Queensland - Australia - Beautiful one day, Revenue-Raising every other day!!!

This may seem like a gripe (and it probably is to a great degree). I picked up a brand new '07 GSXR600 for my wife yesterday. It's an absolutely magic little machine and, up against my '03 GSXR 750, I am really impressed with how much they can squeeze out. I took it out this afternoon to scrub the tyres for her (while she's at work) and to burn-in the brakes and sweet Micron box that we fitted. I was riding along (all smiles) after about 40kms in the suburban central and northern suburbs of Brisbane and, believe it or not, I wasn't being a tool this time. Inside the traffic not faster or slower, three lanes worth in total, I decided to change lanes to the right when the lights lit up behind me. It was a Queensland Police Force cycle freak of the typical kind. He pulls me over and decides he wants to have a go over the bike. He also decides that I was doing 20kph over the speed limit so I wear a notice for that. Then he tells me that I should observe the speed limit. As he is getting the book out for the defect notice, I point out to him (not so politely) that there were three cars at the traffic lights directly in front of us that either had one or both brake lights out and he wants to go to town over a BRAND NEW BIKE with less than 100kms on the dial!!!!! At that stage there were four or five locals (god love 'em) had gathered on the footpath next to us and they were giving him a royal mouthing. I still couldn't believe he was going to write me up for the Micron. This is the second time I've had experience with this. I was riding near Mount Nebo last year when the same bunch of clowns decided to have a blitz on motorcycles (and only motorcycles). They pulled a friend of mine up and did a "random inspection". His Fireblade was squeaky clean and they still pinched him for an exhaust system as well. Moral of the story: Call it bad luck or bad management or whatever you like, the fact is that Police in Queensland aren't interested one bit in the welfare of cyclists who fall within the highest group of road victims in Australia!!!!! They only see the bucks coming in. Word of warning people.....stay away from Queensland on your bike trip.

This may seem like a gripe (and it probably is to a great degree). I picked up a brand new '07 GSXR600 for my wife yesterday. It's an absolutely magic little machine and, up against my '03 GSXR 750, I am really impressed with how much they can squeeze out. I took it out this afternoon to scrub the tyres for her (while she's at work) and to burn-in the brakes and sweet Micron box that we fitted. I was riding along (all smiles) after about 40kms in the suburban central and northern suburbs of Brisbane and, believe it or not, I wasn't being a tool this time. Inside the traffic not faster or slower, three lanes worth in total, I decided to change lanes to the right when the lights lit up behind me. It was a Queensland Police Force cycle freak of the typical kind. He pulls me over and decides he wants to have a go over the bike. He also decides that I was doing 20kph over the speed limit so I wear a notice for that. Then he tells me that I should observe the speed limit. As he is getting the book out for the defect notice, I point out to him (not so politely) that there were three cars at the traffic lights directly in front of us that either had one or both brake lights out and he wants to go to town over a BRAND NEW BIKE with less than 100kms on the dial!!!!! At that stage there were four or five locals (god love 'em) had gathered on the footpath next to us and they were giving him a royal mouthing. I still couldn't believe he was going to write me up for the Micron. This is the second time I've had experience with this. I was riding near Mount Nebo last year when the same bunch of clowns decided to have a blitz on motorcycles (and only motorcycles). They pulled a friend of mine up and did a "random inspection". His Fireblade was squeaky clean and they still pinched him for an exhaust system as well. Moral of the story: Call it bad luck or bad management or whatever you like, the fact is that Police in Queensland aren't interested one bit in the welfare of cyclists who fall within the highest group of road victims in Australia!!!!! They only see the bucks coming in. Word of warning people.....stay away from Queensland on your bike trip. +1 F....ing pricks, all they want is your bucks,regardless of what bullshit they try to convince us of:flush:

And you guys think you have it bad. Ever heard of LAPD or NYPD?

BallHawk3 - at least you guys can remove your fender or change your can for an aftermarket one without getting nabbed. Yerp -- the epidemic is not contained by Queensland's borders. The fcuktards in blue down in SA pinged me for my mudguard terminating at an angle greater than 45 degrees to the axle line (ie too high). In fact, they defected all 8 for one thing or another. Its bullshit, but its within the law. I (as many others) call it the sportbike tax and its nothing out of the ordinary. Usually here its in response to an increase in locals lodging complaints about noise or "hoons" in the area. They conduct a blitz which results in a few days' quiet in the neighbourhood which results in temporarily satisfied locals. And then the fun starts again. Typically, directly after such an event I like to do laps in that area doing just under the speed limit in first gear. Its childish, and doesnt solve anything, but it soothes a tiny little bit of the rage bubbling inside. The best solutions I have found is (a) either run a completely stock [looking/sounding] bike or (b) start out for your serious rides earlier in the morning.

