Elk Grove Police Harassment 101

[wsmc831]

So, if I just bought a brand new bike, I shouldn't ride it until the plate comes in the mail because I might get pulled over for it being stolen/unregistered/uninsured/I'm a drunk (that may be true actually)?

Seems ridiculous.

Have you ever seen a brand new bike?

they tend to come with dealer plates...not no plate at all.


can't see going on a long ride with no plate, it's just asking for the wrong kind of attention.

 

[Kelvrick]

I live in Elk Grove now. Just moved there from Davis a month ago and got pulled over last weekend for no light on my license plate. Cops asked for my dl and insurance/reg.

Stupid me forgot it in my other jacket and so got a fix-it ticket for the plate light and insurance. They were pretty cool. The experience was short, to the point and not rude at all.

For the record, I was on my rr, had an FE with flush fronts and little arrow backs and also no reflector, but he didn't seem to give a damn about it. Mentioned, but didn't bother writing it on the ticket.

Other then that, I see the po all the time, but only pulled over once.

 

[N23]

Lived in EG for 25 years and the EGPD does have a power trip when it comes to moving violators. Been riding for only 5 years but put on 50k miles in those 5 years so I've seen my share of cops in the area. Riding without a plate does invite the officer to investigate and of course they're gonna probe further for any other violations. If they would only do it for the cruiser/sport bikes that rev out from stoplight to stoplight around here we'll be even better off.

 

[JMack]

It's the po-po's attitude that was in question here.

I think getting a fix it ticket for the no plate was warranted and I think this group of riders had no problem with it.

I know cops put up with a lot of shit . I have much respect for their jobs and am glad they are around. However, there seems to be a little bit of an over aggressiveness in the way they handled these gals. Maybe a little power trip involved?

Some of you guys act like you've never modded a bike before and have always followed the law to a T.

No License Plate. BIG NO NO. I agree.

The rest seemed like Bullshit to me. Never understood the screaming at you approach especially if you were not trying to run away or do anything but be submissive.

Welcome to America, birthplace of over-reaction. Why slice the cheese with a table knife when you can use a chainsaw. :|

PS these gals are my friends so I might not be objective. Flame away

 

[slackjaw]

Have you ever seen a brand new bike?

they tend to come with dealer plates...not no plate at all.


can't see going on a long ride with no plate, it's just asking for the wrong kind of attention.

Dealer plates? Um, not in my experience. Dealer plates, as I understand it, are LEGAL license plates that can be affixed to any of the vehicles on the dealer lot.

When you buy a new bike, you get a little cardboard advertisement from your dealer that fits where your license plate will go once the DMV gets around to sending it to you. There is nothing legal about them, as far as I can tell.

How is it different to ride around with a little piece of cardboard as compared to "no plate"? I agree that it is unwise to ride around with no plate or plate bracket, but given the bass-ackwards way the CA handles the distribution of physical license plates, it is hard to see why any officer would get their panties in a bunch of such an "infraction".

Oh, and regarding the idea of not pulling over when they pull over your friend - I say that you can't win in this situation. I have variously been yelled at for pulling over when I wasn't required to and also for not pulling over when they pulled over my friend (I was supposed to just KNOW that they wanted us both). It seems to me it is better to pull over than to risk being accused of "running". Cops should know this as well, and refrain from doling out a ration of shit when it happens.

Yeah, pulling us over is part of their job, but if I were to treat people in my work environment the way that the officer treated the OP, I would quickly be out of a job. Why is it OK for LEOs to be rude? Stressful job? Sure. So? Try being lead engineer on a "Critical Path" project when the plant is hemorrhaging millions of dollars each day that the plant is off line... Still didn't give me the right to be an a$$hole to people.

 

[dogcatfud]

Have you ever seen a brand new bike?

they tend to come with dealer plates...not no plate at all.


can't see going on a long ride with no plate, it's just asking for the wrong kind of attention.

My friend has a Triumph 675 that he bought brand new in March. For some unknown reason he removed the dealer plate. A couple weeks later he received the registration plate and sticker. But he never mounted it. I don't think he even carried it under the seat.

