L plate. It is not an option.

[EJK]

After 4 month and 9000km of riding on my lovely Scorpio, EJKDDORAI has been finally busted :Police:

I do not blame the police officer, it was my fault not to have the L plate on. EJKDDORAI gambled his $400 that he will not get caught riding without the L plate. But he lost the gamble, he should’ve known that the house always wins.

The reason for getting the officers attention is another reason, I will get to that later.

If you can't be bothered reading the story, then just skip to "The bright side was"

Story: I was lane splitting at 60kph+ (honestly). It was wet, busy and had lots of trucks on the bridge (Northern SH1). Very dangerous indeed but at the age of 18, how would EJ realizes/ sense danger?
While I was riding down the bridge (towards the city), I saw a Honda Police officer. Caught each others eyes and EJ felt a chill on his back. Then as he expected, the officer turns on his lights and followed behind the teenager.

Till I get stopped, I did not know what I have done wrong. All in my head was the L plate that I haven’t got it on the bike. Suddenly everything went fast. The officer spoke, he checked my Rego and wof. Plus the L plate which I haven’t got on.

The reason that I was stopped was “false indicating while lane splitting”. But he was kind enough to close his eyes on the offence. But then he said to me “By the way… where is your L plate?”. I could have said an excuse but it was really lame to lie to an officer. So I told the truth “I can’t say about it sir”. So there I got 25 points and a $400 dollar fine.

The bright side was: The officer gave me a warning for the false indication which could have been 15+ points plus extra $150. Total of 40 points and $550.
After letting me go, I said Thank you to the officer.

Price of not having the L plate on:
I see many learners riding without their L plate on. I don’t criticize them because I was one of them. But that does not mean “Ride with your own risk”. Tonight I would like to say to all of you: please, L plate is not an option! Come on, it’s only $2 dollars!

The loss of $400 means a lot to me at the moment. Most I feel pain about my planned “2 day Taupo Trip” on beginning of December being gone down the drain. Also I was just about to organize a 250cc Coro-loop ride end of November since the exams are comming to an end. But now that is gone too.

Dangers: The officer told me that I did not indicate left while entering the gap on my left (in fact at that time I was indicating right). The danger was, an Audi was accelerating from that side. I did not see that. He then told me that I could have been crushed twice. Not once but twice. How stupid was I?!

The guy got pulled over on this thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=60163)is me. There was a biker officer and the car. I know what I have done wrong. I will not be disappointed receiving some red blings for the story.
Most importantly, I will respect law and safeties since the fines are not against us, they are for us.

MacktheKnife and Maverick once told me, “The mindless ego boost will surely come back to you. But what it matter is ‘how fast’”. Yes, it did come back to me. I presume sooner or later at the young age blood, it will come back again. Hopefully till then and after, I would ride safer than ever.

Ride safe EJ

EJKDDORAI

[carbacca]

funny enough on my first ride with you i did see you with an L plate

for me personally i am more worried about insurance claims of "riding outside license conditions". sounds like you wouldnt have been pulled over if you did catch their eyes otherwise anyways

i guess i'll hang on to mine then

[Cibby]

funny enough on my first ride with you i did see you with an L plate

for me personally i am more worried about insurance claims of "riding outside license conditions". sounds like you wouldnt have been pulled over if you did catch their eyes otherwise anyways

i guess i'll hang on to mine then

Dont stress about condition, there is a secion of law somewhere that roughly states that if it was not a contribuing cause to the accident i.e you still would have had the accident even if you had been wearing your L plate, then the insurers cant use it as an excuse to decline. .

Useless bit of info for you there :)

[Xaria]

Sorry about the fine, but at least you got off some of it.

Good write up about it though. Will keep my L Plate on for a while longer...

[deanohit]

Hard luck EJ, maybe I should look at putting a plate on mine, but the cages are dodgy enough round here with out it.

[JimO]

my sons are new riders and the l plate will be staying on the bike until the day they dont have to have it (one reason is i will have to pay the fine) i have ridden the bike heaps with the l plate on and have never had a problem with other traffic tailgaiting etc, perhaps its a nth island thing

[davereid]

I certainly notice different treatment from other road users depending on WHAT I'm riding. So I don't find it too tricky to accept that L plate riders may be bullied a bit.

Heres what LTSA say about L plates.


'L' (learner) plates
All riders on a motorcycle learner licence must have an 'L' plate attached to the rear of their motorcycle...The 'L' plate must be clearly visible to all other road users. It must not restrict your front or rear vision.

