pacific NW riding info wanted

[ArtD]

First off, hi folks!! Been lurking here for a little while now. I've recently moved to the southern coast of Washington state, the Long Beach Penninsula area, to be exact. I have 2 Guzzi's, a 2004 Copa Italia and a 2001 CA Special. These roads are awsome for both of these fine machines, everything one could possibly want. Except for one little detail, these roads are crawling with cops:( After going for literly decades with no tickets, my trusty Valentine exerting its magic powers, I have gotten 3 speeding tickets in the 2 months that I have been up here. All done by being blasted with instant on radar, the detector did no good. My question to you Oregon/Washington folks is, how do you beat this? Do the speed limit? I hope not!! Are there any good roads, where the boys in blue do not frequant? Any track days? I rode back from Grays harbor speedway last week and had cops behind me at least 5 times, it was beyond nervewracking!! Any of you natives here, please help a newbie out! Thanks

 

Art

 

Ocean Park, WA

 

2004 Copa Italia

2001 CA Special

[Bbennett]

Gee, I haven't had the same experience up here in Washington State but I do not usually drive in the Southern part of the State. I drive mainly up in the Cascades or in the foothills thereof. Never gotten a ticket on my V11. I only "go for it" in situations where cops/hazards are likely to not be encountered. Sometimes just a short blast on the throttle is all that is needed to satisfy (maybe 30 seconds). I generally ride on the weekdays, which may help. I would avoid long straightaways etc. where they can "see you" from a distance. I am not aware that there are more cops up here and I do ride quite a bit.

[ArtD]

Gee, I haven't had the same experience up here in Washington State but I do not usually drive in the Southern part of the State.  I drive mainly up in the Cascades or in the foothills thereof.  Never gotten a ticket on my V11.  I only "go for it" in situations where cops/hazards are likely to not be encountered.  Sometimes just a short blast on the throttle is all that is needed to satisfy (maybe 30 seconds).  I generally ride on the weekdays, which may help.  I would avoid long straightaways etc. where they can "see you" from a distance.  I am not aware that there are more cops up here and I do ride quite a bit.

59500[/snapback]

 

Thanks for the info. I'm figuring it out up here as as I go. I'm from a large metropolitan area (south florida, to be exact), and there the cops had other priorities. Here, speeding tickets seem to be the reason for their existance. I got all my tickets in the first few weeks. I've since slowed down, that would be way down, in the small towns, such as Raymond, Ilwaco, Astoria, etc. I got stopped in all the above, btw:)

[robbiekb]

..well it's revenue

 

actually i've noticed that speed limits are very agressively enforced in WA. I lived east of Seattle for 8 years and had a few close calls while mostly riding like my grandad (well my grandad just retired form riding his Katana, so he was kinda atypical).

 

Honestly though, for the most part, WA highway patrol will pull you for anything more than 6 over typically, pain in the ass but true

[Martin Barrett]

pull you for anything more than 6 over 

 

FFS. Even in a 30 thats a bit keen. Have they not heard of PR. I forgot they don't police by consent they all have guns. Though we're headed that way to

 

A pull for a chat and as an introduction to a spot of fishing is one thing, but to start ticketing for that solely

 

No I don't mean that type of fishing. instead of a lecture on the dangers of excess speed a talk on the differences between coarse ( fly. ledge or float) and sea fishing.

Though could be effective when the word gets out. "Don't speed there. I can cope with the fine but the boring git with his tall fishermans tales another matter alltogether"

[Steve G.]

I have and continue to ride extensively in Washington state and Oregon state. Having been ticketed many times in Washington, I'm thinking I've been given a "grace speed" of just under 10mph, though literally zero tolerance in towns.

Generally I've found the farther you get away from the coast the less the traffic, and as a result, the less the cops. There are some unique counties that truly are using traffic tickets as general revenue, with Ferry, Skagit, and Watcom counties being the worst by far. Ferry county is a real shame, as there are real great twisties out there, but the coppers stick close to town and give zero tolerance in them.

As for riding, if I lived in your area, I'd be flying around Mt. St. Helens probably every weekend. And all of my motorcycle tours would be in north east Oregon, the best of the best with these 2 states.

Ciao, Steve G.

[Admin Jaap]

Just wondering: How high are the fines for speeding over there?

[Guest whidbeyrider]

As a native Washingtonian who has the lived in several other states, and traveled throughout the country, I have to admit this is a state where the Washington patrol really is a force. They have always been fairly powerful politically in the state, and they have always had good funding. I drove from Houston TX 20 years ago back to Seattle, about 1700 miles I believe, and no problems with any police until I crossed the border into Washington, and then was pulled over twice in 30 minutes, first a warning on speed, then my highbeam headlight being out! I ride a lot in the Cascades and have not had any problems in the mountains, but on I-5 if you see one, slow down, there may be as many as two or three more troopers around. Take a ride up to Winthrop over the North Cascade highway sometime, its an awesome road, and the scenery is as spectacular as the Alps. East of the mountains on backroad highways you won't see as many troopers, and will enjoy great riding. I was pulled over by a county Sheriff the other day, and he started asking so many quetions about my Guzzi, he ended up just giving me a warning! Sometimes it pays to ride a Guzzi!

[Guest Roadslayer]

attn. ArtD. First off,let me welcome you to the 'police state' of Washington. It's true,you will notice a marked increase in the number of police here. Maybe it's our procsemity to Canada and our nuclear stash. It seems the closer you get to borders,the more cops. However,east of the mountains is a lot more quiet. And once out of Washington they almost cease to exist. Last year I drove my car to Douglas,Az. via Idaho and Utah and it was 90MPH the whole way. Even the cops do 90. The best riding might be northeastern Oregon. There's not a flat,straight road in the whole place for thousands of miles of pavement. and no people or cars. I've ridden all over the western US and alot of it is unihabited by man. Just be careful in towns and don't crash in the middle of nowhere or you'll die and the vultures will eat you. I've met Portland 'punks' who ride east and go flat out.Like many hundreds of mile per hour. But they're mostly young and going to live forever. Our try British Columbia. The police up there seem to be a pleasant lot. If you can find one. "Cheers" Roadslayer