Folks have been askin', so we're gonna post our events here. And we'll blog after each one of 'em and include lotsa pictures.
February 28, 2009 (Saturday)
DeLand. Dixie Biker Illustrated's Bike Week Kick Off Party at Trader Jack's Roadside, 4425 N Hwy 17. (After the Downtown DeLand Bike Rally) Kick off your Bike Week with a Bike Week tradition! Free bikes only parking, no rip off prices, a great ride in the country, live music, vendors, bike games, wet t-shirt contest, best chaps contests (Male & Female), vibrator races, give aways and more. 4 pm til the wee hours.
March 3, 2009 (Tuesday)
Ormond Beach. Dixie Biker's Free Back Roads Poker Run. Meet at Deadwood Saloon, 1080 N US Hwy 1 at 9:30 am for free biscuits and gravy. Free Run registration 10 - 11 am. Kickstands up at 11 am. Bring a full tank of gas! Ride about a hundred miles, traffic free, on the Loop to Flagler Beach, then south along the ocean and back on the Loop to White Eagle in Korona. About an hour pause then saddle up for more traffic free back roads to Trader Jack's Roadside in DeLand. Then back to the Ormond Strip on traffic free insider's roads for awards, raffles and giveaways. $50 Best hand, $25 2nd, $25 worst.
March 5, 2009
Ormond Beach. Willie and Company's Ol' Skool Chopper Show at Tropical Tattoo, Inc., 825 S. Yonge Street (US Hwy 1). A Bike Week tradition. Hot bikes, hot chicks and much more. And we'll provide the trophy girls again this year! Here's a link to our story from Biketoberfest 2008: http://dixiebiker.blogspot.com/2008/10/biketoberfest-2008-old-school-chopper.html
Ormond Beach. Dixie Biker Illustrated's Old School Bike Week Party at the Deadwood Saloon, 1081 N US Hwy 1. 6 PM til ?! Food and drink specials, Live Music, Wet T contests with cash prizes, wet t contests (Two classes: stock and modified), best chaps contests (men's and ladies), bonfire, giveaways, games and more. At 7 PM Dixie Biker's Chaplain, Rev. Al Paquette will perform a wedding vow renewal ceremony for anyone and everyone. This is free. No pre registration required. Renew the vows and rekindle the love!
March 8, 2009
DeLand. Dixie Biker Illustrated's C ya Next Year Party at Trader Jack's Roadside, 4425 N Hwy 17. End Bike Week with our traditional closing party! Free bikes only parking, Free BBQ 4 pm til it's gone, no rip off prices, a great ride in the country, live music, vendors, bike games, contests, etc.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
More Government is Good!
From Willie in the Wind ...
Does anybody out there remember the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY during the Carter Administration? Anybody? Anything? No?
Didn't think so.
Bottom line ... we've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember. Ready? The reason it was formed, and necessary was very simple and, at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate:
The Department of Energy was instituted August 4, 1977 to lessen our dependence on FOREIGN oil. Hey - pretty good idea, don't you think?
And now it's 2009, 32 years later, and the budget for this NECESSARY Department is $24.2 billion dollars a year. They have 16,000 federal employees and approx-imately 100,000 contract employees. And look at the job these bureaucrats have done. We're even more dependent on foreign oil now than we were more than thirty years ago. Now that's government efficiency.
Okay, you can now slap your forehead and say, "What was everyone thinking?"
Ah yes, good ol'government bureaucracy. And now we are going to turn the Banking system over to them? And the auto industry? And ...
God help us!
Does anybody out there remember the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY during the Carter Administration? Anybody? Anything? No?
Didn't think so.
Bottom line ... we've spent several hundred billion dollars in support of an agency the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember. Ready? The reason it was formed, and necessary was very simple and, at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate:
The Department of Energy was instituted August 4, 1977 to lessen our dependence on FOREIGN oil. Hey - pretty good idea, don't you think?
And now it's 2009, 32 years later, and the budget for this NECESSARY Department is $24.2 billion dollars a year. They have 16,000 federal employees and approx-imately 100,000 contract employees. And look at the job these bureaucrats have done. We're even more dependent on foreign oil now than we were more than thirty years ago. Now that's government efficiency.
Okay, you can now slap your forehead and say, "What was everyone thinking?"
Ah yes, good ol'government bureaucracy. And now we are going to turn the Banking system over to them? And the auto industry? And ...
God help us!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Friday, February 06, 2009
Friends ...
Okay - we've hadda ton of political crap and it's gittin' worse. I got this reminder in from one of our readers, and a friend, about what's really important in life.
From Cheezstyx --
This explains why I forward jokes.
