I've seen the light.

[TheCafeKid]

I wait for him to walk up to the bike. Then tell him my intention to get off the bike and remove my gear. Having grown up around rough spots of the US (not that Dayton is all that rough, but it can be, I DID live in some BAD parts of LA for a good while) I make damn sure an officer is aware of any action i may take. I have no desire to give him any ideas that I might be up to something and for him to hit me with the pepper spray. Some of these younger, green cops down where I work are all too willing to go straight to use of force if you give them the SLIGHTEST reason to think they could get away with it. A buddy of mine was waiting for a buddy of his (who was NOT a buddy of mine) to get booked one night down in the Springboro local jail, as he was to be released afterwards on O.R. My buddy went to the window to ask how long he would be. An officer stepped out into the waiting area and told my buddy to calm down. My buddy says "Calm down? I am not upset. I simply asked her how long it was going to be." The cop told him again to calm down and relax. My buddy again stated he was simply asking a question. The cop grabbed my buddy by the arm and started to drag him toward a chair. Of course, he had no right to put his hands on my friend and he jerked his arm back, asking the officer to please take his hands off of him, and the officer immediately pepper sprayed him. Fortunately for my friend, and unfortunately for the officer, this was all on video with audio, and there were other people in the waiting room who also caught the draft of the pepper spray. My friends parents are well off, and he lawyered up pretty good and sued the officer and the Springboro PD. Of course, the PD dismissed the officer, and settled the whole thing out of court, because they didnt have a leg to stand on. Now my buddy has a super nice WRX STi out of the whole deal. Long story, not so short, is, if I am stopped, I am super polite, I do not argue, if I think i have something to say, I say it politely, and if the officer disagrees, I shut up, and if I KNOW im right, I will take the issue to the judge. Most importantly, I dont give them reason to give me a hard time. If i break the law, I take it like a man. I did the crime, I'll do the time as it were. I dont hate cops, but there are alot out there, especially in the rual areas where there really isnt much for them to do, I always keep in mind that they are most times looking for ANY reason to rack up the charges. Alot of these small towns rely on this as income. I also keep in mind that cops, especially in inner cities, often only see people at thier worst. This helps me to remain calm, even if the officer is being a bit of a prick, and keep the situation as pleasant as possible given the circumstances. And most times, if you are respectfull to them, and dont give them crap, or lie to them, they will be very cool, and sometimes, even let you off with a warning.

[Bill Lloyd]

The bike

What I got from all this is...you GOT the Bandit already!!! ???

-- Bill

[marvinsc]

Earl had the Bandit last August in West Virginia.

[Draketh]

I got stopped the other night for no reason, I didn't even notice it was a cop behind me, I just though it was another cager in an SUV riding my ass with more important places to be than behind my bike.

I laid on the throttle a little doing about 10 over hoping they would stop riding my ass. This was at night so I didn't see the lights on top of the SUV until they came on.

The lady was nice and just wanted to make sure I was the person registered to the plate. We chatted for a bit and I was on my way.

[earlfor]

What I got from all this is...you GOT the Bandit already!!! ???

-- Bill

I've been on it for a bit more than three years now. I rode it to the Robbinsvile rally two years before the Wva ride. I will probably never get rid of it unless to get another one. Its the perfect bike for my preferences.

Earl

[Flaggo60]

I got stopped on my 650G one May afternoon by an officer who wanted to check me for license expiration. My plate said "May '93" and it was May '94. But my birthday's May 31 so I was still legal. Once that was established he said, "So how do you like this bike? My brother has one and I'm thinking of buying it from him." So we chatted about the virtues for awhile and for all I know he bought it and visits this forum.

[mcloud]

Leaving Lowes, I had placed my credit card in that place on top of the license and now in the dark, I could not read what I was handing him.
He looks at the card and says, "I believe this is a credit card". Hmmm says I, I dont guess that is going to do is it?
Earl

You can't bribe an officer with a credit card, they only take cash

[PAULYBOY]

You could have pleaded feeblemindedness with the credity card thing.
I, myself, rely on name dropping. I've had several martial arts peers on both the PD and the SWAT team, and they are all fine gentlemen.