THE UTTER FAILURE OF THE POLICE

[Klavdy]

THE UTTER FAILURE OF THE POLICE

How do feel when you suddenly, apropos of nothing, see a cop car in your mirrors? Do you immediately breathe a sigh of relief that your safety is assured? Are you comforted in the knowledge that the police are protecting you from evil-doers and that their presence behind you is a reassuring example of their abiding love for the citizens they are sworn to serve and protect? Or do you start hyperventilating and wondering what idiotic nuance of the Motor Traffic Act you might have inadvertently failed to observe in the last five kays as you strove not to be crushed under the wheels of some iPhone-wielding retard in a car?
"Yes," bleat the omniscient motorcycle-owning cardigans who pollute our roads with their refusal to take responsibility for their riding. "If you have done nothing wrong, then you've got nothing to worry about."

If only that were true. But it's not.
Motorcycle riders must ride faster than the flow of traffic in order to survive. That is a simple fact. If you are riding with the flow of traffic you will come to grief. It's a no-brainer.
But since these beige-hued mugwumps aren't actually riders, I do not expect them to understand this. Owning a motorcycle does not make you a rider any more than owning a gun makes you a criminal.

For the most part, when a rider sees a cop car in his mirrors, he understands that in all likelihood he will be pulled up for a licence check, a not-so-random breath test and a healthy dose of rudeness, disdain and contempt by the armed Mensa-aspirant in a uniform. And that is the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario is that the rider will be subjected to an entire barrage of fascist crap about his (subjectively) excessive speed, followed by some half-informed bullshit about his tail-tidy/cylindrical rego holder/aftermarket pipe, while car after car motors past with virtually every driver fixated by his on-board GPS or texting on his phone.
This is wrong on so many levels.

But why do we instantly feel like we've done something wrong (even if we haven't) whenever a police vehicle looms in our mirrors?
It's because that is how the police want you to feel. And their entire demeanour and attitude is geared to perpetuating the feeling that you're certainly guilty of something – even if you're not.

If you need a better example of how the police have failed in their duty to the citizenry, then you also need professional counselling. The question that goes begging in our supposedly free western democracy is why do the police feel the need to cultivate such a sentiment among us? Do they imagine this is a positive thing? Are they deluded enough to believe that such fear breeds respect? Do they think that their endless howls for "More power!" to combat crime and the miniscule road toll are actually supported by the very citizens they harass and intimidate?

I think they do, and that is what scares the shit out of me.
But let us look objectively at this organisation of armed law enforcers and see if they are actually worthy of serving us as their mandate directs.
In recent times the police have piled failure upon failure and sold it to us, via their media unit, as a lack of "power".
Sydney's western suburbs are a free-fire zone each day, with drive-by after drive-by. The cops, unable to persuade anyone into speaking to them about anything (no doubt because the public loves, respects and trusts them so much), have now handed this problem to the NSW Crime Commission, an organisation not encumbered by the pesky legal constraints placed on the cops when it comes to making you talk. The police would like nothing more than to have the same frightfully coercive powers, but thus far the government has denied them these powers – and for this small mercy I am grateful.

But every day and in every way, the police shriek at the government to grant them more powers to coerce and intimidate the very people they are meant to ward from harm. They seek to ride roughshod over a person's right to silence. They seek to dictate how society should behave, rather than just dealing with how it actually does behave – as if we were stupid naughty children in dire need of their armed quasi-parental governance.

Their dealings with motorcyclists by the side of the road are nothing but exercises in debasement and intimidation that do nothing but promote contempt for them. A polite Highway Patrol officer is by far the exception, rather than the rule – and I simply cannot understand why they think that is a positive thing.
In simple terms, so that even the glass-tasters can grasp it, it's like this: The police are not (yet) empowered to re-engineer our society in a way that pleases them. They are there to police the society they are given. Play the bloody hand you're dealt, gentlemen, not the hand you wish you had.
Or go and get another job.


The above was penned by Mr Boris Mihailovic and first appeared in Australian Motorcycle News, March 2012.
It is specific to Sydney, Australia but applies to many other parts of the world.
Boris kindly gave his permission to reproduce it here.

[Rampant_ant]

Gotta love Boris. The man can really make you think and echos a lot of riders sentiments.

Kev

[racerman_27410]

get a speeding ticket on the new bike Klavdy?