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. He called out, 'Excuse me, sir, where are we?'
'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.
'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.
'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.
'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'
'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'
'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.
'There should be a bowl by the pump.'
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.
'This is Heaven,' he answered.
'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'
'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'
'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'
'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'
Soooo...
Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word.
Maybe this will explain.
When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes. When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes. When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes.
Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A forwarded joke.
So, next time you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile.
You are all welcome at my water bowl anytime!
From Cheezstyx --
This explains why I forward jokes.
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. He called out, 'Excuse me, sir, where are we?'
'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.
'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.
'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.
'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'
'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'
'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.
'There should be a bowl by the pump.'
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.
'This is Heaven,' he answered.
'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'
'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'
'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'
'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'
Soooo...
Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word.
Maybe this will explain.
When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes. When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes. When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes.
Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A forwarded joke.
So, next time you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile.
You are all welcome at my water bowl anytime!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Dissolution of America 2
Now a Marxist Country? This lady is friggin' nuts!
Windfall Tax on Retirement Income
Adding a tax to your retirement is simply another way of saying to the American people, "You're so darn stupid that we're going to keep doing this until we drain every cent from you." That's just what the Speaker of the House is saying. Read below ...
Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax on Retirement Income. In other words tax what you've earned by investing toward your retirement. You aren't going to believe this.
Madam speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to put a Windfall Tax on all stock market profits (including Retirement fund, 401K and Mutual Funds! Alas , it is true - all to help the 12 Million Illegal Immigrants and other unemployed Minorities!
This woman is frightening.
She quotes...' We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income, (didn't Marx say something like this?), in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest.' (I am not rich, are you?)
When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied:
'We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans'.'
(Read that quote again and again and let it sink in."
In other words: "You've worked hard, invested wisely for your retirement, but oh by the way: Fuck you."
"We're gonna take your money and give it to someone who hasn't worked, hasn't planned and hasn't paid any taxe because you're stupid enough to let us."
You've been warned...
Windfall Tax on Retirement Income
Adding a tax to your retirement is simply another way of saying to the American people, "You're so darn stupid that we're going to keep doing this until we drain every cent from you." That's just what the Speaker of the House is saying. Read below ...
Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax on Retirement Income. In other words tax what you've earned by investing toward your retirement. You aren't going to believe this.
Madam speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to put a Windfall Tax on all stock market profits (including Retirement fund, 401K and Mutual Funds! Alas , it is true - all to help the 12 Million Illegal Immigrants and other unemployed Minorities!
This woman is frightening.
She quotes...' We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income, (didn't Marx say something like this?), in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest.' (I am not rich, are you?)
When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied:
'We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans'.'
(Read that quote again and again and let it sink in."
In other words: "You've worked hard, invested wisely for your retirement, but oh by the way: Fuck you."
"We're gonna take your money and give it to someone who hasn't worked, hasn't planned and hasn't paid any taxe because you're stupid enough to let us."
You've been warned...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dissolution of America
Got this in from Willie in the Wind:
Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists, Obama supporters, et al:
We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile, slate it up to irreconcilable differences, and go on our own ways.
Here is a model dissolution agreement:
Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement.
After that it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.
Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie O'Donnell (you are however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move them).
We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies, greedy CEO's and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood.
You can make nice with Iran, Palestine, and France and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protestors. When our allies or way of life are under assault, we'll provide them job security.
We'll keep our Judeo-Christian Values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, and Shirley McClain. You can have the U.N. But we will no longer be paying the bill. We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.
You can give everyone healthcare, if you can find any practicing doctors (that is practicing, Howard Dean) who will follow to your turf (sic). We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.
We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and The National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.
We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty its best shot.
Since it often so offends you we'll keep our History, our Name, and our Flag.
Would you agree to this? If so please pass it along to other likeminded patriots and if you do not agree just hit delete and hang on.
In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you ANWAR on who will need whose help in 15 years.
Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists, Obama supporters, et al:
We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile, slate it up to irreconcilable differences, and go on our own ways.
Here is a model dissolution agreement:
Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement.
After that it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.
Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie O'Donnell (you are however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move them).
We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies, greedy CEO's and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood.
You can make nice with Iran, Palestine, and France and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protestors. When our allies or way of life are under assault, we'll provide them job security.
We'll keep our Judeo-Christian Values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, and Shirley McClain. You can have the U.N. But we will no longer be paying the bill. We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.
You can give everyone healthcare, if you can find any practicing doctors (that is practicing, Howard Dean) who will follow to your turf (sic). We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.
We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and The National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.
We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty its best shot.
