorial day with you. Not having much luck finding folks not buckled up on main roads in town, I ventured out to the interstate. It didn't take long.. first was a car at 106 in a 70, next stop was a 112 in a 70, then 3 sport bikes in a pack at 118! Two had no M/C endorsement and went with me to the puzzle palace, the other got a mandatory court date for more than 30 over the speed limit. She was the only one of the three to even have a M/C license! Be carful out there friends, some riders are not good company. I really need a short ride to relax but I am too tired to be out there with that nonsense tonight.

[Bobnoxous]

Ticketing speeders at 30+ mph over is a much better use of your time than the "nanny state" click-it-or-ticket rubbish anyway. Good job getting those fools off the street, at least for a while. Hopefully they'll grow up a little before they try again.

[RFW]

I realize that the law is the law, but it IS amusing that these same speeds, on the same sort of roads in Germany would be considered either normal, or a bit slow. As for "safety", even at these speeds (and higher) they have a lower fatality rate than we in North America do. Go figure! It is rather odd how our speed limits are so arbitrarily low here.

[Baba_ORiley]

I wish you'd been there this afternoon. While driving my car on the freeway I was following a sportbike-riding squid (who was wearing tennis shoes, shorts, sleeveless t-shirt, and a full-face helmet). It's a busy 4-lane urban highway with moderate traffic flowing well at about 70mph. So this guy is in the far right lane just in front of me, and he turns around several times to stare intently at all of the traffic behind him (looking for LEOs), then pulls a 2 mile long wheelie, which he eventually continues right down the off ramp to the service road.

 

My concern was that he'd lose it and dump it right on the freeway in front of me. Frickin' idiot.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Rocket_Cowboy]

It is rather odd how our speed limits are so arbitrarily low here.

 

Set to match the average skill level of the drivers over here. The Germans also think we're a bit odd for insisting that any car we purchase have these things called cup holders.

[waylap]

I know what you mean, and I try not to harsh anyones travels, that's why I generally don't go after them in certain areas until 95-100+. That's approximately the speed where one typically knows they are going to have an escort before too long yet there they go. Just to clear it up also, the one rider that had a VALID license drove away with a ticket. The other two had to go because of the license thing, no local address, not the registered owner of the bike etc. In other countries , the riders at this speed on a similar highway would certainly have a license for it and most likely have better driver training than we have and be dressed appropriately ATGATT.

[DrDakar]

Dear Officer

Any BMW on a high way between any two cities in Europe is going 118 mph (189 kmh). Why are the speed limits so low here in States ?

 

OK, I am just kidding. Speed limits and hard working officers are really saving lives of motorcyclists like me.

[Agent_Orange]

What roads? State, interstate, local?

I've scraped 'um up off of all.

[DaveC]

Dear Officer

Any BMW on a high way between any two cities in Europe is going 118 mph (189 kmh). Why are the speed limits so low here in States ?

 

Obviously you have not been to the Netherlands. They have speed cameras every 1km or so that catch your license plate info and send you a ticket if you are going too fast.

That really puts a damper on speeding. You just cannot get away with it on the highways I have traveled.

[MotorinLA]

I realize that the law is the law, but it IS amusing that these same speeds, on the same sort of roads in Germany would be considered either normal, or a bit slow. As for "safety", even at these speeds (and higher) they have a lower fatality rate than we in North America do. Go figure! It is rather odd how our speed limits are so arbitrarily low here.

 

Contrary to popular American belief, there are a number of portions of the Autobahn that have a posted speed limit (120 km/h or about 70mph, if I recall correctly), or at least it did when I drove on it in 1998.

 

Despite the fact that there was no speed limit in many areas, I found that most drivers did not exceed 100 mph (perhaps self-preservation and common sense is not quite dead there yet…)

 

Another thing is that a large number of drivers in northern Europe actually exercise some driver etiquette. When you drive on the “freeway” there, people don’t try to run you off the road, or kill you in some other manner, if you flash your lights at them when you come up on them from behind in the fast lane. Amazingly, they pull to the right and let you pass (bear with me, I know it is a hard concept to grasp…). They also usually stay to the right if they are not actively passing another vehicle (in some European countries this is actually a traffic law).

 

Speaking from personal experience in contacting thousands of traffic violators, the “common sense” and sense of personal responsibility of the average American driver, does not lend itself to freeways/highways/roads without a speed limit.