It does not say the plate has to face backwards.

So, attach it to the left hand side of your number plate, facing forwards. Paint the back of it black, so those following you won't notice it.

Job Done !:cool:

[The Stranger]

You should have at least tried the genuine reason for not displaying an L plate. It's farken dangerous holding up a B-train on a motorcycle and it attracts attention from the law if you exceed 70 with an L plate.

[Hawkeye]

Let me get this clear in my head:




I was lane splitting at 60kph+ (honestly).

'L-Plate' rider lane splitting at 60+k. - got that bit.




It was wet, busy and had lots of trucks on the bridge (Northern SH1).

With you so far.


Very dangerous indeed

Would entirely agree with this one.


but at the age of 18, how would EJ realizes/ sense danger?


Nope, you lost me on this one....




Ride safe EJ


Just think about that last one and try following your own advice.

[Dealer]

I had an L-plate on my bike for the first two months of my learners licence.
It was very restictive, and i did not feel safe travelling on the motorway at 70kph, so once i was confident i pulled it off.
The important thing to remember is that if you are not riding entirely legal (especially learners), you shouldn't be doing anything to attract the attention of the law. I was never pulled over while on my learners (haven't been pulled over yet either, but thats just luck)Most of us do illegal manoevers, i.e speeding, lane changes, but there is a time and place to do these things, and a limit to how far you can push them. Lane splitting at 50kmh is ignored, at 100kmh it attracts attention.
But thats just my opinion.:niceone:
It is up to the individual rider as to what risk they are going to take, and how careful they will be.

[gijoe1313]

:girlfight::violin::mega: I guess you got the usual range of replies from KBers! :lol: :msn-wink:

Bugger, thats a few tanks worth of gas and bits of bling for the bike! Ah well, I guess your ancestors deigned to decide with the biker gods to conspire and give you a little seeing to!

Chin up, it'll be part of your receding nostalgia as the veneer of time stretches on from the comfort of your rocking chair on the verandah, watching two wheeled contraptions whizz by and thinking "Gor, blimey, them's were the days!"

Keep riding, do it safely and I guess you will be putting a little square of yellow on the back again? :Oops:

[The Pastor]

dont worry dude, there will be MANY more fines to come, just factor in as a living cost - say $20 a week etc.

[sunhuntin]

I had an L-plate on my bike for the first two months of my learners licence.
It was very restictive, and i did not feel safe travelling on the motorway at 70kph, so once i was confident i pulled it off.
The important thing to remember is that if you are not riding entirely legal (especially learners), you shouldn't be doing anything to attract the attention of the law. I was never pulled over while on my learners (haven't been pulled over yet either, but thats just luck)Most of us do illegal manoevers, i.e speeding, lane changes, but there is a time and place to do these things, and a limit to how far you can push them. Lane splitting at 50kmh is ignored, at 100kmh it attracts attention.
But thats just my opinion.:niceone:
It is up to the individual rider as to what risk they are going to take, and how careful they will be.

ive never been pulled up either. got checked at a warrent/rego stop, and got waved through another. have at least one cop a day in at work, all of whom would recognise my bike. most cops would ignore +70k on an l plate, as they also see the danger of it. doing that while lanesplitting slow traffic, however...

bugger, ej, but at least you have gone back, seen where you stuffed up, and have learned from it [btw, i consider 18 well old enough to see possible dangers and react properly/safely]

i test rode a 500 last weekend, and loved it. wasnt on it long enough to notice a difference in drivers opinions of me, but i find most are pretty good. got tail gated big time last week on the 250, but when they overtook, they also gated the rider i was tailing who was on a thou. gaters will do it no matter what they are following.

[scumdog]

my sons are new riders and the l plate will be staying on the bike until the day they dont have to have it (one reason is i will have to pay the fine) i have ridden the bike heaps with the l plate on and have never had a problem with other traffic tailgaiting etc, perhaps its a nth island thing


Wot 'e sed.

Never had no complaint about no tailgating or nuffink from any 'L' plater dahn 'ere.

With young blogins here who started the thread I would have given him compliance for not having the 'L' plate.

