Just a short post I just watched a video on YAHOO.com. I found extremely informative, and thought provoking. The video was of a man pulling over a Washington state police officer. Citing a State law which prohibits the use of UNMARKED POLICE VEHICLES being used as patrol cars. Stating that unmarked cars are usable in undercover investigations. The point that was brought up is…A citizen cannot know if he is being pulled over by an authorized police officer, or a stalker, or a serial killer. (to go from one comparison point to another). In the state i live in we have had numerous incidences, ( specially unescorted women), being pulled over by a predator, or cop want to be, by cars MARKED as police cars. Now you throw in the UNMARKED car issue. So how do you know if you should pull over. Just because a car has the lights, which can be bought by it seems anyone. You have seen them in movies, car shows,etc., doesn’t mean there is a rel reason, or a real cop behind the wheel. Yet if you don’t stop then you are accused of resisting a police officer. Pull over in a well lit public spot? I have been on roads where I might travel 30-40 miles before I find a spot like this. You know by this time if the cop is real he is going to have an army of fellow officers after me. I will be charged with fleeing law enforcement. We know we do have officers, though few in the overall number of police officers, who would fall in this category of predatory behavior. I do recall the times when a Town Clown, (town cop), would camp outside someones home and wait for them to leave so they could stop them for loud muffler violations. I know of a man who did drink too much, BUT city cops would wait about a block from the bar he visited and wait for him to leave. I knew they were waiting and told him to stay his regular time, but only drink Coke. He did. They pulled him over almost as soon as he pulled out of his parking spot. Ha! Ha! Joke was on them. Another time a friend of mine was 5 minutes from his house when pulled over. They gave him a breath test, and he passed it. They held him there for 20 minutes, by then the alcohol had apparently entered his blood stream and he failed. Off to jail. in our state we had a ,I think state police officer, who was convicted of murder 2 times. (Same Murder). Yet he was granted a 3rd trial, with the stipulation that the convicting evidence in the first 2 rials could not be used. Like I said these are hopefully few and far between. In closing I would like to go record as being a proponent for discontinuing use of unmarked patrol cars for police use. This I do in the name of Citizen Safety. That Is How I See It. Below is a link to the video. Whether it will still be up when you check it… I don’t know. I know they usually only have these things up for a short period of time. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/citizen-pulls-over-police-officer-193834583.html Views: 112
Tag: Safety
Motorcycle Here I Come
Spring means I dig my faithful steed out of the garage, and RIDE. Of course we have had a very mild winter, and I have taken a few short rides, BUT now these rides will be more frequent, and most likely a little longer. Since I last spoke of riding, I have added another motorcycle to my herd, (I don’t know if two equals a herd, but….). I ride my cruiser most of the time, but my lady friend prefers the ride of a touring bike. So late last year, I had a chance to buy a HONDA Goldwing. It may be old but, it was such a good bargain. The bike is a Silver, 1987 Goldwing Interstate. The cost of only $700.oo was too good to pass. I was looking at a Harley Davidson, similarly equipped. But, although it was a great buy, at $6,000.00 The Goldwing made more sense. I don’t know how much she will accompany me on a ride, meaning I’ll be on the cruiser most of the summer. By the way I rode that Goldwing home. A distance of 100 miles. Then we put about 800 miles on it the last month to month and a half of the riding season. No problems. Surprise. It seems to have truly been a good buy. I didn’t know what to expect for $700.oo, I figured if it turned out to be a lemon, I could get my money back selling the parts. ( A couple of years ago, I traded my Touring Bike, Trailer and all, for a pickup truck for her. In two years she drove the truck twice.) We used to ride a lot together on that old touring bike, but my riding buddies have either died or moved 1,000 miles away. (You don’t get much riding time with them when the distance is so great). Picking a group to ride isn’t easy. For us it has to be someone we both like, and have similar likes, and riding styles. By “riding styles”, I mean, we, my friends, and I, would ride a little, eat a little, frequent rest stops, etc. For example, we took a 224 mile trip, which we departed at 9 am. and arrived at 5-6pm. Like I said we stop frequently. Like, during that ride, we come across an airplane museum, so we had to stop. We stopped at Honda Dealers, for the couples riding Honda, Once at a Kawasaki Dealer, and One Harley Dealer for our Harley riders. Plus we stopped around 10 am for breakfast, and around 2pm for dinner. Not to mention the necessary stops. So here we go looking forward to a safe happy summer of enjoying the great outdoors; riding. Be sure you check your bike out. Be sure everything is tight, clean, and working properly. Take a few short rides before embarking on that long trip. And, although I have been riding for…..oh lets just say a long time. I still ride by myself a few times before I take off with a passenger. Then we take short trips, before we go on a long ride. (Of course, as I said earlier, a 200 mile trip may take us hours. Happy Motorcycling. That Is How I See It. Views: 164
Sign Helps Aid Safety For Motorcycles
As we all know the number one reason given for auto/truck and Motorcycles is, “I didn’t see it.” I know this to be true. Even as a rider myself, (and I’m sure I’m not alone here), I watch out for motorcycles everywhere I go even during the winter months, just in the event there is a winter rider. But I find I sometimes do not see bike. Sometimes they just pop up over a hill, and sometimes they are hidden by another vehicle, and sometimes they decide to pass just as they approach an intersection. And I admit sometimes I just don’t see them the first time, That is why I take a second, and third look. But I think what I have recently become aware of a sign some cities and areas are posting along the streets and highways. I only wish more of these signs that alert drivers to the presence of motorcycles were posted in all areas. For a start they could post at city limits. Park entrances, and areas where motorcyclists tend to gather. I know in our little town we have a “watering hole” where you will find more motorcycles than cars, or trucks. Maybe to get things rolling this business could purchase the signs and petition the state, (as it sits on a state highway, and would need their permission to put the sign up) There is another place about 15 miles south which is frequented by bikers. I intend to talk to these establishments and our town about putting up these signs. Below is picture of the sign. Will you help in your areas. Perhaps it could be a club project. That Is How I See It. I recently became aware of some cities posting signs to remind motorists of the presence of MOTORCYCLES. I wish more cities and areas had these signs posted. became find find find Views: 235
Motorcycle Helmets ??
Should Adult Motorcyclists be mandated to wear helmets. Let’s see. I remember my Dad telling me I was hard headed. Maybe that is why I never wore a helmet in my younger years. No not really I liked the feel of the wind blowing through my hair. I didn’t like the weight of a helmet, it made me feel more tired because I had that extra weight for my neck to support. Then there was the fact that it obscured both my peripheral vision and my hearing. But the most important thing was the heat. It sometimes felt like my brain was frying. Now that I am older. I don’t have to worry so much about the wind blowing through my hair. (I don’t have that extra padding). For some reason I think my head isn’t as hard as it was. It just might break open like an egg if I crash. Helmets have improved since I started riding. They are lighter. Better designed. Made with vents to let air in. I still think I should have the right to decide if I want to wear a helmet. City riding I usually wear a helmet. Too many cages (cars with texters, eater/drinkers, cell phone talkers, (without hands free devices), and many more reasons. But on the highway I make the choice. The people I ride with have CB radios, and with the in helmet voice activated mics we can talk while we ride. I can listen to my radio, Ipod, etc. This makes these runs more fun. But if I am riding by myself and just want to get away. I opt to not wear a helmet if I am in the country. By the way I usually avoid interstates. Nothing to see or enjoy there. But highways and side roads generally take me past things I normally would not see or even know exist. I have found many interesting things this way. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging ALL States mandate helmet laws. (NO CHOICE). Their reasoning. Motorcycles (it doesn’t say if this includes scooters) make up 3% of vehicles on the nations roads. but account for 13% of fatalities. Head injuries is the leading cause of these fatalities. We don’t know how many or the break down of causes. We all know there are other causes. But I can believe that Head injuries could be the leading cause. I just don’t know what that lead is. Their claim is that a helmet that meets Federal Transportation Specifications is 37% effective in reducing these fatal injuries. This would mean your chances of surviving with a helmet on is (I am NO mathematician) about 1 in 3.7. Is that right? You math people figure it out. But do they have conclusive proof or is this just conjecture. They force you to wear seat belts because they “save lives” But they never give you the probability of survival with out seat belts. I’m sure Seat Belts also cause deaths. But that is another argument. Their claim is that Helmets will reduce deaths. Maybe, and probably, but without more concrete proof we’ll never know for sure. We just had an 11 year record breaking low in motorcycle deaths. Maybe more people wearing helmets??? When I first began riding as a teenager, a very good friend was injured in a motorcycle accident. Not his fault. He has spent the rest of his life in a wheel chair. And achieved much more than I ever will. As for me I want my freedom of CHOICE. The margin of survival with a helmet just isn’t that compelling to me. But I admit I wear my helmet more than not. But let those who ride decide. That’s The Way I See It. Views: 136