[Jim Moore]

Where in Florida, just out of curiosity?

[Wyn]

Almost beat the crap out of a crotchhead. Guy goes flying by me real close, changes a couple of lanes and slams his brakes on at the red light. Of course in the usual crotchhead riding gear. None!!

 

I was real close to gettin off Nubb and giving him a "dumb ass lesson" but the light changed and he disappeared.

 

 

 

ISYHTRAH

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

Despite the fact that there was no speed limit in many areas, I found that most drivers did not exceed 100 mph (perhaps self-preservation and common sense is not quite dead there yet…)

 

With the price of petrol in Europe, it surprises me that average driving speeds are so high; you'd think everyone would voluntarily be creeping around at 50 MPH in top gear, trying to maximize their MPG (or minimize their liters per 100 KM, or however they measure it over there...).

[Paul Mihalka]

With the price of petrol in Europe, it surprises me that average driving speeds are so high; you'd think everyone would voluntarily be creeping around at 50 MPH in top gear, trying to maximize their MPG (or minimize their liters per 100 KM, or however they measure it over there...).

No, they help themselves by driving cars that consume half as much as ours.

[motorman587]

Usually when I get a motorcyclist, sport bikem, young without license, I just give them a notice to appear. I know that each department has their policies on arresting people, but my point is, I just happy they did not run from me. I tell them that too. The reason I am not taking to jail is because you stopped.

[lawnchairboy]

I was told "I'm glad you didn't run" by NC trooper about a year ago...

[Lineareagle]

One of the things that makes a huge difference in many countries in the EU is that they still believe that driving a vehicle is a privilege NOT a right.

Consequently the training and testing required is more a right of passage then just something to get out of the way.

The responsibility of driving well and within the law becomes a challenge to your privilege, abuse it you lose it.

Note the comments by the LEO's here where leniency in ticketing is somehow a good thing, it would only be respected for what it is if the consequence was more severe in the first place.

Strange how we create a culture that demands rights but not a culture that is really willing to remove the right when it is abused.

I mean, did those guys know it was illegal to ride without an endorsement?

Yep.

Did the LEO know that?

Yep.

Is the endorsement something that is important?

Nope, after all they rode without it and they will suffer little if any consequences for not having it, ergo, get rid of the endorsement, it doesn't mean anything anyway.

Let the driver beware, let everyone drive it is their RIGHT!

 

un-rant.

[PRC]

I think my brothers in law enforcement are doing the right thing. The part you may be confusing is the trip to the jail. A notice to appear or criminal citation still ensures the rider without the endorsement has to appear in front of a judge for sentence. The trip to the "greybar hotel" is just that, a trip. The penalty is the same if physically arrested or cited. When on the motor, you can't transport so you have to call for a patrol unit. That ties up someone else, so discretion plays into the decision. So yes, if I can cut them loose with a citation or NTA and then turn the motor over to someone else, then I will. No use pouring salt into an open wound by taking a person who had a momentary lapse in judgement to the jail house. We're after compliance, and you get better results with positive re-enforcement. I'm sure if we took everyone, then some would be complaining we're stormtroopers worthy of Hitler's praise.

[Stir]

John, I feel that is a great policy! If they have nothing to lose, they are more likely to run.

 

Many people on this board run 110 and I've heard as high as 150+ when in Torrey. It is hard for me to come down on a squid when I know that I've run higher speeds. I think location is important as well as the likeliness of them hurting others. I have not compassion for a biker who does high speeds and wheelies where others can get hurt from that activity.

 

M

 

Usually when I get a motorcyclist, sport bikem, young without license, I just give them a notice to appear. I know that each department has their policies on arresting people, but my point is, I just happy they did not run from me. I tell them that too. The reason I am not taking to jail is because you stopped.

[waylap]

This was on Alligator Alley, so the speed was not "jail worthy" but the rules I have to follow say that without proper I.D. and or residing elswhere dictate a physical arrest. This way at least we have as much info-prints,picture bond $ to hopefully bring them back for the court date. The one fellow that was suspended and had no endorsement had 4 (four) suspensions in '06 for failure to pay traffic fines so tickets obviously weren't a concern to him, and if he was NTA'd he would probably not be back for court. I wasn't on a motor that day so I had my own transportation and didn't have to tie up someone else. We generally don't take the motors on the alley because they are Harleys and don't handle those speeds too well and don't offer any protection while stopped on the shoulder. Unfortuneately the Alley accounts for about 20% or higher of our fatals.

