Made a bad decision, now i'm paying for it big time.

[Papa L]

Ever been fishing? Ever catch all the fish? It's just one of those things. Using the "mommy mommy, everyone else was doing it" defense rarely, if ever, works. Bikes just stand out more in that scenario; more so when they drive aggressively.

I don't see what angling, fish, or feminine paternal figures have to do with the concept of profiling. Nobody said everyone else was doing anything, either.

 
I must have somehow misunderstood this nugget to mean everyone else was doing it.
"I will encounter hundreds of people driving 80+. All while being recklessly aggressive and I see a lot of bikes being pulled."
My apologizes.

[pantheraleo]

I agree, if they're going to be draconian, let's have equal opportunity draconian. Or have the highway men stand at convenient choke points, stop every 7th car, draw their weapons and hold out their hat for a donation of at least $50 to the benevolent fund or threaten to shoot the tires out. It would be more honest. MC are easy pickings and present a choice revenue enhancement opportunity.

I've just about had it with arbitrary revenue generation abuse of citizens for victimless crimes.
 
Jail time for speeding?
 
The BS we have been conditioned to accept is staggering...and the principle that police 'protect and serve' is a very bad joke. They are simply a government revenue racket with a monopoly on use of force. It's truly Disgusting.

[dqban]

***If you don't want to hear a rant don't read this!*** 
Better luck next time around cherenkovblu3. The justice system and cops can be a real joke at times. Long jail sentences for non violent offenders but let repeat, violent offenders out of jail time after time so that they may keep committing the same violent crimes. I can't remember how many cops I've seen pull their guns and shoot someone (when they had less lethal alternatives to handle a situation) that they claimed "threatened to harm them with their vehicle". If any of those same cops or a judge for that matter, had been in your shoes (a cop on a bike with no protection) they would've or could've claimed their lives were in immediate danger and would've been justified to put a bullet in their brain immediately, not required to flee to a "perceived" safe zone in a sensible manner. So of course cops will tell you, being that you're a citizen, you should've looked for an exit because (that's the right thing to do) your life isn't as valuable as a cops life. You're not worthy of protecting yourself in a 'drastic way' like they are, you're just a citizen. You're only "allowed to" slow down and take a chance that that guy may run you over so that you may then be "allowed to" call 911 to send a cop to protect you.   No, I don't hate all cops or the justice system. Just the stink trail that sometimes follows them/it.
 
 
I don't want to want to hate cops but I've never had a good experience with them in my life.  Im a law abiding citizen and 95% of my interactions with them have occurred when they were fishing for a criminal, profiled me (very poorly i might add.) and never found anything.  For me, cops have only served to cost me money.  Every  cop i have personally ever met has been an ass.  I may sound harsh, but you would be to if you've been pulled over more times than I can count while doing nothing.  I've been pulled over, literally, because the PIG wanted to check out the car I was driving or the motorcycle (both have happened more than once).  Talk about abuse of power, I'm not there for entertainment. They even try feeding me some BS law mumbo jumbo assuming I wouldn't understand.  (Cops rarely actually know what the law is.  You don't need much education to become a cop.)  
 
Its funny because for christmas I asked my wife to get me a Video camera with GPS for my helmet.....I will have GPS video verification of my speed and interaction with the cop

 

[dqban]

It is completely a revenue generation machine for the city/state.  John Oliver did a funny segment on it earlier this year...Its on You tube. Its sad to me because if anyone met me, they would have no reason to assume i have anything against police.  There is nothing about me that says "obvious criminal", yet I've had so many BS interactions with police.  I guess it bugs me that I feel afraid/defensive against cops.

[cherenkovblu3]

Well guys, its been a while, but the verdict is in. I went to court a couple weeks ago for my arraignment and went to trial today. Pleaded guilty at the advice of my attorney and let him do the talking. I walked out with a 60 days jail / 60 days suspended sentence, so in other words, no jail but if I get a ticket within the next year I go to jail for 60 days. no community service, fined 2500 plus 175 in court costs for a total of $2675 and 60 days suspended license. Really happy I dont have to go to jail. Definitely learned my lesson the hard way with this one.

[sane]

Sorry to hear this is the best you could do.
 
Argh.

