Bikers getting pulled over at Battle Hill & Featherston (15 February)

**AllanB** · 16th February 2009, 21:10

Sounds like a nice bit of PR to me.

Its not unusual to have a motorcycle only 'pull-over' in the summer around Taitapu (just out of Christchurch en-route to the Akaroa GP).

Usually you get waved over and told 'just a documentation check sir' followed by WOF, Rego and license check.

Personally I don't give a hoot. I'd rather they stopped me there than fating along at 120.

I'd prefer if they handed out chocolate as well.

IMHO it's time some of the loonies on bikes had a look at their riding on public roads, but I'll not mention that, as I'd prefer to avoid the 'Honda Homo' and 'Katman lover' comments that would follow.

**James Deuce** · 16th February 2009, 21:13

Originally Posted by Flossi

was the raping babies comment really necessary?

Was the condescending comment about there being a number of different roles in the Police force really necessary?

**Big Dave** · 16th February 2009, 21:14

As long as it's not dark chocolate I'll be fine.

However, you have to feel sorry for the cops that have pulled me over for a chat - by the time I finish questioning them some have been ready to retire.

**James Deuce** · 16th February 2009, 21:18

Originally Posted by AllanB

Sounds like a nice bit of PR to me.

Its not unusual to have a motorcycle only 'pull-over' in the summer around Taitapu (just out of Christchurch en-route to the Akaroa GP).

Usually you get waved over and told 'just a documentation check sir' followed by WOF, Rego and license check.

Personally I don't give a hoot. I'd rather they stopped me there than fating along at 120.

I'd prefer if they handed out chocolate as well.

IMHO it's time some of the loonies on bikes had a look at their riding on public roads, but I'll not mention that, as I'd prefer to avoid the 'Honda Homo' and 'Katman lover' comments that would follow.

It's not the loonies they want. They want "sensible" riders to write lots of bad stuff about other motorcyclists to justify either making motorcycling impractically expensive through ACC levies and compulsory insurance, or an excuse to ban motorcycling altogether.

Surveys are never just "good PR". They will always throw up publicised results that make even people like DEDs look like near-suicidal adrenalin junkies. Always remember that statistics are merely fuel for plausible liars.

Motorcycling serves no economic role in NZ. It isn't cheap transport when running costs versus purchase price are amortized, and particularly when you aren't paying enough to cover the average yearly cost of motorcycling accidents to ACC.

**Ocean1** · 16th February 2009, 21:21

Originally Posted by AllanB

Its not unusual to have a motorcycle only 'pull-over' in the summer around Taitapu (just out of Christchurch en-route to the Akaroa GP).

Was the subject of a wee discussion today about past Paeroa events also...

Originally Posted by Big Dave

you have to feel sorry for the cops that have pulled me over for a chat - by the time I finish questioning them some have been ready to retire.

... and I'll be preparing a brief speach on the ride up next Saturday.

**Okey Dokey** · 16th February 2009, 21:22

Gotta agree with previous posts here; as soon as I saw ACC was involved I thought no bloody way would I help. The 'survey' sounds like it was leading, and ultimately will bite bikers on the bum.

As already said, when government says they are here to help you, then you know you are in trouble. Especially ACC.

**Flossi** · 16th February 2009, 21:24

Originally Posted by Ixion

What about educating TPTB about road safety issues. We can give you a long list. Addressing any one of them would do more for motorcycle road safety than any roadside stopping exercise. A lot of the people here have been riding motorcycles for 20 30 40 50 years. And are still alive and in one piece. Do you not suppose they have learnt a thing or two about how to avoid being part of the road toll? And the sort of exercise this thread is about isn't part of that corpus of knowledge.

BTW, the similar thing in the Coromandel recently was called Operation Upright, if anyone is interested. And Inspector Dunbier's description of it was "not entirely an enforcement exercise".

what's TPTB?

**Okey Dokey** · 16th February 2009, 21:27

BTW, as far as useless 'pullover" situations go, I once sat in a queue, and was eventually processed, at a police checkpoint that was for checking for use of SEATBELTS while on my motorbike. None of the cops involved tried to wave me on...I guess not a really big deal, but still...

At least the copper I spoke to thought it was amusing!

**Ixion** · 16th February 2009, 21:30

The Powers That Be.

The people who put up barriers to slice motorcyclists in half.

And build roads that melt into lethal oil puddles in summer

And hand any fool who can grunt twice a licence.

And then allow that fool behind the wheel of a 2.5 litre turbocharged 300bhp Blingmobile that he has no idea whatsoever about controlling.

That write laws about keeping left - then don't enforce them. That erect traffic lights, then condone people going through the red lights.

Those Powers That Be.

**Flossi** · 16th February 2009, 21:35

ahh i see, thanks for that

**dipshit** · 16th February 2009, 21:37

Originally Posted by Ixion

The people who put up barriers to slice motorcyclists in half.

And build roads that melt into lethal oil puddles in summer

And hand any fool who can grunt twice a licence.

And then allow that fool behind the wheel of a 2.5 litre turbocharged 300bhp Blingmobile that he has no idea whatsoever about controlling.

Actually with a questionnaire like...

******************

What do you mostly consider on the road? Please tick 3:
- Loose Stock
- Weather Conditions
- Other road users
- Corners
- Hillcrests

*************************

... they are probably trying to find out if most motorcyclists go around blaming everything on everybody else instead of been more concerned with the most likely thing that will kill them....

Failing to take a corner.

**fireliv** · 16th February 2009, 21:53

Originally Posted by Shadows

I think they'd have been better off set up at the top of the Rimutakas or at a bike shop or something without the police involvement.

A commercial vehicle I could understand, but being singled out and pulled over by the police just for riding a private motorcycle isn't on. Fuck, one might be in a hurry to be somewhere.

Next will they be setting up check points specifically for Bongo Wagons and Homy Vans to check for overstayers ("papers, please!")?

Imagine the uproar then.

What are you on about! ACC and the police do target other groups. They do child restraints (havent heard anyone complaining that they are targetting kids) cyclists, and recently ACC did a stint on the Interislander ferrys talking with truck drivers.

We all no that motorcyclist statistics are high, I hear enough bitching about it in these forums, but when the goverment/acc start trying to address the problem of shit riders out there killing people, everyone starts jumping up and down about being targeted.

And yes they do have overstayer round up too so everyone gets "targeted" now and then

**Flossi** · 16th February 2009, 21:59

Originally Posted by fireliv

.....
We all no that motorcyclist statistics are high, I hear enough bitching about it in these forums, but when the goverment/acc start trying to address the problem of shit riders out there killing people, everyone starts jumping up and down about being targeted.....

thank you!
we're not saying that all riders are shit, I'm sure there are a lot of fantastic riders out there (mostly on KB right?!

)
but since i haven't yet figured out how to spot the one bad rider out of the group of 10 or 20 good ones, we kind of have to 'target' everyone.

by all means, give me other suggestions with 'better' ways to do it, I'm all ears