01-03-2017, 10:45 PM
That was very well written Cormanus, well thought out and presented.
I am a law abider for the most part, it's just my nature. If the sign says "Don't walk on the grass" well guess what? I'm sticking to the sidewalk, even if it would be straighter and quicker to walk across the lawn. On my motorcycle, I will slighly exceed the speed limit but it's never by much more than 5-7 mph. If it's a 45 zone I try hard not to go over 50. My last ticket was 30 in a 25. ( I know, right? ..btw that was in my car)
However being involved with motorcycle forums over the years I have noticed that motorcyclists in particular don't think that safety laws, speed limits, passing zones etc, pertain to them. They feel because motorcycles accelerate faster and brake quicker, that anything the individual rider does should be ok. Pass on a double yellow? No prob, because we can do it very quickly. Double the speed limit? No problem " I have the skills" . The manufacturers don't help by building sub 500 pound bikes with 125, 150 or even 175 horsepower, when even an experienced rider on a modern 250 with 35 horsepower can easily break any speed limit in this country ( our highest speed limit is 85 mph in the U.S.) Some modern liter bikes can break any speed limit in this country in FIRST GEAR. We seem to have the attitude that laws are for the other guy, and if "I" can handle it (say going 75 in a marked 45 zone) why shouldn't I be allowed to do it? I read many posts from motorcyclists that claim to exceed 100 mph many times every day on 2 lane back roads. I also read many posts from motorcyclists who have no compunction about running from the law if caught and lit up by the police while doing that.
I'm not a part of car forums and truthfully, since I retired, rarely drive a car.. (out to the grocery, or to dinner with my wife in the evening) and have no idea if the drivers of those vehicles share the same attitude, but I can tell you from an association with thousands of motorcyclists, they as a group, have very little respect for traffic laws.
On the other side of the coin, I also have very little respect for some of the bullies in blue, who could do a whole lot more educating and warning, than ticket writing and revenue enhancing on common folks, just trying to get to work and back home again. Cops just doing their jobs I am told. How about a little compassion for the people just trying to make a living and survive? There are enough really bad people out there that could use their attention. I don't believe it is necessary to hide around a corner or behind the bushes with a laser gun and nail people on their way home for doing 5 over. I have 2 nephews in law enforcement (well one just quit). One is really a nice guy, the other a typical jerk cop. Guess which one just quit? Hint: He said he was tired of working with jerks. Respect is a two way street imo. Oh, the stories I could tell you, told at family reunions from those two.
I am a law abider for the most part, it's just my nature. If the sign says "Don't walk on the grass" well guess what? I'm sticking to the sidewalk, even if it would be straighter and quicker to walk across the lawn. On my motorcycle, I will slighly exceed the speed limit but it's never by much more than 5-7 mph. If it's a 45 zone I try hard not to go over 50. My last ticket was 30 in a 25. ( I know, right? ..btw that was in my car)
However being involved with motorcycle forums over the years I have noticed that motorcyclists in particular don't think that safety laws, speed limits, passing zones etc, pertain to them. They feel because motorcycles accelerate faster and brake quicker, that anything the individual rider does should be ok. Pass on a double yellow? No prob, because we can do it very quickly. Double the speed limit? No problem " I have the skills" . The manufacturers don't help by building sub 500 pound bikes with 125, 150 or even 175 horsepower, when even an experienced rider on a modern 250 with 35 horsepower can easily break any speed limit in this country ( our highest speed limit is 85 mph in the U.S.) Some modern liter bikes can break any speed limit in this country in FIRST GEAR. We seem to have the attitude that laws are for the other guy, and if "I" can handle it (say going 75 in a marked 45 zone) why shouldn't I be allowed to do it? I read many posts from motorcyclists that claim to exceed 100 mph many times every day on 2 lane back roads. I also read many posts from motorcyclists who have no compunction about running from the law if caught and lit up by the police while doing that.
I'm not a part of car forums and truthfully, since I retired, rarely drive a car.. (out to the grocery, or to dinner with my wife in the evening) and have no idea if the drivers of those vehicles share the same attitude, but I can tell you from an association with thousands of motorcyclists, they as a group, have very little respect for traffic laws.
On the other side of the coin, I also have very little respect for some of the bullies in blue, who could do a whole lot more educating and warning, than ticket writing and revenue enhancing on common folks, just trying to get to work and back home again. Cops just doing their jobs I am told. How about a little compassion for the people just trying to make a living and survive? There are enough really bad people out there that could use their attention. I don't believe it is necessary to hide around a corner or behind the bushes with a laser gun and nail people on their way home for doing 5 over. I have 2 nephews in law enforcement (well one just quit). One is really a nice guy, the other a typical jerk cop. Guess which one just quit? Hint: He said he was tired of working with jerks. Respect is a two way street imo. Oh, the stories I could tell you, told at family reunions from those two.