About a month ago he removed the fender and mounted the plate behind the rear tire, at a downward angle. The "LED bolts" that are supposed to light the plate are worthless.

I've kept my mouth shut as it's not my business. He'll eventually incur the wrath of the cops.

 

[bhaynnes]

Re: Re: Elk Grove

A waitress at a local restaurant told us the EGPD recently hired 25 additional officers. (I think we may have encountered four or five of 'em that day).

They were just hatin' on you 'cause you were wimmens.

 

[budbandit]

So, if I just bought a brand new bike, I shouldn't ride it until the plate comes in the mail because I might get pulled over for it being stolen/unregistered/uninsured/I'm a drunk (that may be true actually)?

Seems ridiculous.

No, you should ride it but not be surprised if you get pulled over, at which point you show your papers and move along. I doubt that most would bother with a new looking bike with a dealer paper tag. However, in this case I don't think there was a dealer paper plate. Perhaps not having a plate should no longer be a reason to pull someone over.

 

[ALANRIDER7]

If your license plate (or frame) is not above and behind the rear axle or is not visible at all, you're inviting a traffic stop.

 

[plumber]

So, if I just bought a brand new bike, I shouldn't ride it until the plate comes in the mail because I might get pulled over for it being stolen/unregistered/uninsured/I'm a drunk (that may be true actually)?

Seems ridiculous.

Who cares if the LEO pulls you over. It would only be a minor inconvenience as long as your stuff is in order.

I was pulled over on my FZ1 when it was brand new. Another blue Yamaha without plates ran from the popo a few days before. The CHP was actually relieved (for some reason) when I presented all of the necessary paperwork. The bike was totally legal and my paperwork was in order. He had nothing to bitch about. My minor speed infraction was ticketed and I was on my way.

 

[slackjaw]

No, you should ride it but not be surprised if you get pulled over, at which point you show your papers and move along. I doubt that most would bother with a new looking bike with a dealer paper tag. However, in this case I don't think there was a dealer paper plate. Perhaps not having a plate should no longer be a reason to pull someone over.

It seems unreasonable to me to have a system that does not provide you with a plate immediately but where you can be pulled over for not having a plate.

Why does it take 4 - 8 weeks to generate a license plate? Back in MA, the DMV had stacks of plates sitting behind the counter. They would hand you your registration and your physical plate at the same time.

Our DMV was populated mostly with mouth breathers, so I suspect that any DMV could manage the same process.

 

[slackjaw]

Who cares if the LEO pulls you over. It would only be a minor inconvenience as long as your stuff is in order.

Nobody cares until the LEO's become unreasonably rude.

 

[FourDoor]

Part 1: If a cop sees a bike with no plates, I 100% agree with them to check it out, even if it has the advertisement plate if the rider looks suspicious. Why? Because if any of us had our bikes stolen, and had it recovered because a cop routinely pulled someone over with no plates, we would all be jumping for joy. Like others said, OP and group didn't mind this and agree that the the no plate rider should have gotten the ticket. No argument there.

Part 2: The additional harrasment of the other riders in the group who were not pulled over because of no plates just plain sucks. If I was in a group of 4 and one of us got pulled over, I would pull over too. But if I get harrased by cops for being legal and not doing anything wrong, then i would be pissed as well.

 

[Alayna]

Boy this sure got turned into a cluster-fuck of 'selective reading' and misunderstandings. sheesh!

It was their 'power trip' attitude and how they treated us 'oh so threatening' girls, the rude and sarcastic comments they each had to make! They did not treat us with respect or like adults! It was all bullshit!! The treament we got would have been more justified if we had been riding wheelies and doing stoppies down the blvd! Ive never experienced anything like that here in the Bay Area! They were out of line and most of you would have felt the same if it were you.

It was NOT about me getting a fix-it ticket for not having my plate mounted on there yet. That wasnt the problem, so pike the fuck down. I accept that and will have it on there any day! Honestly, Im not used to Leo's being that petty & anal, BUT I do understand that is the law and I'm fine with that... However, Im not fine with how they treated us each time and I wish i would have got the names of the officers from the 2nd incident. For those of you who said that's stupid to ride with out a plate.. yeah maybe.. but since that's the worst thing Im guilty of.. I can live with it.

