You won't belive what happen today

Why ride without a valid motorcycle endorsement on one's license?

Easy enough to get, no?

I actually had a motorcycle endorsement. Got it back in 1972, when they were on paper. Moved to California, and it didn't get transfered. Had to take my car road test over again, but didn't have a motorcylce at the time. This was before computers. It's my goal to get a motorcycle endorsement one of these years.

When I moved to Colorado in the 70's I went down to take my motorcycle test to get my endorsement and ended up with a lady [termed loosely] instructor. She gave me grief because I stopped on her mark and put the wrong foot down. She didn't think a motorcycle with a brake on the left was legal. Then she stood there and gave me instructions in a quiet voice and I couldn't hear what she was saying over the slightly loud pipes. I finally got fed up and told here to forget it [more or less] and rode off. It wasn't until a couple years later and one ticket for no endorsement that I tried it again. Jim

When I moved to Colorado in '79, I was able to borrow a small enduro to take the test. I had a really bad southern speech impediment and I don't think the guy liked my smart ass attitude. I thought the written test was wrong and the riding test was stupid (still in my 20s!) so I decided to yuck it up like a dumbass. Going around one cone I just stopped about halfway around, turned the handlebars to the peg, let the bike kinda fall over and caught it with the throttle. When I came to a stop at the instructor, I didn't put either foot down. Just stopped, sat there for a second, and put the side stand down and let the bike down on it and got off. I was demonstrating my superior riding skills, you know. He was not impressed. I flunked for failing to follow directions, I think. I still have that defiant streak, I just do a better job of keeping it to myself. :lol: I behaved the next time and got the endorsement. Funny how that works.

I got enough tickets on 285 between Morrison and Buena Vista to wallpaper my shop. I got two in one weekend, both on Kenosha pass, by the same state trooper. Going to Buenie on Fri afternoon and going back to Denver on Sunday. That was the first time I sorta lost my license. I learned then, that with money you could get an unrestricted restricted License meant to be used to travel to and from work. Because I traveled for work there was no restrictions. I had to be a good boy for a whole year. Right up until I retired and left Colorado in 2000 I never had more than 4 pts on my drivers license, ususally only 2. When I got back to Alabama, at DMV they asked if I wanted my old license number back (from the 70s!) and I said sure. That gave me a clean slate somehow. My insurance went from thousands a year to a few hundred. My pickup costs $96 every six months. You couldn't insure a lawnmower for that in Colorado.

I sure do miss the roads in the mountains.

Mike

Olephart said:

I got enough tickets on 285 between Morrison and Buena Vista to wallpaper my shop.

I sure do miss the roads in the mountains.

Mike

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That section of road is patrolled heavily. Speed limits strictly enforced, as you learned. Really no choice but to drive the limit or lose your license.

Colorado riding is fun but not as much fun as it used to be, thanks to the low speed limits and heavy enforcement. All the passes are posted 35 mph now, with highway patrol waiting to greet you as you come around those blind corners. Time to park my Ducati and buy my Royal Enfield Bullet back, I think.

Debby

I took my first driver's licence test, Texas "motorcycle only" in '69 on "Miss April", my trusty '67 TR6C. I rode that 650 all day yesterday. She still loves me.

Enjoying exceptional weather few months ago, one early evening I decided to take a sprint downtown. Of course I had to stop for a couple of ales (JUST a couple) at a small-hole-in-the-wall type of place. The local ales are, btw sublime... nothing like a fresh brew! On leaving I noticed a cop parked along the road just ahead, like he was waiting for me to leave. Well, as I headed down the bayfront highway, it started to rain, so I increased my speed in an effort to not get completely soaked on my way back to my warehouse, about 3 miles inland.

As I'm in 4th doing a smooth 60 in a 35 zone, the distant blue lights in my mirror get my attention, so I pull over, and a half a minute later 2 squad cars pull up behind me. I was told they followed me because I turned my lights on (a second) after I pulled away from the curb, and then they knew I was speeding, but could not get an accurate reading (ha-ha!!!).

