Why do cops always mess with motorcyclists?

Question

I have a harley customized vrod and never fails if a cop sees me, they get on my a.s.s or right beside me and stay there for sometime. What is the deal and is this legal for them to harrass me in this way?

Answer 1

I don't suppose they know you do they? Cops usually do give a little extra attention to a person with a record.

Answer 2

I went by a motorcycle cop hiding under an overpass on the freeway at 80mph on my Ducati and he turned on his siren for a second to tell me to slow down, that was it, never been harassed. Except one time in front of the store a cop was asking me about my bike and track days and World Ducati Week but never harassed.

Answer 3

Funny, I ride a sportbike and don't ever get harassed by cops.  In fact, the last time I was pulled over I got off with a warning for doing 80 in a 65.

Maybe it's because I wear ear plugs, full leather, full face helmet, gloves, boots, and don't have any aftermarket LOOK AT ME!!!! pipes installed.  In short, I look like a competent rider who values his own life, and that's all most cops really want to see.  I even get a wave back from passing bike cops!

If you look and sound like you have no idea what you're doing, they probably follow you just to see WHEN you'll do something wrong.

Answer 4

wear pants under your leather chaps......

Answer 5

must be how you look cops never bother me , most , only once did i have a cop nail me , but with a v rod you should be able to out run them

Answer 6

Must be part of that Harley dirt-bag thing.  You guys all want that badass image to rub off onto you when you pay the big bucks for your lifestyle, this comes with the purchase.

I pass everything on the road and don't remember a cop giving me a second glance.  Just another nice guy on a sport bike.

Answer 7

>> and is this legal for them to harrass me in this way?

No it is not legal to harass drivers / riders.  But is it almost impossible to prove that.

Now you know how black people feel like. Seriously

Good Luck...

Answer 8

They're just making up for being picked on in High School.

Answer 9

they probably think youre part of a biker gang or something.

Answer 10

sofa king is right, their probably just checking out your ride. paranoid much?

Answer 11

Last time I got pulled over was a couple of years ago in Tijuana. The cop seemed just to want to talk about our bikes.

Oh yeah, he also wanted 35 bucks.

Answer 12

Ahem!!!  Feeling just a LITTLE paranoid?  Having them follow behind you, or along side of you, is not harrassment.  Just putt putt along, and mind the law.  WHAT ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF?

Maybe you need a little attitudinal adjustimento, pal.

Answer 13

there admiring ur bike

Answer 14

Sucks to live where you do.

Most of the cops locally are cool, generally don't care about the bikers unless they're stunting or doing something stupid. I think it's because there's a large motorcycle police force, so they have some idea that not all motorcyclists are idiots.

You should see the Harley guys show up in force, tons of PD caps on display.

Answer 15

It's because they have nothing better to do then WASTE TAX PAYERS MONEY!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn't it be something if they had to do some REAL police work like catch child molesters and scum???????? Of course the system can't make money of the scum like they do off common  honest Joe.

Answer 16

26,000 miles on my current bike, 8k on the one b4 that, and a dozen bikes owned in my life....not once was I stopped or followed by a cop.  could be because I drive safely and within the speed limit, just guessing here.

Answer 17

they do this because most motercycles are fast.... really fast in some cases. the cops are just thinking you are going to speed and they can then catch you and think good of themselfs. dont worry they will stop following you if yiou go EXACTLY the speed limit  or at least no more than 15-17 over. around 21-22 they start to pull you over, but its really funny watching them get mad when they think you are going to do somthing wrong, and you dont.... they get really pissed. good luck hope this helps.

Answer 18

Does your license plate also say EAT ME in the mirror?

Might have something to do with it.

Sometimes cops will do that. It's a nervousness test.

You get nervous, swerve a little, they got a reason.

Just keep riding. As long as you're not breaking a law, they'll go away.

Answer 19

Just yell $28K at them when they say WTF tell them Oh sorry I thought you were wanting to buy it

A Four ft wide escape route might be handy

Answer 20

Eh don't worry about it. I have a Honda Prelude, and they tail gate me for long periods of time waiting for me to mess up. Usually i dont see them messing with harley motorcylcles, just cars like Honda's and Acura's and sport bikes. Who knows, they might just like your Harley and wanna look at it??! lol I don't worry about it though, i get followed for ages and there's really nothing we can do about it.

Answer 21

"Now you know how black people feel...":

No, I don't think you're paranoid and whiny.

.

Cops do that  because they're dickz.  I've had them right on my fender at night with their brights on.

Answer 22

The only time I have been pulled over by a cop was for speeding. When he walked up to my bike his first words were “Nice Bike” and gave me a warning ticket. He was in an unmarked car and I passed him doing 20 miles over the speed limit. He said he had to stop me other cars saw me pass him.  I ride a Harley Road King with a lot of chrome. What can I say I am a chrome-alcoholic?  I was at Cycle World in Houston and a lot of sport bike riders were talking about the cop constantly harassing them. They told me the cops don’t mess with HOGS just sport bikes.  I don’t know if I have been lucky or what, but cops don’t mess with me. I have not had my bike inspected for over 3 years. And on the open road I am usually cursing at 80 +mph in a 65 and pass several cops with radar on the side of the road.  I hope I did not jinks my luck by posting this. LOL

Answer 23

It's not considered harassment unless they always pull you over and check you out. Several of my close friends are cops and they all do the same thing. They check licence plates constantly. Not just bikes, cars, big rigs...to make sure they are not stolen or running with stolen tags or the driver/rider has a valid licence. When you are riding and don't see a cop on your a.s.s. you can be assured he is checking someone else out. They are trying to make the roads safer so get over yourself and next time give them a wave for trying to keep dangerous or uninsured drivers off our roads.

Answer 24

They figure if ur rich enough to spend big money on a V Rod they figure you can afford a speeding fine.

The Police don't go after the poor average Joe that owns a cheap bike knowing he don't have the money