 

[canyonrat]

Certain cities/departments can have an attitude. My guess is the officers get shit from the higher ups and then mimick that shitty behavior when dealing with the public.

Sorry you had to deal with that, you should write a letter to the Police Chief and cc the Mayor.

Here in Sonoma County it is widely known that the Rohnert Park Police are overly "tight" when enforcing even the most minor infractions. The Sebastopol Police are known for being racist, so if you're black don't walk around at night unless you have a few white people with you.

The Santa Rosa Police are generally moderate and well thought of.

 

[canyonrat]

Here's the info:


Rick Soares, Mayor 916 683-7111
Bob Simmons, Chief of Police 916 478-8005

http://www.elkgrovecity.org/contacts/ada/ada-city-departments.htm

Also provide a link to this BARF thread!

 

[betis70]

"Bay Area invaders".

You got pegged as such by the yokel cops. Having lived in some very remote areas of the country, this is pretty much std operating procedure if you are considered to be an 'outsider'.

If lots of people from a near-by metro area are moving there and driving up home prices, don't expect a lot of sympathy from the local police.

I've been hassled in such places for nothing more than having hair longer than my collar. Minding my own business, paperwork in order, etc. Out comes the drug dog, you get read Miranda and all they have to do is drop a bag of illegal drugs in your car and you are hosed.

 

[Sane_Man]

Actually, if you're pulling over cause your friends get pulled over, what do you expect? If an office pulls over one bike in the group, don't look back, don't look over, just keep riding. Assume you're not getting pulled over and meet up with your friends down the road. Why would you pull over when your freinds are getting pulled over?

Also, don't ride so close so as to make it easy for an officer to pull the "whole group" over. Make the office chose whom he wants to pull over.

You guys really make this easy on officers. Don't. If you're riding in a big group (like when we did Mine's road a week back) and on the freeway, don't make a huge 30 person line: seperate out a little. We had a Livermore PD pull up behind the group and start calling in plate numbers and riding the ass end of the group pretty hard, but I had no issues. Why? Cause I rode in the lane to the right of the group, a short distance from the group.

So, word of advice: don't pull over for someone else's ticket. Don't look back and ask if you're getting pulled over, just keep riding the speed limit and being legal. If it's you, the officer will pull behind you and tell you.

I was riding with three other riders, and one of them got singled out for inspection, but I kept on going. He caught up with me 20 minutes and 15 miles further down the road, and tried to jump my shit because I didn't stop. I asked him where was his proof that I was riding with them?

Nobody got a ticket.

 

[monkeythumpa]

For those of you who said that's stupid to ride with out a plate.. yeah maybe.. but since that's the worst thing Im guilty of.. I can live with it.

Yeah but you have been pulled over twice for it. You would think you would learn the first time. Have you fixed it yet?

 

[Sane_Man]

Boy this sure got turned into a cluster-fuck of 'selective reading' and misunderstandings. sheesh!

It was their 'power trip' attitude and how they treated us 'oh so threatening' girls, the rude and sarcastic comments they each had to make! They did not treat us with respect or like adults! It was all bullshit!! The treament we got would have been more justified if we had been riding wheelies and doing stoppies down the blvd! Ive never experienced anything like that here in the Bay Area! They were out of line and most of you would have felt the same if it were you.

It was NOT about me getting a fix-it ticket for not having my plate mounted on there yet. That wasnt the problem, so pike the fuck down. I accept that and will have it on there any day! Honestly, Im not used to Leo's being that petty & anal, BUT I do understand that is the law and I'm fine with that... However, Im not fine with how they treated us each time and I wish i would have got the names of the officers from the 2nd incident. For those of you who said that's stupid to ride with out a plate.. yeah maybe.. but since that's the worst thing Im guilty of.. I can live with it.

Time to ask the hard question . . .

Was he HOTT??