Road side Justice - A heated debate that makes one stop and think

Right now, on my Face Book page there is a heated debate over yesterdays blog post about the proposed new powers for police officers There is a movement by insurance and the powers that be to allow the police to pull you over without probable cause and to administer road side tests for impairment - without probable cause.

The two major points of view are so divergent!

Like many, the violation to our rights and freedoms due to road side justice is something I have a really hard time with. I don't think that a police officer should have the power to have your vehicle crushed for racing, or take your license away - too often there are officers who abuse their authority and far too many of them IMHO - now before you go jumping down my throat because I am knocking the police, hear me out.

I also have a hard time with drunk and stoned drivers - years ago as a kid I did dumb crap and got lucky because my stupid actions never hurt anyone - and so I have over the years tried to adopt the attitude, there but for the grace of God go I. BUT - today, there are a hundred times more drivers on the road than back when I was a kid, and the likelihood of getting into a bad situation is 100 times greater. Many drivers today should not be on the roads (I truly feel some of the driver examiners who give these people licenses should be jailed or fined but that's a topic for another time) I mean really - why else is there a successful TV show called Canada's worst driver and how did the people on that show get a license in the first place?

I think of the 9 riders involved in the destruction on the Carefree Highway - 4 are dead and 5 lives and 9 families for ever altered and all because of one man who was on meth.

I read the news every day - this chair I sit in can become a very sad and depressing chair to sit in folks. I read of the hundreds of collisions and accidents every day.

I am all for impaired and distracted drivers being taken off of the road ways but I also understand one other thing - absolute power corrupts absolutely and if the RCMP or any other police force is going to have the kind of power that some of the laws and proposed laws give them then I have one thing to say. IT BEST APPLY TO THEM AS WELL.

I read about RCMP and other police service members who have been caught impaired driving -  Monty Robinson might get away with murder because he has abused his authority IMHO - out of that Surrey BC country during the same time frame he killed Orion Hutchinson 5 other lower mainland RCMP officers were charged with impaired driving - some while ON DUTY.

If they are going to meet out road side justice then they need to be held to far higher standards that the rest of the population. FAR HIGHER - they need to be treated as virtually infallible - else wise the ability to use that authority against those they dislike or have grudges with goes up HUGELY and we do know they are human and that power can and does go to the heads of some.

Am I for road side justice - no - I see both sides of the argument - I see both points of view clearly - BUT - I also think our rights and freedoms would be far better served if we demanded that our prosecutors and judges did their jobs better. As long as there is a human factor in all of this - the answers will always be murky and illusive.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely and giving absolute power to the people who are in the trenches and who oft times suffer from PTSD and never get treatment - who deal with huge adrenaline rushes and danger we can only imagine every day - No I don't think those are the right people to give that kind of power to. They are no more clear headed  than some of the people they deal with - adrenaline can be as big of an impairment as drinking or toking.

And that folks is my two bits worth - as always I WELCOME your comments and feedback - I will never get better at what I do without it - debate is healthy...

In the news today:
In Windsor ON a motorcyclist was struck by a vehicle

In Montreal the number of tickets being given out by the police services has some asking some HARD questions about big brother.

On Vancouver Island an emergency plan is being explored for the Toy Run

In Manitoba the Ride for Dad is getting ready to kick off

In Vancouver - the parking initiative by BCCOM is holding a rally

If you are a fortunate soul who is riding today - PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is out to get you and is BLIND! Ride proud - not loud - save the cranking on the wick for the idiot who drifts into your lane - don't be pissing the neighbors off and taking our rights to the safety our pipes bring us away because of selfishness.

Belt Drive Betty

www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
www.firre.ca
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca

Contact Me

Police support controversial drunk-driving legislation

There is a push to change the law so police could pull anybody over and do random roadside screening without reasonable grounds of suspicion.

Not sure how you feel about that. I know that as a general rule I have nothing to hide from the police or anyone else yet I feel this law is yet another violation - I understand the need to protect but...your comments and thoughts as always - are appreciated.

In the news today:
The rider who was killed in Saskatoon yesterday was identified.

Manitoba wants to make the prosecutors job easier by creating a list of criminal organizations that don't have to be proven time again that they are criminal - the law is in the legislature.


