Posted: 6/8/2008 5:49:22 PM EDT
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Let's say for the sake of argument (this in no way related to real world activities) that a guy is wringing out his hot sportbike. I know location and stuff means nothing in terms of the law but lets say deserted freeway at like 4 am. Riders sober but going in excess of 130 or 140 MPH. Would this be an immediate trip to jail. What as a policeman would you personally do in this situation. I would personally rather be tasered or billy clubbed than get a reckless driving charge or a speeding ticket at that speed. If I ever get pulled over doing something I described I would probably negotiate a good tasering/beating to avoid the shitstorm that would follow. |
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Reckless here is a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property. So, in actuality the location does mean a lot. Take your example - no one else on the road little likelihood to take out someone else. If the rider looses it he may take out someone elses property but would not hurt\kill someone else. So, in your example you could push reckless but I would do something else...see A. below. Or lets say dude is doing just 90-100 in moderate traffic causing other cars to manuever so he does not hit them or they hit him. During this other cars are nearly hitting each other creating an imminent hazard. See B below.... A. Id write your guy for 40+. This is a 12 pointer and mandatory court. No jail if it is me. B Id write him for reckless, 8 point mandatory court. And no, not an immediate trip to jail. Likely just a summons. |
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20+ over the posted speed limit or anything over 80mph. most guys around here say over 100 mph is a trip to the magistrate's. Doesn't necessarily mean jail, just a bit of financial incentive to come to court. FWIW, being written as a speeding ticket at those speeds instead of reckless would cost the driver substantially more fine money - $25 + $7/mile over instead of $100 flat rate for reckless. |
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From my experience (born with a lead foot), its mainly at the officers discretion. I have been threatened with Reckless, but generally they will just write you for speeding to save you the points on your license. My worst so far was in NC, clocked at around 115, written up for 93. No reckless. It was expensive though. |
That's kinda how it's done around here too. 2 times legal limits we'll take a look and see if it meets the elements.. If traffic is dodging you. Then that's a good indicator that you're probably meeting, at least some of those elements. |
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<-----not a leo When i was 16 with a new sports car, my friend and I decided to test it out in the country, on a road with no houses at midnight. Low and behold, sheriff was sitting on a side gravel road. I was Doing well over 100mph. I pulled over before he even turned his headlights on. He gave me a hell of a lecture, and wrote me a speeding ticket for 81 in a 35, and sent me home. After we went to court on it (big fine and lots of community service) he said the only reason he didn't take me to jail was because I pulled over so fast and wasn't a shithead to him. Was about the nicest Leo I've ever met. So, I guess around here it is the officer's call. Dan |
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20+mph over the limit or 80+ turns into reckless, which may (key word) turn into a trip downtown. It's all about the circumstances. Doing 50 in a clearly marked active school zone while kids are out will probably mean a ride. 90 on the interstate will probably earn a ticket and the patented "slow down or you're gonna die" lecture. |
| We got a guy last week for going 98 in a 45. He went to jail. About 5 minutes prior to him passing us a lady stopped by on the side of the road to let us know that a white convertible was driving at a high rate of speed and running cars off the road. She said that he pulled into the gas station a mile up the road and was heading our way. About 5 minutes after that, a white convertible came hauling down the road zipping in and out of traffic...when we finally were able to hit him with the laser he was at 98. |
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Speed in and of itself doesn't support a reckless driving charge. Usually, speed isn't even a factor in reckless driving charges. However in Illinois, excessive speed can get you arrested. Speeding more than 40MPH over the posted limit is an arrestable Class A Misdemeanor (highest level of Misdemeanor here - good for up to 364 days county jail and/or up to $2500 fine). Coincidentally, reckless driving is also a Class A Misdemeanor.  So while you might not get charged with reckless driving for excessive speed, the potential punishments are exactly the same. 
