Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I just can't believe what I read here.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...bikers-do.html

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I am fine with the fact he pulled over the motorcycle, I mean he was going 100+. The rest is just a little weird.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

How about drawing out his weapon?

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Probaly more to the story, but from what I saw, it seems like you have a case of an officer giving officers a bad name and a biker giving bikers a bad name.

ABATE was recently at an event I attend trying to get people to sign a petition.

Apparantly Florida is considering legislation that would allow the confiscation of a motorcycle going more than 40mph over the posted speed limit.

They argue it unfairly targets bikers and the same should be applied to cars.

I agree in some aspects.

Personally I never go that fast and won't ride with anyone who does.

It may seem like I'm painting with a broad brush, but nearly every time someone is riding like that, it is a guy in his
20's on a metric bike thinking he's a lot cooler than he really is.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I am not an LEO so I have no idea, I can only assume he didnt want the guy trying to ride away.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I think this a fair assesment

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

[It's guys like Graber that we have to blame for police aggressively targeting motorcyclists]

I think this quote is too Tony.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Interesting that the author says that only a small percentage of riders give the others a bad name, but ALL cops are "gun-toting thugs."
That cop should have no expectation of privacy regarding being videoed. He is clearly a lunatic and should be criminally charged with assault with a deadly weapon, (and obstruction of justice if he did not put in his report that he drew his gun on a suspect.)
BTW, I am a cop, and a rider. So that must mean that I beat myslef up sometims for no reason, right? ;)

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Agreed David.
I don't ride like that, but have suffered the scrutiny from local LEOs because there are those out there that do.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I bet you have Tony and didn't think for a second you'd ride like that.
Public roads are not the place to ride like a daredevil.

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"Anthony Graber was out for a leisurely ride, a leisurely ride that saw him wheelie through traffic on I-95 at over 100mph before reaching speeds that appear to be in excess of 140mph. "

Leisurely? :r

While the actions of the police officer are questionable, if this cement-head is not doing wheelies in traffic at 100+mph, none of this would have happened. Sorry, this a-hole was threatening the safety of those around him. I have absolutely no sympathy for him. None.

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This is the part I find interesting:
Graber, who pled guilty to the 80 in a 65 ticket he was issued at the stop, felt aggrieved by Uhler's thuggery and decided to upload a video of the traffic stop to YouTube so the whole world could share in the experience.
Obviously he got cut a break, he could of been charged with reckless driving along with a lot of other charges and he probably could of been arrested. But he still felt it was necessary to go after the undercover cop. The officer should have identified himself better but Graber wouldn't be put in that position if he wasn't driving like an idiot.

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Watching the video it seemed to me that uniforms were very close behind so they must have already been notified of the irresponsible rider. Shouldn't the UC just have continued reporting and allowed the patrol car to handle the situation?

As to the right to privacy stuff, good luck. There is very little if any right to privacy out in the open when in plain sight of all who pass by. Probably the true story is that the district attorney seized the computer to use the video against the rider.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

The rider put lots of people at risk with his riding and should have his license revoked.

I do not believe the cop ever pointed the weapon at the rider, he unholstered and approached the rider with the gun in the "hunt" position. This is not uncommon when dealing with the unknown, although I would not point the weapon and put my finger on the trigger until it became a deadly force situation. I just don't see the "aggressiveness" that is being claimed here.

The whole search warrant, detention situation sounds way over the top. There are less obtrusive ways to get the video removed from youtube, and I think the wiretapping charge was a bogus means to an end.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Thanks for weighing in on this Tom.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I'd like to hear some more of your thoughts, Tony.

I guess I have bias in both directions, being a rider and an LEO.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I have watched the video multiple times.
1) The rider endangers everyone around him with his disregard for safety on a public road with moderate to heavy traffic.
2) sounds like he got off real easy with the ticket. Could have/should have been reckless driving.
3) I think that even though the LEO has a gun out in "hunt" mode as you call it, I don't know that it was necessary for that situation, and I don't know how the rider or myself for that matter would be able to determine this was a cop and not some road rager.
4) the "wiretapping" charge just drives me crazy.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I don't really see where the Officer was in the bad. He stopped, drew his weapon, and ordered the rider off the bike. It's not like the guy was riding his big wheel down Main st eating cotton candy and drinking Pepsi Cola. He was being a menace and just because the Officer didn't "lay the badge on him" as my Grandpa would call it, doesn't mean he did not handle the situation properly. It's not like he threw the guy off the bike and put the pistol in his mouth.

