How are you treated differently?

[webhustler]

When you are on a bike, it is not like being in your car. This is one of the reasons we choose to get on and ride in the first place. It is also one of the things that makes the road a more dangerous place for us, not only because of blind spots, but also due to legislation and the fuzz.

How have you been treated differently because you were on a bike and not in a car. It might have been police harassment, or it could have been actual bike only legislation. Are the differences on the treatment justified?

All I know is that all of the parents of my friends were in two categories, those that let their kids watch me or ride with me, and those that could not come over. I think the difference was justified. How about you?

[BH121869]

I found that most parents didn't like me when they found out I wanted to date their daughter just because I rode a Triumph back then. Some were cool about it but most were not. Because I had a bike my friends also wanted one so that too made the parents mad at me.

[clockdaddy]

I think biker are being accepted more all the time simply because of the sheer numbers.
I also think the type of bike makes a world of difference. A CBR or a Ninja, for example, draws a lot of attention from Mr. Law because of the stereotype that they're always racing to get somewhere. Cruisers tend to get noticed less because the riders are generally older and considered more "upright" law-a-biding citizens!
I also think the louder your pipes the more you're "watched" by "the man". Quiet pipes "say" the rider is Mr. Conservative.

CD

[Kid2Nite]

Over the years, the attitude against bikers has changed dramatically. Back then, in some areas of the country; the scene in "easyriders" where they both get blown off their bike with a shotgun, wasn't so far-fetched

[Urban Coyote]

I have have had no negative treatments towards me, because I ride a motorcyle whether it was my Harley or now my Kawasaki Ninja by neighbors, other drivers or by the police.

Motorcycles here of all shapes and sizes (and bikers of all shapes and sizes ;) ) are very common all year round by people of all walks of life, so they are a reguar part of the society I live in.

[firebos7]

I haven't noticed any differences in the way people treat me (well I suppose my 14 year old cousin thinks it cool but...)

I haven't had any problems with the police... or peoples parents.

Although I suppose I have been told by a few coworkers (that don't ride) that I look cool... or funny in my riding suit.

It's quite popular where I am so I suppose most people are used to it.

[LowRiderGhost]

In reflection I doubt much differently whether driving my pickup (WITH Harley Stickers :rolleyes: ) or out on the scoot. Admittedly as my wife would point out, my Ranchero as it stands does look like something out of 'Deliverance' and/or 'Mad Max'. :eek: What has surprised me over the years though that I've never known a more likelihood (or less likely) of being stopped depending on the type and style of bike I was riding. I could be on Harleys or on Full Dress Gold-Wings and it didn't make no difference. If I was in a group of speeding cars I'd be the one to get stopped and get the ticket guaranteed! :rolleyes:

LRG

Footnote: NOT a single ticket for anything now in 25+ years - amazing?! ;) Rule of the thumb: As long as everyone else is passing YOU, yer' reasonably safe. :D



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[Roadrash]

I look the same no matter where I go or what I'm riding/driving so I get pretty much the same treatment. I get the stares, the open looks of fear, etc.. It's great when I go to school events with my daughter, no-one will make eye contact with me, but they damn sure are nice to her!
One time, right in my "hometown" I had a kinda funny incident.
I stopped at the local convenience store, where I go all the time, to fuel up before hitting the road. It was in the middle of summer, so there was plenty of tourist/fishing/traveller traffic and when I got to the counter to pay, there was a line of five people in front of me.
The guy who was standing closest to the counter, next in line to be waited on, looked over his shoulder and caught site of me. He turned around, looked right at me and said "Sir, you were here before me." I was kinda baffled and replied, "No,... I just walked in. You go ahead."
He took a step back from the counter, pushing the other customers with him and said, "No sir, I'm sure you were here before me. Please go ahead." I stared at him for a couple of seconds, looked at the other people in line who were all nodding in agreement with him and shrugged.
"OK." I said and moved to the front of the line, paid and left. The clerk who was working, and whom I've known for years was chuckling the whole time! She kept giving me sh*t, saying "Hello SIR. Just the gas SIR? Anything else we can get for you SIR?"
It was all I could do to keep from busting out laughing.
Respects,
Roadrash

[HellFireX12]

Almsot every time I'm near a cop he/she has to slow down, pull behind me, and I can only assume pull up my tags. It gets a little annoying because I feel like they are out to get me, but then I think "what if some one stole my bike, I would want them to find it" and since I know Im not breaking any laws I get over it pretty quick.