[fredie]

your a L plater . bbbbbaaahhhhhhh aaaaahhhhhh .no ?? L plate for saftey:calm: so car drivers give u extra space:clap:

[NighthawkNZ]

your a L plater . bbbbbaaahhhhhhh aaaaahhhhhh .no ?? L plate for saftey:calm: so car drivers give u extra space:clap:

Some people do say tcage drivers see the L-Plate as a target... Was following Xaira home from Palmerston a while back... (maybe only the 5th or 6th time out) and a cage past me and split the two of us and proceeded to tail gate Xaria through some twisties (dangerously) she did very well and just kept riding her ride, it wasn't as if she was holding up traffic either... If she got pulled over for breaking the 70kph rule I said to her I would pay fine myself

While he was tail gating I saw in the front seat a young kid look up and actually looked a little worried, (must admitt I started to tail gate him a bit to try and get past to get him to back off a bit so I am also in the wrong for tail gating... but me blood was boiling...)

Problem... would that cage driver tail gated me, on the larger bike... well he could have but he past me and went in between the two bikes...

Would he have done the same thing if there was a larger group of bikes... most likely...

Would he tail gate any other cage on the road... well he past Xaria eventually... and we caught up again he was sitting back from the other cages...

Was he an arse hole... yes, was it that he saw the L-Plate, I doubt it, but he should have backed off once he did.

Over all if he had stopped I would have stopped and lost my temper and probably now be up for asault.

[Xaria]

I must say one *positive* thing about the L plate. One of my first times on the road, Nighthawk saw someone behind me at my (low)speed and could see when they saw the L Plate and then backed off. Sometimes a target, sometimes a warning. Beware everything

[NighthawkNZ]

I must say one *positive* thing about the L plate. One of my first times on the road, Nighthawk saw someone behind me at my (low)speed and could see when they saw the L Plate and then backed off. Sometimes a target, sometimes a warning. Beware everything

oh yeah... I forgot to add that bit to... that time made me smile and think there still are some considerate people out there with there head screwed on correctly when they get behind the wheel...

[sunhuntin]

he probably never even saw the plate...

i got gated last weekend by a chrysler. my l plate has done about 25,000k and been on 3 bikes... theres not much left of it. eventually, he overtook me and gated the friend i was riding with, who was on a gsxr thou [i think!] so the l plate didnt even come into it. normally, i will either pull over and let them go [if im riding a new twisty road, and know im holding up traffic] or, if im in town and already pushing 50, i will sometimes slam both brakes on and come to an almost complete stop before twisting and taking off. dangerous, but works. [thats after weaving, and tapping brake]

what i hate is when someone tails me, and then refuses to overtake when its a passing lane and ive slowed from 110k to about 80k. you want to inspect my exhaust? or are you checking the tread on my tyre? no? then fuck off!

[fireliv]

I liked my L Plate, people give you room, sometimes I feel like attaching it for memories sake......


Wear ure L plate people, it aint worth the cost

[Neon]

I liked my L Plate, people give you room, sometimes I feel like attaching it for memories sake......


Wear ure L plate people, it aint worth the cost

I thought about this subject long and hard, and I'm keeping the L plate on. I don't need any more help to part with my cash.

[klingon]

After 4 month and 9000km of riding on my lovely Scorpio, EJKDDORAI has been finally busted :Police:

...[snip]...

Dangers: The officer told me that I did not indicate left while entering the gap on my left (in fact at that time I was indicating right). The danger was, an Audi was accelerating from that side. I did not see that. He then told me that I could have been crushed twice. Not once but twice. How stupid was I?!

The guy got pulled over on this thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=60163)is me. There was a biker officer and the car. I know what I have done wrong. I will not be disappointed receiving some red blings for the story.
Most importantly, I will respect law and safeties since the fines are not against us, they are for us.

MacktheKnife and Maverick once told me, “The mindless ego boost will surely come back to you. But what it matter is ‘how fast’”. Yes, it did come back to me. I presume sooner or later at the young age blood, it will come back again. Hopefully till then and after, I would ride safer than ever.

Ride safe EJ

EJKDDORAI

EJ, I'm delighted to see that you have listened to and understood what the police officer was saying to you about safety. You're a wonderful young man, I enjoyed riding with you yesterday, and I hope you have many years of safe and happy riding ahead of you.

Please remember, lane splitting is optional. It is not compulsory. It should only be done when conditions permit it, and in a safe manner. I would rather see you pulled over by the police 100 times, than crushed by an Audi! Please take care!

[Littleman]

EJ, I'm delighted to see that you have listened to and understood what the police officer was saying to you about safety. You're a wonderful young man, I enjoyed riding with you yesterday, and I hope you have many years of safe and happy riding ahead of you.