Since it often so offends you we'll keep our History, our Name, and our Flag.
Would you agree to this? If so please pass it along to other likeminded patriots and if you do not agree just hit delete and hang on.
In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you ANWAR on who will need whose help in 15 years.
Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Whites Need not Apply
Jeez - President for only two days and already lots of our readers are left out in the cold. White construction workers need not apply. Talk about racism. Plus now Rangle - a tax cheat and congressman from NYC is gonna take your money and give it away to others. The power of the State over rules everything. Jeez. They're totally skipping Socialism and going straight to Communism. How in the hell did we let it go on this long?
Watch it for yourself:
Watch it for yourself:
Monday, January 19, 2009
Hold on to your wallets
These idiots in Congress are imbeciles, crooks and power hungry corrupt politicians. And we don't believe a single one of them anymore. Guilt by association. Money and Power. And it's only gonna get worse.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
And So Goes America???
We broke the bonds with Great Britain over 200 years ago. So why are our 'do-gooding' liberals trying to be like them now? From JPA.
Monday, January 12, 2009
How to Take a Traffic Ticket
We haven't posted in a while. Holidays, busy with stuff coming up for Bike Week, new issues to get on the street, etc. Sorry. We're gittin' back on it. Here's another great article from David Willis, Attorney---->
We should all ride safely and obey the traffic laws, but let’s face it, sooner or later we’re all going to get a ticket for something. Don’t let it ruin your day. Worse things can happen on a bike. Do it right, and you’re back on your way in a few minutes. It’s not as bad as a flat tire or an accident. Act wrongly, and you’ll ruin your chance of fighting the ticket, not to mention risk the situation escalating into an arrest and an opportunity to make a few new friends downtown for the night.
Bikers can get traffic tickets for everything a car driver can as well as citations specific to motorcycles. Common traffic citations for cars or bikes are: speeding; crossing a yellow line; changing lanes during an intersection; not staying in the correct lane during a left turn; failing to signal a turn or lane change; and many more. But, bikers can also get tickets for: splitting a lane; loud pipes; vertical tag; and; my favorite, wheelies. (I don’t mean I do ‘em — I just think it’s pretty funny that someone complains when they get busted for doing it.). And lately, I’m handling more and more cases of excessive speeding, like riding at 130 and 160 miles-per-hour. Man, those crotch rockets really scream.
Now, here are the DO’s and DON’Ts when you get pulled over for a ticket.
When an officer turns on the flashing lights, DO put on your blinker and move to the right lane.
DO look for a good place to pull over. If a side street or parking lot is available, use it. If you have to drive a couple of blocks for a good spot, this is usually permissible.
DO turn off your bike or car.
DON’T get off the bike or out of your car.
DO wait patiently for the officer to come to you. Never go to meet the office halfway.
DON’T ever try to shake hands with an officer.
DON’T show frustration or anger.
DON’T speak first! Let the officer speak first. Always!
DO use a few “sirs” or “ma’ams” in your responses, but don’t over do it.
The officer is going to ask for your “license, registration and proof of insurance.” DON’T start digging for it until the officer asks for it, and be sure you can produce them quickly.
DO answer the officer’s questions BUT only with brief, non-committal responses.
DON’T admit to anything! I suggest answers such as “I see” or “okay.”
DON’T say smart-alecky stuff.
Question: Do you know why I pulled you over?
** THIS IS IMPORTANT! ** Your answer is always “No, why?” or “Please tell me.”
Question: Do you know how fast you were going?
Answer: “Yes sir/ma’am.” DON’T say your speed, especially if you were speeding! Let the officer state how fast he/she thinks you were going. DON’T comment, argue, debate, etc. DON’T say anything! If you must say something, just nod you head in an ‘Okay, if you say so’ way.
Question: “Do you know what the speed limit is?”
Answer: “Please tell me.” Now use your non-committal nod again. If, and only if, you’re sure of the speed limit, your answer is “Yes,” and then be ready to state it if further questioned. But, I can defend “please tell me” just fine.
THIS IS IMPORTANT! DO sign the ticket! Signing the ticket does not mean you agree with the citation; it only acknowledges you received the ticket. Refusing to sign the ticket is a second degree misdemeanor. DON’T make any final commentary, just sign the ticket and politely leave when the officer is finished.
SIDE NOTE: DON’T run from the officers! I have several clients on fast bikes that tried to run. It usually doesn’t work, and it makes a non-criminal traffic ticket into a third degree felony. Just pull over and take the ticket, even if it means going to jail for the night for something other than the ticket. I don’t care if you’re wanted, carrying drugs, drunk, whatever, don’t run. It always makes your case worse. Hire an attorney and let them work it out. It’s always cheaper and better to pull over and take the ticket!
