[URL]http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/09/BABADIGEST3.DTL[/URL]
The article was lacking in completeness -- there wasn't anything presented in it that indicated he willfully evaded (I'm not saying that he didn't). I recall splitting lanes at 80 mph one Sat night in the 80's, in my foolish youth, and discovering that I had earned the attention of some CHPs as I was slowing to exit at University Ave in Berkeley. There were 4 motor officers and two cars with two officers each in pursuit of little ol' me. Two of them had me follow them directly to the Berkeley city jail, while the others followed. They towed my bike and gave me a ride home. Seemed like a fairly reasonable and inexpensive result, which they decided on after conferring ("we have decided that you are not orcs"). IOW quoting an officer who said "he looked back at me and ran" would have been enough to convince me. I'm not saying that I've never been 150 on a public highway, but there's nowhere on 101 where that's remotely safe, esp. with traffic. 280, on the other hand, or sections of I5... ;-) You're right, 'woof -- the lame excuse of being in a hurry is not going to cut it when you're nabbed. I also don't think the excuse of not endangering others cuts it -- you shouldn't scare the bejesus outta them, either (unless they specifically merit it!). Bottom line: the dumbfuck isn't making things better for the rest of us two-wheeled motorists. When's the hanging? ;-)
Years and years ago I bought my first bike (if I can use that word), a Lambretta 200. At the time it was the only model of scooter that was freeway-legal, but almost every time I took it on the freeway I'd get pulled over. I kept a certificate in the glovebox and I'd show it to the LEO and he'd smile and apologize and tell me to be careful and let me go. So one day I'm riding along the newly-opened stretch of 280 between Cupertino and Palo Alto (that's how long ago it was) when I heard a funny sound on my right. I look to the right and there's a CHP car driving alongside me with his window open, hailing me with a hand-held bull horn! I pulled over. The CHP told me that he'd been following me for more than a mile, first with red lights, then with a siren. I felt like a complete idiot, and I was sure he was going to put the cuffs on me right then and there. I made lame-sounding (but true) excuses about (1) the mirror vibrated so much it was useless and (2) the wind roar in my helmet. I showed him my certificate. To my astonishment he smiled and let me go. I think he even apologized for stopping me! So anyway, it's possible. But 150 mph? No excuse for that.
"Jury"?? Great - another jerk who can hire a lawyer to keep him out of lock-up, instead of taking his lumps when he knows hw's wrong. I'm surprised the cops didn't beat the shit out of him or shoot him, like they would me & some of my pals. Lucky for us all he didn't wreck & kill some pregnant woman or old fart...or run over some kid, like the other MF who got house arrest last week in SF after a hit-&-run on a 4-year-old girl. Makes me sick. This CLUELESS %$# SQUID is no doubt one of those "fashion bikers" who makes the scene at Zeitgeist/Sunday ride/84/Skyline etc. but would never dream of going on an AMA or MMA run, or listening to someone like Paladin (RIP) or the legendary Allen Slaughter discourse. I hope to Christ he stays away from the SFMC...I just hope I don't know him. Probably cuts off the aging UJM & touring types (guess which I am!) on those little backroads, but lacks the balls and/or courtesy to stop & help a fellow Motorcycle Enthusiast..but will sneer at them. OK, I mean, I've broken a ton on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge whilst drunk & /or otherwise loaded. Once in '84, a buddy & I barreled down Milpitas & SanJo via Morrill, skunk-drunk...never stopping for signs, or nuthin'. Dumb? Yes. ....and other stupid things that I'm not proud of. NOT as lucky have been the brother & sister bikers I've had to bury over the years, because either they or who they were riding with pulled the idiot move. One in particular was a kid who went to Sunnyvale High named Pete Mirelez. One night in '79, Pedro & his passenger decided to see how fast the '76 750 Honda SuperSport would go down either FairOaks Ave or Lawrence Expwy. ...fast enough to stack them into a 40-foot trailer making a legal u-turn. I heard it was so bad that the cops couldn't tell who was operating the bike. Also the hot dog on the Sunday ride years ago who made the asshole move, went down & killed a couple other riders...he lived. I hope this spoiled dipshit realizes how fucking lucky he is to be alive, and figures out that one should get on a track if one is to pretend they're on the cover of Motorcyclist. Hell, someday, I'll put good tires on the (in)famous BCW & try my luck at Sears, or Laguna. I wonder if I can find a Body Condom, Diving Bell Suit or radiation jumpsuit in XXXS or better yet shrinkwrap. That oughtta restrict me. "Ride hard, die fast"...or spend a week in Highland, looking at your injured leg...because you were in a hurry & decided to run a light, or better still had some cage driver plow into you. "Restrictive clothing"?? Take away his 'sickle, give him one of those lawnmower scooters & a straight-jacket, or 'cuffs & leg-irons, and then see if he plows into a semi.
Thanx for expressing this view. It echoes what I have been thinking. This squid gives all of us bikers a bad name. Cagers & politicians don't always distinguish between pipe-smokers and hot dogs. I was going to say we bikers need to 'police our own' when we see young bucks doing this sort of thing give them an earful ... but when I was young I never listened. BTW: I did not ride when I was younger - in my 20's I was so hot-tempered and impulsive I would have died or wound up in a wheel chair. Nevertheless, sans motorcycles I had antics which caused the LAPD to show up a few times. Nowadays I'd be labeled a terrorist for my youthful indiscresions and sent to Guantanmo Bay -but that would just hurt me. If these squids keep it up, someone is going to try to ban sportbikes on city streets or somesuch. Sigh.
Ahhh yesss.....After many a coffee in Boulder Creek one fine morning I found myself wrestling my bike up to 35 and 92 and my riding style (at the time, on roads like that, with that bike) had me way forward of where my rear-view mirrors were positioned. With no traffic on a perfect day I was quite pleased with my progress and began to pull into the Corners a biker hero. As I straightened from my crouch that singular flash of blue in the mirrors raised my tweaking heartrate to near-burst. All the bikers in the lot kicking tires/talking shit raised a cheer for my entertaining squidly performance. The cop was understanding but loathsome during that particular transaction. Now I wonder about that ad in the back of Motorcyclist for those aftermarket pig-spotters. BTW I spent some time on the roads 'round here this weekend and today and good lord was the procession of bikes speeding northward and homeward from Laguna Seca a blast to behold. Later! Alex
Reminds me of a day a few yaers ago: Whoever it was that pulled up to Zitgei$t (on , um, a Norton(?) )& with much flourish, proceeded to roast the back tire. Mistaking our cries to direct his attention to the SFPD who pulled up behind him, he applied even more throttle. THick, stinky clouds of smoke filled the intersection of Valencia y Duboce..until the "BWOOP-BWOOP!!" sound got his attention. By then, of course, our shouts turning to derisive hoots & bladdre-straining peals of laughter. The rider got ticketed for exhibition of speed, and left the bar much later in a decidedly more low-key manner. The cop was understanding but loathsome during that particular