Please remember, lane splitting is optional. It is not compulsory. It should only be done when conditions permit it, and in a safe manner. I would rather see you pulled over by the police 100 times, than crushed by an Audi! Please take care!

It's motorcycling mate, we all take risks. If your going to take slightly more obvious ones (such as breach of licence conditions) ride accordingly.

Minimise their excuse to pull you over. From your post, your clearly not a maniac, just play the game.

Yeah, it hurts.

[discotex]

Stink EJ!

Here's a deal that might make you feel better. If you plan another Coro loop run and I can make it along I'll pay for your gas.

[Donor]

Stink EJ!

Here's a deal that might make you feel better. If you plan another Coro loop run and I can make it along I'll pay for your gas.

Top bloke... I shall return the karma by shouting you a beer/beverage in the future...

[EJK]

lol thanks but it's ok
Don't bother spending $30 bux for a loser who didn't had his L plate :yes:

[Pancakes]

............what i hate is when someone tails me, and then refuses to overtake when its a passing lane and ive slowed from 110k to about 80k. you want to inspect my exhaust? or are you checking the tread on my tyre? no? then fuck off!

Yeah what the hell is up with that? I was going down the NW'ern in the car the other night and was doing maybe 20kph more than what looked like one car in the left lane. As I went by I saw it was a young girl sitting a few meters/less than counting "one" behind an old lady! The old lady was checking her mirror heaps and looked worried. I have no idea why the girl didn't just go around, there was heaps of road available to use.

Oh thats why, cos people are idiots and I don't think many tialgaters are actually planning anything, they just stick to your ass with no thought for the consequences.

I think I've gotten away with stuff I shouldn't have in the car purely because I had enough room for my errors to be corrected. Time and a place stuff.

[Pancakes]

lol thanks but it's ok
Don't bother spending $30 bux for a loser who didn't had his L plate :yes:

He's high on crack and didn't mean that! As EJ's legal representive I accept your offer and will fill the gap buy purchasing Donor and EJ a beverage in the future too.

Come on my ride EJ, Sweeeeeet as!

[sunhuntin]

Yeah what the hell is up with that? I was going down the NW'ern in the car the other night and was doing maybe 20kph more than what looked like one car in the left lane. As I went by I saw it was a young girl sitting a few meters/less than counting "one" behind an old lady! The old lady was checking her mirror heaps and looked worried. I have no idea why the girl didn't just go around, there was heaps of road available to use.

Oh thats why, cos people are idiots and I don't think many tialgaters are actually planning anything, they just stick to your ass with no thought for the consequences.

I think I've gotten away with stuff I shouldn't have in the car purely because I had enough room for my errors to be corrected. Time and a place stuff.

yeh... i had a car load of older guys do that when i was headed back from new plymouth... nice, long uphill passing lane... it went for ages. one of the best on that route. i hit the hill at about 110/120, and finished at the top going between 90 and 100. i was doing 70 by the time i forced them to pass.... after which they then pulled into the pub just a few k up the road. wankers.

the chick in the car probably didnt even realise how close she was... too busy txting or whatever. pity we cant enforce cameras in cars that would focus out the window and beep when ever we got closer than the conditions recommended. like, in your situation, hers would beep, but in rush hour traffic when things are basically at a standstill, it wouldnt.

[discotex]

Top bloke... I shall return the karma by shouting you a beer/beverage in the future...

Wooohoo :beer:

Seriously though I'm keen as to do a Coro loop run this summer. Especially if it's after I get my new bike :yes:

3 weeks till full time tomorrow!!!

[EJK]

New bike? Oh btw, have you been on the coro loop before? just curious :)

[discotex]

lol thanks but it's ok
Don't bother spending $30 bux for a loser who didn't had his L plate :yes:

Haha you do the Coro loop on $30 gas? I know your bike is economical but wow!

Yeah get that L plate on mate and just ignore the 70km/h rule. Either that or practice your excuses for next time :cool:

[Toaster]

dont worry dude, there will be MANY more fines to come, just factor in as a living cost - say $20 a week etc.

Now that is such a clever idea. Did you actually graduate from kindergarten, or are you still there working on those fingerpaintings?

Think about it, if that is actually possible.... lets say we take your $20 per week "living cost" idea, saved over 10 years of riding plus compounding quarterly interest of say 5%. Now go do the math if you do indeed know how to work a calculator - no here is a novel idea, use your brain!