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From the Great State of Kansas. Statute 8-1566: Reckless driving, penalties. (a) Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. (b) Except as provided in K.S.A. 8-2,142, violation of this section is a misdemeanor. Upon a first conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be sentenced to not less than five days nor more than 90 days imprisonment or fined not less than $25 nor more than $500, or both such fine and imprisonment. On a second or subsequent conviction of a violation of this section, a person shall be sentenced to not less than 10 days nor more than six months imprisonment, or fined not less than $50 nor more than $500 or both such fine and imprisonment. History: L. 1974, ch. 33, § 8-1566; L. 1984, ch. 39, § 8; L. 1989, ch. 38, § 41; Jan. 1, 1991 Think totality of the circumstances. |
Some of them stop. I attempted to stop my first sportbike a couple of weeks ago for going 75 in a 35mph zone. He stopped once I caught up to him. He acted so surprised when I wrote him the citation, his was response was "I at least pulled over instead of gunning it and running from you.." |
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Had a bike run from me the other night. I got it locked coming off the bridge at 110 mph. I hit the LED's and all you heard was what sounded like a downshift/ shot of nitrious. He passed me at 135 mph turn onto another road. I radioed in other Officers heard hm pass but didn't see him. Couldn't tell you what color, make, or race of rider.. All I know it was a double headlight style like a boussa. Funny thing is the next night, a pimped out boussa parked across the street from me and started using the cell phone. It was hot, stretched, and lowered. I rolled over to him, complemented him on his bike, asked him out the blue if he road last night. He replied, "yep". Abruptly hung up his phone, and took off. Haven't seen the bike in the area since. It was 3 in the morning, so if he wants to face death.. I am not chasing him in a CVPI. I'll just roll up and let the EMT's pronouce him DOA. 25 over is mandatory court. double down, or catch the attitude, and your 10-15. |
My Old man had a similar story (note: 30 odd years ago), long straight stretch out in the country with a local cop parked down on the end of it. Drag raced a new Ford grand Turismo, my Dad was riding with a guy that had a primer painted crappy looking Dodge Satellite with a big motor. They got down to the end of straight stretch, except when the cop went to pull them over they didn't bother stopping, nor could the cop catch them. He ended up going after the far slower Turismo he And now my Dad is a Sgt. at the local jail and the guy he was riding with is now one of the head Game Wardens for the state. On the other hand my Boss just pulls over, before any cop has a chance to get behind him and pull him over. He once got to warnings in 5 minutes from 2 separate cops. |
There's usually 1 or 2 guys out of 20 that always stop. They almost always get tickets too. I assume the police are taking out their general sport bike frustration from all the guys who get away on the guys who actually stop. |
Motorcycle Accident Claims Second Life Save Email Print Posted: 10:40 AM Apr 30, 2008 Last Updated: 1:13 PM Apr 30, 2008 Reporter: KAKE News Email Address: [email protected] 22 comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A | A | A A motorcycle accident in East Wichita has claimed a second life. Wichita police said 32-year-old William Spencer died from his injuries late last night. His 35-year-old wife Brandy Spencer was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said officers were running radar in a construction zone on East Kellogg when one of the officers noticed a red Suzuki motorcycle driving over the speed limit. Officers followed the motorcycle, then lost sight of it. When officers approached Webb Road, they noticed the motorcycle in the south lanes, and the Spencers on the ground. Several witnesses told police the motorcycle lost control and struck a curb. |
False. I am assigned to traffic enforcement of a medium sized city, and we have two interstate routes that crisscross through our jurisdiction. I have stopped a few for doing over 100. They did get reckless driving, because their antics involved unsafe lane changing, passing on right, etc. You can get a reck. driv. charge for simply doing 20 over the limit, but I usually hold off until their are other factors involved. I have never heard of vehilce seizure for speeding by any amount. As far as you sportbikers who take off, All I can do is shake my head. I won't bother telling you about the NYSP Trooper who lost his life trying to stop an asshole like that. And I won't tell you about the rider who sheared his foot off on a street sign post when he was trying to elude with a stolen plate on his bike. Nope, not going to tell you about the douchebag hot rod who ran into a PT Cruiser, and lost both his testicles. I think his lovelife has gone south since. Nah, you guys are MUCH MORE experienced than those guys, and YOU would never have anything bad happen to you, nor would YOU have to live with any adverse consequences from such dumbass operation. Nope, that just happens to the other guys... 
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I have to say I would never run even if it meant waiting a minute or two for the cops to catch up. I have to much to live for and can handle all the fines or tickets you got. Death or jail is another thing entirely. |