As a sportbike rider, I find that every time I leave home to go for a ride, I have to contend with the very real possibility of getting pulled over for some minor infraction that wouldn't even have warranted a second glance from law enforcement a few years ago.

I recently read on a law enforcement forum that any number of cops will not give a sportbike rider any break at all, no matter what, and some of them actually target the sportbike rider.

Understand, I want the laws enforced, and I have no problem with getting ticketed for a real offense. On the other side, I tire of being profiled merely because I ride a sportbike.

The media doesn't help this at all. Sportbikers are portrayed as the new outlaws. Shows like Superbikes on Speed focus on the outlaw stunters and sportbike clubs being stupid on the public streets.

I do everything I can to stop the perpetuation of this image - the rotten apples spoiling the scene for the rest of us. I'd love to hear some ideas from the rest of you about what we can do about ending the "war."

Here's some things that I do, or have done:

• Taken large groups of sportbikers to law enforcement charity rides
• Written letters to media outlets asking them to portray the other side of the sportbike community, or disparaging them for their one-sided portrayal
• Promoted track days and racing to satisfy the "need for speed."
• Offered to help stunt groups find places to practice on private property

 

I have been holding off on writing an article about this subject because I did not want to seem biased. I will write an article about the subject soon.

The problem is that that the few who do tricks, and ride at outrageous speeds on public streets and highways are ruining it for the many who don't do such things.

I just saw a guy riding down Topanga Canyon Blvd.,  a major Blvd. while he was dismounted from his bike to the left and holding onto his bike at around 50 mph. He must have had some steel souls on his boots because they were sparking.

As long as you have idiots doing stuff like that on public streets you are going to get rousted by the cops.This issue affects riders of other bikes as well.

Look for my article soon.

---

Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.
Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer Blog
www.bikerlawblog.com

I guess I see it as having a greater effect on the sportbike community because we ride the same bikes that the idiots ride, and I think we get looked at a lot more closely than other bikers.

Norman, as a responsible sportbike rider, I welcome your thoughts and opinions on this one.

There are as many bad examples as good in each category of riders, be it cruisers, sport riders, or whatever.  Tourers?   Look how many ride in shorts and loafers.     They set bad examples for those of us that take a responsible view of motorcycling.   LEOs around here are pretty good about not doing too much to the motorcyclists.   Our Police Chief is a Gold Winger and an MSF coach.   Many of his officers are riders also.  

 If your dept offers it, go on a "ride-along" with a patrol cop and see if you can ask and observe how they treat motorcyclists.   I feel fortunate to live in a small town that encourages community involvement with the police dept.   Ride alongs by citizens are encouraged.  And the officers I have ridden with are more than willing to have someone along on their tours.  And they are more than willing to share their views and job with the public. 

 I was hopinbg to do a summer ride along to get to see how they treated the motorcyclists, but did not get to.  It's interesting how traffic acts around that Crown Vic with lights on top, as opposed to how they act around my personal truck. 

As was said, best way to effect a change is to get involved and try to make a difference.  If they see some responsibility, they may be more likely to cut others a break.

Rando

Although I have seen the rise in stunters on the streets over the last few years I have never had any troubles with the police. I have been riding for over 20 years and mostly on sportbikes. The few times I was pulled over it was because I deserved it except once when the officer wanted to ask me about my bike.

I've also been riding over 20 years, also mostly on sportbikes. I've only been pulled over once on my bike, and I deserved it.

On the other side of that coin, many of my friends have been pulled over for technical infractions that would have been ignored a few years ago - aftermarket turn signals, borderline loud pipes, that sort of thing.

I wrote my article. You can find it here: http://www.bikerlawblog.com/index.php?blog=2&title=why_is_law_enforcement_rousting_sport_mo&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

---

Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.
Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer Blog
www.bikerlawblog.com

Just read the article.  Good points.  IF you are riding within the law, you have no worries.   "but what fun is that?" will be the question that arises.   My feeling at this point, is that if I ride, have a good time, although a slower one than I might like, and I get home without crashing, then that's a pretty damn good ride.   The streets are no place for racing, stunting, drinking, and all that other stuff.  

 My experience riding along with the local police is that if you give them a reason, they will pull you.   That can be as simple as a license plate frame blocking part of your license plate.   One officer I rode with began a pursuit because it appeared the lady had no plate.  It was pretty sedate.   As we got nearer the car, there was a plate with one of them plastic covers on it.   Just as he slowed to break pursuit, the radio came back with a revoked plate.  So he stopped her, with instructions from state DMV to confiscate the plate.   At 1:30 am, he made these people walk.   And I was in total agreement witih it.   No insurance, expired plate, I can't remember what else.   No driving infractions on that one.

