Official Rules
The Carlsbad Police Department Motorcycle Unit has compiled a two day In-Service Police Motorcycle Rider Lesson Plan, which includes basic police motorcycle rider skills and a combined skills oriented event and competition.
The Focus of this training is to give the rider an opportunity to hone perishable skills learned while in a controlled environment. The second portion of the training is to provide the rider with an opportunity to participate in a "skills oriented" competition. This will allow the rider to evaluate his/her riding competency level under controlled yet stressful conditions.
Motorcycle training has inherent physical dangers. This training will be conducted with the highest regard for personal integrity and genuine concern for the riders' welfare. Rider safety is of critical importance and every effort will be made to provide a safe and secure environment for training.
Rules Committee
- 1. A Rules Committee will be established to settle all disputes that cannot be settled at the judge's level. All decisions of the Rules Committee are final.
- 2. The Rules Committee will be selected in the following manner:
- At least five members from the qualified entrants will be chosen by the Competition Director to serve on the Committee.
- The chairman of the Committee will be the Competition Director.
- 3. All questions submitted to the Committee shall be discussed and put to a vote at the direction of the chairman.
- The chairman will not have a vote in the dispute but may offer solutions to be considered.
- Majority vote rules.
B. Course General Rules
- 1. All riding participants must be members of a Law Enforcement Agency. Riders must be currently certified on the police motorcycle.
- 2. All riding participants must complete an application & waiver prior to riding in the event.
- 3. Motorcycles used by riders must be of the type (make/model) used during their normal course of police motorcycle duties.
- 4. All motorcycles must meet the requirements as to the function and safety recommendations by the manufacturer and/or the riders' agency.
- 5. Safety inspections should be conducted on the morning of the event prior to riding on the course.
- 6. Riders are responsible for maintenance and repairs of their own equipment. Should the rider experience an unexpected problem he/she will be allowed an opportunity to make necessary repairs and continue participation. Riding order may be altered if necessary.
- 7. Motorcycle helmets with chinstraps secured, safety glasses and gloves shall be worn at all times while the motorcycle is in operation.
- 8. Riding participants must be in uniform and may wear the training/utility uniform, including duty leather, of their respective agency during competition. Appropriate sport shirts with agency logo may be worn on practice day, Thursday. Civilian clothes are not allowed.
- 9. When riders are training on the "combined skills course", all other vehicles will not be driven through or across any active drill by either instructors or riders.
- 10. Any person(s) injured shall immediately report the incident to event staff.
- 11. All riders must follow the instructions of the event coordinator and staff at all times.
C. Awards
- 1. Due to the different performance characteristics of manufacturers police motorcycles, competitors will be divided into multiple divisions as follows:
- Division "A": Kawasaki Police 1000
- Division "B": BMW Police Motorcycle
- Division "C": Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, Harley-Davidson Road King
- Division "D": Honda Police Motorcycle
- 2. Event officials reserve the right to reorganize divisions based on number of motorcycles entered of each type/manufacturer.
- 3. Awards will be presented to the top riders in both team and individual competition for each division. The number of awards may be increased by event officials based on number of entries of each type/manufacturer.
| Division A | Division B | Division C | Division D |
| 1st Place | 1st Place | 1st Place | 1st Place |
| 2nd Place | 2nd Place | 2nd Place | 2nd Place |
| 3rd Place | 3rd Place | 3rd Place | 3rd Place |
Division "A" Division "B" Division "C" Division "D" 1st Place 1st Place 1st Place 1st Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place
D. Individual Rider/Team Course
- 1. The goal of the competition is to complete the "Combined Skills" course as quickly as possible while committing as few errors as possible.
- 2. Riding order is determined by random drawing.
- 3. The same errors and penalties apply in the team and individual competition.
- 4. Judges will be stationed throughout the course to observe for riding errors and will be instructed as to all the penalties. Judges decisions are final. Video reviews are prohibited.
- 5. Each individual rider will make two timed runs through the course. The lowest score of the two runs will be the riders' final score.
- 6. Two-rider team competition will have both riders in the course riding in a "follow the leader" formation. Each team will be allowed one timed run for their final score.
- 7. Teams must be declared prior to riding in the team event. A cut-off time and announcements will be made on the 2nd day (Friday) of competition.
- 8. All riders on any team must be on the same make of motorcycle. Team members may be from different agencies. E. "Chief's Challenge"
- 1. The goal of the "Chief's Challenge" (intersection) competition is to attempt to get the lead/tail rider to commit a riding error while riding in a follow-the-leader formation on a prescribed cone pattern.
- 2. All riders, regardless of make of motorcycle, are eligible to participate.
- 3. Riding order is determined by random drawing. Lead and tail position is determined by coin toss prior to the beginning of each ride.
- 4. Both riders begin one behind each other at the starting point. Riding time starts when the front wheel of the lead rider crosses the starting line. The tail rider must follow the lead rider the entire time while on the course.
- 5. The lead rider sets the route for both to follow. The lead rider may ride as fast or as slow as he/she wants.
- 6. Riding time is limited to two (2) minutes.
- 7. The ride ends when a rider commits an error or two minutes has elapsed. A rider is declared the loser:
- If he/she commits an error.
- If he/she is the lead rider and fails to cause the tail rider to commit an error.
- If he/she is the tail rider and fails to follow the same path as the lead rider.
- 8. The winner of each match advances in the bracket and through the process of "single elimination" a winner is determined. The winner then competes against the winner of the "Chiefs of Police" bracket for final determination of the winner of this event.
F. Explanation of Errors
- 1. Cone: if any portion of the motorcycle or rider touches a cone, delineator or other traffic control device that is used to define a riding pattern. This penalty is assessed for each cone contacted. The cone does not have to be knocked out of place.
- 2. Cone Down: if any portion of the motorcycle or rider knocks over or moves out of place, a cone, delineator or other traffic control device that is used to define a riding pattern. This penalty is assessed for each cone moved.
- 3. Foot: if the rider takes a foot off the foot peg/board and puts it down on the riding surface at any time while negotiating the course. This penalty is assessed each time the foot contacts the riding surface. Foot errors do not include while parking/parked, or after crossing a finish line.
- 4. Boundary: if at any time while negotiating a cone pattern the rider goes out of bounds of the set cone pattern, (ie. missed gate, off-line). Rider is disqualified for that run.
- 5. M/C Down: if the rider and/or motorcycle falls over while negotiating the course. Rider is disqualified for that run.
- 6. Off Course: if the rider fails to follow the correct sequence of cone patterns and/or fails to follow the intended path of travel to the next cone pattern to be negotiated. Rider is disqualified for that run.
G. Penalties
- 1. Penalties are defined as the time (in seconds) added to the riding time for each error counted:
- Cone: 3
- Cone Down: 5
- Foot: 10
- Disqualifying Penalties:
- Boundary M/C
- Down
- Off Course
- 2. If at any time a problem arises beyond the control of the rider(s) and/or a staff member/official declares the course unsafe, the ride may be stopped and no errors will be counted. The rider(s) will be allowed to start their ride over from the starting point.