That attitude hasn't changed since I first started riding in the late 70s. I remember going through a near-identical situation in downtown Calgary AB in 1979 with an super aggressive PO who didn't see me, or my non-HD m/c. He saw "a biker and a goddamn bike" - we were just an instance of a type in his narrow dark paranoid mind.
He stepped off the curb and stood right in the middle of the travelling lane with his hand up to stop me - I had to stand the bike on its nose to stop without hitting him. The dumb ass. Then he barked at me to "Pull that fucking thing over", turn it off, dismount and take my helmet off.
Lucky I had all the docs in order, license, insurance and registration in a plastic holder in my breast pocket. Had to stand there beside the bike, with my helmet off, in the gentle cold rain, hands visible on the gas tank until he ran everything - I stood there for close to a half-hour. When he was finally done, he got out of his car clearly pissed right off and he threw my docs back at me with a snarl. Pointed a finger in my face and told me he and his cop buddies "were watching you scummy bikers - better keep your nose clean". No ticket issued - the stop was just a roust.
Last summer, I was randomly pulled over while riding my K1300GT - it had been decades. Sadly, same pissy attitude, same aggro demands for documents and to keep my hands out of my pockets barked at me via the loud squad car speaker. Only this time, when I pulled the helmet off to reveal my gloriously short grey hair and sixty something granddad fat face, the officer, all of 30 years old, melted back into somewhat of a neutral attitude. I asked "Mind if I reach into my jacket breast pocket to pull my docs"? He nodded and I slowly pulled everything out and asked why had I been pulled over. Random traffic check. He then asked me to open the seat and top case. This was new I thought. I politely stated I refuse to give consent to his request to search my motorcycle and he'd need to produce a warrant to proceed. I smiled and said I'd be glad to wait. He pulled a frowny face. Further, I pleasantly told him I had nothing more to say on the matter as I was exercising that right under Canadian law. He returned to the cruiser in a bit of a huff, took a full 1/2 hour to check the docs. Walked them back to me and handed them back without a word. Returned to the cruiser and peeled out, leaving me there to get it all back together. Sigh.
No ticket issued. Just a roust, with a wee bit of "this dumb civilian doesn't know his rights" fishing to get an illegal search in.
I get that POs see people at their worst, but damn, coming at everyone pissed off and just radiating aggro seems to be great way to precipitate negative interaction. A receive what you get sort of thing. I know I'd rather chug engine oil than be a PO, but why do these angry at the world types ever get to be POs?
Only he who rides knows that feeling.
https://lux1885326.substack.com/p/136-mph?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7zito8
Lux! Amazing! Loved your story! You got to the heart of it, man! Funny we both referenced ALIVE!
If you get tackled, be sure to get the bodycam footage so we can show it at choir!
LMAO
Love the way you describe embracing the bike
It is an intimate feeling with your bike only riders will understand
A relationship with the the thing that makes you feel alive but could also make you unalive
You wanna be on her good side(;
Definitely wanna stay on her good side. I treat her the way she deserves!
Very well-written, with a great surprise ending!
Thanks, Heather. I’m super-glad you enjoyed it!
LOVE IT
So glad you enjoyed, Kayleigh. Thanks for reading!
Wow. Those are crazy stories!
That attitude hasn't changed since I first started riding in the late 70s. I remember going through a near-identical situation in downtown Calgary AB in 1979 with an super aggressive PO who didn't see me, or my non-HD m/c. He saw "a biker and a goddamn bike" - we were just an instance of a type in his narrow dark paranoid mind.
He stepped off the curb and stood right in the middle of the travelling lane with his hand up to stop me - I had to stand the bike on its nose to stop without hitting him. The dumb ass. Then he barked at me to "Pull that fucking thing over", turn it off, dismount and take my helmet off.
Lucky I had all the docs in order, license, insurance and registration in a plastic holder in my breast pocket. Had to stand there beside the bike, with my helmet off, in the gentle cold rain, hands visible on the gas tank until he ran everything - I stood there for close to a half-hour. When he was finally done, he got out of his car clearly pissed right off and he threw my docs back at me with a snarl. Pointed a finger in my face and told me he and his cop buddies "were watching you scummy bikers - better keep your nose clean". No ticket issued - the stop was just a roust.
Last summer, I was randomly pulled over while riding my K1300GT - it had been decades. Sadly, same pissy attitude, same aggro demands for documents and to keep my hands out of my pockets barked at me via the loud squad car speaker. Only this time, when I pulled the helmet off to reveal my gloriously short grey hair and sixty something granddad fat face, the officer, all of 30 years old, melted back into somewhat of a neutral attitude. I asked "Mind if I reach into my jacket breast pocket to pull my docs"? He nodded and I slowly pulled everything out and asked why had I been pulled over. Random traffic check. He then asked me to open the seat and top case. This was new I thought. I politely stated I refuse to give consent to his request to search my motorcycle and he'd need to produce a warrant to proceed. I smiled and said I'd be glad to wait. He pulled a frowny face. Further, I pleasantly told him I had nothing more to say on the matter as I was exercising that right under Canadian law. He returned to the cruiser in a bit of a huff, took a full 1/2 hour to check the docs. Walked them back to me and handed them back without a word. Returned to the cruiser and peeled out, leaving me there to get it all back together. Sigh.
No ticket issued. Just a roust, with a wee bit of "this dumb civilian doesn't know his rights" fishing to get an illegal search in.
I get that POs see people at their worst, but damn, coming at everyone pissed off and just radiating aggro seems to be great way to precipitate negative interaction. A receive what you get sort of thing. I know I'd rather chug engine oil than be a PO, but why do these angry at the world types ever get to be POs?