BallHawk3 - at least you guys can remove your fender or change your can for an aftermarket one without getting nabbed. Yerp -- the epidemic is not contained by Queensland's borders. The fcuktards in blue down in SA pinged me for my mudguard terminating at an angle greater than 45 degrees to the axle line (ie too high). In fact, they defected all 8 for one thing or another. Its bullshit, but its within the law. I (as many others) call it the sportbike tax and its nothing out of the ordinary. Usually here its in response to an increase in locals lodging complaints about noise or "hoons" in the area. They conduct a blitz which results in a few days' quiet in the neighbourhood which results in temporarily satisfied locals. And then the fun starts again. Typically, directly after such an event I like to do laps in that area doing just under the speed limit in first gear. Its childish, and doesnt solve anything, but it soothes a tiny little bit of the rage bubbling inside. The best solutions I have found is (a) either run a completely stock [looking/sounding] bike or (b) start out for your serious rides earlier in the morning. LOL, no i can't. That gives them a reason to pull us over, even if your not doing anything wrong. Fix it tickets are very common. It's like fishing for them, they pull you over only cause your on a bike and hope you have something wrong with your bike. Thats why my 07 is BONE STOCK. 2nd, even if I could remove my fender, I would take that any day over getting thrown in jail. Ever heard of exhibition of speed? Its a misdamenor (higher than a traffic ticket and can result in jailtime). Ya, they invented that stupid ass law to nab people who aren't speeding. By definition exhibition of speed is display of speed or "showing" off, you don't even have to be breaking the speed limit. You can sit you can park your car at a light and rev, thats technically exhibition of speed which can throw you in jail. I'm sure some officers have abused that already. I've been thrown in jail after traveling 2 blocks from my work. I didn't do a damn thing. I literally jsut left my parking lot, made a left on the next street traveled less than a block and got pulled over by an Field training officer who was showing a newbie the ropes. I didn't do anythign wrong but he was out to get me. He made an excuse (or maybe it happened) that 30 mins ago (while i was at work) him and his partner tried pulling over a motorcycle like mine and couldn't catch him and said it was me. Well argued back and forth and i arrest for racing with another motorcycle. I suggest to you guys like I tell everyone here. Learn a little about the laws and fight all your tickets. Don't bend over. I've gotten many tickets and have pretty much beat them all. Most tickets are lost because people dont' even fight them. Thats the first step. You start fighting and they'll stop giving out bullshit tickets and try to get you for something that can really hold. After all, its all about money and whats easier way to achieve it. Fact nobody fights their tickets, they'll keep doing it. If you fight them and send it all to the courts, they'll have to find an easier way, like parking tickets. Trust me, just like the police districts here. In one, if you get caught with no license, your vehicle is impounded and your arrest. In the other district, if you have no license, you get a ticket and have to show up to court, why so lieniant? Cause half the people that are pulled over don't have licenses.

Sounds worse than here, my sympathy to you all. Instant PRICK, just add a cop uniform. Is there any good ones out there?

Yes there are some good ones out there. Unfortunately the power-trippers far outweigh the practical minded coppers. BallHawk3 -- I feel your pain. I recently moved back here from living in TX for 2 years. My last ticket totalled ~$900. The Story: Went to see my mate after being away (and off the bike) for a week or so. He wasnt home. Left his place, and gave it a bit of shtick around the corner. Turns out a bored-yet-eager policeman was wandering along that street a couple hundred yards behind me. At the next set of lights (red) I slowed to a virtual halt but didnt put my foot down before taking off round the corner turning right onto the interstate service road (for the Aus crowd, turning on red is legal if you stop first). half a mile down the road, I happen to look in my mirror to see the lights flashing. So I pull over. He virtually commando rolls out of his cruiser and comes barrelling over to me yelling the whole way, all excited. Turns out he thought he had a chase on his hands (I wasnt even speeding along the service road) so he called in Highway Patrol backup on the Interstate. So I get a big lecture (this guy has his hand on his pistola the whole time). He claims I was running and he caught me (yeah right!). He tells me he is going to write me up for 30mph over in the residential area, for running a red light, and for disobeying a police officer (or some such shit). I asked how he was going to prove the 30mph over (he didnt have his radar on). He says that I better accept the ticket or he will write me up for "exhibition of speed" and impound my bike and take me to jail. Wanker.

Like I said FUCKING PRICKS :popcorn: