D.O.H. - RIDE FOR LIBERTY

For those that didn't know the Dawgs on Hawgs rally was hit hard by the DPS
in a ticket writing frenzy. Many were stopped for various reasons, while
the DPS sat outside the gates and waited. Well the Dawgs on Hawgs group
decided something needed to be done and this is their response.


D.O.H. - RIDE FOR LIBERTY!!!

Friday, May 21st

Join us as we ride from Houston to the Texas DPS Headquarters in Austin to
encircle it and file over 1000 formal complaints of Official Harassment
resulting from incidents at the Texas Rally, 2004.

Help us to stop the DPS harassment and support biker rights! Your
participation is crucial to protect your freedoms and liberties as an
American and as a Texas Biker.

Click HERE to find out how you can help the DoH Ride For Liberty!
http://tinyurl.com/3xne5

Click HERE to Register Online to Ride For Liberty!
http://www.dawgsonhawgs.com/Ride4LibertyRegForm.asp

 

Elmer -

Sorry to hear about the cops harassing you guys. It never
fails to amaze me with the charity rides I've been on how the cops
will come by and harass and ticket all the bikes. Not at the bars,
not ticketing the SUV that almost took out a biker, they harass people
trying to do something for a good cause. Go figure.

In any case, good luck with the event. I can't make it as I'll be
traveling to Seattle and Vancouver that day.


--Fullstate

 

If you don't mind being stopped everytime you come and go, then its not an
issue to you.
Some of us believe that unless we commit a crime that you shouldn't be
bothered by anybody. Although some officers (thankfully only a very small
percentage) believe that once you leave your house you have no rights and
they can do whatever they please.

 

I'm not actually going to be making the ride myself, other committments
already. I posted it for informational purposes. However you may want to
check the message board at the dawgs and hawgs to see if anyone can get with
you.

http://pub1.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=52873872&cpv=1

 

Err.. I would agree with the illegal part. In the majority of cases it's
not "wrong". It's revenue enhancement.

 

A few tickets weren't valid and are being pursued through TMRA2. The
majority of the people were not cited, just pulled over and checked. Cops
were lined up at the gates waiting for the people to come out of the area so
they could get pulled over. If it was just a random occurrance there would
have been no real issue. However just sitting there waiting for a feeding
frenzy is better known as harrassment.

 

Agreed.
But there were many more who were pulled over and then let go for no
violation. Random incidents are acceptable to most of us when it comes to
being pulled over and then let go. It's however IMHO harrasment when the
officers line up outside a gate and wait for people to come out and then
pull them over either in groups or individually.

 

Actually, as long as the stops are consistent, it's held up in court
(DUI stops as the case history). If they stop every 3rd vehicle or every
single vehicle for example. It's when they get into something that
could be construed as profiling (every redneck honkey for example) that
they mess up and can end up with their tickets tossed out of court when
challenged.

Works that way entering/exiting military bases too. They can't stop only
Hispanics for example. But if they stop every 5th vehicle it's acceptable.

It sounds like they stopped ALL vehicles. If so, then it sounds like
they CYA'd pretty well.

 

IIRC they make exceptions for "unjust" laws.

 

I lost the link. Does anyone still have it?

 

I believe Elmer's point is that the DOH web page says that rally
participants were specifically targeted by the DPS.
You don't think that's wrong?

 

I'm sure you would have no business at a rally like that.

 

I've been pulled over a few times. Mostly what I consider random
occurrances, me by myself and me in a group. In each of the pull overs, the
officer was professional and explained why. In each case when the officer
found I was legal he let me go without looking for other infractions. I've
never had a bad experience with a pull over.

Now I've had several officers pull up a couple of feet behind me at 60 mph
and follow me for a couple of miles on my tail. I finally got fed up with
that in the early 90's and decided that if they wanted to unnecessarily risk
my life that I was going to file complaints. I just pulled over to the side
of the road a couple times when an officer started tailgating me. In each
case the officer continued on down the road. Its been several years now
since my last incident.
I think a lot of the good officers realized that would be unacceptable
behavior and changed their tactics, or they realized that bikers aren't
necessarily all bad guys. That we are really part of society rather than
socialpaths.

