B
Barbara Brown
Guest
Illinois
Riding newer motorcycle doing 25 mph, activated rt. signal to change lanes and glanced over rt. shoulder. In center of rt lane was a large, deep irregular pothole which the front tire of the cycle struck as he changed into rt. lane. Hole caused the front wheel to abruptly slow/stop and handlebar to slap to the right. Rider flew over handlebar and onto grassy parkway. Suffered scraped knees and elbow but otherwise unhurt.
Motorist following called 911 thinking rider may have been injured when she saw the spill. Fire department & police responded, but rider declined hospital transport.
Immediately after waiving treatment, police asked him what happened--he told them he'd struck something in the roadway --like a pothole. None of the police went to look at the roadway (emergency vehicles were parked over the area) and they accused him of "lying" about striking something in roadway; saying he'd better come up with another story....? He went to use his cell phone to call home & was told he couldn't. Asked again what happened he repeated he'd struck something in the roadway.
He was then arrested, handcuffed and taken to the station although they wouldn't tell him what he was being charged with until they got there. He was accused of reckless driving, booked, photographed and fingerprinted.
What is his recourse in the way he was treated for having nothing happen other than to hit a pothole? Is this the
way police behave? He has dated pictures of the hole and condition of the road.
Riding newer motorcycle doing 25 mph, activated rt. signal to change lanes and glanced over rt. shoulder. In center of rt lane was a large, deep irregular pothole which the front tire of the cycle struck as he changed into rt. lane. Hole caused the front wheel to abruptly slow/stop and handlebar to slap to the right. Rider flew over handlebar and onto grassy parkway. Suffered scraped knees and elbow but otherwise unhurt.
Motorist following called 911 thinking rider may have been injured when she saw the spill. Fire department & police responded, but rider declined hospital transport.
Immediately after waiving treatment, police asked him what happened--he told them he'd struck something in the roadway --like a pothole. None of the police went to look at the roadway (emergency vehicles were parked over the area) and they accused him of "lying" about striking something in roadway; saying he'd better come up with another story....? He went to use his cell phone to call home & was told he couldn't. Asked again what happened he repeated he'd struck something in the roadway.
He was then arrested, handcuffed and taken to the station although they wouldn't tell him what he was being charged with until they got there. He was accused of reckless driving, booked, photographed and fingerprinted.
What is his recourse in the way he was treated for having nothing happen other than to hit a pothole? Is this the
way police behave? He has dated pictures of the hole and condition of the road.