Id be pissed if I got pulled over for speeding while following the flow, its more dangerouse to let every one zip past you so if I got a ticket for keeping myself safer Id probly go off.

[Kid2Nite]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the attitudes have changed over the years. Being a "biker" is much more socially acceptable nowadays. Back in the early 80's my main ride was a 56 Panhead on a hardtail frame, wideglide & 10" over on a stretched neck. Shifting was a suicide setup and a bobbed rear fender.
In short...it was what one would call radical.

I was constantly stopped and harassed everytime I took it out. I had to plan on a trip that normally took 2 hours to take 3 or more.

I have a couple other bikes now that I use more than the 56 (which I still have). Now when I take the 56 out for a spin, the cops barely acknowledge my existence.

[Schneiderman]

I haven't noticed too much different treatment. Of course cars on the road react differently to bikes than other cars, but as for going into a store or something the only difference is that sometimes I think people keep a little distance from me.

There's one gas station I go to pretty often where the attendants don't seem to trust me at all. As soon as I pull up on the bike whichever attendants, sometimes there are as many as four, kind of converge and keep an eye on me. They almost ignore the other cars until I'm gone.

[Roadrash]

Well, this weekend I got treated a little differently, but I'm not sure it was in a negative way.
I was with some Brothers in a bar after a swap meet. They had been in the same bar the night before, but I hadn't. We had only been inside for about two minutes when the security guard came over to us and said "OK guys, now remember,... the same rules apply tonight as last night, right?"
I thougth "Oh great, this crap already?!"
One of my Brothers spoke up and said "Yup! Any bodies have to be dragged and thrown out either that door or the one in back, right?" The security guard smiled and said "That's right. And no matter what happens, I didn't see a thing!"
We had a great night, and didn't have to drag out even one body!
Respects,
Roadrash

[citb98]

Bikers are sexy! haha that's one of the only differences I've found.
A lot of "the boys" around here ride so they have respect for bikers if you aren't being a dumbass
(that means they might crack much harder if you're doing tricks)
But I've had friends that had run-in's and just been let off with a keep safe warning not to do it again

[TFee3]

We just had a motorcycle awareness week here in Missouri. I live by one of the largest lakes in the U.S., and there are bikers on the road all the time here during the summer. I get dirty looks from some of the old f---s (my age), but nobody seems to do anything to aggrevate me. I have noticed, however, that when I drive my little sports car, people ignore me and pull out in front of me. Evidently, they think my little car is so small that I can't hurt them. It doesn't happen when I'm driving my big diesel truck.

[shelzmike]

Well, being a new rider (and being from a small town with not a whole lot of police presence) I haven't had that much experience yet. However, I do notice that when I am riding and people are in their yards or walking down the road I get the whole stare as if they have never seen a bike before. Although, I do ride a 73 CB350, so maybe they are not used to seeing one quite so old before, who knows!

However, the other day, I was getting ready to go to CVS to get my wife's prescription and a cop rode by and nearly skidded his tires trying to slow down and he just stared at me the whole way by. It was strange, but needless to say I waited a bit, but only because I still technically should not be riding without a licensed biker behind me (only have my learners, will be taking the MSF this weekend (and it is supposed to be upper 90s both days and humid - that sucks!). Anyhow, CVS is right down two neighborhood streets from me, so I went anyway. Didn't see the cop again, but still made me wonder wth his deal was. Guess I should get used to it.

Mike

[PerrySB]

From this cops standpoint there is no difference. However some bikers have attitudes and so that attitude can create a negative reaction. My issue is drinking and driving or riding, tailgating, and excessive speed, I don’t care if it is a cage or a bike. I find that at least twice a month I get a sport bike for a 100 plus, and normally it is a young rider that hasn’t had his endorsement for over a year. Why do I have an attitude about that, I hate seeing a young person die because of stupidity. I have seen bar hoppers so drunk they could hardly stand up, come out of a bar and get on a bike. I just hate to see people die because of dumb mistakes like these, and yes it gives me an attitude. The guys that are riding reasonably and having a good time I’m all for them because I ride as much as I can.

[TFee3]

Perry, I guess it's the same old story, all of you are judged by a very few. I have a local officer living right across the street, and he's an arrogant pushy little so-and-so and goes around the neighborhood telling people what to do when he has no jurisdiction out in the county. I had to remind him of that fact one day when he shot his mouth off at me, and if he was going to try a citizen's arrest, by law, I could defend myself any way I wish, and if he got hurt, it was his problem. He backed off. Because of his actions out here in the county, NONE of the city police are liked, and a couple of them are very nice.

