Talkback: Fake motorcycle police. Why?

Drapes

17/01/2012 at 16:38

Saw one on the M6 near stoke last week (identified by not having the tall light on the back or any other flashing lights and no black and white chequered band on the helmet) got along side, shook my head and gave him the wanker sign and fucked off. The car drivers behind saw and duly picked up their speed.

Chris G 14

17/01/2012 at 17:01

I see people doing this all the time in central London - @Drapes I think that was harsh but fair! Tossers

Sparkwood

17/01/2012 at 19:40

Attention seekers, dumb fucks!

PhantomGixer

17/01/2012 at 20:14

Firstly why should somebody wearing a High Vis Jacket, white helmet and some reflective stickers on his bike make him a wanker. Surely If people in cars/buses/vans etc actually paid some respect and actually took some notice of us commuter riders who ride come rain, come shine.

Then people wouldn't have to 'pretend' or 'get noticed' therefore having more chance of making it into work and home again ALIVE!!

And no I don't have one of these bikes, styled like this.

evil ken evil

17/01/2012 at 20:36

i can never tell if there dressed as a police man or Coco the clown!

Nathan Seery

17/01/2012 at 21:55

High-viz automatically means Police-imposter?

On our side of the pond, our police moto-officers still wear left-over equestrian gear in either black or dark blue.

I personally want to be seen. High-viz is one of the best tools for that.
Now if they said "Police" on their jackets/bikes/helmets/etc, then ya you'd have a point. But not as it stands.

Ayo

17/01/2012 at 22:27

White Pan = Wally alert. Check the panniers. If they carry touchdown marks, all is forgiven.

Tobias Hermansson

18/01/2012 at 08:37

So the guy takes adequate safety precautions when riding his motorcycle in winter time. In other words, he doesn't wan't to die. And you are being an arrogant dick about it? All the while you are hunched up in a car... You sir, are the on who should get a life!

My Name Is Michael Caine

18/01/2012 at 09:13

Taking precautions is one thing, actively mimicking a police officer is another, therefore yes, he is a ******.

Mike Burrows

18/01/2012 at 09:18

Surely they dress as policemen so car drivers are more likely to offer them overtaking opportunities? Filtering on a Pan or BMW tourer isn't easy if the cagers aren't paying enough attention to leave a gap for you.

Pagik

18/01/2012 at 09:26

Isn't there actually some laws against impersonating a policeman? And surely these utter UTTER wankers are breaking this law. I cannot tell you the level of utter hatred I have for the burkes.

Seriously, no, seriuosly, get a fucking life.

celticriders

18/01/2012 at 09:43

I couldn't disagree with you more on this first of all they don't look like police, second if you got out of your fucking car and rode on road in all weather you might understand the need to be seen and third, if you are a biker you will except them for who they are and not judge or have you spent to long in your car?

Peter de Zeeuw

18/01/2012 at 09:43

There is a big difference between dressing to be seen and deliberately making yourself look as like the police as possible. The photograph above is of someone who has gone out of their way to make people think they are police, there are a number of people who do the same on the M4. They deliberately buy the same bike and put the same stripes on. It is easy to make yourself seen without looking like plod.

The worst part is that when you clock them in your mirror when on your bike, you end up changing your riding style until they pass when you can be confident it isn't the police trailing you. That is infuriating.

Spurdog

18/01/2012 at 09:47

There's a good chance he's a courier or an instructor and rides in all weathers and in the dark hence the Hi-Vis. There are some thin skinned bikers out there if a bit of Hi-Vis upsets them!

Chris S 22

18/01/2012 at 10:02

I do work with SERV, our HiVis and ex-police pan-euros (complete with blue lights and battenburg flashes (albeit orange and yellow rather than blue and yellow) often seem to get us mistaken for police, despite the big Emergency Blood patch on the back of the jacket. If it means people get the fuck out of my way on a blood run I'm all for it

shaun foster

18/01/2012 at 10:51

Fake police? All those two are doing are wearing high vis clothes and have reflectors on the back of his paniers. Its your stupid fault to think their police.

N S

18/01/2012 at 10:56

I like how the rage is directed at the riders, and not the police. Don't forget, they are the rent-seeking dicks who are actually actively stealing and abusing you on a daily basis.

bounty320i

18/01/2012 at 11:07

To me they're just two guys with HIVIS gear on. If the guy in the car had ever been on a bike he would have known the difference between a patrol bike/policeman and a guy on a bike who wants to make it home/work in one piece.

Vincenzo Iaciofano

18/01/2012 at 11:41

I was upset at first but think also i have to be more alert and check the markings. The roads are dangerous enough with out watching out for more hazards like imposters.

Timpster

18/01/2012 at 11:48

The bike on the left is a K1 BMW the one on the right looks like an ex-Police K1100RT so perhaps the reflective stuff on the panniers was already on it.
Regardless i don't see the need for such an article from a professional journalist ( in a car ) to be honest.
The only thing he did wrong was sit in the middle lane @ 60mph but he's unlikely to be the only person who does that as bloody car drivers do it every day.
Also, we may all be dressed like that one day if we are riding!

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