Henry,
Why not chase? It's because of this little thing we
have called a "bill of rights." You see, just because
you see my vehicle speeding doesn't mean that I was
speeding. You actually have to prove that the defendant
was operating the vehicle. I have three bikes, and
a good friend of mine is "between" bikes right now.
We go riding a lot and I let him ride one of mine.
I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay a speeding ticket if
he is seen speeding and they "show up on my doorstep."
Having been through the criminal justice academy and
holding a North Carolina Law Enforcement Certification
has taught me that a lot of "crime prevention" is
just the sort of propaganda that you have heard.
What you were told actually works a lot because people
don't understand their rights... Most people would
probably be so intimidated by the cop on the doorstep
that they would immediately confess their guilt...
whether they were guilty or not. Or they would be
misled into believing that they were responsible
for the actions of others because it was their bike.
In real life, you would have to go through the trouble
of "proving" that you weren't there at the time and
that someone else was riding your bike, with or without
your permission. In my opinion, this is bull$#!%.
Remember that you are innocent until proven guilty.
It doesn't seem that anyone remembers that nowadays,
since you bear the burden of proving your innocence,
not the other way around.
Stephen
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 09:12:24 -0400
From: "Henry S. Winokur" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Winter ends....
> I second that Henry...I commute every day in the SF Bay area and it is
> certainly a drawback...can't even see the cops coming up behind
> me :-(, but
> when lane splitting they can't catch you anyway..... :-)
Yes they can. There are 2 ways: one is a device we call a RADIO. But the
other is even easier: All they need is your license tag number and you're
screwed.
I teach with guys who are cops. One of them says, "why chase you, when I
can just appear on your doorstep the next day with your summons?"
It is certainly a lot safer that way for everyone concerned.
Regards,
Henry S. Winokur
94 GTS1000, AMA, MRF,
Nationally Certified Riding Instructor
West Bethesda, MD
