I agree a quick word was perhaps a good idea. Moaning on and on doesn't sound so good for community relations and as for insisting Flatty got out of the car in the rain and removed the plastic plates 200m from his drive -forget about it.
Exactly. You a learner guv? Nope. So if not the learner, take ‘em off when the lad isn’t driving or you’ll always get a pull from us in case you are driving without a licence. Carry on as you were guv.
Here's the thing. It is NOT illegal to drive a car with L plates if you're not a learner, so it was either ignorance of the law or worse on his part. I was a law abiding citizen going about my business. I'm a relatively middle aged man, and I have zero doubt they ran the car through their computer (his partner was tapping on her phone throughout). What he told me was wrong. If you have been appointed as a police officer, you ought to be damn sure of the law before stopping and questioning someone. Secondly, he was bordering on harassment, hence my coming really quite close to telling him to go fcuk himself,which really isn't like me at all. He laboured the (incorrect) point repeatedly, even though I had apologized, and it must have been clear it was an innocent error** Thirdly, he didn't ask to see my licence at any time, which I had with me, so he can't have thought I was a learner driver driving illegally unaccompanied. It was 830 on a Saturday morning, not turning out time. As an aside, he was driving badly anyway, down the outside lane of a dual carriageway going under the speed limit with nothing in the inside lane through several junctions. In short, he was a twat, and a bully. I suspect he became more irate as I wasn't going to get out of the car on a dual carriageway in the rain to take them off. I have zero doubt that had I been sure of the law (as I am now, having researched it), and had argued he was incorrect, he would have found cause to detain me. The entire interaction was one of "I'm right, you're wrong, grovel or else". Id not treat a random stranger like that. It was the whole tone of the encounter which vexed me a bit.
Rode over to Llandovery, weirdly it was pissing it down the whole time I was over the Welsh border. Off to clean the bike now.
Cleaned the chain, sprocket, rear wheel, chain guard half the swinging arm of old chain lube, lubricated using WD40 motorcycle chain lube on the V4S Multistrada and Himalayan. Ordered more two more 400 ml cans of Motul C1 chain cleaner. Himalayan now on the charger as it hasn’t been started for about three weeks so flat. Cup of tea (fresh lemon, mint, ginger) by the time it’s drunk I reckon the Himalayan will be ready for a ride over the hill, along the valley to look at some Campers as we might change ours for something a smidge larger.
Flatty I'm not judging you. I can tell you feel strongly about the way you were treated put a complaint in about the officers. The more people put in a complaint instead of letting it go hopefully the less people will get harrassed https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/complaints-reviews-and-appeals/make-complaint
Up at 5am and cycled to my mates house to drive to Canterbury for a cycle ride, not ridden in a fortnight so was a bit dubious. A nice enough ride, got home and had some lunch. Strangely fell asleep for an hour and a half. Wiped the SL over after yesterday ride, did a bit of weeding in the garden. Now sitting having a drink in the sun as the wife is cooking dinner. Moto GP later, looking forward to it. A decent day.
Popped up to Oily Rag nr Gloucester for a look-see. Nice place & owners and a few people from the new Gloucestershire DOC. It was good to confirm that 749s (just like 748s) look better and faster in yellow...
Impromptu afternoon out to get food with wifey. Yes, we got food, but the ale took over and we rolled in at 6 o clock a little pished
Squeeky bottom time, 150 miles and came across a road closure and no sign of a fuel stop Rolled in to the planned fuel stop with 1.5 litres in the tank. A great day with some awesome traffic free roads ...... and (continental) ice cream Andy
While I agree re the scenario bit, I tend to think that at best most encounters with the feds feel rather patronising; I have never understood why they find it impossible to say '...ah sorry, nothing to see here, off you go...' but would rather spend twenty minutes 'educating' you and reinforcing age old stereotypes... ah stereotypes based on...!!
Wandering around the woods yesterday and found this, also the first ride in two weeks on a superlight which was an injection of love.
