For most of my childhood, I had to endure watching my dad get into some pretty gnarly motorcycle accidents that left him living in a cast suit and bedridden for long periods of time. So, I’ll admit to being a little bit biased when it comes to motorcycles not being courteous to those around them.
A recent report by the Casa Grande Police Department featured a motorcycle rider who was stopped for performing a wheelie. While the act itself isn’t necessarily something to be upset about, the fact that the rider posed a threat to other drivers around them is.
The officers who posted about the incident also made good points about what is actually affected by performing these stunts and then getting caught by the police.
They ended the whole post with, “Please keep the stunts off public roads. Make smart choices and help keep our community safe.”
Why Officers Say It’s More Than Just Showing Off
There isn’t any video footage of the incident itself, but the photos posted to the Facebook report show that the motorcycle involved was a blue street motorcycle. The post explains that the person was doing a wheel stand, which is also known as a “wheelie, but done for a longer distance and time.”
Just judging by the images in the report, it looks like the rider was on a relatively busy roadway when he was caught. So, I understand why officers thought he posed a threat to those driving around him.
It also looks like the rider ended up having to have the motorcycle towed. So, I really get the part where the post reads, “Reckless driving isn’t just dangerous – It can result in arrest, towing fees, court appearances, increased insurance costs, and potentially much more.”
Comments Were Divided
Some commenters weren’t too happy about the incident, with one of the top comments reading, “I have seen an officer do that on Pinal Rd. It was probably at least 8 years ago, but it definitely got my attention. I have been pulled over more on Pinal Rd than anywhere else in my life. I have never even lived in Casa Grande either. I used to commute there and back 4 times a week for about 21 years. I am 49. Once it was for 48 in a 45. Another was 50 in a 55 getting off the I10. He thought I crossed the bridge at that speed and then realized I had actually exited the 10. So when I saw an officer popping wheelies it definitely caught my attention.”
Others were more keen on making jokes at the rider’s expense, like, “When dose the bike go on auction 😂✌🏽,”and “Is the cops name Karen?”
Fortunately, no one was hurt as a result of the incident, but it serves as a stark reminder for those who ride in the street that you are as much a danger on the road as a car is.