Pulled over twice on the same ride!
 

I think I got some sorta record or medal.
I was about 70 miles into my ride with about 30 to go.

A map of the pull overs.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=ut...11801&t=h&z=11

My first pullover occurred after a concerned citizen said I almost got nailed, and the DPS better check on me.
So these headlights pull up behind me the speed limit is 65. This person was going really slow and was staying behind me. I was like this has to be the DPS. They check on your rear visibility and then pull you over. (Been pulled over for this once already).
So he waits for a spot as there is no shoulder and I am taking the lane. I pull over after the lights turn on, and started to look at all my lights immediately. My last pullover in a winter storm had caused failure with my light. Now I have two.
Me "Hello!"
DPS "Hello!"
DPS talks about how he got the call.
Me "Can you see my lights?"
DPS "They help, but I don't think people see you."
DPS "Didn't my partner talk to you?" (Most likely to get me off the road.)
Me "No."
Me "I didn't know what to do." (The shoulder for the last 40 miles ends all of a sudden.)
DPS "Where are you going?"
Me "Going to Phoenix."
DPS "I can escort you up to mile marker 204." (Four Peaks and shoulder resumes)
DPS "I will put my back lights on and you will have the lane ok?"
Me "Ok Thank You!"

At this point I am rather tired and I have to climb a huge hill with a cop tailing me. My ride started at 8:30AM and it is now around 11PM. I did stop for some extended rest, yet I was on my 9th hour of saddle time. So here we go with cop in tow. At one point about to die I thought it was the end and the DPS flashed his brights and back in the lane I went. All the cars never passed me this slow before in the left lane. :) I don't think I ever climbed a hill so fast in my life. The downhill was great because the car's headlights shined a path. A thumbs up from me, and some sorta errt sound came from the DPS.

Another Ert sound story on the same hwy, trip, but different day. I am not sure this sound is a good or a bad sound now. Like the honking of the horn.
I was taking the lane due to very narrow shoulder with Guard rail and rumble strip with debris in it. So I am doing 30 mph down this hill (55mph) and a RV pulls up behind me all nice and stuff. Then this DPS officers passes me on the left lane and does this ert sound. Not sure why he did that I could have been startled. I was rather shocked but nothing fazes me now. His partner in an unmarked passes me a few minutes latter and I was on the shoulder this time now back to human speed with wider shoulder.

Second pull over was with the Maricopa County Sheriff This seems very wrong and I collected the badge from him. He pulls me over and I am like WTF?
Mcbride " Hello!"
Me "Hello!"
Mcbride "Can I see some ID?" (nice touch)
Me "Sure!"
Me (unwrapping my crap to find ID somewhere.) "Why was I pulled over?"
Mcbirde "We were suspicious of a cyclist riding out here. We don't normally see bicyclists out here at this time of night." ( 1am)
Me "Ok!"
Me "I have no weapons on me." (Tent on the shoulder now and I am about to dig in my bags. )
Mcbride "Ok!"
Me "Here you go."
Mcbride "Perfect."
la la la la checking computer. Put tent back on the bike getting ready to go.
Mcbride "Ok you are ready to go."
Me "Can I get your officers badge number?"
Mcbride "You want mine?" (pointing to his badge to see the number) (Newbie? Another Deputy was watching him. )
Me "Yea yours is fine."
Mcbride "1327"
Me "Can I get the officers name?"
Mcride "Well I am a deputy Mcbride."
Me "I am sorry I didn't see who was pulling me over."
Me "Who stopped me?"
Mcribde "Maricopa Sheriff"
Me "OK 1327, Mcbride, and MSCO got it. Thank You!"
Got back on bike and drove off.

Is the DPS talking to MSCO hmmm?
now off to sleepy land.
Will send two letters tomorrow One good and one complaint.

11PM and 1AM and on a 65MPH road... while no doubt this is legal, some common sense might be in order here... the drunks are out at those hours and no amount of lights will help you from someone who's eyes are half closed from alcohol.