BUT, they knew where I had been, and decided to give me a roadside sobriety test, in the rain, which I passed without even trying. Needing to justify all the time they put into me, I was given a ticket for no headlights. I just went to court last week, the cop never showed up, and I beat the rap. Not bad cops, I just think they get bored sometimes!

DonOR said:

BUT, they knew where I had been, and decided to give me a roadside sobriety test, in the rain, which I passed without even trying. Needing to justify all the time they put into me, I was given a ticket for no headlights. I just went to court last week, the cop never showed up, and I beat the rap. Not bad cops, I just think they get bored sometimes!

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Don't they have some tourists to harass?

swooshdave said:

DonOR said:

BUT, they knew where I had been, and decided to give me a roadside sobriety test, in the rain, which I passed without even trying. Needing to justify all the time they put into me, I was given a ticket for no headlights. I just went to court last week, the cop never showed up, and I beat the rap. Not bad cops, I just think they get bored sometimes!

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Don't they have some tourists to harass?

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harass tourists? bad for bidnez. Sometimes I think they just go after the easy stuff, like a 53 year old man on a 40 year old bike, who may (but did not) have one too many. Like anyplace with a poor education system, welfare culture, high illiteracy, crime, etc., there's a lot worse, driving every other car/pickup. reminds me of a similar story....

last year, on memorial day weekend, as they do every memorial day weekend, may v-twin clubs from Oahu shipped their bikes over here to enjoy the open roads that they don't have. There will be hundreds of 'em, all over the island.

That morning my wife is driving us to the beach, about 90 miles away, in her vw passat when she gets stopped for a burnt brake light. Well, she can't find her insurance card, so the cop writes her a $150 ticket (which she beat in court) Anyway, as we're waiting for the cops to check her for outstanding bench warrants (RIGHT!) and other crap, about 30 harleys pass by. I think about half of them had NO mufflers. Guess what the cops did... thats right, nothin!

Reminds me of when I got pulled over on my Suzuki for doing 50 in a 45. Cop said he was giving me a break by not writing me up for reckless driving! Gee thanks, officer. I went to court and the judge dismissed the charge.

Debby

Reckless driving in VA is anything over 20 mph past the speed limit. Surprised it's not standard, but there you go. I'm sure they can define anything they want. Concealed weapons in VA is almost anything they want, if they want to get you, I got a permit, but they limit that too. If you carry it in the open and unloaded though, it's legal, loaded depends on the county.

Dave
69S

I talked my way out of a lot of tickets in my youth. But also got one speeding ticket I did not deserve. I was sitting at a red light on my Guzzi V-50 Monza, light changed green & I got half way through the intersection when a cop going the other way flipped a U turn and said he clocked me at 80 MPH in the intersection! I tried to tell the guy it was impossible for the bike to get to 80 in 30 feet but he wouldn't listen, It was a very loud bike so I know he just thought I was gunning it. I tried to fight it and lost.

Many years ago I was working the swing shift and got off work at around 2 in the morning. Pulled up to a red light and sat there. A motor cop pulls up and says been here long? I say a few minutes and he says follow me. He turns on his lights and the two of us blow the light and a few more until I get to the freeway entrance.

I worked for a Federal Agency, that I'll leave un-named, as an engineer. They gave me a wallet with the service badge logo on it, and my ID, just like any other agent, but I was not an agent, I didn't have a badge. I would keep my drivers license behind my ID and if I ever got pulled over, the cop would immediately see the service logo, and my ID, and in every time I got pulled over, they let me off. I even passed an unmarked state trooper on a double yellow line and he let me off after making excuses. I never said anything, didn't ask for favors, it was up to them and what they saw. They do help their own. I probably got out of 3-4 moving violation tickets with that, not that I was trying to abuse my service. But let me tell you, if they want to get you they will, don't cross them, if you violate their code or go against their system, you're toast, they'll come after you like stink on s**t. When you see the red/blue light pull over as fast as you can and say 'sir', and if you work for them, keep your mouth shut if you have any criticisms.

Dave
69S