Yamaha R6 Forum: YZF-R6 Forums banner

First speeding ticket..

5K views 41 replies 15 participants last post by  Trey Reynolds 
#1 · (Edited)
First speeding ticket.. (updated)

UPDATE POST #34

I was given the okay to post it so here it is..

Alright guys, this might be a lengthy read... Before continuing, please note that I do not condone this type of behavior at all and to do so puts your life as well as others at risk. We have all done excessive speeds on the street at some point in our riding career so I hope we can refrain from the bashing. What I did was entirely stupid but I am glad to be alive and not in jail.

Last night, I tried to catch a few of my buddies who hopped on the freeway a couple minutes before me. It was late at night and there were barely any cars on the freeway. Being as stupid and hard headed as I am, I entered the freeway at an EXCESSIVE SPEED. At the on ramp to the freeway there was a patrol car hiding in the shadows (no patrol lights on). I made the dumb decision to try and run.. I chopped the throttle and was off! Flying down the freeway at LIGHTNING speeds that no patrol car should have been able to keep up with, I kept checking to see if he was following but low and behold there were no lights or sirens. I kept the same FAST pace, slowing here and there for about 15 miles down the freeway and was about to take an exit (my gas light turned on). I look in my rear view to see a car about a hundred or so yards behind me. I thought that there was no way it would be that same patrol car that spotted me at the on ramp 15 miles previously (it was dark). I slowed down and to my dismay IT WAS the same patrol car... At this point I knew I was screwed. I looked over at him and pulled over (at this point he turned on his patrol lights and lit me up). To make it shorter, he was actually really cool. He could have arrested me and impounded my bike but because he rides as well, he wrote me up for 5 citations (reckless driving, speeding, etc..) and had me on my way. He had me clocked at one point around 110mph (so thats what is on the ticket) but couldn't clock me going any faster since he couldn't keep up. After he gave me the tickets, he threw me a fist bump and told me to ride safe.

The main thing I am hoping for here is to not get my license suspended. I am contacting a recommended attorney who has experience with these scenarios and hopefully some charges can be dropped or reduced. Seeing as how this could have ended a LOT worse (jail/accident), I'm happy that it played out like this. Makes me think twice about pulling a stunt like this again. Ride safe y'all.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
It sounds like you were lucky the officer was cool. I'm in Florida and the Highway Patrol here will seize a bike if you're caught running. Meaning they don't just impound it, they keep it if it's paid for. If you have a loan on it, they release it back to the lien-holder. You don't get it back. They won't chase you for a long distance. If they get close enough to see the plate on video, they just show up at your house later and seize it.
 
#3 ·
Seems you read my post pretty fast :grin: I took it down and am getting it approved from a mod because it MIGHT violate forum rules so I just want to be sure before I put it back up. But yes, I am lucky and he was cool. He said that if I got away he could have showed up to my address and arrested me, but I doubt that seeing as he would have no evidence of me actually being on the bike other than it is registered to me. I was actually in shock when I realized it was him still following me, he must have been doing really EXCESSIVE speeds just to catch up to me, all the while without his patrol lights and sirens on.. DAMN! They keep the bike?! Thats crazy man.
 
#7 ·
I don't know under which Fl Statute they are using for these seizures. However, it's hard to dispute if the bike is recorded on video fleeing to elude law enforcement. I only know what I have experienced as far as the bikes I repossessed, picked up from FHP impound lots. This was not a one time thing. I picked between 7-10 total from different FHP impounds in 14 years.
 
#9 ·
they arent... not without due process. And they certainly aint doing it without a conviction.
You are looking at this incorrectly. If I were arrested & charged with Evading or Resisting... even if I didnt have the money for bail, the State cannot just "take" my property. Now if Im looking at hard time & no bail, then getting a $7500 or even $10,000 motorcycle out of an impound lot is the least of my worries. Do not fear though... Public Defenders would get first crack at the vehicle before any other Police/State agencies. Usually on your pre-trial conference they will ask you to list any "assets" for compensation. :wink:
 
#8 ·
I'm talking about fleeing at a rate of speed where the FHP calls off the pursuit because of dangerous speeds. These are instances where the Trooper was attempting to make a routine traffic stop for speeding or any other minor traffic infraction and the rider decided to not stop.
 
