Best (safest) etiquette for motorcycle traffic stops

January 3, 2007 9:51 AM

What's the proper etiquette for being pulled over while on a motorcycle?

I'm quite familiar with how "sweeten up" a cop when I get pulled over while in a car -- hands on the wheel, announce all movements, etc. -- but I just recently started riding a scooter to work, and this thought has occurred to me a couple times. I'm not looking to break any laws, but if I do get pulled over, I want the encounter to go as smooth as possible. (San Diego cops are a bit twitchy...)

Do you stay on the bike until instructed to get off? Stand it up an remove your helmet? Keep the helmet on until the officer approaches? Dig through the trunk to get your paperwork out?

Basically, I want to give the impression that I am helpful and courteous, and NOT the impression that I'm going to rush the guy and he's gotta shoot me first.

posted by toomanyplugs to Travel & Transportation (14 answers total)

my guess ( I have often wondered the same thing and am going to be watching this) is to turn off the motor, remain on the bike, and remove yr helmet/gloves. also if, like me, keep yr wallet/papers in a bag or in inside jacket pocket, dont get them out until you let the cop know what you are doing.
posted by ShawnString at 10:03 AM on January 3, 2007

IANACop, but IAMAMotorcyclist.

Pull over, turn off bike, kickstand down, but stay on it, hands on handlebars, until the copy approaches you. Then ask politely if you can get off. It's logical that once off, you can take off your helmet. I would NOT dig through the trunk or tank bag or even my pockets for paperwork until told to do so, and I would then announce all my movements. ("Officer, the registration's in my wallet which is in this saddlebag. OK if I get it out?") In short, do as little as possible until instructed to do so, and always keep hands in view. Good luck, and stay outta trouble!
posted by scratch at 10:05 AM on January 3, 2007

The couple of times I was pulled over I immediately got off my bike and removed my helmet. The consensus on the forums i follow is that removing your helmet is a good idea, both so the officer can easily identify you and so they don't think you're going to jump back on your bike and take off (less of an issue on a scooter, I imagine =P).

(Both encounters went pretty well. One for well over 100 and I walked away from it with a stern talking to.)

I wouldn't dig around for anything until you're asked.
posted by kableh at 10:07 AM on January 3, 2007

seconded. turn off bike, remove helmet / gloves / any eye-wear you may have on. then place your hands back on the grips - he'll know you're not going anywhere b/c the helmet is off, and its the closest equivalent to hands on the steering wheel. whatever you do, stay on the bike until he tells you otherwise - getting off could appear overly aggressive (as you noted) or a precursor to taking off on foot.
posted by allkindsoftime at 10:07 AM on January 3, 2007

Thirded with the helmet off, but I'm not so sure about the hands on the grips. What I usually do is turn the bike off, take my helmet off and place it on the tank, and then place my hands on top of my helmet in clear view of the officer. I'll also stay on the bike but put the kickstand down anyway.

Another thing I've noticed is that if you're wearing full gear (full-face helmet, riding suit, gloves, etc.), some cops will go easier on you because they know that's a good indicator you're not a damn fool and that you probably weren't being that unsafe, even if you were speeding.
posted by hackwolf at 10:17 AM on January 3, 2007

I've been stopped twice. Pulled over, shut off engine, kickstand down, removed helmet. (Stayed on bike.) I definitely think it's a good approach to remove the helmet, so your first encounter is a human face-to-face moment. Both times, the cops were respectful and reacted well to me.
posted by knave at 10:25 AM on January 3, 2007

Have you called your local cop shop and asked?
posted by QIbHom at 12:46 PM on January 3, 2007

Yep. When I got pulled over (right before getting arrested, natch), I stopped, dropped the kickstand, left foot on the ground, gloves and lid off, lid on the tank, hands on top of the lid. Had my license been valid, I'm certain he would have let me go.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 12:52 PM on January 3, 2007

Nth the stay on the bike, stop the engine, place gloves and helmet on the tank with hands on top.
Get the documents out when asked, not before.
I've now done this three times, and the officers have seemed relaxed, even holding my helmet while I dug in my pockets for my wallet.
My single ticket was for considerably less than it could have been. The other two times I was just told to take it a little easier.
posted by yetanother at 1:26 PM on January 3, 2007

I've been pulled over a few times in many years of riding. Various bikes (standard vx800, sport-touring sv650, and sportbike - Hayabusa) - I always wear full gear (jacket, gloves, hemet, etc. regardless of weather (Texas here)) and I've always been stopped for appearing to them to be going too fast or for being obviously above the posted limit. I don't ride dangerously weaving in and out of traffic ever.

I pull over immediately where it's safe to as far to the edge of the road as I can. I shut the bike off and activate flashers, put the stand down, and dismount and make my actions slower and deliberate as I move to where the bike is between me and traffic (around to the right if you are pulled over on the right shoulder) and remove my gloves and I remove my helmet and place it on the ground next to the bike and then stand facing them with my hands in plain view. If I have a passenger I also instruct them to get off the bike and stand to the side away from traffic with hands in view and not to talk unless spoken to by the officer.

I wear tinted visors so helmet removal is best so they can see you. Putting the helmet on the ground tells them you aren't planning to use it as a weapon.

They've always been courteous and often ask lots of questions about the bike you ride, is it fun, how fast is it etc. I've never gotten a ticket - just warnings and appreciation for stopping promptly so must be doing something right.
posted by clanger at 2:09 PM on January 3, 2007

Response by poster: thanks to everyone who answered! It looks like there's quite a consensus about helmet and gloves; maybe stay on the bike, maybe not, I guess I'll have to decide that if it comes up!

I've seen other bikes along side the road, but never immediately after a pull-over, so I didn't know how the ice was broken. This'll help me out a lot, someday...
posted by toomanyplugs at 4:25 PM on January 3, 2007

Another rider here, only pulled over once. Really it's all been hit above.

Pull over, as far off the road as is reasonable. Hit your kill switch. Turn on your flashers ("hazards") if your bike is equipped. Put down your kickstand. Remove your helmet and gloves. Stay on the bike.
posted by Ynoxas at 7:45 PM on January 3, 2007

I don't know what scooter you've got, but many modern scooters sold in the US come equipped only with a center stand. If this is the case, I would stay put on the scooter, turn it off, remove helmet, but stay on and tell the officer you're going to get off and put the bike on the stand.
posted by cramer at 7:47 AM on January 4, 2007

I've been pulled over numerous times. I have always stopped as soon as it was safe, shut off my engine, gotten off my bike, stepped away and removed my helmet.

I also wear full gear when I ride and I am very respectful to the police when they talk to me.

Whoa, I just noticed the other dates on this thread, woops, new feed doesn't care how old the posts are.
posted by fenriq at 3:16 PM on April 17, 2007