I respect your desired to ride, but have to wonder about your timing.

BTW for the record, I too have been pulled over by DPS in AZ, on my way to Tucson... while on the shoulder of the interstate (there was no other roadway available). They let me go too.

Keep in mind it was 102 at 11pm.

I try not to let those stops bug me too much, lots of bad stuff happens at night. I commute home at 12:30 AM and I was stopped one night while riding home in the rain one night. I guess that was suspicious activity. It's all good now becasue the cops are used to seeing me and they seem to watch for me. One night a cop shined his lights on my bike while I was fixing a flat bsing with me while I was making the repair.

Arizona?? You are talking about Arizona, wild and reckless driving Arizona, even before they have hit the sauce??
I am old enough where I don't go out at night for much of anything. But it is only caution and common sense that keeps a person alive into old age.
dc

hey, at least they weren't telling you to get off the road.

Well, Wheel, it sounds to me as if you are a reasonable person who met reasonable officers.

Are you comfortable taking the lane as needed on high-speed roads at night? Are there are particular tricks you have learned to stay safe?

If I was doing anything but driving a car at 1am on such a road I would expect any DPS to want to talk. In fact I'd be more concerned if they didn't.

wait, no video?

The first cop could have at least let you draft him.

I was stopped after midnight in the city. When I asked for the reason, the cop said there had been a break-in and some household goods were stolen. I told her she was welcome to search my vehicle for the stolen goods. She laughed and told me I could go.

Use a mirror and get ready to bail. I would have gotten hit by a person with only one headlight if I didn't do this. Considering I am wearing an ANSI II vest and 2 super flashes this person shouldn't be on the road.
Prior to this extreme power weaving, waving left hand really fast with reflective material, Sliding to the right, and knowing how long it takes to get to the guard rail. Worked fine, next time I will just pull over and wait till 3 am, and do a roll and stop for traffic. Perception is always I am going to die. I found this is not true if someone is a true motorist then you won't have problems at all. Visibility is the key and if people can see deer they can see you.

For all the lovers of daylight.
I was on the same Hwy no shoulder, and some serious issues with lots of traffic . Stuck between giving up the lane and letting cars pass easily and everything else really frikin scary, and taking the lane and people unaware slamming on the brakes behind other cars waiting to pass.

I prefer night time cycling because less traffic and I can see headlights well in advance around blind corners or hills. I also have the advantage of higher visibility for me.

I wonder what would have happened if you had no I.D. ? I love riding at night/early morning, usually I have I.D. sometimes I do not. I realize it is a good idea to carry it, but there is not a law requiring one to do so, or is there?

I have had police from various departments give me a close look early in the morning, but so far I have not been asked to stop. Have I been lucky?

be careful you might get jailed.
http://azbikelaw.org/articles/TucsonID.html

From doing 400km and 600km brevets, I really don't think riding late at night is that much of a problem. It may be better if you can find a group of similarly crazy people to ride with. About 6 am, a batch of sleepy people decide to waste gas and it isn't as much fun any more.

Wheel, thanks, the link you provided was a interesting read.

Can I buy a bell that makes an Ert sound? That sounds like it might get people's attention, whatever it is!

Your welcome anytime

The emergency crews will make the sound going through intersections, so different than the siren.

A more recent (2004) US Supreme Court case would override these foolish "cyclist MUST carry ID" crap ideas

Hiibel case

Note: you do have to verbally give the police your real name and and maybe address, provided they had proper reason for stopping you.

PS - In case you need to login to the link:


login: bugmenot@mailinator.com
password: bugmenot

It's better to be safe to have an ID no matter what happens.

Also (hope it does not hurt to remind everyone), it's much safer to have lots of light during the night (and carry spare batteries) just to make sure you're safe and be more visible. I know it's very hard to stress it if there's a bunch of drunk drivers in the road... :(