#12 ·
In nyc, cop are taking any quads and dirt bikes and seizing them if you are caught riding them on public roads and highways. Its a huge issue around here. Bike and quads are taken, and when the impound is full they crush everything. There are videos on youtube.
Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App
different scenario but if you are riding an OHV vehicle on public streets... then stupid should hurt. Although I am jealous the hood rats get to ride dirty bikes on public streets. We got bitch slapped by Mick & Whop cops when we tried that business...lol. You were lucky to get the privilege to push your bike home while being escorted by a cop.
On the other hand Police cannot just seize property without due process.
Im willing to bet a good majority of the vehicles taken by Police are already on an NCIC list or reported stolen elsewhere.
 
#11 ·
I'm not sure the order of events. I just know they are legally seizing bikes when that bike is verified as fleeing from them. I suppose you could find out exactly how they are doing it by doing something in front of a Trooper that warrants a traffic stop, take off and get away when they attempt to stop you, yet allow them to catch your tag on the dashcam. Then just wait at the registered address and see what happens. LOL
 
#17 ·
Just posted the full story!
 
#19 ·
Re: First speeding ticket.. (updated)

...
Last night, I tried to catch a few of my buddies who hopped on the freeway a couple minutes before me. It was late at night and there were barely any cars on the freeway. Being as stupid and hard headed as I am, I entered the freeway at an EXCESSIVE SPEED. At the on ramp to the freeway there was a patrol car hiding in the shadows (no patrol lights on). I made the dumb decision to try and run.. I chopped the throttle and was off! Flying down the freeway at LIGHTNING speeds that no patrol car should have been able to keep up with, I kept checking to see if he was following but low and behold there were no lights or sirens. I kept the same FAST pace, slowing here and there for about 15 miles down the freeway and was about to take an exit (my gas light turned on). I look in my rear view to see a car about a hundred or so yards behind me. I thought that there was no way it would be that same patrol car that spotted me at the on ramp 15 miles previously (it was dark). I slowed down and to my dismay IT WAS the same patrol car... At this point I knew I was screwed. I looked over at him and pulled over (at this point he turned on his patrol lights and lit me up). To make it shorter, he was actually really cool. He could have arrested me and impounded my bike but because he rides as well, he wrote me up for 5 citations (reckless driving, speeding, etc..) and had me on my way. He had me clocked at one point around 110mph (so thats what is on the ticket) but couldn't clock me going any faster since he couldn't keep up. After he gave me the tickets, he threw me a fist bump and told me to ride safe.

The main thing I am hoping for here is to not get my license suspended. I am contacting a recommended attorney who has experience with these scenarios and hopefully some charges can be dropped or reduced. Seeing as how this could have ended a LOT worse (jail/accident), I'm happy that it played out like this. Makes me think twice about pulling a stunt like this again. Ride safe y'all.
eh if you got 5 tickets including a wreckless... you are muther effed. Seriously you are looking at a couple grand in attorney fees alone. I would NOT show my face in court until the trial. And most likely it will be a bench one... which is good &/or bad. No judge is going to excuse the excessive speed let alone "willful & wanton" <---- wreckless riding. You just met the stereotypical streetbiker squid threshold... congrats. :frown:

Also the cop just sold you "ocean front swampland in FL" with the fistbump...lol.
You ate it like free cake samples at a bakery. :D
 
#20 ·
Just talked to my attorney today. The way he explained it and what the game plan is, we are aiming for the judge to eventually make us an offer. 4 counts dropped and I accept the exhibition of speed or the reckless driving. Few hundred bucks for the ticket and a 30 day license suspension. But if it leads all the way to trial and the cop who gave me the tickets doesn't show, there is a good chance it will be dismissed. My first court date is next month but my attorney will sit in for me to plead not guilty and after that I will be assigned another court date but since it is so backed up, it could take around 6 weeks my attorney says. With the holidays coming up the next two months, I may not have to appear in court until next year which may be 3-4 months down the road. Will keep updating!
 
