Actually, I've shaken quite a few hands on traffic stops. HOWEVER, I've found that about 99 times out of 100, the person who wants to shake a cop's hand is a turd. They are often testing to see if the officer is PC and can be manipulated. I generally refuse while trying not to be TOO rude about it. Occasionally I can be persuaded to open up a fresh can of rudeness, and splash it all over them. And laugh. Like Morgan said, you really don't want to get too close to an unknown or belligerent subject during an adversarial contact. You learn to read people, and each person handles contacts differently.
Looking back on my 55 years, I have concluded that snakes can be charmed and can also be charming.
What some of you are overlooking is that it's more than just appearances or manner that's involved. That cop may have just received a 'BOLO' on a person matching your description driving a vehicle like yours; he has no way of knowing whether you're that person or not. He's out there to enforce the law, not make friends, and while most of them would prefer to keep the contact as civil as possible, they are not shopping for a new best friend. Since that cop doesn't know any more about you than you do about him, he's not likely to step beyond the boundaries of grounds for a possible complaint. Getting overly friendly with violators can get you killed, and it can also get you complained on.
I have a legal question. I am asking your opinion as an LEO. I realize that you are not a judge or jury, attorney, legal scholastician, etc....and I realize that it is impossible to be absolutely certain about anything in the law....but I hoped you could shed some light:As I understand it, a person such as myself can have a loaded pistol in his vehicle without a CCL under the new provisions of the penal code. (castle doctrine) Does that include bags on motorcycles?
Bill, from your descibed position on the bike, and the LEO being slightly behind you, I'm thinking that the officer got a nice shot of the ol' cleavage when you reached back and over your chest to shake his hand. Hell, I'm surprised you even got a warning ticket! Hey, I learned this kind of stuff watching CSI!