| Author | Message | ||
     Tatsu |
So a group of us meet at the usual hang out in Waikiki and roll out for a night time ride. About halfway through the ride all 15 of us get pulled over by the police. Apparently someone was riding with a "blue" light under their tail section. Police state and I quote, "your buddy with the blue light caused all of you to get pulled over tonight". So I'm like okay... then he says "actually you guys were speeding". Which is BS cause I was carefully monitoring my speed because of the last ticket I got. Then more police arrive. Then the officer says..."we're going to check out your bikes and if they check out okay, we'll let you go". So they proceeded to "check out" the bikes... guys got tickets for flush mounted turn signals... not DOT..,tickets for clear tail lens....tickets for inter-grated tail turn signal combos..... turn lights not the right size... then the kicker.. the cop comes to my XB12R.... "your headlights are not DOT regulation". Mind you I have stock lights on my bike. I said.. "BS" and was about to say few other choice words,when my friend just tells me to walk away which I did. This brings me to the point of the story... where can out find out what the DOT regulations are for lights...such as flush mounts, colors, distances at which lights can be seen and the such. I'm about tired of the police attitude against street bikers. If I was riding a Harley, I know for a fact, they would not have stopped us. I know a few guys makes it hard on the rest of us, but I still don't think it's fair and is harassment. I just like to fight fire with fire... I want to know the regulations on what I an getting citied on ..so I can make sure I'm not going to get a ticket on some BS just because the police don't like the fact I ride a street bike. | ||
| Enduro261 |
Not to offend anyone here, if I do I'm sorry. I really really really dislike cops. I feel they use their power to infringe on my constitutional rights. Now there are people I dislike more than cops and that would be lawyers. Lawyers in my opinion are the scum of the earth. I am not saying all lawyers, but a fair number of them are scum. For the most part lawyers are the people who get hired into political positions. These people are the ones who write these ridiculous laws to "protect" us from ourselves. I don't know about all of you, but I don't need someone else telling me how to protect myself. If I die or get hurt doing something I enjoy so be it, life isn't perfect. Turn signals, neon lights, bullshit laws like this are exactly the type of things that will destroy the simple freedoms we love as Americans. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Tatsu contact the dealer, if they won't assist you then contact Buell directly with a fax of your ticket showing for illegal headlights. What you must remember about Hawaii is that there are ALOT of illegal bikes running around. It isn't just the bikers that get it, but the Sport Compact and mini truck crowd as well, I know of atleast a few instances when I lived in Waikiki on Kapuni St. where several of the HD crowd got busted as well. Atleast they didn't break out the Db meter and check each exhaust system. You do also realise Tatsu that your buddies choice of BLUE neon was just asking for trouble. Seriously, think about it for a second...don't you think that maybe the choice of blue was a slap at HPD? Or maybe that was how HPD took it? Enduro, you complaint of: If I die or get hurt doing something I enjoy so be it is good and all, but atleast 90% of the DOT laws are there to protect others from your actions, or atleast make it easier for you to be seen killing yourself happily. How many times have you been riding atnight and been blinded by some oncoming car with improperly aimed headlights? Or had someone turn in front of you unexpectedly because you didn't see their turnsignals? Ever roll up on a car because you couldn't tell their brakelights had come on? Before you ridicule those "ridiculous laws" look at how they affect you when someone else breaks them for style in a way that isn't safe. Just some food for thought. | ||
| Mikethebike72 |
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/maninfo/mcpkg002.pdf That will take to site that shows pdf of what manufactures and importers need to know. It has cross references to other standards and codes that you should be able to track down on same site. However, what would mainly get you is the fact that most states, not sure if Hawaii is one, requires vehicles to maintain lighting, exhaust, emissions, et al, as the manufactures made them. You should be able to go to your states DOT website to find out more for your state. Stock may not be cooliest look, but will give you least hassles. As for the headlight, BMC had trouble getting DOT approval, from what I have heard. Interesting thing I saw in that pdf, some standards dated to 60's, even though paper dated from '00. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Hawaii is very strict when it comes to the lighting codes. Even to the point that they were very upset about manufacturers releasing the clear taillights from the factory. Not sure if Tatsu has noticed it or not, but its not uncommon at dawn or dusk to loose the brakelight when the sun hits the clear lenses of the taillights. I got in the habit of looking for the third at those times of day if the sun was behind me. | ||