#23 ·
Because it was my first ticket on my bike. You're wasting your own time by reading the thread then commenting on it. If you don't like what you see then move the ***** on. Have a nice day!
 
#25 ·
Mods shouldn't have let you post it. What's the point of the post? Don't run?... No sh*t, Sherlock. The topic should have been "My first reckless driving ticket".... You should have had it impounded, and tbh I hope your license is suspended. Congrats on graduating into the squid class. All you've done is make the rest of us look bad.
 
#26 ·
Re: First speeding ticket.. (updated)

So much win with this one.. where to start?

1. If your gonna run don't do it on an empty tank!
2. Also don't get caught!

Seriously tho.. If you would have pulled over as soon as you saw the cop you would probably have ended up with just a warning. If he was that cool with you after all that image if you would have just stopped. Most cops respect that a lot.

Stop riding like the Gixxer squids. Like mo said, you aren't just being a retard, you're making every other sport bike rider look bad.

Probably didn't need to share this tho. Just going to end up getting flamed, and for good reason. Just be prepared to take your lumps like a man if it doesn't work out the way you're hoping in court.

So next time... if there is a next time... DON'T GO FULL RETARD!
 
#27 ·
just doing the basic math shows you probably never got over 110mph.
Im betting that he latched on as soon as you entered the highway & never lost site of you. So in all the OP wasnt going
as fast as he thought. Theres a reason people say "check your six".

The fines & court & suspension might hurt now... but wait til you have to submit your info to drive commercially insured
vehicles...lol.

I would use this opportunity to get yourself acquainted with closed course riding. You will look back & laugh at how slow you were.
 
#28 ·
lmao omg i was thinking of this...like who gets caught by a slow car on a bike? 110?? dude...easily 150+ on this bitch.

Guys, dont flame OP for a unfortunate event...stop acting like you guys are so almighty and perfect..."ohhh you make us bikers look bad"...im not gonna lie i was reckless and stupid when i first got my first bike when i was 17yrs old...im 30 now with a great family and i look back and laugh at my stupidities....cant say i condone his actions but it happens to everyone (mostly). Now he will know to do it at the tracks and not on a highway with police behind his ass.

You live and learn, so please stop being so judgmental, we're still a community and we're here to guide other riders, and not as their parents :serious:
 
#29 ·
Yeah, I realize what I did was wrong. I'm not going to sit here and try to justify myself. I posted this to share my experience since it was my first ticket on my bike. Like tones160 said, you live and learn. I'm sure we've all made stupid mistakes in our lifetime and if I could go back I would do it differently. But since I can't I have to take the consequences like a man. So how about you guys pointing fingers and blaming me for making the whole community look bad, you should hop off your high horses and take that stick out of your asses. If a mod is reading this, lock the thread. It seems people like to point fingers and flame rather than give mature feedback.
 
#34 ·
Figure I update this post. So it's been about 10-11 months since I got all those tickets. I lawyered up and made multiple court appearances. Court date kept getting pushed back either because the state wasn't ready or my lawyer was trying to find a way to reduce the charges. This past Wednesday I showed up, the officer wasn't there for the second time and neither was the state ready. All charges dropped (without prejudice). Definitely learned my lesson and have been much more mature about my riding since then.
 
#36 ·
I really did. Although my lawyer did explain to me that the worst case scenario would have been that they would've dropped everything and went after me for the reckless driving (highest charge). I would have either had my license suspended for 30 days or 6 months probation (using what he called a "dink") and once the 6 months was up then it would have seemed like nothing happened (record wise). I should mention that within my first few court appearances, my lawyer got them to drop the racing on highway charge, drop the exhibition of speed charge and combined the two speeding tickets into one. So by the ending of my trial I had two tickets to fight; reckless driving and speeding.
 
#41 ·
Definitely am...
 
#42 ·
Re: First speeding ticket.. (updated)

sounds like you found one of the few officers in todays world that doesn't have a complete hatred to street bike riders. in Kansas theres not many street bike riders but the majority of the small number of us have set such a bad rep that seeing things lie this provide hope for a few of us
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top