Scream
26th May 2012, 02:05
So I had a fairly interesting experience on my latest ride this morning that I feel like sharing.
NOTE:
I'm on my learners, and look young
The events took place between 1:00-1:30am
I have no L-Plate on my bike
DISCLAIMER FOR PEOPLE WHO'LL MAKE A DEAL OUT OF IT :)
I don't necessarily condone riding outside of license conditions (well I don't find the plate a biggy), but I ride without the plate and after hours (although only on certain occasions when the need comes), but when I do, I full well know the risk I take, and know that I fully deserve whatever consequences that may come my way because of it. I focus my riding more on keeping safe, then following accessory rules.
STORY:
To start the story I had just ridden back from my friends house who lives on the other side of town, I had just gotten home before discovering I'd left my phone behind which I would need come sunrise whilst he was at work, so I ventured back to his house to recieve it.
As my trip to his house was coming to an end a maroon red Honda Odyssey pulled out in front of me, doing about 35kph in an 80kph zone, and not exactly straight either, I had my suspicions they might be a bit drunk at this point, I kept my distance until I turned off and retrieved my phone from my mates place.
As I left my mates place I turned back onto the same 80kph zone travelling in the other direction this time only to find my self behind the same Odyssey again, again I decided that I'd rather be safe than sorry so I remained a safe distance behind them instead of overtaking, which proved to be a smart idea as we came to a section of roadworks (Wairere Drive towards Avalon Drive for you H-Towners.) After watching the Odyssey veer all over the show and nearly take out a cone or three I pretty much 100% assumed they were drunk, it was at this point as well where I noticed a pair of headlights come over the horizon in my mirrors.
Fast foward a bit and I'm still behind the Odyssey and the car behind me is getting closer, at this point all I can make out is it's silver, I figured that hey it could be a cop, but then I saw no lightbar in the mirror as we passed under street lamps. As we began heading down another section of 80kph road (Avalon Drive) the car pulled up next to me after following behind me (I was travelling under the speedlimit to keep behind the Odyssey) at this point I found out that I had two undercover cops driving along next to me sitting in a silver Commodore staring at me; which I could only assume is because they see a 250cc bike and someone who looks like they're still in highschool putting along at 1am. I figured at this point that I may as well get the message across so I make a drinking motion with my left hand and then point at the Odyssey. The cops stared at me blankly, so I did it again and the second time one of the cops nodded. Before I knew it the cops pulled in front of me and began following the Odyssey. (I'm dead sure they knew I wasn't riding legally.)
As I turned off onto the bypass to get home I saw the cops throw on their lights and pull the Odyssey over..
CONCLUSION:
Anyway, the point of this story is just to say that I'm GLAD to see that the cops seem to have their priorities straight, that they would rather pull over someone who is driving dangerously instead of the person who is illegally, but safely, riding a motorbike outside of license conditions.
NOTE:
I'm on my learners, and look young
The events took place between 1:00-1:30am
I have no L-Plate on my bike
DISCLAIMER FOR PEOPLE WHO'LL MAKE A DEAL OUT OF IT :)
I don't necessarily condone riding outside of license conditions (well I don't find the plate a biggy), but I ride without the plate and after hours (although only on certain occasions when the need comes), but when I do, I full well know the risk I take, and know that I fully deserve whatever consequences that may come my way because of it. I focus my riding more on keeping safe, then following accessory rules.
STORY:
To start the story I had just ridden back from my friends house who lives on the other side of town, I had just gotten home before discovering I'd left my phone behind which I would need come sunrise whilst he was at work, so I ventured back to his house to recieve it.
As my trip to his house was coming to an end a maroon red Honda Odyssey pulled out in front of me, doing about 35kph in an 80kph zone, and not exactly straight either, I had my suspicions they might be a bit drunk at this point, I kept my distance until I turned off and retrieved my phone from my mates place.
As I left my mates place I turned back onto the same 80kph zone travelling in the other direction this time only to find my self behind the same Odyssey again, again I decided that I'd rather be safe than sorry so I remained a safe distance behind them instead of overtaking, which proved to be a smart idea as we came to a section of roadworks (Wairere Drive towards Avalon Drive for you H-Towners.) After watching the Odyssey veer all over the show and nearly take out a cone or three I pretty much 100% assumed they were drunk, it was at this point as well where I noticed a pair of headlights come over the horizon in my mirrors.
Fast foward a bit and I'm still behind the Odyssey and the car behind me is getting closer, at this point all I can make out is it's silver, I figured that hey it could be a cop, but then I saw no lightbar in the mirror as we passed under street lamps. As we began heading down another section of 80kph road (Avalon Drive) the car pulled up next to me after following behind me (I was travelling under the speedlimit to keep behind the Odyssey) at this point I found out that I had two undercover cops driving along next to me sitting in a silver Commodore staring at me; which I could only assume is because they see a 250cc bike and someone who looks like they're still in highschool putting along at 1am. I figured at this point that I may as well get the message across so I make a drinking motion with my left hand and then point at the Odyssey. The cops stared at me blankly, so I did it again and the second time one of the cops nodded. Before I knew it the cops pulled in front of me and began following the Odyssey. (I'm dead sure they knew I wasn't riding legally.)
As I turned off onto the bypass to get home I saw the cops throw on their lights and pull the Odyssey over..
CONCLUSION:
Anyway, the point of this story is just to say that I'm GLAD to see that the cops seem to have their priorities straight, that they would rather pull over someone who is driving dangerously instead of the person who is illegally, but safely, riding a motorbike outside of license conditions.