That's real nice, Wyo. You folks got it good out there. That's why I'm fixin' to move out to New Mexico in the comming year. I grew up out there, and you can get away with some stuff within reason. Honest to God- when I blast down to the end of the block around here just to test my carb jetting, some old bag call the cops on me. Can't even breath around here it's gettin' so bad.. By the way-- how's the snow in the winter?

 

i feel your pain............we have a couple cars round my neighborhood with stereos so loud they set off car alarms.........but i get on the prairie for 10 minutes and a patrol car rolls through..........

 

.. Yeah- isn't it sad? It's like we are aliens in our own land. But I think the cops- dare I say it, even have some common sense and just roll by down the street. I've got a rolling chassis w/o an engine that I can point to if it comes down to it, denying everything. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

 

700VTwinman,

I did not say that cops were above the law. In South Dakota it is the law that you can ride a 4 wheeler on the streets LEGALLY if the quad is licensed and properly equipped according to South Dakota law. Nobody is above the law except , and I am ashamed to say this, some of the people who make the laws. It is sad but true.

 

Well lets face the facts, if its true some police drive ATV's down the street where its illegal, or some police use there lights to avoid waiting for a red light (as alleged here on a couple threads) then what can WE as civilians do about it? Pull them over? I don't think so, has anyone really exercised a "civilians arrest"? So in that sense, if some police abuse their privilage, then so be it, what can we do about it...nothing.
I try to pretend I don't see that kind of thing. They are human, they make mistakes. I can accept that, until it effects me wrongfully. One time I was pulled over for speeding, he said I was doing 73, but he said he would give me a break and save me $10 on the ticket and write me up for 69mph. I was thinking, first of all your not saving me any money, my insurance is going up. Secondly, you just lied and broke the law in front of me, I immediately lost any respect I had for the guy. He thought he was doing me a favor, when really he was incriminating himself, unfortunately the thought didn't occur to me until later,he was probably thinking the same thing.

 

Do you know the regulations for georgia?

 

Y'know- it was really cool- back in the day of 3- wheelers, 22 yrs?; a fella went cruising down the main street of the city, but it was so icy all over that nothing, NOTHING else was moving. I thought it was really cool though...

 

Grownman:

You need to review your local/Federal police act. Pay attention to motor vehical section which will dictate what and how a police officer may use for transportation. »Further more, police officers are bound by the same laws but since they are swarn to protect you and I they are given special perameters to inforce the law, thus the badge and training. These are outlined in your local police operations manual issued by every law inforcment organization. These rules will differ between each department for various reasons.

If a police officer is riding an ATV to inforce the "law" you can bet the department has insured the ATV for this specific use. If not then the department would be open to many liability problems.

Having said this, if an officer needs to ride/use an ATV to do their job whats your problem? That is their job and if you are riding where your not allowed then one has it coming! Me included. 99% of the time the only people bitching about the police are criminals or civilians who have no clue as to what the law is. Don't get me wrong, cops are people which opens the gate to discrepencies and erros the same goes for any other job. Good sales people bad sales people you get my point.

I ride my bike in places where I run the risk of a cop catching me and since I know the difference between right and wrong I suck it up and face the music. $600 fine where live.

The bottom line police officers have special rights when performing their duty and most of us don't know what is law and not, so until you study the police act and the highway moto act your point is mere complaning. Where I live ATV's can only be riden on private land because they are not a registered vehicals unlike snowmobiles. So my local RCMP officer and I have had many discussions and I lose each time due to our gov't laws. You want to change them, run for office.

 

I too saw this episode and thought it was cool. As an aside....is the exposure really bright to anyone else? Maybe it's just on my end.

As far as exempt plates, at least in CA and as someone else noted, the vehicle is exempt from state and local taxes. That's basically the BIG portion of what we pay to register a vehicle in CA. The registration fee itself is like $36. The rest is based on the car's value. And a few other small fees thrown in. It's not only law enforcement, but also any gov. agency, and some quasi-government agency.

They are probably legally registered as a regular motor vehicle. Even in California, up until 1/1/04 you could register an ATV as a regular vehicle using the same process that you would use to license a dual-sport motorcycle. IIRC, Lightfoot Conversions is actually in Napa, CA and they have a CA car plate on a 400ex. The "loop-hole" was closed based on emissions. What needed to be added: horn, turn signals, lic. plate holder w/light, reverse light, high beam indicator, mirror(s) and DOT street legal tires. And of course you have to meet the state's financial responsibility law (i.e. insurance 15/30/10K). A quote for me on my Warrior was 600-1200/yr.

It probably isn't as difficult as most people make it out to be. People swore up in down that it was impossible in CA. Or you had to convert the back into a single tire, i.e. using a street bike swing arm w/tire.

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