In closing, anytime you’re interacting with a police officer you should show respect even if you disagree with their actions. Remember their job is to issue citations. It’s the judge’s job to determine if the citation is valid or not. So don’t waste your time arguing with the officer. Most officers have already made up their minds whether you’re getting a warning or a ticket before they approach you. So, just take the ticket, and try to enjoy the rest of your ride.
Oh, almost forgot. You should remember to smile; nowadays it’s likely you’re being video-taped.
If you receive a ticket in the Jacksonville area, you can get more information at http://www.jaxbikerlaw.com
We should all ride safely and obey the traffic laws, but let’s face it, sooner or later we’re all going to get a ticket for something. Don’t let it ruin your day. Worse things can happen on a bike. Do it right, and you’re back on your way in a few minutes. It’s not as bad as a flat tire or an accident. Act wrongly, and you’ll ruin your chance of fighting the ticket, not to mention risk the situation escalating into an arrest and an opportunity to make a few new friends downtown for the night.
Bikers can get traffic tickets for everything a car driver can as well as citations specific to motorcycles. Common traffic citations for cars or bikes are: speeding; crossing a yellow line; changing lanes during an intersection; not staying in the correct lane during a left turn; failing to signal a turn or lane change; and many more. But, bikers can also get tickets for: splitting a lane; loud pipes; vertical tag; and; my favorite, wheelies. (I don’t mean I do ‘em — I just think it’s pretty funny that someone complains when they get busted for doing it.). And lately, I’m handling more and more cases of excessive speeding, like riding at 130 and 160 miles-per-hour. Man, those crotch rockets really scream.
Now, here are the DO’s and DON’Ts when you get pulled over for a ticket.
When an officer turns on the flashing lights, DO put on your blinker and move to the right lane.
DO look for a good place to pull over. If a side street or parking lot is available, use it. If you have to drive a couple of blocks for a good spot, this is usually permissible.
DO turn off your bike or car.
DON’T get off the bike or out of your car.
DO wait patiently for the officer to come to you. Never go to meet the office halfway.
DON’T ever try to shake hands with an officer.
DON’T show frustration or anger.
DON’T speak first! Let the officer speak first. Always!
DO use a few “sirs” or “ma’ams” in your responses, but don’t over do it.
The officer is going to ask for your “license, registration and proof of insurance.” DON’T start digging for it until the officer asks for it, and be sure you can produce them quickly.
DO answer the officer’s questions BUT only with brief, non-committal responses.
DON’T admit to anything! I suggest answers such as “I see” or “okay.”
DON’T say smart-alecky stuff.
Question: Do you know why I pulled you over?
** THIS IS IMPORTANT! ** Your answer is always “No, why?” or “Please tell me.”
Question: Do you know how fast you were going?
Answer: “Yes sir/ma’am.” DON’T say your speed, especially if you were speeding! Let the officer state how fast he/she thinks you were going. DON’T comment, argue, debate, etc. DON’T say anything! If you must say something, just nod you head in an ‘Okay, if you say so’ way.
Question: “Do you know what the speed limit is?”
Answer: “Please tell me.” Now use your non-committal nod again. If, and only if, you’re sure of the speed limit, your answer is “Yes,” and then be ready to state it if further questioned. But, I can defend “please tell me” just fine.
THIS IS IMPORTANT! DO sign the ticket! Signing the ticket does not mean you agree with the citation; it only acknowledges you received the ticket. Refusing to sign the ticket is a second degree misdemeanor. DON’T make any final commentary, just sign the ticket and politely leave when the officer is finished.
SIDE NOTE: DON’T run from the officers! I have several clients on fast bikes that tried to run. It usually doesn’t work, and it makes a non-criminal traffic ticket into a third degree felony. Just pull over and take the ticket, even if it means going to jail for the night for something other than the ticket. I don’t care if you’re wanted, carrying drugs, drunk, whatever, don’t run. It always makes your case worse. Hire an attorney and let them work it out. It’s always cheaper and better to pull over and take the ticket!
In closing, anytime you’re interacting with a police officer you should show respect even if you disagree with their actions. Remember their job is to issue citations. It’s the judge’s job to determine if the citation is valid or not. So don’t waste your time arguing with the officer. Most officers have already made up their minds whether you’re getting a warning or a ticket before they approach you. So, just take the ticket, and try to enjoy the rest of your ride.
Oh, almost forgot. You should remember to smile; nowadays it’s likely you’re being video-taped.
If you receive a ticket in the Jacksonville area, you can get more information at http://www.jaxbikerlaw.com
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