KOokaloo!

[Mark Olson]

get a speeding ticket on the new bike Klavdy?


KOokaloo!

sounds like it.

[Dads_FJ]

To be fair (I know, I know...) last time (and first time on a bike!) I was pulled over for doing 78mph in a 65 zone. Mr. Law-Enforcement let me go with a warning.  "well, I know you were probably speeding because it's hot out and you were just cooling off"  I shit you not, I was acutally weaving between cars at the time wondering why they were going so slow, as I passed him while he was on the sholder.  I think what saved me was all my riding gear and when he saw my gray hair when I removed my helmet.  Not all cops eat doughnuts and are bad.

[SlowOldGuy]

I've always wondered, what good does it do to "write" a warning?
Why would he spend (waste?) the time writing a warning instead of just writing a ticket?
If he wasn't going to give you a ticket, why not just a "slow down" speech and send everyone on their way?
Do they get points for warnings?
If you get a certain number of warnings, does that equal a ticket?

I've gotten my share of "verbal warnings" but never a written one.
I did receive my FIRST speeding ticket (on a motorcycle) in Arkansas back in October. After 43 years of riding, I figure I'm still way ahead (I just hope to not make a habit of it).

DavidR.

[terryk]

I've always wondered, what good does it do to "write" a warning?
Why would he spend (waste?) the time writing a warning instead of just writing a ticket?
If he wasn't going to give you a ticket, why not just a "slow down" speech and send everyone on their way?
Do they get points for warnings?
If you get a certain number of warnings, does that equal a ticket?

I've gotten my share of "verbal warnings" but never a written one.
I did receive my FIRST speeding ticket (on a motorcycle) in Arkansas back in October. After 43 years of riding, I figure I'm still way ahead (I just hope to not make a habit of it).

DavidR.

Some PD's keep written warning in their database for between 30-90 days. This lets the force police up those "offenders" who do not change behavior....

[rktmanfj]

Last m/c written ticket I got was in 1978 in Effingham, Illinois... forgot to turn my headlight on when I pulled onto the street from lunch.

Last written warning was for 95 in a 70 zone just outside of Thermopolis, Wyoming.

Last verbal was probably going to be written until I caught the (local) Deputy off guard, pointing out that he was out of uniform (forgot his collar brass).  He was thrown off enough that he just muttered 'slow down there are curves ahead', and left me sitting there. Exactly why I was there, duh...     

[Klavdy]

get a speeding ticket on the new bike Klavdy?


KOokaloo!

sounds like it.

No mateys, not at all, I still can't ride and I'm not supposed to drive either.
Nope, just thought it was a good rant that illustrates the attitude of the cops here in Australia (and some other countries) perfectly.

[racerman_27410]

I was on Hwy 22 heading towards Sparta and had just crossed underneath the Blue Ridge Parkway.... the pavement was smooth and i had gotten into a good rythm coming up the eastern side of the mountain.

  Anticipating an equal amount of fun on the western side i was rolling along at a pretty good clip....oh crap....

Rolled right past a highway patrol sitting in the upper end of a long gravel lot, hidden from my sight by a large grove of mountain laurel until i was right beside him....DAMN.....he hit the lights just as i hit the binders, pulled into the lot and right up to the front of his car. Removed my helmet and had my license out before he could even get out of the car.

He told me to keep it down, watch out for the deer and then let me go... He actually thanked me for not making him have to move his car!

Unfortunately thats the only time i've EVER gotten out of a ticket!   

KOokaloo!

[Dads_FJ]

I believe pulling over asap, dismounting and removing my helmet right away helped the situation (although I didn't stop next to him like Mark)!  Also I didn't reach for my license until he asked for it - I don't want him thinking I'm reaching for a 'piece' as he's walking toward me.  On another board someone said to leave the helmet on - otherwise it could possibly be seen as a weapon.  I figure I'll have to remove it anyway just so I can take out my earplugs so I can hear him.

[Arnie]

I agree with John.  Last time I got pulled over, well the cop (unmarked) hit his lights and I pulled over, I shut down bike, pulled off my helmet and waited.  He came over and lectured me, but let me off with a warning too.

I did send the article to a friend who is a cop  and a motorcyclist.  His response is below.

