Maryland motorcyclists spends a day in jail.

[Justin]

Don't ride like a squid. Don't run.

And don't trust that your constitutional rights are worth anything.

http://carlosmiller.com/2010/04/16/maryland-motorcyclist-spends-26-hours-in-jail-on-wiretapping-charge-for-filming-cop-with-gun/

[MotoPutz]

that was interesting reading.  Sadly not suprising...

[jlavallee]

Wow, he pulls out his gun without a badge and only then says "state police" that is just stupid. You can see the rider is worried to see an unannounced man with a gun approach him.

I won't comment beyond that as we don't have a political section and are not allowed to talk politics on this forum. Let's just say that I believe in the bill of rights so you know my feelings on what is happening to this country.

[Justin]

J, I disagree.
He was fleeing 2 police officers (knowingly)  

He was backing up before the officer displayed his firearm.  To me it was obvious that the unmarked decided to aid in a police pursuit and the rider was fleeing (pretending not to know he was being pursued)
The unmarked could have been detaining a murder suspect, for all he knew.

It was what happened later that there is no excuse for (nor a place on the board to talk about it)

[n10sive]

There is a longer thread on this over on BARF, and another extended video. Upshot is, is that this guy was riding at over 100mph for quite a way on the freeway and he got caught.

I'm not going to get into the gun politics here though as it doesn't do any good.

[MotoPutz]

He did pull a gun without anouncing himself, didn't intentify. and he was backing up cause an unmarked car cut him off at a stop sign, I would back up too. He was not fleeing as I understand it. he was stopped already. Which to me makes his actions an overreaction...

my 2 cents

[Justin]

The rider
He was sustained 125 in a wheelie passing on the right.   Squid.

The cop:
He identified himself in a timely fashion (less than five seconds)  He was passed at warp speed prior to the marked car's engagement.  When the marked car engaged, he supported and positioned himself for a felony stop.  It is clearly an unmarked POLICE car. Those police tinted Malibus are everywhere.  "Get off the motorcycle. Get off the motorcycle. Get off the motorcycle. State Police" is fast enough for me.  (although the reverse order is MUCH better)
Plus, The unmarked police officer is at risk for serious harm (run over)
When he accurately assesses the safety of the situation and compliance of the rider, he re-holsters his weapon (which he never pointed at the rider)  He didn't punch him, knock him off, or scream.

I normally don't really respect police officers (used to love them, but my opinion's changing, daily) and I align myself with jlavallee politically.   I just think that article can be picked apart sentence by sentence.
The kid got caught and the wiretapping thing went way overboard.  That is the judges fault. I'd cite the rider for every possible infraction and see what sticks in court.



I do enjoy the discussion and the differing point of views.  Healthy discussion, like Coffee Talk with Barbara Streisand
  I'll shut up now.

[edmunsan]

 :DTalk about over reaction on both parties. (biker) waa I'm afraid now waa Im'scared to ride my bike waa I have to sell my bike . What they don't have track days in Maryland? (cops) waa wire tap waa raid his house waa waa waa. What cops dont have dash cams in Maryland? Keep your eye on Arizona there aghta be some interesting footages coming outa there!

[n10sive]

:DTalk about over reaction on both parties. (biker) waa I'm afraid now waa Im'scared to ride my bike waa I have to sell my bike . What they don't have track days in Maryland? (cops) waa wire tap waa raid his house waa waa waa. What cops dont have dash cams in Maryland? Keep your eye on Arizona there aghta be some interesting footages coming outa there!

Illegals going to be riding motorcycles down there now with helmet cams? LOL

[renowingnut]

the whole 3:39 video of the ride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7PC9cZEWCQ&NR=1

[renowingnut]

Ok so he pop a couple of wheelies and was moving about 80, but does that really warrant a law enforcement officer to pull in front of the bike (possible T-bone) and come out with his gun pointed at Graber even though he stopped? Could of have been a gangster trying to jack his bike. You never know. Off the bat, I did not see the badge.    His badge was by his holster on the right side, but was under his UA jacket.Uhler must be a 'trigger' happy law enforcement official.

[2wcp]

If that cop would have pulled that on me he probably would have got shot. Unmarked are not there to pull people over. They are supposed to have a black and white pull you over if they need you stopped. No lights, no nothing getting out of the car pulling a gun, I would have assumed he was threating my life. That could have been handled a lot better, especially when there is a black and white not far behind.

[MotoPutz]

There is a difference between an off duty cop like I believe he was an unmarked car. Unmarked cars have lights. I didn't see lights. He (the cop) didn't not show ID, he just said "I'm a cop", and he had a gun draw as he got out of the car, on a already stopped bike. It was handled completely inappropriately. I am not saying that the biker didn't screw up...

[MotoPutz]

Ok, so I watched the extended video... So he passed the cop that was in the fast lane while speeding and doing a wheelie... and then kept accelerating... so an off duty had to do some heavy speeding to keep up! Pretty sure thats not allowed. You can tell he was following Graber for a while (he kept mirror checking) and then cut him off at a stop sign. Of course he was backing up before he got out of his car. You would too!!

[Justin]

Ok so he pop a couple of wheelies and was moving about 80

Either 80 or 160, I'm not good with speed estimation. LOL