Yorkshire rider 1993 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Hi Just wanted to hear some opinions on an encounter I had with the police a couple of months ago.I took my bike test (das) in September and before I upgraded to my 600 I was still riding my 125. So I decided to take off my L plates because I legally didn't have to use them anymore. I went out for a leisurely ride and found myself getting pulled over for not displaying L plates, i explained to the officer that i had passed my test and didnt need them, but my licence had not arrived yet and I didn't have my provisional (other than a picture of it on my phone for insurance purposes) he then went on to try and tell me that even if I had passed ( which he didn't believe because he said I look too young) that you have to display L plates on anything up to a 125 regardless of licence which I know is not right, and threatened not only to fine me and I'd get 6 points, but to seize my bike as well, after a good 30 minutes of arguing he "decided" to let me off with a warning, I know that if he tried to charge me I'd have got it dropped straight away, but do you think that he was completely wasting mine and his own time or was he justified in what he did? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Yes he was wasting your time. If he suspected you were not telling the truth he should have run a check rather than making up a lot of piffle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SometimesSansEngine Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Not every officer who could pull you over at the roadside is a traffic officer. Quite often officers aren't 100% sure of the law on matters (and let's be fair, there's a lot of legislation they can't know it all) and will radio in to check. Or they'll make assumptions about the law whilst attempting to give you 'advice'.Yes he wasted your time, next time if you're 100% sure of your position tell them to get on with attempting to charge you so you can get on with your day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikestrivens Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Or better still just ask them to contact DVLA for confirmation. But hopefully your new licence will be with you shortly and resolve the lack of licence issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 obviously a twat who didn't know thier arse from thier elbow .....was it a woman officer by any chance . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 125cc bikes without L plates are a relatively rare sight on the road. And would be a subject of investigation by any copper if the answers from their computer systems were 'wrong' or not up to date. More so now than ever because of the amount of crime involving scooters and small capacity bikes going on.I think... that, because he let you ride away, he knew that he had made a mistake. Especially when , on the one hand you probably didn't fit the profile and the other.. He wasn't completely au fait with the legislation.A bike ridden by a learner with missing L plates.. Maybe because it fell off. Cannot be allowed to proceed. A decent copper would allow you to call a cab and go buy them... A really good copper might even take you. A "by the book" copper would make you walk and have the bike seized.Just bad luck in your part. Bike crime is a big deal at the moment and a lot if attention is on the police to deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeman Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 When you get pulled over, smile, make eye contact and shake their hand. They won't be expecting that...Works for me (most of the time) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbob Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I got flagged into a layby on the road to Leek just outside Ashbourn . The motorbike Police officer proceeded to give me a scripted talk on moving to the right hand lane when approaching motorway slip roads . The poor bloke seemed quite depressed about being made to stand in a layby on a beautiful hot summer day in order to deliver excepts from the Highway Code to passing bikers . But can you imagine his eyes lighting up with glee if he suspected something illegal ? Beware of bored coppers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I am frankly amazed you found a police officer out and about. I don't think I've seen one for ages. One reason why driving standards are plummeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SometimesSansEngine Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 The motorbike Police officer proceeded to give me a scripted talk on moving to the right hand lane when approaching motorway slip roads . How do you mean, if you're already on the motorway and in lane one move to lane two or three near a slip road? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbiker90 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I think its a good thing, Police should be cautious about our safety Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I got flagged into a layby on the road to Leek just outside Ashbourn . The motorbike Police officer proceeded to give me a scripted talk on moving to the right hand lane when approaching motorway slip roads. This is just bizarre. Derbyshire only has 1 motorway. 2 fairly short sections of the M1, on the other side of the county and if you were heading towards Leek, then you were heading away from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I got flagged into a layby on the road to Leek just outside Ashbourn . The motorbike Police officer proceeded to give me a scripted talk on moving to the right hand lane when approaching motorway slip roads . The poor bloke seemed quite depressed about being made to stand in a layby on a beautiful hot summer day in order to deliver excepts from the Highway Code to passing bikers . But can you imagine his eyes lighting up with glee if he suspected something illegal ? Beware of bored coppers. I imagine this is to allow BMW drivers to assume their rightful position in the right hand lane without being inconvenienced. They really do need some form of assistance since their cars appear to be not fitted with the same safety equipment as installed by other manufacturers. For example - I have yet to see a BMW be able to stop when traffic lights turn amber or even red and they are within 50m of the junction. It must be difficult for them so they need all the help they can get. One of them was unable to restrict his car to the 50mph limit and was forced to use my towbar as a means of retarding his velocity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 You’re supposed to stop at red traffic lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbob Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 The motorbike Police officer proceeded to give me a scripted talk on moving to the right hand lane when approaching motorway slip roads . How do you mean, if you're already on the motorway and in lane one move to lane two or three near a slip road? Yes , that's what he was getting at . He was just advising that traffic ahead is likely to slow down approaching an off ramp and to make way for traffic joining the motorway from the left on the on ramp . Totally obvious stuff really but he still deemed it important enough to flag me off the road in order to remind me . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbob Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I got flagged into a layby on the road to Leek just outside Ashbourn . The motorbike Police officer proceeded to give me a scripted talk on moving to the right hand lane when approaching motorway slip roads. This is just bizarre. Derbyshire only has 1 motorway. 2 fairly short sections of the M1, on the other side of the county and if you were heading towards Leek, then you were heading away from it. Oh yeah, I know that . This copper was presumably part of some road safety initiative . He seemed awkward and rather embarrassed at having to flag me into a layby . I suppose he felt the need to say something useful because he couldn't find anything wrong with my bike or riding gear . He presumably didn't spot the Venom race can . But , as you say the nearest motorway is miles away. It was extremely hot that day so perhaps he was after the chavs on Nicked R1s who ride in shorts , a vest and trainers. Mind you , they don't have accidents because they have taken performance enhancing substances. Who knows . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 part of road safety initiative . Giving information and involving themselves with local biker community .Nowt wrong with it . as for being pulled over for l plates ..humans make an error . Do you know every procedure and policy in place about your job ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fq-craigus Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 He was wasting your time. He had a hunch, was wrong and proceeded to go the long way round letting you go. If he thought you were in the wrong he would have given you the points and taken your bike but he couldn’t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edd80 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 When I passed my test, my examiner advised me to carry my pass certificate until my licence came through (although I never did this). This would avoid any licence questions from the boys in blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleck Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Got no L plates on my 110cc scooter and never been pulled up. Mind you most of the time I ride it in Spain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabethf Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 obviously a twat who didn't know thier arse from thier elbow .....was it a woman officer by any chance . Classy (Yes I'll take ya bait hahah) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabethf Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIKERDAD Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 I guess he thought he was going to get an easy coller and once he was proved wrong rather than be a man and say well done on passing your test and passing on a bit of advice he went the twat way try to bullshite you and look a big hard man ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 obviously a twat who didn't know thier arse from thier elbow .....was it a woman officer by any chance . Classy (Yes I'll take ya bait hahah)Six30 is a sexist ar*ehole so don't bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttly Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 I sometimes wonder if [mention]Six30[/mention] is a made up troll, a [mention]Stu[/mention] alter ego. I have thought about starting a forum before and spoke to someone in the know who suggested a few characters to keep it entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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