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Outrider
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 01:15 pm: | 
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Wow...Thanks guys. All the responses are good ones. Although, I still can't get over reckless driving being a felony in Florida.
When you think of all the rights as a citizen you lose once convicted of a felony it is overwhelming that a State would use reckless driving as a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
The info I was looking for is what States in addition to Florida consider reckless driving a felony. Heck, I don't even know Wisconsin's position on the issue, but will find out real quick.
Good thing I stopped with the burnouts and wheelies years ago. Was more for mechanical and financial reasons as my bikes were dying at an alarming rate. LOL
Still, I speed and love to dance in the twisties. Guess I need to check up on what trouble I can get into with these habits. I made it this far without a major conviction and pray I never get one.
Thanks in advance for any information concerning whether or not your State considers reckless driving (stunting) a felony. |
Outrider
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 01:39 pm: |
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I know that Florida, like Arizona, is filled with geezers who probably shouldn't be driving, but are, and still have their licenses. Doing a power wheelie past someone like that could really cause some problems, even though you say you were safe.
Isn't just the Geezer's that over react to what they perceive is a "terrifying moment."
That said, those Geezer's that are still driving have little or no traffic violations on their record. In essence, they may be slow, but in a controlled environment (read: traffic laws enforced) are no worse than anyone else on the roads these days.
Think of your grandparents, parents and yourself and the loss of freedom losing your license entails. That has to be one of the worst things that can happen in a person's life regardless of age.
Most of us will get the privilege to drive/ride back but a Geezer may as well hang it up and move into one of those Senior Citizen (POW) Camps/Projects/Homes or what ever you want to call them. Now that is ugly if you are still an active person and is the equivalent of one of us getting a "Life without Parole" sentence. |
Stealthxb
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 01:40 pm: |
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Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in Georgia, but they will impound your vehicle and haul your @ss directly to jail. |
Rick_a
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 06:35 pm: |
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I'm not being serious when I say it wasn't "fair". Gimme a break. The kid says it all the time...I can't stand it.
I was lucky in that the cop didn't see all I had done...however, I believe I was treated unfairly for what he had seen. That's all. I'm a poor man. Half my meager Christmas bonus check is going to that ticket...which I happened to receive on the same day as the ticket. That is bad luck. Most cops are seriously on the prowl during holidays. I think it sucks, personally. To me getting busted is never something to be happy over regardless of the severity of the punishment.
Was I doing wrong? IMO not at all. I was well within my personal bounds. I used to be a real hooligan...now my only hooliganism is on my bike...and occurances are sparce and pretty tame at best. I'm entitled to at least that much, I believe.
This is my first real ticket in almost 3 years. I'm no @sshole of the roads as some would ASSume. Nothing wrong with having a little fun...it certainly should be no felony, anywhere.
Them geezers are dangerous at times...more dangerous than I for sure! Going seriously under the speed limit is just as bad or worse than speeding by the same degree. Creeping across the road holding up oncomming traffic is a serious hazard, too...and I can't count how many times some crabby little old lady has tried to pelt me out of a parking lot...looking right at me no less!
I learned my lesson...and it was a tough one...replace a lost mirror ASAP! |
Bcordb3
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 07:00 pm: |
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Outrider,
I totally agree with you, every word. |
Dino
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 07:12 pm: |
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"Most cops are seriously on the prowl during holidays"
"I was leaving the mall here (doing wheelies all through it."
Gee, it's not like they really had to prowl too terribly seriously to find you.
"That is bad luck."
Well, that's not what I'd call it...but okay.
"I learned my lesson...and it was a tough one...replace a lost mirror ASAP!"
Wrong lesson. |
Buelluk
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 08:47 pm: |
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I speed 95% of the time and i get caught occasionally..I just live with it...its the cost of the fun |
Littlebuggles
| | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 11:23 pm: |
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Were the glass half full you might be happy to have the extra money to pay for getting caught and still have some money left over. Count you Christmas blessings.
Working in law enforcement I can tell you I get no Christmas bonus, also no comp time or overtime for working most holidays this year, not complaining mind you, just trying to give a different perspective.
While you may know your limits you cannot control the actions of others - such as the old ladies trying (unsuccessfully so far) to rub you out in the parking lots.
I would suggest as a L.E. professional and a rider ed. instructor to try and find more secure locations for your hooliganism. Parking lots are very dangerous places to play when others are present.
Good luck and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and stuff.
-Mike |
Rick_a
| | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 02:11 pm: |
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I concur. |
Rick_a
| | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 02:15 pm: |
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Dino, they do have a hard time catching me...otherwise I'd be getting busted every day, my man. I have a keen eye for LEO's. They are not hard to spot...even in unmarked cars. I don't know how I let this one slip by me. It's very troubling. |
Dino
| | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 02:49 pm: |
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Must be gettin' old, man. Losin' your touch. A gunfighter has got to know when to hang up the hardware.  |
Swampy
| | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 11:22 pm: |
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Hire the greaziest lawyer you can find and he can go make a deal with his golfing buddy(The Prosecuter), where he will tell his golfing buddy(The Prosecuter), that you two are good friends and that you are really a nice guy and your daddy contributes to political campaigns. What this will get you is a sizable fine but no points which calculate into no increases in your insurance premiums. |
Dino
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:31 am: |
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Swampy - so young and yet so cynical! |
Akbuell
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 10:39 am: |
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As a retired police officer, I suspect the "one on the prowl" was one of about 3 in the area looking for a particular bike (yours) as a result of the 3-5 calls (plus mall security, for all I know) made by cell phone toting mall patrons complaining about "the crazy guy on a bike" tearing up the mall parking lot. The actions you describe after leaving the mall only served to confirm to the officer that the original complaints were valid.
We ride them because they are fun, responsive, and have a great performance/value ratio. I'm sure that somewhere near your home is an operating drag strip. Please, go there and explore the man'machine limits. At the end of the day, you will have zeero tickets, charging zero offenses, having talked to zero officers. I learned the hard way, having gotten to 9 points twice (on a 12 point system) before I got the message.
Have fun, ride smart, and keep the painted side up. |
Rick_a
| | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 01:32 pm: |
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Someone had told me that I could go to court and plead guilty...but request adjudication? He said they waved the points but still gave him the fine. A lawyer friend told him so. Seeing as I have a spotless record...he says it may work. I've never heard of such a thing. |
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