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Traffic Stops
While Riding in a Group
Traffic Stops by Police
are as uncomfortable for Police as they are for the
riders in a group. Police training does not teach
officers how to make a traffic stop on a person riding
in a group. It has become the responsibility of the
Bikers to establish a protocol as to some type of
uniform procedure for the bikers themselves.
In the event the police
turn lights on at the rear of the pack the following
procedure should be followed.:
The Drag Man will start the relay forward to the Road
Captain that there is a problem. Each member will honk
to get the attention of the rider in front of him and
start the relay to the front of the group. Once the
Road Captain get the word he will pull to the shoulder
of the road and stop. Each rider will pull up wheel to
wheel in a tight formation and stop, turn off the
motor and sit on his bike and keep his/her mouth shut
unless spoken to by the Police or the Road Captain.
The Road Captain will approach the officer to find out
the problem and if the officer wants to talk to any
one individual, the Road Captain will call that rider
out of the ranks to speak to the officer. During the
traffic stop all riders not involved with the traffic
stop are to sit on their bikes and remain calm and not
appear to be a threat to the officer. After the
traffic stop the Road Captain will give the signal to
start engines and will proceed back onto the highway
and to the original destination.
In the event the officer
pulls to the side of one rider and tries to invade the
pack, he is to be allowed to do so. Every motorcycle
from the front headlight of the Police car back will
slow and let the officer pull in ahead of them. Riders
in front of the police car will signal to the Road
Captain there is an emergency and he will pull the
group to the shoulder. Riders will follow the same
procedure as above except the riders behind the police
will start lining up wheel to wheel and stop 20 feet
behind the police car. Again everyone not involved
will sit on their motorcycle and keep quiet.
Officers are starting to
learn these procedures, as most all motorcycle groups
including the 1% groups practice it nationwide.
Regardless of how the officer stops the rider try to
follow as closely as possible the procedure above and
remember try not to intimidate the officer in any way.
If these procedures are followed your group should be
on their way with as little down time as possible.
  
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