Advocacy & Safety - Bees aren't the only thing that buzzes!

On my ride today, as I was roaring down a hill at about 35 MPH, (on a road,) I was buzzed really close by a passing motorcycle. I would not have wanted to insert my finger between my bar end, and his handlebar. It was REALLY close.

I was on a state highway, about 6 miles from home, bypassing a really congested part of the Fox River Trail.

About 20 minutes later, I was chugging up the hill from the river, and noticed that a State Cop had pulled over two motorcyclists. One of them, ole red shirt himself, was parked in front of the Cop Car.

Sooooooo, I pulled in behind the cop, only to find out that the State cop is my nephew, Doug........ Coooool!

I told Doug the story of him buzzing me really close, and helped make up his mind about a summons....... What was going to be a warning ticket for 10 over, turned into a REAL ticket, with the admonition to give bicyclists the required room, just like they want on their motorcycles.........

He told them that he was going to give them a warning ticket, but didn't appreciate the fact that they buzzed his uncle......

SWEEEEET!

I jumped back on my bike, and pedalled the last mile home, with a smile on my face.

While I really appreciate that their reckless riding style caught up with them. Karma and all.

I really disagree with the means by which it happened; the cop using personal family influence to make his decision. Even though in this case its a minor incident, at the other extreme that sort of thing leads to corruptions of justice and whatnot. Recall a few stories where a car driver who hits a bicyclists gets turned a blind eye cause his uncle is the sherrif and whatnot...

While I really appreciate that their reckless riding style caught up with them. Karma and all.

I really disagree with the means by which it happened; the cop using personal family influence to make his decision. Even though in this case its a minor incident, at the other extreme that sort of thing leads to corruptions of justice and whatnot. Recall a few stories where a car driver who hits a bicyclists gets turned a blind eye cause his uncle is the sherrif and whatnot...

I would have pulled over and told the cop what happened, related or not.

I really disagree with the means by which it happened; the cop using personal family influence to make his decision. Even though in this case its a minor incident, at the other extreme that sort of thing leads to corruptions of justice and whatnot.

I'd like to think the cop would have taken the cyclist's report into consideration, relation or not. That it was the cyclist's uncle just made things easier. Nothing corrupt going on here. Move along.

I think what happened was wrong if the cop wrote took the additional measure because his family member was bothered. From this story, though, it sounds as if an officer simply took greater action against a driver upon learning the driver had committed not one but two dangerous crimes that very day. As I see it, there's nothing wrong in that.

Being related meant that the OPs words were trustworthy. It can be hard on the street to determine who can be believed in what they say.

In this instance, the character of the OP was known by the officer.

While I really appreciate that their reckless riding style caught up with them. Karma and all.

I really disagree with the means by which it happened; the cop using personal family influence to make his decision. Even though in this case its a minor incident, at the other extreme that sort of thing leads to corruptions of justice and whatnot. Recall a few stories where a car driver who hits a bicyclists gets turned a blind eye cause his uncle is the sherrif and whatnot...

Your analogy is backwards. On one hand, you have someone putting more weight behind their enforcement of the law because of their familiarity with someone involved. On the other hand you have the subversion of the law based on someones familiarity. The police officer in this case did nothing wrong he didn't plant drugs or trump up any ill-founded charges against the motorcycle riders. Turning a blind eye would be clearly wrong, but the opposite of what occurred here. Insinuating that this can lead to some sort of corruption of justice is a little misleading. Should people not report any crimes if someone they know is involved in law enforcement?

The real question should be, would they have gotten a ticket if the person giving the ticket wasn't familiar with the person who got buzzed. Hopefully the answer would be yes, but who knows.

On one hand, you have someone putting more weight behind their enforcement of the law because of their familiarity with someone involved. On the other hand you have the subversion of the law based on someones familiarity.

Yes the dynamic can be used both positively and negatively.
While we would hope that in all examples it is used positively I feel that the only way to ensure a fair system is to disallow it entirely. Less you open the door to too many gray situations inbetween.

Not to confuse the issue - but my nephew did ask if I wanted to sign a complaint for the three foot violation, for passing too close . I declined. He then gave them the speeding ticket, also "reading" the safe passing laws to them. He also told them that he didn't appreciate what they did to his uncle.

When I stopped, I did not know it was my nephew in the squad. I didn't even know he was working this area. I was only going to give the cop additional information related to my earlier experience.....

My info may have helped him make up his discretionary mind for him, but they were the ones who broke the law - not me or my nephew.

How many times have you said to yourself - where's a cop when you need him - and then one appeared at the most opportune time.

Maybe, just maybe, they will learn from their mistake.

Never been buzzed by a motorcycle. I have had a few on the kawasaki ninja type bikes (belly on the gas tank) ride by and gun their engines with that "Ring! Ring! Riiiinnnngg!" sound. Not sure what that is supposed to do, but whatever.

It's quite foolish to buzz with a motorcycle. As with bicycles, a bar clip against something fairly light can easily flip the bar a bit, inducing the front wheel to move towards the thing clipped. This can make the motorcycle trip over the front wheel, essentially a high side crash. Very bad at any speed, has resulted in motorcyclist deaths. So has hitting bicyclists from behind.

I give bicyclists gobs of room, as if they were real vehicles. And only once has a motorcyclist failed to give me sufficient room when bicycling (he didn't realize I could catch up on a curvy road - fixed that attitude problem pretty quick).

This situation seems to have played out effectively and ethically to me.

It's quite foolish to buzz with a motorcycle. As with bicycles, a bar clip against something fairly light can easily flip the bar a bit, inducing the front wheel to move towards the thing clipped. This can make the motorcycle trip over the front wheel, essentially a high side crash. Very bad at any speed, has resulted in motorcyclist deaths. So has hitting bicyclists from behind.

I give bicyclists gobs of room, as if they were real vehicles. And only once has a motorcyclist failed to give me sufficient room when bicycling (he didn't realize I could catch up on a curvy road - fixed that attitude problem pretty quick).

This situation seems to have played out effectively and ethically to me.

How has this sat on A&S for three days with no one jumping all over it?!?:twitchy:

MM

ride by and gun their engines with that "Ring! Ring! Riiiinnnngg!" sound. Not sure what that is supposed to do, but whatever.

That's international code for "watch me blow my motor!"

He told them that he was going to give them a warning ticket, but didn't appreciate the fact that they buzzed his uncle......




That statement right there would be proof that the familial relation was the reason for issuing the ticket. If your nephew were a Trooper here in Ohio, he'd be suspended. Regardless of how credible you are, your nephew didn't see the motorcyclist buzz you.