Wreckless driving and endangerment. Yay for me

[Klondike1020]

So I decide to take the bike for a spin to the bank because the weather is extra nice.

I make a left and get up toward Walmart. After Walmart there is a long stretch of divided highway. So as the car I am behind puts distance between it and the truck to my right I signal and merge left into about two car lengths of space as I accelerate hard up to about 95 in a 55 on wide open grassy road.

Then I slow down to about 60. A Half mile later the nice grassy area ends and I stop at a red light. When it turns green I accelerate very hard but only up to about 60 actually lifting the front a little, but not enough for tire to leave the ground. In this stretch of a couple miles and intersections I pass two more cars.

I signal an give a moment each time.

Well then at the next red light an unmarked SUV pulls up and it's a trooper. I pull over immediately and set my keys on the ground (you do this to put the officer at ease so he knows you have no intention fleeing.)

He asks me if I have any prints and I tell him no. He tells me I just have never been caught yet.

When he comes back he tells me I will see him in court for wreck-less driving and endangerment. And tells me he caught me speeding, endangering other by weaving in traffic and attempting to wheelie on two occasions. I tried to reassure him that I was not trying to wheelie. I stopped short of laughing and telling him that if I wanted to wheelie it is effortless on my bike and I can show him so that he can learn to differentiate between suspension movement and a wheelie.

This is frustrating because I wouldn't have even contested a speeding ticket but I signal and pass safely and I never wheelie. I am just not for showing off.

My desire for acceleration the street was misguided and stupid but I now for certain I didn't risk anyone else's well being or my own.

I Was ridding recklessly he never would have been able to keep up with all the stop light and the traffic was just beginning to pick up because it was 3:30ish and the evening commute was starting up.

- does anyone have advice on how I minimize the damage?

I may have to see if a traffic lawyer might be useful in reducing it.

This police officer certainly set me up so I cannot avoid repercussion for my lapse in proper judgment, but I would like to avoid a moving violation as serious as wreckless driving.

So bummed. The only way this could be more ridiculous is if I was ridding
My gfs 300

Ugh. Face palm and fail of my year.

[CC Cowboy]

There are these people, they are called lawyers, they usually have an in with these other people, they are called judges, and they get together, laugh and then you pay some money and it's over

[LNasty]

Yep, better get that lawyer cause its buy buy license for a year . Your insurance will prob skyrocket as well. Sorry man, that sucks!

[Ninjinsky]

Yeah a lawyer, preferably a lawyer with bike experience who will understand the issues between, as you say, suspension squat and a wheelie.
Mitigation is the objective, on most of the charges but it needs emphasizing that you did not wheelie per se. They can make it sound really bad, "wheelies! a small child could have been killed etc' " you need a lawyer who can defuse the drama in that.
I remember I was pulled at midnight for entering a 30 at 38. When the summons arrived it was for 46!
I have hated the police for the 40 years since that and will go to my grave doing so.
Welcome to the outlaws compadre.

[xorbe]

Lawyer up.

[csmith12]

[Panda]

Wreck-less driving good.
Reckless driving bad.

[Klondike1020]

HAHA wreck-less. reckless.

Yeah I have emailed a few traffic attournies in the area right away when I got back.

I wish I had put my go pro on. At least then I would have solid evidence of no wheels leaving the ground and an exact approximation of how many cars I passed. But it wouldn't make a difference any how.

I am going to have to research who are the most useful Lawyers for traffic in this town. I would like to find one that has a good relationship with the District attorney in this town.

I am probably going to sell my bike and have the receipt of sale to show that I got rid of it. If a cop has it out for a guy on a rocket he just does.

I cant help but feel like I should have fled. It would have been so easy.

But I was raised to respect the institution of law. Its unfortunate that we live in a time of revenue generation.

[jkv45]

Ya - most likely you'll need some legal help to get that reduced. "Reckless" is usually a significant fine and a big point value.

I would expect 95 in a 55 to be seen as "reckless" by law enforcement. Looks like you need to get to the track.

If you flee and get caught ("can't outrun a Motorola") you'd be in jail right now and it's probably a felony. Best that you pulled over.

[Sirref]

yup, definitely time to find a lawyer. Also you may want to live in a state that doesn't hate bikes like NY does

[snot]

Lawyer...

[ninjamunky85]

Sounds like a dick cop to me. You did the right thing though by being respectful and not doing anything to escalate the situation.

Believe me I've seen a lot worse. One of my sm buddies got surrounded by a squad of cops and even had a helicopter on his ass for riding on the sidewalk! Anyway he got the charges, which were pretty serious, reduced to some little bs charge.

Best thing to do in this situation is to fight it in court. If you're lucky the cop won't show and the ticket will be thrown out. Even if he does show you'll likely get the charges reduced, but it's probably gonna cost ya.

[CC Cowboy]

Bottom line is they are just looking for money.

[choneofakind]

If he did not detect and record any actual speed, I would take that information off the post. I would not give any more fuel on the fire if this thread was to be used.

[Finesse]

the gsxr made me do it

[Ninjinsky]

Choneofakind is right you are self incriminating up there with numbers. I'd write something more nebulous
(and ask those who quoted to do like wise)

[Redgeneral]

First of all, Lawyer up.

Second....you were going approximately 40mph over the speed limit, passing cars from 60mph, and "lifting the front a little, but not enough for tire to leave the ground", and you don't think you were driving recklessly?

Don't get me wrong, we all do it from time to time, but this time you happened to get caught. Sure, the cop was a dick, but he wasn't wrong.

[Jono]

Sorry to hear about your ticket. I've never been in that situation so I can't recommend anything. Best guess, get a lawyer.


Sounds like you need to move. I'm lucky enough to live in a city where cops are busy with real crimes.

[JohnnyBravo]

So you made a sonic boom or two... Get a lawyer, shake some roots, drive on!!! You do grow herbs an know where to find roots an such right???

[subxero]

Breaking the speed limit by more than 25 or 30mph (one of the two) in most states is considered reckless driving, never mind anything else you were doing that is enough right there, if he has any legit readings on your speed you will be at the mercy of the judge. As long as you are not a repeat offender they tend to be reasonable and knock the charges down a bit.

[ally99]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Bottom line is they are just looking for money.

Damn popo and quotas. Sorry to hear what happened.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Bottom line is they are just looking for money.

I'd agree if we were talking about 5-over.

Those speeds are deadly serious for law enforcement, and I don't think the officer is thinking about generating revenue at that point - he just wants to nail ya.

[JohnnyBravo]

Guess you met the carolina state tax collector... He just welcoming you

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by jkv45

I'd agree if we were talking about 5-over.

Those speeds are deadly serious for law enforcement, and I don't think the officer is thinking about generating revenue at that point - he just wants to nail ya.

Most of the cops I encountered say they won't bother you unless you're 15 over. That's where the fine jump drastically. Now if a cop sees you all over the place passing on the right then left and such they usually think you under the influence. Either way a lawyer can usually straighten it out with a judge, unless you are under the influence, then that cost more.