Police Encounter!

[Steve_in_Florida]

Decided to take a ride yesterday afternoon, in order to visit a couple of local state parks.

Jumped on the Florida Turnpike, heading northwest. Destination: The Gainesville area for Ichetucknee Springs State Park ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichetucknee_Springs_State_Park ) and Troy Springs State Park ( http://www.floridastateparks.org/troyspring/ ).

Ran into horrific holiday traffic about 30 minutes into the ride, and decided to change my destination. After tearing up the back roads around Wildwood and Ocala, I finally ended up further south in the town of Bushnell. Stopped for a coffee and burger at the local Waffle House, then made a fuel stop.

As I was putting on my gear, one of the local deputy sheriffs pulled into the parking lot and right up to my bike. He looked me over and asked "Is that an FJ?" We chatted about bikes for a few minutes, and it became obvious that he was mildly envious. He told me that he "has very fold memories of having an FJ". We parted with a hearty "Ride safe!"

_These_ are the kinds of police encounters that I like.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. I spanked her a bit, just to feel the "get-up-and-go", then stopped by the shop to change out my spark plugs.

I love my FJ *SO MUCH*. Totally stock, but running very well.

I hope everyone else here had a good weekend, too.

Steve

[Pat Conlon]

Good deal Steve. We have found this happens a lot.

Out of the blue folks come up and say things like....."Cool FJ. I had a FJ years ago, loved that bike, wished I never sold it...."

Even with the younger kids, they say things like..."My dad had one of those FJ's. He let me ride on the back. Scared the shit out of me. We loved that bike..."

Many, many stories like these....

[56 CHEVY]

 At least a couple times a week I have the same experience with people walking up and commenting on my 86 FJ. This past summer I was telling a friend of mine that I sometimes ride with, about what I planned to do to the bike over the winter. He just says "Why don't you just buy a new bike instead of putting money into that old bike?" I let him take the FJ out and when he got back he says "I now know why you like this bike so much". In my experience it seems that anyone who has owned or ridden an FJ has a soft spot for them.

[eddohawk]

Thatsa good story and I wish the Police down here were more tolerant with motorcyclists and more interested in a non adversarial relationship.

The current poor relationship is in the main driven by the police believing the road toll of motorcyclists is politically unacceptable. Road deaths are a tragedy at any level however in my opinion the statistics in my state (Victoria) when analysed over say a 10 year period havent really increased within the context of the large increase of scooter and motorcycle registrations.

Being pulled over by the police for a bike/licence check is a pretty common occurrence here nowdays. The police are 'professional' but not paticularly pleasant and just petty.

Another problem impacting motorcyclists is the high (unwanted) media profile of the outlaw motorcycle clubs. Everyweek theres a story about their alleged connections with organised crime and even a couple of days ago we had a Bandido member gunned down in a shopping centre.

Anyway thats my rant about the police and motorcyclists....and I would much rather read a good news police story!

[The General]

Did my lolly with one of your Vic Constabulary (Snr Sergeant Darren pearce). i got pulled over for the seventh time that weekend (slow moving traffic jam - no lane splitting -nuthing just a license check) just before the bridge going into Phillip Island (march 2011). You Know the type - Feet wide apart fingerpointing short personned syndromed cop. he kept me 15 mins to teach me a lesson,(4talking back to him) so I kept him another 30 with verbal civility that prevented him from pulling over any more of the 40,000 odd bikes entering the races. Interestingly he claimed his Sunday wages were organised by Vic motorcycling assoc and designed to reduce motorcycle deaths. (Can`t recall any deaths in the traffic entering Phillip Island - but there ya go)

We don`t have any of those probs on the Sunshine Coast and have found the Police to be sensible good blokes. Very few checks - just plain book ya if your naughty.