Another two cents, if I may.
I’m going to throw some dashes of agreement into the pot with GMbusa; however I think that emotions have gotten into this post, maybe a little bit too much.
I’ll try to make it quick and I apologize for any lengthiness, but here it is.
I got a speeding ticket in Cali while driving a cage about a year ago. Total ‘BS’ tickey. My wife was taking me on a Birthday trip back to Monterey, where we were fortunate enough to get to go to the 2005 MotoGP a couple years prior (memories, ya know). I was stopped as two CHPs were leaving one of the only towns on HWY 46 (?) at about 12:30PM from Barstow to the Cali coast. They had to have just finished lunch together and as traveling towards me the front CHP, from quite the distance, got me for 71MPH in a 55MPH zone. He was a ‘sweetie’ and only wrote me up for ‘70’. I cannot emphasize enough how this 55MPH zone on this particular road is underestimated. You could see for miles to your right and to your left. If someone wanted to run into the front of your vehicle to kill themselves you’d see them in enough time to stop if you were doing 100MPH. I was polite, as always, to the officer. I sincerely have the utmost respect for LEOs. I actually ride with some local and Federal Law Enforcement Officers, but that’s more in a moment. He could see my birthday on my license as he wrote the ticket and the Nevada plates (hey, I won’t be back to meet him in court and fight the ticket, right?). I was an easy $core. He could have said ‘slow it down and happy birthday; enjoy Cali’. Actually I thought that it was pretty chicken s*#t myself. It really put a damper on the trip for a bit, but I got over it.
My point; some tickets play more BS havoc on us than we need versus the situation we were driving in. Not all rules and laws are applicable all of the time. I obeyed the 55MPH speed limit all the way to the coast after the ticket and I was more dangerous than ever. Everyone was passing me on blind corners and hill crest. I thought that if someone gets killed because of my now ‘slowness’, how would this LEO feel?
I don’t know if the ticket quota rumors for LEOs are BS, but I’d have to say, if you’re a Highway Patrol Officer and never write a ticket, you’d probably be getting a lecture from your ‘Superiors’. Tickets are a great source of income.
I fought this ticket by ‘Trial by Declaration’ and lost. Now if I get another ticket within the next three years, my rates go up. I haven’t had a ticket on my record for 20 years and now if I get another, I’m semi-screwed; maybe even have to give the Busa up.
So, would I run? 99.9%+ of the time, absolutely not! In the city running red lights, no, not ever, ever! On a highway where the LEO has to turn around and I’ve got an off ramp in 1/8th of a mile and know the roads (and that I have another ticket on my record that is BS, so now my rates will be too high)? Maybe. This LEO that is now after me might throw another ticket my way and now my rates are silly and I’m screwed. I’m doing 80MPH (or maybe a little faster-whatever) in a 55MPH zone with no one around. I’m no threat. Let me be (and a lot of LEOs will ‘let you be’ and not bother you in this scenario).
As far as putting the LEO in harm’s way? If the LEO is turning around sees a motorcycle disappear into the distance, with all utmost due respect, Mr. LEO, don’t put yourself in harm’s way, or others, by whipping down the highway to catch up for ego’s sake; yea, ego’s sake happens! On both sides! LEOs know a good rider and that it’s over at this point. Let it go. Most chases will last 30 seconds or so, if you’re a good rider. It’s usually over within a minute (less a helicopter) most times.
And yes, my law enforcement riders that I am fortunate enough to ride with, do get off of tickets in some way or another for the most part. I’m not going to go as far as stating it as a "get outta jail free pass", but LEOs (local, state and federal) seem to be less susceptible to speeding tickets in some strange, but very understandable, way.
Like I've said before, be careful, but be smart and enjoy!
You were near "Creston" and the Cafe they left was the "Jack Ranch Cafe".. I live about 45 minutes from there. The 46 in that area is called "Blood Alley" because of all the accidents they have there, that is why it is so heavily patrolled and is a "Zero Tolerance" zone. I completely agree with you though, the highway is posted at 55 and should be 65 at least. I believe the reason for so many of the accidents is the slow speed limits. The road is very good (just a lot of hills and sweepers) and if everyone would stay in their own lane and not pass so much, the accidents would go way down, and I feel the 65 limit would alleviate a lot of that as people would be pretty content going 65 through there.. Sorry for your bad experience there, I hope the rest of your trip was better !!!