As far as the wire tapping goes, a Judge has to sign those warrants, he must have felt that the Police has cause to enter the home. Is it overkill? Yeah, for a Youtube video, probably.

Overall, I think the Officer handled the situation fine, the rider was an obvious menace and needed to be dealt with swiftly.

:2

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I wish there was audio, all we have is the rider's claim that the officer did not identify himself as such, and I am not sure I would take him at his word.

Remember that LEOs, via Supreme Court case law, are not judged by the "reasonable man" theory, but by the "reasonable police officer" theory...based on the totality of circumstances, the information available at the moment, and not to be judged by "Monday morning quarterbacking".

Based on what I saw, was it reasonable for the officer to pull his car in front of the stopped mototrcycle, unholster his weapon, and assertively approach the rider in an attempt to stop his reckless behavior? I'd say it absolutely was reasonable. :2

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I'm in agreement here as I have been riding motorcycles for 40 years and as with most things there are incidents out there that defy imagination. Not knowing the full details or the back story except from this report I'd say going 100mph is where things started to go wrong. The policeman should have identified himself in a more appropriate manner but there are some policemen who get "emotionally" involved in the incident where they stop being a policeman and act out with reactionary motives.

I also agree with the statement that most times it is some kid on a crotch rocket who is not using sound judgement and is "overtaken" by his feel of freedom of going fast and taking chances that gives other motorcyclists a bad name. It is a well known fact that the judgement part of the brain is not fully developed until the age of 25 which makes you think about the ramifications of what goes on out there.:confused:

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Right on Peter!

1) First of all, guys who ride like this give us all a bad name. No sympathy for him at all, none, zero, bumpkis.

2) why did the PO pull his gun? No idea. Maybe he saw some lunatic endangering the lives of everyone on the highway and thought he may be fleeing a triple homicide, or had just robbed a bank, or was high on something, or was mentally deranged.....and pulled the gun for his own safety. Seems like a pretty proportional response to me. It's clear from the video he holsters the weapon almost immediately. Never even pointed it at the rider, although he probably should have given the circumstances. I fail to see what anyone thinks he did "wrong".

3) As additional evidence of what a jackass the rider is, given the fact the camera is rolling throughout, apparently it was HIS PLAN to go out and endanger not only his own safety but the safety of others on a public highway. Not cool at all.

4) As far as being charged with wiretapping......oh well. Is that what the statute says? Oh well then. He posted the video with the express intention of embarassing the PO, when he himself is the jackhole here. Huh. Guess it kind of backfired on him. ;)

5) And this is tongue in cheek. Tony, STOP READING THAT SITE, :r:r

Obviously the author and others there have an ax to grind with LEO's, and don't mind twisting the facts in order to do it.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

+1:tu

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

As a laymen, the cop didn't seem very "thuggish" to me. I don't know whether or not the gun was necessary, but he never pointed it at the guy and it went back into the holster as soon as he had the guy stopped. All in all his actions seemed pretty professional in the heat of the moment, especially considering how often riders try to flee when they see the police. I think the uniforms laid back so the plain-clothes could stop him unawares without spooking him first and starting a highspeed chase that would have ended disasterously.:2
As for the idiot on the bike, in Cali he would have been arrested for the speed alone, as they can take you in for anything 100+ Not to even mention the wreckless driving on top of that. He should have considered himself to be getting a lucky break and have called it a day. Posting the video was petty and while I think it is over the top what the police did to get the video and the wiretapping charges are bogus, there's a lot of leeway in search and seizure since the Patriot act, so while it shows how much our freedoms have been eroded in the last ten years, its not out of keeping with the general climate of our times, I've had friends get their house invaded on far less substantial claims.
I've had two friends that rode like that. One's dead and left a 2 year old child behind, the other is now a paraplegic with severe brain damage that makes talking nearly impossible. He is a huge and painful burden on his family. Riders like that endanger themselves and everyone around them in a reckless manner and deserve a good smack down by the law. It'll save their families a lot of grief down the line.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I don't think the officer was out of bounds in drawing a weapon. He didn't point it at the guy and holstered it quickly.

And the guy isn't exactly a model citizen. He deserves whatever he gets.

What bothers me, assuming it's all factual, is the aftermath of raiding the guy's home and confiscating things. Even though the bike rider may be an idiot, that's a little too over the top for me to support. We have to have limits on both the good guys and the bad guys.

