Overtaking police?

[chickenfunkstar]

It was such a nice day today, so I thought I might give the SV a bit of stick on old north rd on the way home from work, as you do. I was travelling at a quickish pace, coming north, on a sweeper just past the bike track at the top of the hill. On the exit of the corner a saw a police car travelling in the same direction. Because I was going quickish, I hit the brakes and slowed to well below the speed limit. I saw the brake lights of the police car come on as well, so I thought damn, it looks like i'm getting a ticket.

The officer never pulled over however but just carried on driving, but at a speed of 60 - 80 kph. At this stage I couldn't help but think that he wanted me to overtake him, most small trucks would be going faster than he was.
I was tempted, but thought better of it and carried on at this slow pace.

We (eventually) got to the end of the road, the police officer indicated right to go down peak rd and I indicated left to carry on to Helensville. Sweet I thought, as I now could at least do the speed limit home. But no, the officer changes his mind and indicated left as well. No worries, its a nice day and i'm in no hurry I thought. I then stayed at the intersection, waited till I couldn't see him any more, then went right down peak rd. I took it at a sensible pace. I then went left at the intersection of Peak rd and SH16 to head back home to Helensville. I saw the police officer shortly after this, heading in the opposite direction.

This makes me think that he was deliberatly going really slow, 'daring' me to overtake him. Would I have got into trouble if I overtook him? Or was he thinking something along the lines of ' I didn't get your speed before, but you're certainly not getting home any faster', knowing that it was unlikley that i'd overtake him?

P.S. I'm not trying to be a smartarse here, I probably did derserve a ticket when I first came up behind him.

[John]

Thats the problem - people freak out when cops are infront of them - pass them and keep going, I overtake cops happily, I make sure I drop a gear before I pull out but .

DONT BE INTIMIDATED BY THE COPS most of them are human.

[CPB]

As long as you overtook him lawfully - ie clear road, not exceeding the speed limit etc etc, no reckless styles, you would have been mint...only problem, guaranteed he'd be tracking your speed from that moment...so you'd need to keep it on the speed limit...funny bugger though...why tootle along like that???

[Smorg]

I reckon he was egging you on mate i've had it a couple of times, yesterday when i was riding i came up behind a community constable holden vectra so i just pulled in behind him but then after thinking a bit longer i thought............
like a vectra could even make a speck on my horizon if i wanted to get away. So i pulled up next to him at the next lights looked in the window and they were both in civilian clothes needless to say i didnt keep sitting behind him all the way home

[gamgee]

could that be almost considered entrapment? i mean he's almost forcing you to pass him

[bugjuice]

overtaking isn't against the law. Speeding is tho. So if you were in a 100 zone, and he slowed to 60-80, then overtake where it's safe to.

At that point, he most likely would have radio'd your reg in for a check up, then followed for a while. Then at some point, possibly pulled you up for a 5-min-wonder. I've been close to this myself several times, which has often been the few times I've ridden home from work. No idea what they want, but just play it cool. If you've got nothing to worry about, don't worry.. As soon as you start to stress/panic/get edgy, it'll show, and then the red 'n' blues come on to check you out.

Actually, if they slow down a fair bit, and you don't pass, that might indicate to them that you're guilty of something..

could that be almost considered entrapment? i mean he's almost forcing you to pass him

no. That's a whole huge kettle of fish to start with, but s/he's not forcing you to do anything. It's your choice to overtake or not. They could merely be giving you the option, or may be he's just wasting a bit of time by cutting a bit of speed off.. or may be s/he's a bit of a bike nut too, and just wants to watch you take some corners.. or may be they know that they'd be slower thru the corners, so just giving you the chance to pass safely so they don't hold you up.. but all unlikely, but possibilties

[sir.pratt]

Did you know all those security cameras around now watch your every movement and record them on a BIG computer just in case you are somewhere you shouldn't be, and someone wants to know it.

[Lou Girardin]

I reckon he was egging you on mate i've had it a couple of times, yesterday when i was riding i came up behind a community constable holden vectra so i just pulled in behind him but then after thinking a bit longer i thought............
like a vectra could even make a speck on my horizon if i wanted to get away. So i pulled up next to him at the next lights looked in the window and they were both in civilian clothes needless to say i didnt keep sitting behind him all the way home

Was it an Indian guy and woman in it?

[Devil]

Definately pass if it is safe/lawful to do so. It pisses me right off when I come up behind a couple of cars (in the cage, or bike) and the one at the front hasnt got the nads to pass the cop, which screws things up for everyone else!

[ManDownUnder]

overtaking isn't against the law. Speeding is tho. So if you were in a 100 zone, and he slowed to 60-80, then overtake where it's safe to.

At that point, he most likely would have radio'd your reg in for a check up, then followed for a while. Then at some point, possibly pulled you up for a 5-min-wonder. I've been close to this myself several times, which has often been the few times I've ridden home from work. No idea what they want, but just play it cool. If you've got nothing to worry about, don't worry.. As soon as you start to stress/panic/get edgy, it'll show, and then the red 'n' blues come on to check you out

Yeah - I pass 'em semi regular... no worries.

Just watch it out that way - some of the roads are 80, some are 100, and Kumeu is 60... make sure you know where you are (and the speed limit) and you'll be fine.

I passed a cop doing 105 once - he was doing 98... and it took FOREVER but it was a huge long straight... so I though "What the hell???"

Makes for a good story (well... after about 2 bottles of wine - as with most of my stories)

[Smorg]

Did you know all those security cameras around now watch your every movement and record them on a BIG computer just in case you are somewhere you shouldn't be, and someone wants to know it.

what "are" you talking about?

[Smorg]

Was it an Indian guy and woman in it?

Yeah it was...................why?

[Gixxer 4 ever]

Just over take the cop. As long as you do it in side the law, pass. He will note your rego plate as you go passed so stay at the legal speed. :spudflip:

[vifferman]

When I moved to Chch, I was riding with this guy on a VFR (I was on my VF500), and we both ripped past a line of cars in a passing lane south of Taihape, doing nearly 140. Just near the front of the queue was a cop car. Oops... Luckily, that was in the days when speeding didn't kill, so we just slowed down a bit and carried on.

[froggyfrenchman]

had a cop do that to me, i was 4th back in a line of vehicles, went from 50 into 100 zone. cop at front stayed at fifty. after bout 5mins the cop indicatd left, still at 50 in 100 zone, he pulled over and we all passed at legal limit. he instantly pulled back right up my arse. 20km later, with him tailgating me the whole way, i turned off into my street (15km windy country rd) he pulled in after me. by this point i was shittn meself, had only had licence back 2wks!
So i spooked and thrashed it, lost him and did the last 2km with lights off.

Thinkin bout it later, shouldnt have run.... but what the hell was he thinkn?
I HATE HIGHWAY PATROL!! Stuff like that does wonders for their public apperance....