In PEI, new fines have been introduced in an effort to curb accidents.

In BC, two guys clocked doing 180 last year get community service, license suspensions and a fine.

As always, there is a ton of other news today so check out the latest news at www.beltdrivebetty.com - Membership is free and will net you a savings card good at over 170 business locations!

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, PLEASE - ride like everyone around you is blind, can't see you and IS out to get you. Ride proud - not loud - save the use of those pipes for when someone drifts in to you!

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com

A HUGE Apology

To those who got their newspaper today I apologize for the quality.

Sadly, Marion - the gal who lays the paper out had a family emergency last night and there was a problem getting files to me so that I could take over. She is on a MAC and I am on a PC and something stupid happened where in she couldn't "package" the files to send to me.

She did the best she could but she needed to get to the hospital.
I am looking in to what we can do to prevent this type of situation from happening ever again and apologized deeply to all who are affected.

As soon as I know what happened in her family I will let the rest of you know. My heart and prayers go out to her, I know her son has cancer I am however unclear if it was something that happened with him or something else that took place - she was crying too hard for me to understand her - words escape me other than to pray to the lord my God that she and her family are OK.

In the news today there is more death in our community. A rider was killed in Saskatoon yesterday when he reportedly lost control of his bike in Saskatoon North.

In Cochrane AB on April 16th a rider was hit from behind by a semi.

Port Dover is getting ready for a huge Friday the 13th Celebration this year - it's 5oth!

And in the US a study about motorcycle accidents reports a HUGE drop in fatalities.

That's what's in the news today so far folks - if you are lucky enough to be riding today - please ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you, IS out to get you and please ride proud NOT loud.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com

Motorcycle Collisions - Accidents - what is the difference?

Today in the main stream news feeds there are two motorcycle collisions to report.

Yes, surprisingly only two - however, the reason I am choosing to write about "Collisions/Accidents" is that truly an accident is something like a deer or other animal jumping out in front of you - the rest are collisions and more often than not they are preventable.

Distracted drivers, inattentive drivers and some that are just plain BAD drivers - they are the cause of most collisions between motorcycles and vehicles - reportedly 70% of the time on average depending upon the stats you read. Rider error and inattentiveness and inexperience on the part of the motorcyclists make up the rest.

So how can we as motorcyclists keep ourselves safer out there?

Well, hyper vigilance is one way - using what they teach in school - SIPDE - Scan, Interpret, Predict, Decide and Execute - constantly scanning from side to side.

Watching your speed - a motorcycle's smaller profile makes it harder for drivers to gauge your speed causing them to misinterpret the time they have before your imminent arrival in front of them. Lights on your motorcycle - lots of them and reflective and bright gear reportedly also help the motorist to see you.

We need to do a far better job in this country when it comes to getting across the message that automobiles are really large weapons.

I wished there was a better way of amassing the statistics to prove what we riders know and witness every day, sadly, I haven't and neither have the experts figured out how to get that job done - I wish there was a way to prove the need for "loud pipes" in urban riding situations (like when someone is about to drift in to you) but then again I also wished that there was a way to get the "cowboys" to lay off of their really loud pipes when it isn't necessary to use them...dreams...perhaps we will figure out the way - soon I hope.

In the news:
Harley-Davidson's earnings skid

A motorcycle takes the long way around to coming back to it's roots

Ducati has some "treats" in store

A young Ontario motorcyclists is in serious condition after a collision

An 80 year old woman is charged with failing to stop after a collision with a motorcycle in Thunderbay, the rider was airlifted to hospital.

And Karma gets some thieves of motorcycles! 

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today - please, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you, IS out to get you and ride proud - not loud - keep those loud pipes in reserve for when they are truly needed!

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
www.firre.ca
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca

And a F.I.R.R.E. was lit....

On Sunday April 18th in Thorsby Alberta, riders from across the province of Alberta met to discuss a number of issues.

The Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists of Canada has recently been experiencing some tough, uphill challenges – most of them internal and pretty much insurmountable.

The situation was threatening to leave riders who need assistance in the advent of an accident somewhat in a lurch.  The central Alberta chapter and the Southern Alberta chapter along with a number of riders who wanted to start and organization to help riders with rights issues like parking, handicap stickers, noise bylaws and equitable & fair enforcement there of , all got together and did so in such a powerful and thoughtful way that a new organization was formed.