I say they all need a good kick in the a** :2

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I'll take that under advisement counselor ;)

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I wouldn't have minded seeing the guy forced to sit bare assed on the hot pipe for being such a reckless rider and had "Suzuki" branded on to remind him of his asshattery.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

:r:r:r

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

The bike rider should have his license revoked for a minimum of 5 years. I see no problem with the cop having his gun drawn, the bike rider was acting completely irresponsibly. The warrant - well, that's the judge's fault.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

All good and valid points made. My only issue is I don't think we're being given the whole story. Obviously the writer of the article is putting a nice big SLANT on this story and the fact that he feels Officers should be targeting "hippies" and "foreigners" makes me question his credibility even more.

I would love the full story as the way its written now leaves me with more questions than answers. :2

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I found another video of just the end, but with sound.
he says twice to the rider to get off the motorcycle, and the third time he says get off the motorcycle, State Police.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHjjF...eature=related

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

the second video Tony just got of amplifies in my mind what a douchebag the rider is. Apparently the first time he posted the entire video, and must not have liked some of the comments directed at him.

Solution:

Just post another video with only the last 20 or so seconds, where he is just sitting there looking like he's minding his own business and someone pulls a gun on him.


Quote: " I got pulled over for speeding and the cop decided to pull out his sidearm... Thought I'd share it. "

Really? Is that what happenned, you got pulled over for speeding and some PO pulled a gun on you?

What a tool. This guy is not the sharpest tool in the shed, apparently.:r

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Yeah and some of the comments on youtube are scary.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Personally i think both of them are in the wrong.this so called kid gives legitamate bikers a bad rap,and i think too many cops head swells up when they get a badge and gun.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

5-0 could have pulled his badge just as easily as his gun. He needs to remember that he's in street clothes and not be pulling guns in these situations.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

As a LEO I'll say this, The cop had no Idea why this guy took so long to pull over and yes that was a long time just think how far you could travel in just 30 seconds. Most reasonable people pull right over and don't run from the cops so to the cop he may have been wondering why is this guy running maybe he's got a gun of his own. Lets put it like this neither the cop or the motorcycle rider had dinner together the night before and DO NOT KNOW each other. When the officer saw the situation was safe he holstered his weapon no harm no foul. As for the warrant and other stuff it just sounds like revenge to me.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

sometimes pulling that shield first before the gun could mean life or death.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

How does it seem to you that this guy's head is swollen? Nice stereotyping. :2

Exactly, jitzy....and those who haven't lived that reality aren't really credible when commenting on what "5-0" should or shouldn't do. :2

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I agree.:tu

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Dang, you beat me to it, that's what I was thinking as I was reading your post. I am not a LEO but I really hate to see the news anymore when the Police are involved in pulling a gun or God forbid having to actually use it. You always see all the folks in the neighborhood commenting on the news that they shouldn't have used force blah blah blah. It's very easy for me to sit here and say what they should have done, but like Tom points out, till you been there, you don't have an appreciation for what these guys have to go through. Just remember most of them have family that they want to get back home to in one piece when the shift is over.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Here's how an old bike riding outlaw looks at this...first of the rider broke some traffic laws...so what? That warrents a ticket...not an attack of a maniacal gun waving thug-cop...the cop could have stepped out of his car after blocking the rider then identified himself as a LEO and asked the guy to get off the bike rather then running up waving a gun and grabbing the bike which he had no right to do...what he had business to do was to call a marked car to stop the biker not cut him off and start waving a gun in his face yelling at him to get off the bike...I'd tape that too...at that point you have no idea the guys a cop...especially considering he's handling this in the worst possible way he could handle it...furthermore, they were out in public...never before heard where you can't video something or take a picture in public...did it catch the cop acting like a wild man? Yep...and posting on YouTube? After that kind of treatment I'd want the world to know what the cops are pulling...I've already been in one showdown with a bunch of gun-waving cop-thugs, and you have no idea how overboard they go...hell, when I was in the middle of it I called the news stations so if the cops shot me or anything at least the truth would get out...and I was unarmed when this was going down...all these f'ing cops have Wyatt Earp complexes these days and don't feel they have to obey the laws they're sworn to protect...I hope the rider gets himself a good attorney and sues those jackasses for violation of his civil rights, including the reason-less raiding of his house and confiscation of his computer...for that matter sue the judge who handed out such a groundless warrent too...the cops there have acted like the jack-booted thugs they are...get a civil rights attorney to hand them a smack-down...

