Sounds like Jim's part of the country is in Mexico. Should get some video vigilante action going against the dirty cops.
Don
jokerloco9@... wrote:
Needing a Lawyer to go to court for a traffic ticket??
You have just given me the FIRST good reason for me staying in California (Los Angeles). People routinely go to court for minor offenses without a Lawyer. And the judge does listen to you. But you better have your facts straight.
Jeff A20
-----Original Message-----
From: jpalton@...
To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 7:44 PM
Subject: Headlight modulators (was Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Loud Pipes Save Lives)
In my part of the country, the law isn't as important as the cop's
attitude. 2 weeks ago I got pulled over on my way home from Maine, on
my KLR. The Maine town cop (small town) said he stopped me because my
tail light didn't work. I began getting of the bike to check it, and
he told me in no uncertain terms to STAY ON THE BIKE. He went back to
his car with my paperwork, and while he was gone, I reached back and
put my hand over the light...whis WAS on. I mentioned this when he
came back, and he said again that no, it wasn't on. I reached back
with him standing there, showing that I could see that it was on. He
said well its not bright enough (its the same as it was when I bought
the bike). I told him that he should tell Kawasaki that then, because
thats how the bike came new 4 months ago. (I said this in a non-smart
ass way). He proceeded to write me a speeding ticket instead (for a
bogus speed), so I'm stuck paying for a $125 fine instead of the
lesser offense of defective equipment. This kind of thing is common in
our small towns.
On another occasion my friend and I were hasseled by a small-town cop
for riding a snowmobile on the road in front of his house. The cop
just stopped at the first house he came to that had a snowmobile in
the yard and gave us crap. He then wrote me a ticket for unregistered
OHRV. It didn't matter to him that there were no fresh tracks near the
sled, or that the sled didn't even run, or that the so-called witness
couldn't even name the color of the sled, and stated that the rider
had full gear on, so he couldn't even get a description. We went to
court (no lawyer...dumb on our parts), and the judge only ruled that
the case be "put on file", meaning that they could drag it back out
any time. We also got a rep for causing trouble with the police, which
didn't help our daily lives any.
The moral? The law isn't as important as not stirring up crap. I have
been given a ticket for riding an OHRV on the street while on my
street legal, registered, and inspected XR600. I even had a copy of
the paperwork the dealer gave me stating that the vehicle met all NH
safety standards, and was legal for public street use. It didn't
matter...I got the ticket anyway. Thats one reason I bought a KLR this
time instead of an XR650R...because it looks more like it belongs on
the street, so I shouldn't be hasseled as much. Anyway, this was long
winded...the point is that in some places, its a much better idea to
just lay low and not stand out so much.
As for not needing a lawyer...in our area, you had better show up in
court with a lawyer, otherwise you will rarely win.
Jim
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Conall" wrote:
>
> I reasoned with a vigilant LEO on MA State Hwy 20 in the Berkshire
> Mtns while getting chased down and pulled over once while using my
> Kisan modulator( I carry a copy of the federal statue that came with
> the 50-state legal headlight modulator). Just after presenting my
> paperwork and briefly presenting my modulator case story very
> politely,a guy on a big sport bike rolls up headed in the opposite
> direction,blows the downshift and redlines it in neutral right in
> front I and the officer.He then abruptly drops it in 2nd? gear and
> like a bat out of hell leaves the scene. The officer says you wait
> here and jumps in his car , hangs a 180' and starts chasin after the
> other motorcyclist. I waited on the side of the rode w/o my ID for
> what seemed like eternity and finally he rolls up and gets out, gives
> me my license back and said, OK I know you didn't have any criminal
> intent by using the modulator, I that was what he was concerned with,
> impersonation of an officer. I think he radioed in for sure and got
> the story straight. Gotta be sure your pepers are in order, I didn't
> have anyone complain in CA, but other states your mileage may vary.
>
> Conall
> A7, A9
>
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, jokerloco9@ wrote:
> >
> > I'm guessing there is no need for a $1000 lawyer if you got a
> ticket for a modulator, and you have a copy of the Federal law that
> says it is OK.
> >
> > Seems like a slam-dunk in court.
> >
> > "Hi judge, I was incorrectly ticketed for something that is
> protected by Federal law. Parhaps the ticketing officer was not aware
> of the Federal law."
> >
> > Case dismissed.
> >
> > Jeff A20
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