Laws and Police Officers

I have a question regarding a letter to the editor that showed up in the news feeds...
BC has not yet changed it's helmet law - and yet there are RCMP officers  who are harassing people over their beanies - WHY?


I witnessed this very thing in Kelowna at the Kreater Custom Motorcycles Rock 'n' Ride - a police officer whipped in behind a rider who was pulling into the event, he blocked both lanes so no one could move in either direction, got out of his squad card and proceeded to lecture the rider on his responsibility and handed him a ticket for improper helmet. How in heaven's name can these people write tickets for something that is not on the books yet? Can anyone answer that for me?


I have heard of many cases of riders being left on the side road with no helmet because an officer takes it or refuses to allow a rider to leave until they have a DOT helmet and I suppose that's OK in provinces that have DOT helmet laws - but seriously, if a headlamp is out on your car, you are given a ticket and told to get it repaired. A headlamp is safety equipment so why is a helmet treated differently? I don't get that. Am I being obtuse?


There are other instances that I can think of where a police officer seems to think that his personal opinion on something is the law, like patches...police officers want to see all outlaw motorcycle club and 1 per center patches banned as if they are some how a lethal weapon - they use comments like - they use their patches to advertise, they use their patches to intimidate - I call BS, the only reason anyone would be intimidated is because of the spin the police and mainstream media put on things. Clothing does not make you a good or bad person - it is your actions and conduct that does.


Any uniform, any group in large enough numbers can be intimidating if the right spin is put on it - look at riot police and the fact that we hear all of the time about abuse of authority - to me it's almost like the pot calling the kettle black...


Oh well - I guess unless enough tax payers start actually doing something about the injustices that happen we are stuck with police officers who think they are the be all end all and that we who pay them have to take their crap because if anyone in the world is intimidating it is a cop with a bad attitude and his/her hand on their gun.


Have you ever noticed that about polices officers? The next time you encounter one be they a good cop or a rogue, watch them and watch what they do with their hands - it's amazing how they don't see their behaviour as intimidating.  


Another article that caught my eye was the All About Bikes article called:

Is It Time to Ban Motorcycles? The article is a response to the article in the Sun-Sentinel  where in the writer spins all of the statistics into a nightmare of death and carnage and tells us - we who love the motorcycle to grow up - that is costs our system too much because of the crashes. The All About Bikes article counters that with the facts, this if more motorists paid attention to the job of driving, then fare fewer riders would be injured or killed.

They are both interesting reads if you have time...

And that is the perfect segue to our Motorcycle Awareness Conga...I have a ton to do and only 10 days to be prepared for a 43 day trip across Canada and back - yes the 2011 Share the Road, Share the Ride Motorcycle Awareness Conga is heating up.


I am going to be privileged to ride with the Yukon Gold Wing Road Riders, the OMRA in BC, Ride for Dad in MB, HOG in BC, HOG in NB, Retreads in ON, Defenders & Saddlebags in NS and I can't wait!


Yukon Tourism made my day by organizing a flight over the glaciers at Haines Junction and a dinner theatre in Beaver Creek -  I am going to get to explore a bit more of the Yukon than I originally had thought I would - and as exciting as that is - I am just as excited to get the chance to finally meet a lady called Buck Shot Betty - her real name is Carmen Hinsen and she runs a campground, cabins and restaurant on the Yukon Alaska border! I am also excited to meet many of our Rider Friendly Business Association® partners and be able to experience first hand what makes these people who run these businesses so special!


I am being sponsored by so many businesses and tourism regions this year - it is highly gratifying to see these places and people taking motorcyclists as tourist and their safety seriously and being willing to show their support of this community!


Our country is so diverse in it's panoramas and its culture and I am gratified to be in a position to experience Canada by Motorcycle - I hope you will consider joining me somewhere along the route - be it for an hour, a group ride, a day or a week...I would love the opportunity to meet you, discover your community and would be honored to ride with you. We will be updating the route and schedule in the next day or two so watch for that and see where on the road you might be able to join up!


And remember - we are going to be filming motorcycle PSA's on sharing the road - these home grown commercials are going to feature riders and their friends and families as they ask other motorists to share the road with us.


Yes the ride to Cape Breton and the Thunder in the Highlands is going to be rewarding, exhausting and exhilarating and I am champing at the bit to get started!


You comments, thoughts and opinions are always welcome...here, on FB or in our forums on www.beltdrivebetty.com


In other news:

The Hells Angels in Australia have won an epic court case.

Laconia is preparing for the Hells Angels World Run

In Wisconsin they are mourning the death of one of the early gals of riding - Marry Gundram -Trapp died at 96 year of age...RIP gal and thanks for blazing the trail for the rest of us lady riders.

In Ontario - the CAV is hosting a Poker Run in Trenton for the Children's Wish Foundation

Also in Ontario  - Windsor is getting ready to host the Portraits of Honor - if you haven't seen this exhibit - it is a MUST DO

In ON there is another special Military Event taking place

In SK they are preparing for the Ride for the Breath of Life

In BC - two riders take a plunge over a cliff

Also in BC and Alberta rider crossed the centre line and hit a car

There is a ton of other news of note in on the web site over at www.beltdrivebetty.com

Hope you will check it out.

Have a fabulous Friday everyone and an even better weekend - please remember if you are riding today to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and remember also to use respect with that throttle hand - it may be day time for you but for some poor SOB it is their night cause they work night shift - sleep deprivation makes one cranky...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Food, Coffee & Motorcycles

The news feeds have a real mixed bag in them this morning - 6 bikers are either dead or injured, Pennsylvania is talking about reinstating a helmet law and David Hatch from Whistlestop Production spent his 50th birthday in an interesting way.