Go think about how much more useful all that money would be in YOUR bank account instead of in the already weighty Government coffers. Then one day you might get to own more than just a boot full of gear and an old bike.

[The Pastor]

Now that is such a clever idea. Did you actually graduate from kindergarten, or are you still there working on those fingerpaintings?

Think about it, if that is actually possible.... lets say we take your $20 per week "living cost" idea, saved over 10 years of riding plus compounding quarterly interest of say 5%. Now go do the math if you do indeed know how to work a calculator - no here is a novel idea, use your brain!

Go think about how much more useful all that money would be in YOUR bank account instead of in the already weighty Government coffers. Then one day you might get to own more than just a boot full of gear and an old bike.
your such a wanker.

[EJK]

He was just trying to cheer me up lol
Don't worry lads! 6R test status: ACTIVE :D

[Toaster]

your such a wanker.

Sure am!! Now go stick to the pointless dribble posts where you belong boy.

[The Pastor]

Sure am!! Now go stick to the pointless dribble posts where you belong boy.
call me what you want, but my bike is not "old".

[Mikkel]

yeh... i had a car load of older guys do that when i was headed back from new plymouth... nice, long uphill passing lane... it went for ages. one of the best on that route. i hit the hill at about 110/120, and finished at the top going between 90 and 100. i was doing 70 by the time i forced them to pass.... after which they then pulled into the pub just a few k up the road. wankers.

That's a bit harsh. Perhaps they weren't overtaking since they knew they had to pull in at the Pub just up the road. ;)

A lot of people seem paranoid that the cagers are wanting to kill us, deliberately tailgating us, etc.
Yeah, there are a few people out there who are right bullies and they'll sit even closer when they see the L-plate, and yes, these people are wankers and we can only hope that karma/blackice will deal with them in time.
The rest are well meaning sorts I'm sure who will give you extra room (or at least not hassle you additionally) when they see your L-plate. They are however not necessarily good drivers and therefore can not collect and process the huge amount of information that is present in many traffic situations. As such they don't see you and will pull out or change lanes right in front of you. If you get hit by a car, unless they do a runner you can be sure they weren't meaning to.

On the roads you'll see cagers tailgating eachother all the time, they are sitting right on eachothers fenders waiting for an opportune moment to do a pass. If they sit closer to bikes it's just because they don't take the smaller outline into account. Also, when you're on your bike you'll feel more exposed and thus you'll think that they sit closer to you than they actually does. (Mind you, I'm talking about newbies here - and that includes myself)

But yeah, wear your L-plate. Speed when you want to, don't do stupid things and ignore the 70 km/h rule on the open roads. That's been working for me so far. I usually sit at either 70 km/h or the speed limit - whichever is higher. Oh yeah, another good thing is proper riding gear - really helps me to relax and not feel quite as exposed. :)

[jrandom]

your such a wanker.

Aren't we all?

He's still right, though.

[sunhuntin]

That's a bit harsh. Perhaps they weren't overtaking since they knew they had to pull in at the Pub just up the road. ;)


even if they did want to pull in at the pub, there aint no excuse to tail gate. the roads were clear, and when im going uphill at about 100k, thats pretty bloody good for my bike. for me to have to lose all my speed just to get them off my ass is unfair. they were gating even when i going along at a good speed [110 or so] when they finally went past, i took a look and they were all laughing, so it was just a joke to them. my l plate has done over 20,000k with me now... a newer newbie might not have kept their head. i know when i first started out, being gated like that scared me half to death. specially when there is no reason to do it.

[Tank]

EJ, EJ, EJ :no::no::no:

What a pain, but as one of the other posters mentioned - you are a really nice guy and we would all rather see you fined rather than crushed by an Audi.

As a fellow "L" plater I feel your pain having to ride with one on - but unless you want fines and points thats what you have to do.

I had noticed that on a Wednesday I am the only person who rides with the "L" plate - I'm guessing that the others are all taking the same risk.

Perhaps this Wednesday you can share your story over drinks (yes and chips:niceone:), and hopefully some of the others will choose to learn from your experience.

As for how you were riding. Seriously you know better than that - keep it safe mate!

C

[Lteejay]

Sorry to hear EJ. I wont rub it in by telling you that the rain cleared just as I got out of Auckland and the sun came out not too long after leaving Warkworth ........oops did I say that out loud :innocent:

Look on the bright side - they could have got you for that tail light being out too if it hadn't been changed in Albany

[McDuck]

I am in ;)