Mike, you don't have to get used to it. Unless they're having a real problem in an area, they don't pay any more attention to a motorcycle than they do a car. Unless of course, they're like Perry and also ride. Then, they're probably interested in what you're riding, not what you're doing.

[shelzmike]

From this cops standpoint there is no difference. However some bikers have attitudes and so that attitude can create a negative reaction. My issue is drinking and driving or riding, tailgating, and excessive speed, I don’t care if it is a cage or a bike. I find that at least twice a month I get a sport bike for a 100 plus, and normally it is a young rider that hasn’t had his endorsement for over a year. Why do I have an attitude about that, I hate seeing a young person die because of stupidity. I have seen bar hoppers so drunk they could hardly stand up, come out of a bar and get on a bike. I just hate to see people die because of dumb mistakes like these, and yes it gives me an attitude. The guys that are riding reasonably and having a good time I’m all for them because I ride as much as I can.


Amen to that brother, all of that. Had to many friends and family already gone because of that. I can honestly say that I used to party pretty heavily when I was a teen and early 20's, but one thing I never did no matter what was a.) get behind the wheel when partying; b.) never got in a car with anyone who had, and c.) attempted as best I could to stop anybody from doing so, friend or not. Guess that is why I am still alive and kicking today. I mean, I do not party anymore, but when I did it was to have fun and death can really take the fun outta something.

Mike

[shelzmike]

Perry,
Mike, you don't have to get used to it. Unless they're having a real problem in an area, they don't pay any more attention to a motorcycle than they do a car. Unless of course, they're like Perry and also ride. Then, they're probably interested in what you're riding, not what you're doing.


Yeah, I realize that and to be honest think the reasoning was because of the latter. Or possibly he was looking for a stolen bike, which is fine by me. That just means that if mine gets taken they will actually be looking. Luckily, most of the police that are around here, town and county are pretty cool - it is a laid back southern country town, so that is probably why. Now, the state police, that is a different story! The only thing that aggrivates me sometimes is that my road is a passthrough from one major road to another and they always set up roadblocks up the street, which means if I go to the store, I get stopped. I hate getting stopped and my info ran both ways every time. It is SO annoying. I mean I am glad they are doing what they are doing on my road, but is it really possible that I could have gotten drunk, committed and crime and had a new warrant out on me in the 3 minutes I was at the store! :D

Mike

Mike

[PerrySB]

[B]Tfee3[B]
You bring up an interesting point and kind of prove my point. I know a few guys that are badge heavy, (meaning they push their authority). That usually wears off after a while but it is annoying to citizens when confronted with it. My attitude is I’m only a cop while I’m on duty, if I see a crime being committed when I’m off duty, I’ll call the cops, not my problem in the most part.
I need to read between the lines with your attitude toward your neighbor. It seems like you also have somewhat of an attitude towards him, and maybe it is warranted. However I believe a gentle answer turns away wrath. When you say you will defend yourself against a cop you must understand that even if he is a local, we have a thing called the thin blue line, I’m sure you have heard of it. We back each other up, no matter if it is city, state or county. Sometimes we are even nice to the federal guys but not too often, they live in a different world. So if you do get into it with a cop, generally you are going to find that whatever other cops get involved are going to be on his side, write or wrong.
Now if you have a cop that is really out of line, get in touch with his department and ask to talk to internal affairs. I guarantee you that if he is misusing his authority they will put a stop to it, at least that is the way it is hear.

Mike, I feel sorry for you. I hate roadside checkpoints, haven’t done that in years. It seems like they would get to know you and just wave you through. Maybe they just like your smiling face. Here again you might try talking to the supervisor in your area and see what he might be able to do for you.

[PerrySB]

TFee3
You bring up an interesting point and kind of prove my point. I know a few guys that are badge heavy, (meaning they push their authority). That usually wears off after a while but it is annoying to citizens when confronted with it. My attitude is I’m only a cop while I’m on duty, if I see a crime being committed when I’m off duty, I’ll call the cops, not my problem in the most part.
I need to read between the lines with your attitude toward your neighbor. It seems like you also have somewhat of an attitude towards him, and maybe it is warranted. However I believe a gentle answer turns away wrath. When you say you will defend yourself against a cop you must understand that even if he is a local, we have a thing called the thin blue line, I’m sure you have heard of it. We back each other up, no matter if it is city, state or county. Sometimes we are even nice to the federal guys but not too often, they live in a different world. So if you do get into it with a cop, generally you are going to find that whatever other cops get involved are going to be on his side, write or wrong.
Now if you have a cop that is really out of line, get in touch with his department and ask to talk to internal affairs. I guarantee you that if he is misusing his authority they will put a stop to it, at least that is the way it is hear.