[GAZ]

Still seems a bit excessive to me. Especially if you had no prior speeding tickets. I would consider riding with a camera as you can use this for evidence for your case in sudden increase of speed. Obviously it would be all subjective but they might of considered something lesser since in their eyes you were simply just "speeding." Its nice to see you keeping the bike though.

[Mr.Puss]

Wow! That's a absolutely ridicuous punishment for something so bloody petty. Pulling wheelies or swerving /lane-splitting through dense traffic at 200 mph, then sure, I could see it. Even the possibilty of jail time astounds me, not to mention almost 3-Gs in fines?! Good christ man! Might as well have been busted for child porn. Sorry to hear it.

[thomascrown]

With a sentence like that, I would be on a literbike with no plates if I ever had the misfortune of living in VA.

[cherenkovblu3]

Its definitely ridiculous, I mean between the fine + what my lawyer costs im going to be in this thing almost $5k, I DID "sell" the bike. Hopefully i'll be back on two wheels in the spring.

[Papa L]

Well guys, its been a while, but the verdict is in. I went to court a couple weeks ago for my arraignment and went to trial today. Pleaded guilty at the advice of my attorney and let him do the talking. I walked out with a 60 days jail / 60 days suspended sentence, so in other words, no jail but if I get a ticket within the next year I go to jail for 60 days. no community service, fined 2500 plus 175 in court costs for a total of $2675 and 60 days suspended license. Really happy I dont have to go to jail. Definitely learned my lesson the hard way with this one.

 
I think all things considered that's a win. No license sucks but sure as hell beats jail time. Hope you and your family have a good holiday season.

[No Hater]

This entire incident seems ridiculous. Speeding over 90 does not seem like that bad of a crime. Heck, a lot of places have the general traffic going over 80. It seems like this is a money maker for the counties of the state. I still cant believe it is so strict there.

[07echelon]

Well guys, its been a while, but the verdict is in. I went to court a couple weeks ago for my arraignment and went to trial today. Pleaded guilty at the advice of my attorney and let him do the talking. I walked out with a 60 days jail / 60 days suspended sentence, so in other words, no jail but if I get a ticket within the next year I go to jail for 60 days. no community service, fined 2500 plus 175 in court costs for a total of $2675 and 60 days suspended license. Really happy I dont have to go to jail. Definitely learned my lesson the hard way with this one.

I'm sorry to hear about that large of a fine, but happy for you that you didn't go to jail. I had my own reckless driving experience. 
I went to skyline with a friend back when I had a 600rr and on our way back through VERY straight and empty highways we got pulled over for 79 in 55 (officer only clocked one of us, but wouldn't say who, so we both got 79 in 55). Played the lawyer game, community service before court, dyno test to measure in accuracy of speedo, all that stuff. Ended up with a defective equipment charge, no points, but a fine ~$300. 
 
I too learned my lesson the hard way, although much less harsh than you. VA is very harsh with traffic infractions and even more so on the speeding. Now I don't risk speeding >5mph over the limit, or even a half stop at stop signs, ive been ticketed for half stops as well :/ 
 
 
 

[cherenkovblu3]

Thanks for the consolations guys, and happy thanksgiving to everyone. All that being said, anyone have any idea how this is going to effect my car / motorcycle insurance? Im with Progressive now, they just renewed my policy last month, think they'll drop me?
 
 

[07echelon]

Thanks for the consolations guys, and happy thanksgiving to everyone. All that being said, anyone have any idea how this is going to effect my car / motorcycle insurance? Im with Progressive now, they just renewed my policy last month, think they'll drop me? 

Happy thanksgiving to you too.  
I'd expect a rise in insurance premium, but I wouldn't know how much. I doubt they would drop you. They rarely drop people who pay on time though. They know you need insurance by law and most likely want insurance, so they are willing to accept the risk of having a client who on paper may be more aggressive in return for more money. I'd imagine they would only drop you if you don't pay lol

[cherenkovblu3]

Welp guys, im back on my Bike now just in time for the riding season to start here in VA, whats crazy is my insurance on the FZ-07 actually went down when I renewed the policy a couple weeks ago. I started my vlog back up with a video going over what happened https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-5fL48bwwE&feature=gp-n-y&google_comment_id=z12nwjb41k21cv4d1230cfuztm3otfikz
 

[cookfreeordie89]

Welcome back!