F.I.R.R.E. stands for the Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights and Education and it has three distinct purposes. To assist injured riders and their families in their time of need, to lobby and work towards equitable and fair treatment of riders and to provide education to riders, other road users and the general public.

This is a very PRO ACTIVE group comprised of people in the insurance industry, IT, fire and ambulance and every walk of life and job imaginable!

Over the coming weeks it is my hope to profile the National Board of Governors and the chairs and co-chairs of the three sub committees.

It was a rewarding and action packed three hour meeting that saw a ton of organizational work get accomplished!

We have a National Board of Governors –Mark Boylan is our Chairman

 Scott Paulin is our Co Chair, Kim Newberry and I are sharing VP of Marketing duties, Baker Bruce Ollson is the Treasurer and Cindy Nobiss is the National Secretary.

Our three committees look like this:

Rider & Family Assistance:
Chair: Steve Penrod
Co Chair: Paul Newberry

Rider Rights:
Chair: Mark Boylan
Co Chair: Michael Honour

Education:
Chair: Scott Paulin
Co Chair: Twyla Aalbers

And a F.I.R.R.E. was lit!

The President of the Central Alberta Chapter of F.I.R.R.E. is:

Betty Rondeau and she can be contacted at: (780) 789-2045 or at the Kountry Kitchen Bakery in Thorsby: (780) 789-3992


The Central AB chapter meets again on May 16th at 2 pm at the community centre in Thorsby.

The President of the Southern AB Chapter of F.I.R.R.E. is Cindy Nobiss and she can be contacted by phone at: (403) 867-3019 or by email: cnobiss59@gmail.com

We have two confirmed chapters and will be – once the new board has had some time to get some details taken care of - addressing all of the AIM and AIM Can chapters that are left - after the answer on the appeal by AIM Can is done - and inviting them to join our new and soon to be federally incorporated organization.

Our web site address is: www.firre.ca

Our Toll Free Rider Assistance Hotline is: 1-866-315-1013

We have as a free service to all members of F.I.R.R.E. a “Never Ride Alone Program”


You call our toll free number, you tell them your chapter and membership number, where you are leaving from and when and where you are going to and when you anticipate arriving. If you don’t call and check in when you are supposed to, they will call your cell, if they get no answer then with in an hour of your tentative arrival time, if you don’t contact them they will then send someone to look for you. This service and the Toll Free 911 Call Centre are supplied and sponsored by Intercon Messaging in Drayton Valley AB

www.interconmessaging.com

Our Provincial Run is August 7th & 8th
Free Camping, Rodeo Games, a $10 steak BBQ (You MUST PRE-ORDER YOUR MEALS - all proceeds from the BBQ go to the Thorsby Elementary School), DJ and Comedian on Saturday the 7th and on Sunday is a pancake breakfast followed by our Fallen Riders Memorial service and parade and then the ride to the V-Twin Family Diner Show ‘n’ Shine in Drayton Valley where all riders only pay $10 to take in all of the bands and entertainment! All proceeds for the V-Twin Diner Family Show ‘n’ Shine go to the Stollery Childrens Centre


Working in a positive and thoughtful manner we have begun to flesh our our Mission, Vision and Ethics statements and will be formalizing them soon.

Our Tentative Ethics Statement:
We will not discriminate regardless of discipline, brand, gender, race, color or handicap
We will be thoughtful and measured in our responses and actions in any issues that are presented to us.


Our Tentative Mission Statement:
To provide aide to injured riders and their families, whether it be emotional, practical or financial.

To be a collective voice for all riders pertaining to education, rights and assistance

Our Tentative Vision Statement:

To have every rider in Canada be a member of F.I.R.R.E.

We would welcome your feedback and input so that we may grow this organization in the most forward thinking of manners, please contact:

Mark Boylan - Chairman: firre@elnath.ca
Scott Paulin - Co Chairman: bike_ridin_jd_drinkin_pig@rocketmail.com
And that folks is how we started a F.I.R.R.E. in Central Alberta this weekend.


If you are riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you, and IS out to get you - ride proud not loud...

Belt Drive Betty
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights and Education
www.firre.ca (coming soon)