Okay I need to vent. I have never been arrested before in my life. I am 31 years old. I have gotten one moving violation in 16 years of driving which happened when I was 17 yrs old. The last time I got pulled over while driving was in Sept of 2000. I am a pretty damn law abiding person. So what really bugs me is how many times I have been pulled over while riding my bike. In the last 7 years I would estimate that I have been stopped and questioned at least 9 times by the police. The first time was in Rancho Palos Verdes when I was living up there. I had just returned from 2 months in China and I was still on Chinese time so I went for a ride at 1am. I wasnt more than 25 yards from my house before I was literally rushed by two cops and handcuffed. The reason they pulled me over ........"we had a robbery in the area". Since I didnt have my ID on me I sat in handcuffs for 20 minutes..."for my protection". They finally let me go when they ran out of BS excuses to search me for drugs, guns or child porn. The following time I got pulled over was in Marina Del Ray ON THE BIKE PATH !! The officer asked my name and when I answered he said "oh sorry, I thought you were someone else" and then he left. Literally 15 seconds. The next 3 were all in south torrance where I now live and the reasons for them pulling me over were laughable. Two were for riding my bike on a sidewalk. Never was I cited or ticketed. But now comes the good part.....Last week there was an armed robbery down my street. The suspect was a shaved head hispanic gang member with tattoos on his neck. My block was shut down and a helicopter circled for an hour. They didnt find the guy. I went out for a ride at 8:30 pm after they left and sure enough on my way back home on Newton St I am riding in the street WITH MY LIGHT ON and helmet and a cop car comes sreaming up behind me and cuts me off and the cops jump out at gun point. After being handcuffed they frisk me and ask my name. I asked them why I was pulled over and they said I "matched a description of an armed robbery suspect from that night". I knew that was complete BS since I personally asked the police that night who they were looking for. The next day in the Dailey Breeze they had an article on it.... Hispanic male, shaved head, gang member and tattoos on the neck. I am white, long hair and no tattoos. Then the cop changed his reason and said that I "jumped a curb into the street". So then they let me go.
Now tonight I am out riding and guess what...I am riding up Anza and Torrance PD pulls alongside and start questioning me. Two seconds into it the cop says "oh sorry, you arent who we thought you were". I said "good, see ya". He yelled at me to come back and after 10 minutes of giving his my information he let me go...WITH A WARNING !! The warning was...."becareful when you are riding".
Anyone who knows me knows I am almost 100% pro-law enforcement but I am sick and tired of getting pulled over on my bike for nothing. When I ride now I am literally paranoid about being pulled over.
Also, I decided if I ever get into a life of crime that I will always use a car and not a bike because cops just leave me alone in my car.
Okay, rant over. *UNPICUDYP*(Y&USOIHWPIUYDpw*ydp*(y