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Greg,

I'll bet as an EMT, you've seen your fair share of motorcyclists scraped off the road.

I have a friend who, ironically, is nicknamed "Lucky". He has been hit 3 times, all of which were not his fault and has two stickers on the windshield of his Heritage Softail.

One says, "crippled old biker bastards", and the second, "It's not the destination, it's the journey", the second I really like and try to practice.

He recently had a helicopter ride to the hospital trauma unit and was hit by an uninsured motorist and has mounting medical bills and a reconstructed shoulder.


At those speeds, you have zero chances of surviving or reacting and will likely take out someone else.



Slow down dude, enjoy the scenery.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

A few. I ride myself, but not at those speeds. I have never had a gun pulled on me by a police officer either, or even stopped while riding. I guess the crazy cops just don't see that much value in pulling over someone who mostly obeys the traffic laws.:rolleyes:

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Personally, I think the whole "cops hate bikers" thing is not true and wave to the Sheriffs on Road Kings I see around me and have had no problems with any.

I'm also careful to pass judgement on someone who faces danger and split second decisions every day to protect the public for relatively low pay.

This was the scene of my crime and no cows were harmed by my actions...
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...69/country.jpg

The problem on this particular day was Jack's has a rib special on wednesdays and the chimney was smokin, that means they're open, and the ribs don't last long and neither do the beans...

Anyone would have done the same in my situation..

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...te69/jacks.jpg

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Me too, and the one thing I did see is that the rider did 'push back' from the unmarked vehicle.... was he going to flee? hard to judge.
I saw a badge on the hip of the unmarked right away. That is identification enough. If I can read lips at all, it looks like there was a verbal identification.

Was the officer threatened? If he felt that way, he had every right. It is a helluva lot harder to react to a motorcycle speeding away than it is to immediately take control of the situation as he did. Once control was established, the weapon was holstered. Kudos for that.

All MHO, of course. What do I know? :)

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

well tom how do you figure i am sterotyping,as a over-the-road truck driver for over 14 years,i have seen first hand how some cops and dps carry there attitude on there shoulders.NO i am not saying all law enforcement are bad,in fact many of them have went out of there way to help me out when i broke down,and i have a few law enforcement friends here in laredo,so i can only comment on my experiences...:2

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That was just as much a stereotype as saying "to many" black people steal or "to many" irish guys are drunks thats why its called stereotyping. Look I don't think you hate all cops but your statement was wrong

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Maybe this one will better get the point across:

http://www.examiner.com/x-6121-Oklah...ahoma-I40-case

http://www.newcriminologist.com/arti...d=161&nid=2138

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

I must have watched a different video than you watched, Marc. :r

How are you NOT stereotyping? :r That is akin to me saying "I think too many truckers become amphetamine junkies and serial killers".

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

For anyone wondering, here is the vid with audio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHjjF...layer_embedded and the cop clearly does not announce he is a cop until much later after his firearm is drawn. I try not to ride too crazy although on an empty country road I may speed a bit and be a bit of a hooligan but would never attempt this on a freeway or crowded street or a street with any other traffic but had this been me after watching the vid with audio, I prob would have done my best to haul ass out of there as I would have thought I was either being robbed or this guy was a road raged cager. I dunno, I'm not a cop and I respect the job they have to do but this guy should have clearly announced who he was as he exited the car. The fact that he didn't makes me want to think he let his emotions get the better of him. Thank god it didn't play out this way but what if the biker was a carrying a firearm with a CCW and he pulled his sidearm in defense not knowing who this guy was, it could have been an even uglier scene although even if this were the case I would probably try and run from a guy with a gun rather than pull a firearm as he would have been at a major disadvantage but what if? Not trying to say the guy on the bike was not being a douche but I think this could have been handled a little more professionally and the raid just added insult to injury.

Re: Motorcyclists and non-riders , I would like opinions on this story
 

Video or no video, I've already been on the barrel end of a cops gun and I was unarmed and pretty defenseless, considering I'm 63 and walk with a cane...they have a Wyat Earp complex...the cop had no business even pulling his gun as he did for traffic stop even if the rider was going like a bat out of hell...pull out a ticket book fine, and as far as pulling out the badge verses gun concept, he was after a guy on a crotch rocket...there was no indication from anything that the cop needed to have his gun out even for one second and that makes him wrong...and compounding the situation by raiding the guy's house is double wrong...I hope he gets a good attorney and sues their asses off...