Mike, I feel sorry for you. I hate roadside checkpoints, haven’t done that in years. It seems like they would get to know you and just wave you through. Maybe they just like your smiling face. Here again you might try talking to the supervisor in your area and see what he might be able to do for you.

[TFee3]

Perry, I do have an attitude against him, because he even came over on our association's private road and told the young man across the street he couldn't ride his 4-wheeler up and down on it. The county put up a sign in my yard stating county jurisdiction stopped there, and the road is way past that point. The guy has even run people down over 30 miles away from town in his personal vehicle waving his badge at them. Talk about badge heavy!!! I've even heard his wife tell him to loosen up, so you know it's bad.

Having said that, please understand that I always wave at law enforcement whether I'm in my car or on my bike. I traveled 5 days a week when working, and many times those folks helped me out. I'm glad they're out there and would never intentionally give any of them trouble, not even that nut across the street.

[shelzmike]

Wow T - that guy definately sounds like the acception to the rule and WAY overboard even those cops that are a little badge heavy!

Perry -

Yeah, the roadblocks are a necessary thing, unfortunately, but they are a hassle. The one thing that I think is there big hangup is my appearance. I am 29 and sometimes support the mowhawk (mostly cuz my kids and the kids on my baseball team think that it is so awesome!) - I also have tattoos and piercings (including one in my lip). I have had them for a while, but the funny thing is that I got them after I was doing the things that they probably would have wanted to know about. Anyhow, it gets a bit old when they ASSUME that I am up to no good just by my appearance. I mean, on Super Bowl Sunday I got stopped at the road block and the only thing the cop said was "Going to a party, huh?" I was pretty pissed about this assumption. I mean, I had my baby with me and I was in a big green minivan! I mean, cmon and I really who they should be worrying about. I told him I was just going to the store down the road and he acted like he didn't believe me. When I came back through about 5 minutes later, he looked pretty pissed and acted like he hadn't talked to me just a second ago and made me go through the wait for my name to be ran again. It was funny though, the dispatcher read it back but first said something to the effect of "as I said before..." But like I said, it is necessary and I can appreciate what they are doing, but cmon, give me some sort of break.

Oh, and this one time the first time we ever went through the roadblock there he asked me if I had been drinking (I was with my wife and two boys and it was about 9:30 at night on a Sat. - my boys were still in car seats at the time.) Anyhow, I tried to be funny and said "No I haven't, but they have and pointed to my 5 and 6 year old. APPARENTLY it is not okay to joke with this guy. He told me that he was serious and that it smelled like I had been drinking. I was not at all and wondered why he would just say that....oh yeah, I forgot, I must look like a drunk! :)

Mike

[PerrySB]

Mike you should move to California, you would fit in well here. We are not supposed to profile people but we do. It isn’t right but that is the way it is. We even have rednecks here. One of the guys I worked with said every time he seen someone with a lot of tattoos he wondered how long the person had been out of prison, glad I never showed him mine. I have found that people that dance to a different drummer aren’t really much different than anyone else. Want an eye opener, look at the real dangerous people that we have come across, Ted Bundy and the nuts like him, most of them look like your normal all American guys. I learned long ago to never judge a book by its cover.

TFee3, my question is how long has this guy been a cop? As for chasing people down while you are off duty, that is a big no no in most departments. Fist of all you have no backup and secondly it is just a stupid thing to do. Most of the time when I’m off duty I don’t even carry a gun. Each department has policies regarding an officers off duty conduct, I would check with his department because it sounds like he is way out of line. If he hasn’t made it through is probationary period yet he is treading on very thin ice if you ask me.

[TFee3]

Perry, this town is Laurie, Missouri, population 488, so he and three others (I think) are the department, so it wouldn't do any good to talk with anyone there - they're all buddies. And, he's been there a very long time. It's like the little town I lived in growing up in South Dakota. The town cop was also the town drunk, and everyone knew him. One night, thinking it was my cousin chasing me instead of the cop, I ran the guy for about 20 minutes all around town. He was so frightened and shaky from the run that he couldn't write the ticket. Back then, of course, they didn't have radios in their cars. To be honest, it was fun seeing him that way, because he gave everyone trouble. For my 18th birthday, Mom paid the fine for me. :)

[shelzmike]

Oh, I know what his deal is - he is the Terminator, right? :)

Perry -

Yeah, I realize that profiling does happen - what will be will be right? I realize that by me looking this way I am "asking" for this treatment to a point. My sister live in CA (She moves around a lot within the state due to her job, so I am not sure where, but I know is is San somewhere :) ). I couldn't do it. I absolutely love VA (which is a far cry from the way I felt when I was a teen).