| Vikingdave |
Tatsu, Enduro, laugh in the "man's" face! Bikers have and always will be a thorn in the po-po's side. We stand for what they oppose...FREEDOM!!!They hate the fact that we are better armed, better shots, and better riders. The hate the basic ideals of this great country...Life, Liberty, and Property. Always remember the whole BS government thing is organized crime, with the force(po-po) to back it up. When the sheeple have decided enough is enough, those PU*%#@SY'S don't stand a chance! | ||
| Okinawaxb12s |
good god.ya'll are bashing the hell out of some police ain't ya'll.just my 2 cents,take it for what it is worth.all cops are not BAD.let me repeat-all cops are not BAD.i can say this because i was one for over 12 years.myself,road bikes and about 80% of the rest of our 68 man dept. did too.don't get me wrong,there are some assholes out there that don't deserve to wear the badge.not takin' up for the cop that got Tatsu,just stating what i know.again,i am not preaching,just stating fact.not all of us are jerks-kinda funny,before i got into law enforcement i thought the same thing-'till i needed one........... | ||
| Spatten1 |
FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) - Sec. 571.108 Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. http://fmvss108.tripod.com/ is a summary. http://fmvss108.tripod.com/fmvss108text.htm is the full text. | ||
| Spatten1 |
You can look up other the rest of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards on government websites too, if you want to read something really dry sometime because there is no drying paint to watch. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I thought all cops were jerks when I was growing up in NC, then I move to California. The CA cops I've met have been great. They usually cut me slack and worried more about hassling real criminals. I think it's worse where there isn't much crime and cops get bored. | ||
| Reepicheep |
IMHO here, but if you don't want to get tickets, don't hang out in places where there is chronic chronic disrespect for the law and chronic dangerous behavior. Lets be honest here, a nontrivial number of "stunter" or "sportbike" crowds take great joy in picking fights a mocking cops at every opportunity, and would not think twice about felony fleeing and evading when they think they can get away with it. I don't know the specifics of this situation, but the thought that came to mind was don't walk into the middle of a bar fight, then complain that somebody punched you.... | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I don't remember when it actually happened but I think they changed "To protect and serve" to "To collect revenue" | ||
| Okinawaxb12s |
"collect revenue".depends on where you are screwing up at the time.some places you get a ticket for being there,others don't bother you unless you are f@#king up. | ||
| Gonen60 |
It's funny, Here in Virginia Beach HDs are on every corner and at every stoplight. Lot's of HD mounted police, so the police and the HD riders have a wave fest at each other. When I ride the Buell, most bike police wave at me also. of course I to got pulled doing 88 in a 55 and the cop was a first class jerk.(auto cop) My brothers a police detective, so I give the police the benefit of the doubt. It's a tough dangerous job for chicken feed pay. bottom line, there are good ones, and bad ones, like with anything. I will add that 90% of the sportbike riders around here are squids, and ride on the edge at all times. It's a catch 22, sportbikes were created to ride "FAST"...it still amazes me, you can buy a 160HP, 190mph street bike. What a great country. | ||
| Dasbuell |
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| Brucelee |
"then I move to California. The CA cops I've met have been great. They usually cut me slack and worried more about hassling real criminals. I think it's worse where there isn't much crime and cops get bored." Ditto on this. My dealings with the CHP have been very very positive. | ||
| Court |
Good luck.....brother in law was a Sacto cop. I did the ride along a number of times until I grew weary of watching him work folks over. I'd been called when he was being screened for the academy and told them he had "an elevated sense of right and wrong and his mission to enforce it and a hot temper". Apparently they like that stuff. I watched him bounce a drunks head off the front of a Crown Vic for 5 minutes once when the guy questioned his reason for asking him what he was doing. I keep my distance...even with NYC cops. | ||