Cheers,
Arnie

That was the biggest load of shit I've ever read.  Policing is dangerous and not all people are friendly, look what happened in Tamwrorth yesterday.  There is no conspiracy theory to intimidate the public and motorcycle riders by operational police.  I think I would know if there was, I'm out there on the highway everyday policing.  The bottom line is we treat as treated.  If I pull a bike over doing 115km/h I will routine check and breath test, have a chat and may depending on his attitude let him off with a warning.  I meet people like the bloke who wrote this article every day, they ride off with a ticket. 

Every motorbike rider breaks the law at times to survive and also have fun.  If we didn't motorcycle riding would be boring.  We all know the rules, if we pick the wrong moment and get caught that's life. The law is the law, we can all argue semantics but at the end of the day it is what it is like it or not. 

I arrested and armed offender two weekends ago who had just shot dead one person and tried to shoot another.  It was not a good place to be for me and my police partner.  I want machine guns, tazers, cannons and any other thing the government will give me so I can protect the community, myself and go home to my wife and kids.  We are de-powered, people don't talk to us because they are scared of us, they don't talk to us because they know we can't protect them.

Again I think I would know better than the dickhead who posted the article. Feel free to post this on the list less my name and e-mail details.

[racerman_27410]

OK so Klavdy is only thinking about getting a ticket on his new velvet sledgehammer and how much its going to piss him off (that he got caught  )



KOokaloo! 

[Klavdy]

I agree with John.  Last time I got pulled over, well the cop (unmarked) hit his lights and I pulled over, I shut down bike, pulled off my helmet and waited.  He came over and lectured me, but let me off with a warning too.

I did send the article to a friend who is a cop  and a motorcyclist.  His response is below.

Cheers,
Arnie

That was the biggest load of shit I've ever read.  Policing is dangerous and not all people are friendly, look what happened in Tamwrorth yesterday.  There is no conspiracy theory to intimidate the public and motorcycle riders by operational police.  I think I would know if there was, I'm out there on the highway everyday policing.  The bottom line is we treat as treated.  If I pull a bike over doing 115km/h I will routine check and breath test, have a chat and may depending on his attitude let him off with a warning.  I meet people like the bloke who wrote this article every day, they ride off with a ticket.  

Every motorbike rider breaks the law at times to survive and also have fun.  If we didn't motorcycle riding would be boring.  We all know the rules, if we pick the wrong moment and get caught that's life. The law is the law, we can all argue semantics but at the end of the day it is what it is like it or not.  

I arrested and armed offender two weekends ago who had just shot dead one person and tried to shoot another.  It was not a good place to be for me and my police partner.  I want machine guns, tazers, cannons and any other thing the government will give me so I can protect the community, myself and go home to my wife and kids.  We are de-powered, people don't talk to us because they are scared of us, they don't talk to us because they know we can't protect them.

Again I think I would know better than the dickhead who posted the article. Feel free to post this on the list less my name and e-mail details.

It would serve your acquaintance well to remember his sworn oath of service.

 I, (insert name)  , do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen as a police officer without favour or affection, malice or ill-will until I am legally discharged, that I will cause Her Majesty's peace to be kept and preserved, and that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences against that peace, and that while I continue to be a police officer I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all my duties faithfully according to law. So help me God. (NSW Oath)

Policing is not at all statistically dangerous when compared to other occupations
The Cops would have you believe it is, but that is a complete and utter nonsense and they are perfectly aware of that fact.

For Australia:
Certain occupations are more dangerous than others. The average annual death rate per 100,000 people for the most hazardous occupations includes:

   Commercial pilots – 197 deaths
   Fishermen and fisherwomen – 117 deaths
   Forestry labourers – 116 deaths
   Drilling plant operators – 72 deaths
   Mining labourers – 66 deaths
   Ship's pilots and deck officers – 54 deaths
   Structural steel labourers – 43 deaths
   Truck drivers – 41 deaths
   Excavation and earthmoving machinery operators – 39 deaths


Work-related fatalities - Better Health Channel
The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission conducted studies into work related deaths in Australia. Around 16 per cent of deaths are work related, with men accounting for around 90 per cent of those killed.

[racerrad8]

I did not read the original post, but here is the somber truth in America.

Officer Down Memorial Page

You can go through the years and see the numbers. It appears there is a recent rising trend of gunfire related deaths and they continue to be the #1 cause of officer deaths in the US.

Randy - RPM