 But if someone has something suspicious about their vehicle, they have a reason to pull you.   I also observed one officer following another vehicle because it looked like someone else that had an outstanding warrant.  Imagine how the person being followed felt when (if)they noticed the cops pull a U turn and follow them for a while?   BUT had that been the person they were looking for, it would have been one more off the street. 

If they know someone has a long record of infractions, it seems like they are more willing to follow to see if they can get them again.  And sport bike riders look like someone that might do something.  Profiling?  Maybe.  

 I also saw the officers let a few off that I would have pulled had I been the officer. 

My whole idea at this point in my life is that if you stay within the law as much as possible, you won;t get in trouble.   And if you do decide to run 100 mph, you have to be willing to pay the price for that action.

Rando

 

As another sportbike rider, I see both sides of the coin.  Sometimes I do feel that by being on a sportbike, i'm targeted and profiled.  I know that it is due to those that riders that are out there stunting and riding dangerously on public roads.  All we can do is try and show the community & police that we are not all the same. 

 I agree with going on charity rides, helping the police when you can, and being a responsible rider. Part of that means wearing full gear at all times.  I've heard from several police officers, if they spot a rider in full gear, even if they are speeding (within reason) they won't go after the sportbike rider.  However if they don't have gear or are doing something dangerous, they will go after them and give them as many tickets as they can.

The other side to the coin is this, what about the cruiser rider?  How many bikenights do cruisers have that alcohol is involved in.  I know of at least 6 here in town, where alcohol is a major factor.  We had a sportbike night set up at a local Applebees for a few years.  They finally told us they didn't want us there anymore since we didn't buy enough alcohol.  However they still have their cruiser night with high alcohol sales.

 Police officers will often come out to our sportbike night and wait for people leaving to pull them over.  Be it for speeding, an expired tag, or whatever.  When was the last time any police staked out a cruiser bike night with all the alcohol sales and drinking. 

NeonspeedRT:

I've heard from several police officers, if they spot a rider in full gear, even if they are speeding (within reason) they won't go after the sportbike rider.

 Another reason to wear proper gear all the time. Glad I do.

rando:

My experience riding along with the local police is that if you give them a reason, they will pull you.   That can be as simple as a license plate frame blocking part of your license plate.  

You basically just illustrated my point. I think there's a heightened awareness amongst the police regarding sportbike riders and this type of minor "technical infraction," which, like I said, would have been ignored not all that long ago.

rando:

If they know someone has a long record of infractions, it seems like they are more willing to follow to see if they can get them again.  And sport bike riders look like someone that might do something.  Profiling?  Maybe.  

That's the part that concerns me most, to be honest. Just because I "look like" I might do something, I don't want to be automatically guilty in the eyes of the law.

 

Here's a different slant on the cops/sportriders story:

Hugo Mosquera has always had a passion for motorcycles. Since he was young, Mosquera has loved cruising the open road, as many riders do today. But according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detective, the difference he sees between himself and too many of today's bikers is training.

Mosquera has used his platform to start a program dedicated to keeping bikers safe. The group's members confront street- and dirt-bike riders in unauthorized areas and encourage them to come out to a track for safer riding.

...Their free lessons include everything from clutch and throttle control, balance and counter-steering to effective braking methods. "We hope the techniques they've learned with us on the track will help them on the street and give them an appreciation for riding safely," Mosquera said. "Most people that come out with us, they get hooked. They don't even want to ride on the streets anymore, and if they do, they want to do it safely."

...

"We try to bridge the gap by going to places where they hang out and reaching out to them," Mosquera said. "When I used to be a motor officer, I would see large amounts of motorcyclists and I would warn them and invite them out to the track with us. I would encourage them to take some type of safety class. I was always trying to provide service in any shape or form."

Here's the website for LASD Motorsports. Apparently they conduct track days in coordination with an established track-day outfit and donate their time as instructors to the students they invite.

---

A superior rider uses superior judgment to avoid problems that would demand his superior skill.

The below is actually from another post, but fits here perfectly.  If you are obeying the law, then the police are supposed to pull you over.  If your bike is not properly maintained then, again, the police are supposed to pull you over.  These tickets are the easiest.  Just fix the problem, and have them recheck at the police department.  No charge or points.

I am a minority on the road, because I love when the marked police cars are with me.  Everyone immediately learns to drive.  They stay in their lane the whole way around the curves.  They don’t speed.  They use turn signals, and turn the direction that they signal.  They don’t run red lights.  All of this changes when they are not in plain view.  So they can drive they just chose not to.

The many good always pay for the few bad, but if you are not doing wrong, then you are actually better off with them hawking you since it makes those around you drive better.

Good luck and ride safe,

Mike