| Lonexb |
on a side note, if you look at your headlight. the black trim ring around the lens even says dot on it and has a number on it. | ||
| Outrider |
The blue light was just a case of the "Probable Cause" issue that gives the Officer(s) the right to stop the group and check both you and your bikes out. Apparently, none in your group was doing anything illegal like drinking or under the influence so to justify the stop they nit picked every vehicle. If someone had been, they probably would have searched all of you and your bike bags for things you should not be in possession of. Tacky, but that's the way it works. Additionally, it works for both crime detection and prevention. I don't agree with the program, but I have modified my behavior long ago to accommodate it. | ||
| Scooterroid |
Probably legally debatable that "probable cause" can be extended to others because of one motorcyclist. Begs the question: can you do the same with autos? My 2 cents. Steve-O | ||
| Jlnance |
I thought all cops were jerks when I was growing up in NC Where you from? Raleigh & Wilmington here. | ||
| Citified |
Move to rural IA, no one out here gives a crap, I got pulled over for dropping my knee and the cop was like "I got you going a little fast there, try to keep it down." and sent me on my way. | ||
| Daveinm |
Most cops I've met are a$$holes, not all though. The cop that gave me my 91 in a 65 ticket wasn't a jerk about it, but he didn't let me go, and I understand and respect why he didn't. It is his job to give me the ticket. It's for my own safety and the safety of others. Regardless, some a$$hole of a cop gave me a parking ticket two weeks ago in front of my house for parking facing the wrong direction. A $40 ticket in front of my own house!!! Talk about infuriating. What exactly is the point of that? I'm fighting this one for sure! | ||
| Eor |
I think I missed something here... Were you actually cited for NOT having a DOT approved headlight? | ||
| Blublak |
Just a couple of quick thoughts.. Not trying to start anything here.. But, Tatsu, in some places, like VA.. A visible blue light on a motor vehicle, that is not a law enforcement vehicle is a violation. I'll bet, if the blue under the tail wasn't lit, that would have done it for the 'pulled over due to a blue light'. Check some of your local history. Is there a history of problems with 'Stunters' and the like? There are roads in my area that are regularly 'over patrolled' and 'strictly enforced' because of such idiots. This has put pressure on all of us, unfortunately since they can't tell us 'good' hooligans from the 'bad' squids, they have to come down on all of us. I understand this, I don't like it.. But I understand it. Best advice I can give, understand your ACTUAL rights and the ACTUAL LAWS involved. These are you're best defense when it comes to 'over zealous' enforcement.. Remind me sometime to tell you the story of several bikes being pulled over at once.. For speeding.. Later | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
hey blublak ur stealing courts line.  | ||
| Tatsu |
Hey all thanks for the links... yes I understand about the blue light. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is those guys nit picking everyone. BLAH!!! I'm going riding.... Thanks everyone! | ||
| Blublak |
Yeah Don, I know I am.. But it just seemed to fit.. heheheh.. Thanks to Court for not suing or some such..  (don't think he's got a copyright on it yet..) Next time he's near the nations capital, the ice cold beverage of his choice is offered as fair compensation! hehehhehe... But it's a different story, for a different time.. Later, | ||
| Raraf |
Our society deems that we need law enforcement but we also need maggots to decompose our feces. Checks with no Balances. Denver got sick of them killing innocents and the state voted and the cops officially have Citizen Babysitters. Hopefully, it doesn't get neutered by the Bacon Union. | ||
| Cruisin |
Thankfully the Vermont cops don't pester us for "illegal" things with our bikes. If you want to go by the letter of the law here, if it didn't come from the manufacturer that way, it's illegal. That means no changing tail lights, turn signals, exhausts, etc. Most of the bike shops don't care about the exhausts, and depending on which one you hit may/may not care about a DOT stamp on the turn signal/tail light. I put flush mounts behind the screens next to the tail lights in my S2 - but it had a DOT sticker so it was fine. Get this though - Vermont does not require turn signals...so I could take them off and be fine, but if I put them on they have to have the DOT stamp?!?! I now have LP's LED turn signals on my XB12R and the chopper shop I have it inspected at doesn't care. Of course with yearly inspections and no Buell dealerships it pays off to become friends with the local bike shop. |
