Americade checkpoint
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 628
Likes: 14
From: Sweden via Bisbee, Az.
Wraplock, you're the man.
I'm some years younger than you and I find the older I get the "more so" I become. Had my share of encounters and the ever repeated "are you having trouble understanding what I'm saying to you...boy?"
Even here in little old Sweden the events get crapped on by the popo. Have a big one coming at the end of the month and I'm either taking the car, or not going. Bummer.
I still won't go to the state of Kansas. They kept me on the side of the road for three hours waiting for the dogs to come in to sniff my bike! Where the hell was I going to be hiding anything? Yet the fool cop while rifling through my pack totally missed my HK p7 laying on top with the backstrap exposed and in plain view... TWICE!
Stock pipes, not an option. I can't even hear what gear i'm in! LOL.
I'm some years younger than you and I find the older I get the "more so" I become. Had my share of encounters and the ever repeated "are you having trouble understanding what I'm saying to you...boy?"
Even here in little old Sweden the events get crapped on by the popo. Have a big one coming at the end of the month and I'm either taking the car, or not going. Bummer.
I still won't go to the state of Kansas. They kept me on the side of the road for three hours waiting for the dogs to come in to sniff my bike! Where the hell was I going to be hiding anything? Yet the fool cop while rifling through my pack totally missed my HK p7 laying on top with the backstrap exposed and in plain view... TWICE!
Stock pipes, not an option. I can't even hear what gear i'm in! LOL.
In my 40 years of riding Harleys I've been to many Harley Rendevous and AmJams. I've been stopped, harassed, and detained for hours while NY State Troopers who didn't have any idea what they were looking at poured over my bike trying to find any reason to confiscate my ride. And in all that time, I never got a single ticket for straight pipes or non DOT helmet. Sadly, as I grew older and less tolerant, I got tired of all the harassment and stopped going to these large events. I've never gone to Sturgis, Daytona or even Laconia, I just don't have the stomach for a police state. I prefer to spend my hard earned money where I am appreciated and accepted, and believe me there are plenty of places where motorcyclists are welcomed.
Today at 61, my Roadking is box stock and I still enjoy the thrill of riding. After 40 years in the saddle I've found that the thrill doesn't come from a set of loud pipes or ape hangers. It comes from the freedom of the road. I'm sure I could go to these events and leave without a ticket of any kind, but I would probably get arrested at the roadside check points for expressing my opinion and utter disgust at the police tactics. I never could keep my mouth shut!
As a side note I've been told that the Fed Gov't is giving money to states to execute these check points under the guise of "motorcycle safty check points" (profiling!). When I was a member of the local HOG we got a news letter warning us of these check points and where to expect them here in NY. We were urged to insure that all our documents were in order and to expect enforcement of helmet and muffler infractions.
Today at 61, my Roadking is box stock and I still enjoy the thrill of riding. After 40 years in the saddle I've found that the thrill doesn't come from a set of loud pipes or ape hangers. It comes from the freedom of the road. I'm sure I could go to these events and leave without a ticket of any kind, but I would probably get arrested at the roadside check points for expressing my opinion and utter disgust at the police tactics. I never could keep my mouth shut!
As a side note I've been told that the Fed Gov't is giving money to states to execute these check points under the guise of "motorcycle safty check points" (profiling!). When I was a member of the local HOG we got a news letter warning us of these check points and where to expect them here in NY. We were urged to insure that all our documents were in order and to expect enforcement of helmet and muffler infractions.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
But you do NOT have the right to drive motor vehicles on public roads.
Driving/riding on public roads is a privilege in every state of this country, and by utilizing that privilege you accept the state's laws regarding that method of travel, which includes verifying that your vehicle complys with the law.
Driving/riding on public roads is a privilege in every state of this country, and by utilizing that privilege you accept the state's laws regarding that method of travel, which includes verifying that your vehicle complys with the law.
As for equipment violations, it should be left up to the state in which your vehicle is registered. If my state says my pipes are legal, then they are legal.
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 785
Likes: 63
From: TX
Don't think so... court cases say otherwise.. If they are "vehicle safety checks", then singling out motorcycles is profiling unless all motor vehicles are subjected to the same scrutiny.. if they are "motorcycle safety checks" and not all motorcycles are subjected to the same scrutiny, again it is profiling..
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 628
Likes: 14
From: Sweden via Bisbee, Az.
OK - you have said this at least three times now. And it got me to wonder if this was the case when everyone was riding horses and horse drawn wagons. Was it a privilege then to be allowed to travel across the country? Did the pioneers need a license to drive their wagon trains? How else can one travel the land by their own means if they don't use public roads? And what about the taxes I pay for those very same roads? I know motor vehicles are a different animal altogether and I appreciate needing a license to operate one. But I'm not sure about the whole privilege versus right aspect of it. Just curious.
It took me a LOT of phone time to get anyone that knew the laws (Yes i used my horse as transpo often, Vons, HOme Depot, Starbucks, I even went to vote last time on horseback). I finally got the answer from a high-up in the mounted police division San Diego.
No helmet, no cleaning up the ****, no insurance and (laugh if you want) you DO have to pay the meter when you hitch your pony in a parking spot and private property owners can say no trespass.
Last edited by aaamax; Jul 2, 2012 at 06:50 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 6,009
From: Boston suburbs
I think this is a big point. In Florida, tinted windows on your car are legal. If you take that car and drive to visit your nana in NH. You don't get a ticket in NH for your tint, because it's legal in your home state. Why is it different with motorcycles? I would think if your APEs are legal in VT, and you cross into NH, you should be legal there as well.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: vermont
I wish that was the case. but don't think it is....In most case's I believe it is up to the officer. Like in NH you don't need insurance....but if you come into VT which requires it you have to have it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
OK - you have said this at least three times now. And it got me to wonder if this was the case when everyone was riding horses and horse drawn wagons. Was it a privilege then to be allowed to travel across the country? Did the pioneers need a license to drive their wagon trains? How else can one travel the land by their own means if they don't use public roads? And what about the taxes I pay for those very same roads? I know motor vehicles are a different animal altogether and I appreciate needing a license to operate one. But I'm not sure about the whole privilege versus right aspect of it. Just curious.
As for equipment violations, it should be left up to the state in which your vehicle is registered. If my state says my pipes are legal, then they are legal.
As for equipment violations, it should be left up to the state in which your vehicle is registered. If my state says my pipes are legal, then they are legal.
Of course you have the right to travel, but the mode by which you travel is something else entirely.
You have the right to walk, of course, but besides being stupid, do you have ther right to walk down the middle of a freeway?
Do you have the right to drive a Sherman tank down a city street?
Are you allowed to fly your helicopter ten feet off the ground through a residential neighbothood?
Operating a motor vehicle on public roads is a privilege in every state of this country. You have the right to travel, but not by any mode that you choose any place that you want.
Paraphasing something I read on the topic, driving is privilege because the roads are provided by governments. Governments build and maintain things like roads, bridges and tunnels, and traffic lights and signs, that allow folks the convenience of traveling wherever they'd like, whenever they'd like, for a relatively modest price. In exchange for that convenience (and also for the safety of society in general) one must agree to follow the rules of those governments.
One does not have to agree to anything in order to have a right.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
Don't think so... court cases say otherwise.. If they are "vehicle safety checks", then singling out motorcycles is profiling unless all motor vehicles are subjected to the same scrutiny.. if they are "motorcycle safety checks" and not all motorcycles are subjected to the same scrutiny, again it is profiling..
OK, it's profiling vehicles. Happy?
The is NOTHING illegal about profiling vehicles. "Profiling" has become a dirty word when applied to law enforcement using it with people.