Anyone who knows me knows I love good coffee and good food so when I read this next article's lead my curiosity was peaked! As good at marketing as Harley is I gotta say I am impressed with the direction Ducati is taking with their new Ducati Caffe's - Italian food and motorcycles - now there is a dining experience I can get behind - I wonder if we can convince them to serve Biker Coffee Company Coffee - then we would have a total match made in Biker Heaven!


Yes - the feeds are a mixed bag today but beyond the Ducati article one other one caught my eye today...


The Feds in the US are going after the Mongols trade mark again.


In 2008 when the cops arrested the top dude in the Mongols - they discovered that he had registered their insignia as a trademeark - they went after it and got a temporary injunction - the preliminary order of forfeiture was signed by a Judge Wright and then he reversed his decision because the defence claimed the mark is owned by a group not an individual.


According to the article: Begin Quote: Wright reversed his decision in September, however, after the Mongol Nation Motorcycle Club Inc. argued that the trademark and logo were a collective membership mark — meaning it identified a group of people — and therefore could not be owned solely by one person.

George Steele, who is representing the Mongols, said that because one person cannot own a collective membership insignia, it could not be seized from Cavazos.

“It’s legally impossible for one person to own a collective membership mark, so if it’s illegal, they can’t take it,” Steele said.

Prosecutors have since worked to prove that members of the club knew Cavazos was the sole owner of the logo, and said they had prepared evidence showing such. Wright, however, did not hear oral arguments at Monday’s hearing. End Quote

Since when does a piece of art or a piece of clothing make you a criminal and how does taking that away from the Mongols stop them from "conducting business" as the Crown Prosecuter is trying to argue: 

Begin Quote: The U.S. attorney’s office said the insignia — which depicts a pony-tailed man riding a chopper — is “very, very closely identified with the organization,” and that by removing access to the logo, the Mongols would be further prevented from operating.

“This patch is a central element of the identity of the gang. We’re trying to dismantle a criminal organization, and we’re trying to use whatever tools we can to do it,” said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office. “In this case it shows our determination to go after this organization as a whole — top to bottom leadership — and after the proceeds of criminal activity.” End Quote

I am not sure I understand the wisdom behind this, can anyone out there explain this situation to me?


Obviously I am missing something here and I welcome any guidance or information that will help me understand this train of thought.


There is tons of other news for you at www.beltdrivebetty.com


Check out my Conga Page and if you want to get involved in what I am doing drop me a line - I look forward to it!


I hope you have a fabulous Tuesday and please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you, and please use respect with that right hand cause you might be waking up a shift worker or interrupting an important meeting for some business person...


Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

What a way to spend your birthday...

My husband returned from his father's funeral 8 days ago, was home a day and left on his motorcycle to head to Vancouver and his best friend's memorial/funeral (Dave had died in March but they weren't putting him to rest until June). After the service Dave's brother Scott and hubby headed to the races in Washington State - it was the holiday that Dave, Mark and Scotty were going to take together - so the 2 boys did it anyway.


With hubby away I have been rocking through as much work as I can - and then came Father's Day which also happens to be my birthday. My daughter had gone White Water Rafting in Jasper with her girl friends so I was alone. What to do with the day - I didn't feel like working - I felt like lounging but knew I would feel guilty with everything that needs to get done before I leave for the Conga on July 4th.


I decided to edit the videos from my trip to Oshawa and the Heroes Highway Ride. You know - it was a great experience - reliving every soggy mile - the smiling faces, the love, the laughter, the tears....the two videos were truly a labour of love and while I am not great with editing - I think the videos turned out OK.


Here is the walk about in Bellville at 10 Acre Truck Stop so you can get a true feel of how many bikes were present:

And the second video of the ride and our time in Oshawa:

 I hope these two videos inspire you to join the ride next year - well organized, and FREE for the rider - I gotta tell you it was one of those experiences I will never forget and one I hope to have again next year if Lou and the Perfect Pigs MC will have me! Visit the HHR site to keep up to date for next years event: http://www.heroshighwayride.com/


I got a deeply disturbing article today from a man named Bruce Arnold - he is well known in the US as a Long Distance Rider and is - like myself somewhat of an advocate to heighten the awareness of what our governments and police services are doing behind the scenes.


I hope you will read the article - http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lastest-international/286-news-international-/11392-an-important-article-on-the-us-financial-a-mortgage-collapse


I know it is extremely long folks but please take a half hour out of your life to educate yourself - this is a disturbing topic - it is all about the collapse of the US Mortgage infrastructure and financial institutions and how the police services in the US and their POLICY on domestic violence contributed to it's demise. 


The man who wrote his final statement of farewell and sent it to the Sentinel and people like Bruce torched himself on the front steps of the Cheshire County Court House.


The facts the man dug up are deeply distressing and it is my hope that you will see just how the system in the US works and how dangerously close to the same sort of system we are becoming here.


After you read his article - which I PRAY you do - I would love your feedback and input.


There is a ton in the news again today so please swing by www.beltdrivebetty.com and check out the news feeds.


Have a fabulous Monday folks...and PLEASE ride like everyone around you is BLIND and can not see you and use respect with that right had - remember grandpa could be having a nap...or a mom with a sick baby might have just gotten baby to sleep.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com