May 04--Topher Ingalls jumped over a 101 Freeway access ramp. He popped high-speed wheelies and rode through farmland along the busy highway.
He fought the law -- but the law didn't win. Not this time.
Despite the multiple traffic laws Ingalls broke -- and there was video evidence -- he will not be cited, said California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Seebart.
Ingalls, a retired motocross-rider-turned-real-estate-agent, posted a video of his escapades in April as a lighthearted advertisement for his real estate work. The video purports to show Ingalls as he commutes to work at Buschur Realty in San Luis Obispo.
Wearing a helmet, tie and riding boots, Ingalls jumps over and onto a 101 Freeway access ramp in Atascadero, hops farm fences and pulls wheelies on his KTM 350 dual-sport motorcycle.
After viewing the video, the CHP decided to investigate the incident and on Tuesday Seebart said the agency would not pursue charges.
"Basically all of the violations were infractions in the California Vehicle Code, and because they were not committed in the presence of an officer, we are precluded by statute from taking action against Mr. Ingalls," Seebart said.
Ingalls told The Times that he just wanted to share his experience of transitioning from racing to real estate and that he didn't intend to do anything unsafe.
He said he had gotten mostly positive feedback from riders and fellow Realtors, but said he was taking the video down.
Atascadero Police Sgt. Caleb Davis said the stunts were "extremely dangerous."
"That guy is jumping off some areas I've never seen before," Davis said. "At least he was wearing a helmet."
The video irked some in the motorcycle community, including Aaron Cortez, who writes for the Bike Bandit Blog. Cortez wrote that videos like Ingalls' can harm a sport whose riders are mostly law-abiding.
Twitter: @bposton