 

Thanks. Guess I'm glad I wasn't there either. Checked out the photos
and they seem to embrace the reason why I never rode to HOG events that
my local chapter sponsored. Too much drinking before the bikes are
parked for the day.

 

Did that once. I radioed the lead guy to go to the next town and wait at
a gas station. I ate the ticket. Cop wanted to know where the other guy
was going, so I said he must not have seen the squad car behind me and
kept going. That was the end of that. The other rider was VERY happy
about not getting ticketed and split the cost of riders ed with me.

 

The city of Austin has the annual problem of up to 100,000 bikers converge
at one time, every year at about this time..Last year, after the parade
ended in downtown, I had this conversation with a group of officers who were
directing traffic and assisting to keep order in that downtown area.. I
commented that it would be interesting to know how many tickets would be
written over that weekend, to bikers for the many violations that I had seen
that day and that night..One of the officers, a very personable motorcycle
patrolman spoke up and made the observation that I would be surprised that
so few tickets for violations would be issued.. Perfect location for
checkpoints and "traps" since the downturn area is cordoned with traffice
officers limiting and restricting streets for access and exit.. The
fairgrounds where the rally is held is also well represented by law
enforcement, who are assisting traffic flow.. Perfect for checkpoints ..
Each motorcycle represents a little more than $200.00 cash flow for the city
of Austin.. The fairgrounds facility is also a cash flow of several hundred
thousand dollars, paid as rent, by the organizers of the rally..Fortunately,
the city leaders realize that a law enforcement crackdown could jeopardize
all that income to the city itself.. Consider the loss of cash flow to the
city, if the result of that crackdown should cause the organizers to move
the rally to another city.. All these agreements were discussed and verbally
agreed to by the organizers and the city leaders, far in advance.. The
attitude of the LEO's in the area, that I talked to, which has been quite a
few has been an interest in the safety, convenience, as well as appreciation
to the bikers for selecting Austin as the city to come to for a weekend and
bringing their money to spend there..Income for minor traffic infractions
would be insignificant when compared to the loss of that annual event.. For
that very reason, Sturgis is facing a real possiblity of that grand event
being taken to another isolated little town.. Law enforcement has become
increasingly more agressive in the past few years and many of the bikers are
beginning to resent it by not showing up.. The rally itself has become a
commercialized event that only dealers are the major participants..Without
good attendance by bikers, who will buy their product.?? DOH should not only
air their complaints to DPS and legislators, they should also address the
city leaders and assure them, that city will never be considered for another
motorcycle gathering..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Good information, Steve.. The organizers of any rally should be well versed
and knowledgeable.. Those same organizers should also negotiate with the
city leaders, that there will be not such crackdowns and no such practices
by local or state law enforcement, during the event .. Motorcyclist nor
motorists should be expected to be knowledgeable of the letter of the laws..
none are.. a few ..maybe.. Any city that permits such conduct by law
enforcement after their city is selected for the event, does not deserve to
ever be selected again..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

So far.. these tickets in the mail have not been tested in appeals
processes.. It is my understanding that the mailed citations that have been
contested in the municipal courts, have been dismissed for lack of
evidence.. that is, the majority of the ones that have been contested, not
all.. There have only been a very few that appealed those citations and they
were dismissed at the higher level.. The practice of photographic
enforcement of traffice is relatively new.. Under existing laws, there are
inherently many prosecutorial problems.. You may rest assured that this
issue is being addressed by legislation directed toward enhancement of
another tool to control the public.. Big Brother is alive and well.. Another
excellent reason to support organizations like TMRA II and ABATE, in our
state..

 

Participation in all the drinking is a matter of choice to each rider
attending the rally.. And your choice to "not attend" is definitely "your"
choice.. Looks like the rally was a success and the event was a good one..
without Mark Johnson being present.. Another excellent example of why
"designer bikers" and "posers" are impressive, only to each other..

 

LOL.. Waco, my friend .. do you see any connection between my opinion of the
typical "designer biker" and "posers" ?? Some of these comments in this
thread, supporting this law enforcement strategy should be noticed.. The
names should be familiar.. LMAO..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker