PNW Riders

bicycle_ben · 07-24-2009, 12:20 PM

so i was riding back to my house this morning when i see a cop coming the other way down the road. i make the appropriate HAND signal for a right hand turn and execute my turn. i check my mirrors and sure enough the guy turns in behind me. i signal my next turn and execute it. i am about 200 yards from my house at this point. on come the flashy lights! i pull over and put my kick stand down, take the gloves off and turn to face the guy. long story short he tells me that signaling by hand is illegal

... he calls in all my info, license reg and insurance all check out and he lets me go with no awards. now i know for a fact that hand signals ARE legal and went to the good old internet to verify this.

ORS 811.395
Appropriate signals for stopping, turning, changing lanes and decelerating:

bla bla bla

(1) To indicate a left turn either of the following:

(a) Hand and arm extended horizontally from the left side of the vehicle.

(b) Activation of front and rear turn signal lights on the left side of the vehicle.

(2) To indicate a right turn either of the following:

(a) Hand and arm extended upward from the left side of the vehicle. A person who is operating a bicycle is not in violation of this paragraph if the person signals a right turn by extending the person’s right hand and arm horizontally.

(b) Activation of front and rear turn signal lights on the right side of the vehicle.

ORS 811.405 has exceptions to ORS 811.395: limited visibility (darkness) or a vehicle which is more than 24" from the steering post to the door (semi truck?) neither of which apply to a motorcycle at 10 in the morning on a clear sunny day ....

now the truth is that my bikes flasher unit is fried and my signals dont work so its illegal for me to ride at night but more to the point the reason he pulled me over was just to give me a hard time

C~Style · 07-24-2009, 12:24 PM

insurance check .....

dcamgixxer · 07-24-2009, 12:25 PM

yeah sounds like the (insert insult here) out here that harrasses me.. charger cop, beaverton police..
He pulled me 7 times and only 1 ticket that got dismissed.

Funny thing is that i havent seen him within a mile of my house since he got in trouble for profiling..

Jeffytune · 07-24-2009, 12:36 PM

Rookie.

BigDave · 07-24-2009, 12:46 PM

Doooh!

fun4i · 07-24-2009, 12:52 PM

Saying that hand signals are illegal is definitely wrong but the exception to this case would be that you need functioning turn signals on any bike to be street legal. So if they aren't functioning correctly he could pull you over for that... either way he's just fishing. Wouldn't you be glad if your bike was stolen from you and the guy was caught from this cop fishing though? I'd rather be "harrassed" once in a while when I have nothing to hide, than have cops not investigating suspicious activity. Just a thought

bicycle_ben · 07-24-2009, 01:10 PM

haha id be happy if it was stolen because then i wouldnt have to keep fixing it!

trinc · 07-24-2009, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by fun4i

Saying that hand signals are illegal is definitely wrong but the exception to this case would be that you need functioning turn signals on any bike to be street legal. So if they aren't functioning correctly he could pull you over for that... either way he's just fishing. Wouldn't you be glad if your bike was stolen from you and the guy was caught from this cop fishing though? I'd rather be "harrassed" once in a while when I have nothing to hide, than have cops not investigating suspicious activity. Just a thought

not sure this is true. i imported a vespa ( 1963 super 150 ) that required getting it titled & vin number. it was inspected by DMV and they didn't say anything about turn signals ( which it didn't have ). you just can't ride at night.

tim

dcamgixxer · 07-24-2009, 01:35 PM

^^^ yeah its true, you do have to have functional turn signals in OR.. The law states not only must you have a functioning headlight, turn signals and tail/brake light but they must all be visible from 50ft minimum even during daylight hours. I had to look it up for my last ticket. Also you have to have a license plate light and reflectors on license plate for any motorcycle as well as atleast one mirror..

Spec · 07-24-2009, 01:41 PM

The Lake O police can suck my hairy nuts. I've been to court against them and had them LIE THEIR ASSES OFF and make 100% false and made up statements to get the judge to believe them over what really happened. I've been illegally searched there, I've been charged with crimes I didn't commit there...

Simple fact: They don't care what's legal or not. They make the law. My attorney has had plenty of experience with the bullshit lies that department throws up on a regular basis.

Slanter · 07-24-2009, 01:45 PM

Huh, law must be different in washington. Dad's been riding a harley with no signals for twenty years just using hand signals for turns

Nefarious · 07-24-2009, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Slanter

Huh, law must be different in washington. Dad's been riding a harley with no signals for twenty years just using hand signals for turns

Law in WA states that a bike that originaly came with turn signals must have them, but if it didn't come with them from factor does not need them.

I use hand signals all the time when I'm slabbing it, it's not that my blinkers dont work.. it's that I've got my hand on my hip already, quicker to just use a hand signal than to hit the button.

Flyingdog5000 · 07-24-2009, 07:50 PM

It's nice to hear from a person who is apparently never wrong about anything.

Just kidding - Being a reasonable person I'm sure you will admit that there was a possibility that the officer was just misinformed as to the law, however, it would be appropriate to write a gentle letter to Chief Duncan thanking him for the normally great Police Department, but then letting him know that you expect the local gendarmes to be better versed on the traffic code.

bcj · 07-24-2009, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Flyingdog5000

I'm sure you will admit that there was a possibility that the officer was just misinformed as to the law,

That's what his job is *supposed* to entail? Sub-par performance?

Originally Posted by Flyingdog5000

however, it would be appropriate to write a gentle letter to Chief Duncan thanking him for the normally great Police Department, but then letting him know that you expect the local gendarmes to be better versed on the traffic code.

