NYC cops targeting bikers!!!!

[vexlak]

I was riding my r1150r on the FDR north bound around 5PM today. All of the sudden I noticed traffic stopping to a stand still and around 5 cops are combing through the traffic. First I though that they are looking for someone. Then they approached me a pulled the key from my bike and asked me to push the bike on the shoulder. I told the genius that he just locked my steering and I would not be able to do that unless I have the key back. This is in the middle line of three line highway while all other cars are waiting to see what is going on (5PM mind you traffic is the worst on FDR!). They gave me the key back and I pushed my bike to the left shoulder. There was another biker there alredy on a bullet bike (he did not look to happy). Then one of them asked for all the papers. Then I tried to call my wife to tell her that I will be late and this fat ass cop (Castillo his name from 32 precinct) told me that I am not allowed to use my phone (!). I asked him if I am a criminal that he used the tone he was using with me and I asked what law prohibits me to use my phone. I also reminded him that we are not in Russia. He seem to lost his speech when I asked him where his precinct and thank him with his name (indicating that I know where he is from and his name).
While I was there they received few radio messages from someone and they slowed the traffic again to stand still to get the approaching biker. Again, he had to push his bike…

In general they were targeting bikers. I got a ticket for after market muffler (not DOT approved) muffler. Since they did not measure the decibels on the bike, can I contest the ticket? Many bikes sold from BMW dealer have either TwoBros or Remus muffler. Mine is really not that loud. It is deep in sound. How can he prove that the sound is not original?

Any suggestions?

[TonyT607]

Never had a problem in NYC. Maybe they were profiling you (?)

Were you ticketed for having a loud muffler or for having an aftermarket muffler ?

[busithoth]

I've had alternating degrees of scrutiny from police in NYC.

I live in Brooklyn and ride over the Williamsburg to midtown to work, and have been stopped multiple times, sometimes more often than not. I got stopped a lot in 2002, when Bloomberg doubled the fees for tickets and the city needed money fast. Under the police's scrutiny, my parking yielded the city a couple of hundred dollars. Among the few who escaped tickets were the bikers who park on the sidewalk and took off their plates.

It lightened up for a couple of years, then 2004 was bad again. Many stoppings for no reason. Bait and release, almost. At the time I blamed the GOP convention and the introduction of motorcycle bombers in Iraq that year. That, too, passed. But 2007, I found more oppressive than either of those years.

In July, I had a cop car pull a 180 to give me a ticket for improper goggles (full-face, visor up, with Aviator sunglasses on). I was in leather, gloves and boots despite it being 95+, but got a ticket.

I got another ticket later that month when a patrol car pulled up next to me at a light, and they asked me to pull over. I had a half helmet and goggles, but they weren't DOT, and got a ticket for them also. (the difference between the DOT-certified and the non I'm not sure of, other than the DOT are less comfortable).

In August, I got pulled over twice. This was off the FDR exit on Houston St. I was asked for my license, and when he saw I had an "M" he let me go. (?) I asked him if that's really what he was checking for, and he said I'd be surprised how many people don't have a license. He also said something some police commissioner had a bug up his ass over motorbikes, and he liked to keep the numbers of infractions up. This could be BS, but he was bored as hell and I don't doubt would be rather doing something else.

This year, I've had to issue yet, and I've ridden past both Bush and the Pope talking at the UN.
I got stopped today while going to look at my new 1150R on the LIE, so maybe it evens out (he was checking inspections, apparently).

[MikeCam]

Well NYC is one of the few remaining Communist governments on the east coast.

[rdsmith3]

I have seen numerous reports in the ADVrider forum about a crackdown in NYC.

for example
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost ... count=2984

They are trying to reduce the number of cars in the city. You would think they would welcome motorcycles.

[vexlak]

Never had a problem in NYC. Maybe they were profiling you (?)

Were you ticketed for having a loud muffler or for having an aftermarket muffler ?

NO profiling. All bikers where stopped. I got a ticket for a non DOT aprooved muffler that is (cop statement) a aftermarket one. I told him that I got it like that from BMW dealer and he said that it is still illegal becasue it is loud .
Any ways of beating the ticket?

[challey]

I got a ticket for a non DOT aprooved muffler that is (cop statement) a aftermarket one. I told him that I got it like that from BMW dealer and he said that it is still illegal becasue it is loud

I would go to court on this one. You may need to do a bit of research but there are a lot of irregularites and things that don't add up here. I'd also advise you to get legal counsel. There are some present and former LEOs on this site and hopefully they'll chime it.

Here's how I see things as non-attorney though - just remember that this advice is worth every penny you paid for it.

For starters, does NYC have an ordinance against non-DOT mufflers? How did the cop determine that it was a non-DOT approved muffler in the first place? Did he actually get down and look for the DOT stamp on the can? If not, where's his evidence that it's not DOT approved?

You quote the cop as saying the bike was loud. How was that determined? Did he have a db meter? "Loud" is not a legal term. Find out what the db level in NYC is for exhaust noise and if you can, see what the noise leve is for your exhaust system. You may be able to get that info from the manufacturer of your exhaust systems. It's hard for me to believe that any of the aftermarket systems (Staintune, Z-Technic and the like) exceed any reasonable noice ordinance. There needs to be some evidence that your bike was "loud" - simply saying so is not good enough.

Sounds like a pretty bum rap. Good luck beating it.

[Boxer]

Maybe some Harley club can arrange for a benefit ride to go straight through NYC with one of those 10,000 biker parades that goes for like 20 miles. Bet that would keep them busy for a while.

[ColumbiaBMW]

Maybe the NYC police officers are just jealous of motorcyclists, because they are stuck riding these.....

http://www.bikernewsonline.com/2007/12/ ... ectric.htm

[Buckster]

Could probably out run that with a Pinto!!

[FloridaBeakster]

Your ticket should state the exact statute that was violated (like 386.01 or something like that). Look it up (may have to go to a public library). Then you will know what you were cited for and will have a better handle on how to go about fighting it.

[ScooterCop]

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv529b.pdf

MUFFLER
No person shall operate on any highway a motorcycle which is:
not equipped with a muffler to prevent excessive or unusual noise;
equipped with a muffler from which the baffle plates, screens or other original internal parts have
been removed or altered;
equipped with an exhaust device without internal baffles, known as “straight pipes”;
equipped with a modified exhaust system that amplifies or increases the exhaust noise so it is louder
than the noise madeby the original exhaust system.

Its still a bullschit ticket though.

'Tis the season though. Motorcycle fatalities go up, the SuperChiefs downtown want to know what are you doing about it. You don't want to be the Captain of a precinct that hasn't addressed the issue. Sorry guys, its just the way it is.

[pinecone]

Sorry guys, its just the way it is.

This is just plain wrong.

[TicTac50]

Sorry guys, its just the way it is.

Thank you ScooterCop.

American people gave up their FREEDOM to the Politicians a long time ago.

This country needs a good kick in the a$$$$$ to wake up. I don't think $10.00 for a gallon of gas will do it.

[twister212]

Few remaining communist countries? NYC is on year 15 of republican administrations and is one of the best run governments in the world.

By the way, I haven't gotten any tickets on my R1100R (although I did get two for talking on the phone without a headset while driving my car).

[twister212]

One more comment: I agree that NY cops on those goofy scooters are jealous of - probably - everybody. Some NY cops ride harleys, and they are definitely bad ass. And some ride horses. That's pretty cool too. So its pretty embarrassing, I would think, to get stuck on the scooter.