[E30TECH]

Usually when I get a motorcyclist, sport bikem, young without license, I just give them a notice to appear. I know that each department has their policies on arresting people, but my point is, I just happy they did not run from me. I tell them that too. The reason I am not taking to jail is because you stopped.

I was going to ask "what would you have done if they hadn't stopped?".

 

If I was going that fast, I would think twice....

[RFW]

It is rather odd how our speed limits are so arbitrarily low here.

 

Set to match the average skill level of the drivers over here. The Germans also think we're a bit odd for insisting that any car we purchase have these things called cup holders.

Indeed. My German friends think it is hilarious that we have such a fixation on these cup holders, and that we seem to place greater importance on cup holders, than on nearly anything else. Apparently, including driving skill.

[KMG_365]

Last week one of our local LEO's cites a Navy squid for speeding on his crotch rocket here in Coronado, a few days later he and his friend are speeding in San Diego on their bikes with the squid's sister on the back of his bike. They are lit up by the CHP and the friend stops, but the two-up squid flees. The CHP give chase initially, but the chase is called off when the squid exceeds 120mph and is driving erratically. A few miles later he fails to negotiate an overpass transition ramp from I-8 East to I-805 South (still in excess of 100 mph) and they slam into the retaining wall launching both of them over the side and down to the street far below. I feel sorry for his sister.

[Jim Moore]

We generally don't take the motors on the alley because they are Harleys and don't handle those speeds too well and don't offer any protection while stopped on the shoulder.

I'd be more worried about aligators. I swear I saw a thousand of 'em last time we went across the alley. I'd hate to be broken down out there at night.

[azkaisr]

I can never figure out why you would want to go that fast in an area where there is traffic. I do pass cars in town if I am in a pack and see a clear space ahead where I know I am going to be safer. KMG_365 and I did that when we toured San Diego for instance. Other then that I am at or near the speed limit (flow of traffic here in Phoenix is often about 10 over). Out in rural AZ, I ride faster. Sometimes over 100. I make no apologies for that and if LEO gets me I will pay the fine. Having ridden and driven in Germany a lot, I think that most of the reasons I feel comfortable at higher speed is because of training. the condition of my moto and I understand the risk. In Germany the risk is lower because the drivers follow the rules. Well except some of the people with other country plates and the occasional German idiot. The best rule that they follow there is they always pass on the left (unless in stop and go) which allows you to know you aren't going to get someone coming up on that side Even here in the states, I always try and pass on the left. The only exception is when an idiot is riding in the left lane and won't move after about 30 seconds.

 

Kaisr

[motorman587]

This was on Alligator Alley, so the speed was not "jail worthy" but the rules I have to follow say that without proper I.D. and or residing elswhere dictate a physical arrest. This way at least we have as much info-prints,picture bond $ to hopefully bring them back for the court date. The one fellow that was suspended and had no endorsement had 4 (four) suspensions in '06 for failure to pay traffic fines so tickets obviously weren't a concern to him, and if he was NTA'd he would probably not be back for court. I wasn't on a motor that day so I had my own transportation and didn't have to tie up someone else. We generally don't take the motors on the alley because they are Harleys and don't handle those speeds too well and don't offer any protection while stopped on the shoulder. Unfortuneately the Alley accounts for about 20% or higher of our fatals.

 

I know there are policies out that you must follow. Totally understand. One time I was running laser near our National Guard Armory, and clock this guy in a military uniform and he pulled into the Armory. He was a Private and being former military I asked for the First Sergeant. Short story, warned him about the speed and he ended up picking up cigrette butts the rest of the afternoon at Armory.

[philbytx]

+1 with you on that Paul

How about some small diesel motors here in the U.S.?

Rented a Skoda in the U.K. last month....63mpg (translates to 52mpg) on the motorway at 65/70mph!

[Boffin]

+1 with you on that Paul

How about some small diesel motors here in the U.S.?

Rented a Skoda in the U.K. last month....63mpg (translates to 52mpg) on the motorway at 65/70mph!

 

Ah, so you were the merchant banker in the Skoda.....