This


07-24-2009, 12:20 PM	#1
bicycle_ben WMRRA Qualifier Joined: Jun 2007 From: Lake Oswego, or I Ride: a suzuki RF900R and a bicycle :)	lake oswego LEO - i call shenanigans! so i was riding back to my house this morning when i see a cop coming the other way down the road. i make the appropriate HAND signal for a right hand turn and execute my turn. i check my mirrors and sure enough the guy turns in behind me. i signal my next turn and execute it. i am about 200 yards from my house at this point. on come the flashy lights! i pull over and put my kick stand down, take the gloves off and turn to face the guy. long story short he tells me that signaling by hand is illegal ... he calls in all my info, license reg and insurance all check out and he lets me go with no awards. now i know for a fact that hand signals ARE legal and went to the good old internet to verify this. ORS 811.395 Appropriate signals for stopping, turning, changing lanes and decelerating: bla bla bla (1) To indicate a left turn either of the following: (a) Hand and arm extended horizontally from the left side of the vehicle. (b) Activation of front and rear turn signal lights on the left side of the vehicle. (2) To indicate a right turn either of the following: (a) Hand and arm extended upward from the left side of the vehicle. A person who is operating a bicycle is not in violation of this paragraph if the person signals a right turn by extending the person’s right hand and arm horizontally. (b) Activation of front and rear turn signal lights on the right side of the vehicle. ORS 811.405 has exceptions to ORS 811.395: limited visibility (darkness) or a vehicle which is more than 24" from the steering post to the door (semi truck?) neither of which apply to a motorcycle at 10 in the morning on a clear sunny day .... now the truth is that my bikes flasher unit is fried and my signals dont work so its illegal for me to ride at night but more to the point the reason he pulled me over was just to give me a hard time __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 12:24 PM	#2
C~Style Moderator Joined: Dec 2007 From: Ten-nine-o, Washington I Ride: When ever possible and usually on 2 wheels.	insurance check ..... __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 12:25 PM	#3
dcamgixxer Zone Head Joined: Jul 2008 From: beaverton, or I Ride: like a cholo	yeah sounds like the (insert insult here) out here that harrasses me.. charger cop, beaverton police.. He pulled me 7 times and only 1 ticket that got dismissed. Funny thing is that i havent seen him within a mile of my house since he got in trouble for profiling.. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 12:36 PM	#4
Jeffytune Pit Crew Joined: Jul 2009 From: Beaverton I Ride: Harley FLHT	Rookie. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 12:46 PM	#5
BigDave Streetfighter Joined: Jun 2008 From: Fairview Oregon I Ride: Slow and Steady...	Doooh! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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07-24-2009, 12:52 PM	#6
fun4i WMRRA Qualifier Joined: Sep 2006 From: Beaverton, oregon I Ride: CBR600F4i, Dr350s	Saying that hand signals are illegal is definitely wrong but the exception to this case would be that you need functioning turn signals on any bike to be street legal. So if they aren't functioning correctly he could pull you over for that... either way he's just fishing. Wouldn't you be glad if your bike was stolen from you and the guy was caught from this cop fishing though? I'd rather be "harrassed" once in a while when I have nothing to hide, than have cops not investigating suspicious activity. Just a thought __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 01:10 PM	#7
bicycle_ben WMRRA Qualifier Joined: Jun 2007 From: Lake Oswego, or I Ride: a suzuki RF900R and a bicycle :)	haha id be happy if it was stolen because then i wouldnt have to keep fixing it! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter Last edited by bicycle_ben; 07-24-2009 at 01:15 PM..


07-24-2009, 01:35 PM	#9
dcamgixxer Zone Head Joined: Jul 2008 From: beaverton, or I Ride: like a cholo	^^^ yeah its true, you do have to have functional turn signals in OR.. The law states not only must you have a functioning headlight, turn signals and tail/brake light but they must all be visible from 50ft minimum even during daylight hours. I had to look it up for my last ticket. Also you have to have a license plate light and reflectors on license plate for any motorcycle as well as atleast one mirror.. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 01:41 PM	#10
Spec State Farm Joined: Dec 2005 From: Happy Valley, OR I Ride: race-prepped '05 ZX6-R, '83 Yamaha XS400	The Lake O police can suck my hairy nuts. I've been to court against them and had them LIE THEIR ASSES OFF and make 100% false and made up statements to get the judge to believe them over what really happened. I've been illegally searched there, I've been charged with crimes I didn't commit there... Simple fact: They don't care what's legal or not. They make the law. My attorney has had plenty of experience with the bullshit lies that department throws up on a regular basis. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 01:45 PM	#11
Slanter Endorsed Joined: Jul 2008 From: Moses Lake I Ride: 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650sc, '02 CBR f4i	Huh, law must be different in washington. Dad's been riding a harley with no signals for twenty years just using hand signals for turns __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-24-2009, 07:50 PM	#13
Flyingdog5000 Sheriff's Office Joined: Jun 2008 From: Hillsboro, OR I Ride: Triumph Speed Triple '08	Judge not... It's nice to hear from a person who is apparently never wrong about anything. Just kidding - Being a reasonable person I'm sure you will admit that there was a possibility that the officer was just misinformed as to the law, however, it would be appropriate to write a gentle letter to Chief Duncan thanking him for the normally great Police Department, but then letting him know that you expect the local gendarmes to be better versed on the traffic code. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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