They had a huge two day safety check last weekend. Saturday was every third and on Sunday they were stopping every vehicle.

An aquaintence of mine had a run it with them. He had a buddy here from out or state. they loaned him a bike to go ride. they got stopped and it turns out the buddy had no M classification on his DL. Well, the Azwipe cop wouldnt let them park the bike and come back for it with the owners truck. They towed it costing him $180 in fees. I got no problems with them writing up the drivers license deal but to tow a perfectly legal and insured bike is BS.

The tow operator told the guy they made over $10K the day before towing cars for the PD.

another guy said he got a ticket for a clear plastic cover over his plate. come on!

Stay away from Grafton IL unless you enjoy frying your thigh waiting in traffic jambs and you better hope you are totally legal and sober.

 

Funny, I just rode through Grafton, IL with my wife last night. While stopped for a brief period of time, a cop car passed and they waived at us. Maybe they were feeling guilty?

 

Ok, stopping every vehicle was probably out of the norm. "Azwipe cop"? With that attitude, what do you expect?
$10K in tow fees? At $180 a pop, that's 55+ tows, not very likely, even in Chicago area, do they get that many in a "safety check".
So using your logic, it's okay to be illegal and drunk? Okay, maybe I've had a rough month so far, and I don't want to get in a contest to see who can urinate the farthest, but....
[sm=WTFsgign.gif]

 

It is good the cops are out doing there job protecting the public. I was riding the river road last summer and a group of stunt riders whizzed by, I was going 65 or 70MPH they had to be going well over 100. Three of them where standing on the back fender riding wheelies. It is pretty cool until one crash and possibly takes out someone innocent.

However I do disagree with there tactics. I always thought this is a free country and the cops need to have probable cause before stopping and asking people for there information? Isn’t this considered harassment or entrapment, a violation of your rights? Is there anyone here that knows the legal system and can answer this?

 

Here is the story on what is referred to as "roadside check points". These can be used for DUI, insurance, licensing, seat belts etc. The rules behind them is that they check every driver/vehicle coming through the check point for what the check point was designated to do. Generally there are tickets written for each and every infraction because there can be NO claims of profiling and preferential treatment.Generally theses are placed in areas where numerous complaints or there has been a series of problems. Most drivers are 90% legit, but about 25% are not.Improper classification on DL, no DL, suspended DL or plates, no insurance, etc. Not to mention warrants both criminal and traffic are found.

We have to remember that driving is not a right. It is a priviledge and almost all of us forget this. When you signed your license, you gave implied consent, meaning that any LEO can stop any vehicle and ask for the driver to produce a license and insurance. NO traffic violation needs to have been committed. Ever weave to avoid a pothole? That's enough, lanes fail to keep in.

Each vehicle has something in violation of state or local laws, a bulb, no front plate, tint on windows, height of bumper altered more than 3" for stock, plate horizontal, lit and clean, etc etc etc.

Illinois law allows the towing and confiscation of a vehicle for DUI, no insurance, no DL and improper classification falls under no DL. Here's another one for you'all. A 16 year old driver is out past curfew.......his license is not valid since he is not suppose to be out. Also insurance companies can deny coverage because of this. Think about that.

 

NO! read it again! I said I agreed with the DL ticket being written. What I have a problem with is towing the bike over it. It could have easily been parked curb side and waited for the owner to return with a truck to recover it. The entire town has parking on both sides of the road.

Kwas cleared alot of this up in his response. I understand them needing to conduct it by the book so no one can complain.

On that note, I'd rather stay off the river road completley and avoid it all, myself. There is only one way in and out of town and you cant turn around prior to where they had the stop. Like I said, being harrased while out trying to get away is not my idea ofa good time and will avoid it.

BTW:There was no attitude given, I wasnt there and ifI were, I would never disrespect the nice officer while in their presence. [:-]