[cherenkovblu3]

Thanks man!

[twotone]

Hey....
Enjoy your freedom:-)

[twowheeladdict]

I just found this thread and skimmed through every post.
 
There must be a lot of people on welfare in VA.
 
If a speeding ticket risks jail time, and jail time usually means loss of job, which then means no money to pay lawyer or fines, a lot of people must end up on welfare.
 
Of course I also noticed that the tiniest backroads are 55 mph in VA. Trying to go 55 on a narrow road with no center line was insane. Especially with the locals coming down the center of the road.
 
Sounds more like a way for defense lawyers to make a living than a way to keep roads safe.

[awdspider]

Glad ir all worked out somewhat.
 
I got a ticket a few years ago in texas doing 90 in a 45. Road was empty and was late at night. I had just got done tuning my car and was pulling some logs. Police got me, I ended up with just a speeding ticket. If it were earlier in the day or there was traffic I could have gotten a wreck less driving. My ticket was about $400 and I was glad to pay it. Insurance could care less......until I decided to get a new motorcycle. bastards!

[cherenkovblu3]

I just found this thread and skimmed through every post. 
There must be a lot of people on welfare in VA.
 
If a speeding ticket risks jail time, and jail time usually means loss of job, which then means no money to pay lawyer or fines, a lot of people must end up on welfare.
 
Of course I also noticed that the tiniest backroads are 55 mph in VA. Trying to go 55 on a narrow road with no center line was insane. Especially with the locals coming down the center of the road.
 
Sounds more like a way for defense lawyers to make a living than a way to keep roads safe.

 
 
Yeah, I agree, its definitely strictly a revenue generation scheme. There have been multiple bills introduced to try and help change some of the ridiculous traffic law but a strong police union and a hand full of good ol'boys always stop it from happening. Definitely not a safety issue. Like what they did on the road I was pulled over on, I66, it used to have a posted speed limit of 65 - a handful of years ago they changed it to 70mph, but reckless driving in va is 20 over OR anything over 80, so 10mph over the 70mph speed limit is automatically reckless driving. Its really frustrating.

[Beemer]

I wondered where all the speeding ticket BS started. Did a sheriff give some poor, unsuspecting cowboy a ticket for cantering too fast on his horse through his town or what and I found this on the web:
 
"Because of Ohio's important role in the early automobile industry, the state was the site of numerous firsts in automobile history. Among these firsts was the first speeding ticket for an automobile driver. In 1904, Dayton, Ohio, police ticketed Harry Myers for going twelve miles per hour on West Third Street." - http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/World%27s_First_Speeding_Ticket?rec=2599
 
12 miles per hour! Wow, that maniac! I guess that cop was concerned for everyone's safety as well, (cough, hack!) I guess when the supreme court decided that freedom of movement was a fundamental right of the people they also decided the states had the fundamental right to put stipulations on our right so that they may legally rob (I mean save lives) people on their highways. - hence, "Highway Robbery"
 
 
 

[jake]

That makes sense I get a ticket each time I go threw Ohio.... FU OHIO! lol.
 
Glad your back on two wheels cherenkovblu3. Ive lost my license 3 or so times for speeding lol so I've been there keep it safe watch your speed

[captainmay]

I wondered where all the speeding ticket BS started. Did a sheriff give some poor, unsuspecting cowboy a ticket for cantering too fast on his horse through his town or what and I found this on the web: 
"Because of Ohio's important role in the early automobile industry, the state was the site of numerous firsts in automobile history. Among these firsts was the first speeding ticket for an automobile driver. In 1904, Dayton, Ohio, police ticketed Harry Myers for going twelve miles per hour on West Third Street." - http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/World%27s_First_Speeding_Ticket?rec=2599
 
12 miles per hour! Wow, that maniac! I guess that cop was concerned for everyone's safety as well, (cough, hack!) I guess when the supreme court decided that freedom of movement was a fundamental right of the people they also decided the states had the fundamental right to put stipulations on our right so that they may legally rob (I mean save lives) people on their highways. - hence, "Highway Robbery"
 
 

Leave it to Ohio to pioneer another government regulation lol