I live in a town where everyone knows everyone (sounds sort of like Laurie, MO with more people). However, I am not from here, so no one used to know me. Now, because of my look people KNOW me and once they get to know me they realize that I am pretty cool. Being the baseball and basketball coach for my boys has helped that a lot. I would like to say that I am helping teach people not to judge by looks alone, but I am not stupid, this will never stop happening. That is of course, until humankind all looks exactly the same thanks to communism and cloning! :)

You know, you are all right Perry. I know (from volunteering with the local rescue squad for many years) that there are many cool officers out there, but far too often you run into guys that are like those TFee is talking about.

Mike

[PerrySB]

Since I’m new to this forum I don’t know it this should be a private conversation or what, I don’t want to step on no toes. Quick story though, I few years ago a couple of buddies of mine and I decided to take a loop up through Idaho, Montana, and then back home. We are all cops, we were rolling long about twenty over the speed limit in beautiful Idaho and we got stopped by a local sheriff. This lad had to be fresh out of the academy so we decided to have some fun. My two buddies got off their bikes lifted up their coats that exposed their guns and yelled draw. Those guys up in Idaho have no sense of humor. I thought that poor guy was going to pass out. Obviously none of pulled down on him or drew our weapons but I would give a thousand dollars for a picture of that guys face when they yelled at him. So you see we are human to, like to have fun, but try not to brake the laws that we enforce, well not too much anyways. That kid was so mad he gave each one of us a ticket, I guess we deserved it.

[TFee3]

Perry, just for your peace of mind, NONE of these statements are private! We're all glad you're here, because you give everyone a different perspective on law enforcement. I had a similiar thing happen to me. Because I worked for a finance company and always had lots of customers' money on me, the Kansas City police department said I could carry a weapon. Some guy was putting along about 15 mph on a 35 mph road. When he made no effort to speed up, I went around him. He tore around me, blocked the road so I couldn't get by, and jumped out. He was wearing a pair of shorts, T-shirt, and cowboy boots, of all things. Also, he had a 357 in a western style hogleg strapped on. He flashed a badge in my face, and because he was so weirdly dressed, I demanded to take a better look at his credentials. It turned out he was two counties out of his jurisdiction, and was also a reserve deputy sherrif. I pointed out to him that he was out of his jurisdiction. Then, I pulled my suitcoat off from my weapon and asked if he wanted to play quickdraw with me, because he would surely lose. I thought the poor guy was going to pass out when I did that. He went white as a sheet! He never said another word. He backed all the way to his open door, got in, and drove away. At the time, I was driving a 1968 383 Roadrunner the company (Chrysler) had given me for a company car. I'm sure he thought we were a bunch of kids out running around having a good time, and he was going to give us some sh--!

[pintslayer]

Since I’m new to this forum I don’t know it this should be a private conversation or what, I don’t want to step on no toes. Quick story though, I few years ago a couple of buddies of mine and I decided to take a loop up through Idaho, Montana, and then back home. We are all cops, we were rolling long about twenty over the speed limit in beautiful Idaho and we got stopped by a local sheriff. This lad had to be fresh out of the academy so we decided to have some fun. My two buddies got off their bikes lifted up their coats that exposed their guns and yelled draw. Those guys up in Idaho have no sense of humor. I thought that poor guy was going to pass out. Obviously none of pulled down on him or drew our weapons but I would give a thousand dollars for a picture of that guys face when they yelled at him. So you see we are human to, like to have fun, but try not to brake the laws that we enforce, well not too much anyways. That kid was so mad he gave each one of us a ticket, I guess we deserved it.

Wow. In this day and age, that sure sounds like a good way to get dead.:eek: What if that cat was a IPSA champion with a dislike for bikers and he was on his way to the Walgreen's to refill his Valium scrip? You'd all have a bunch of extra bellybuttons right now and you'd be shaking hands with Jesus.

[PerrySB]

Good point, didn’t say it was the smartest thing to do. It just that the guys I ride with like to get a little carried away at times. However our pranks are usually tame enough nobody gets hurt, maybe a little mad, like that kid. Let me make it very clear, no body would draw a weapon, now that would have been foolish. We also identified ourselves very quickly, we didn’t want the kid to have a heart attack.