Kill a biker, get a $399.91 fine and then FIGHT THE TICKET?

That's exactly what prominent business man Douglas Parker Rudderham intends to do according to an article in the Star.

Begin Quote:
On Sept. 14, Rudderham was driving his Cadillac Escalade in Sydney, N.S. around 4 p.m. when his vehicle collided with a motorcycle travelling in front of him.

The motorcycle driver, 67-year-old Jack MacDonald, was pronounced dead at the scene. End Quote

Mr. Rudderham rear ended the motorcycle that Mr. MacDonald was riding home after having gotten a hair cut. Mr. MacDonald was killed at an intersection that he had fought to have lights installed at to no avail.

Now, the 57 year old CEO of Quebec based Pharmacy Wholesale Services and owner of Coltsfoot Publishing plans to fight the ticket as he does not believe he was driving imprudently.

Begin Quote: Investigators ruled out criminal negligence in the collision, but police “still believe that (Rudderham) was responsible for the collision,” said Cape Breton Regional Police Service spokeswoman Desiree Vassallo.

He has been charged with failing to drive or operate a motor vehicle in a careful and prudent manner under the Motor Vehicle Act, she said. In addition to a fine, the charge carries a loss of six demerit points. End Quote

According to the article, “Mr. Rudderham believes in principle. He’s not the type of person who pleads (guilty) to something that he didn’t do just to get out of it,” Pink said. (Joel Pink is Mr. Rudderham's attorney.)

So, if in fact this prominent business man fights this ticket, it will send the case to trial.

Perhaps, just perhaps, this is a blessing in disguise for Nova Scotia riders - especially if the court room can be filled with riders.  There needs to be a message sent to the justice system of this country.

As tragic as it is that this man, this powerful businessman is going to fight a $399.91 ticket - perhaps, just perhaps there will be some other justice come out of this case. 

If we could fill the court room with riders and their families and send a clear message to the courts and this prominent businessman that driving too close, as appears to be the case here, is an offence and while not viewed as criminal negligence is still an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act.

We need clearer laws in this country when someone's "inattention" causes a death or serious harm and we will never get them unless the rider community gets together en masse at every court case like this one, and fills the court rooms.

Until WE as riders can unite and have our voice heard with one loud and clear message - IT IS NOT OK TO KILL A RIDER - the slaps on the wrist will continue.

Personally I feel that what Mr. Rudderham is about to do in fighting this ticket is morally wrong - it may be his right, but morally, the harm he is doing to this family is just adding insult to injury. 

I am calling on all riders in Cape Breton and the rest of Nova Scotia to PLEASE, PLEASE if you can swing it - fill up that court room and send a message - LOUD AND CLEAR - It is NOT OK to kill a rider and it is not OK to hurt a family in this way after the damage is done.

I would dearly love your feedback on how our justice system could fix the Motor Vehicle Act to better address situations like the one you just read about. Should there be mandatory jail time when a rider is killed because of the actions of another driver? Should there be mandatory compensation for the rider's family? What is the right way to deal with this type of scenario - one we see all too often?

Your thoughts and opinions are welcome here!

In Other news:

In Canada, the CPP - that's right, the Canadian Pension Plan, has investments in motorcycle racing - HMMM....

In Quebec, a HUGE drug bust went down and Larry Amero and a number of other members of the Hells Angels were scooped up.

In Great Britain, Prince Charles met with some of the Royal British Legion Riders and sat astride one of the riders motorcycle.

And in Russia - they have their first lady's motorcycle club!

There is a ton of other news in the feeds today that might affect your day or life as a rider, visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping You informed!

We have a couple of contests on the go...

We are sponsoring the BikerGeo contest and we are hosting one of our own...

Belt Drive Betty & Johhny Pag have a SECRET - you have until December 12th to guess what it is we are going to announce on December 13th....

Just log in - go to the contest page, submit your best guess, in fact submit as many guesses as you would like - the person OR persons who guess what the big SECRET is will win some cool swag from Johhny Pag and Belt Drive Betty!!!!

I leave you with a few funnies, shared by our friends from Facebook and emails to make your day a wee bit brighter...laughter really is an important part of life!

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Sad news out of Quebec + the era of the Bionic man?

There is news out of Drummondville QC that a badly decomposed body has been found just off of highway 55. According to the article in the Montreal Gazette:
"The body was found close to exit 88 in Richmond on the rural road and nearby was a smashed-up motorcycle, the SQ said. Investigators from the SQ were on site Tuesday to try to ascertain the circumstances of the death."

It is suspected that the remains are that of Erick Lachapelle, 35, who was last seen at 1 a.m. on July 19 leaving a bar in Windsor on his motorcycle. The bar is 20 kilometres away from where the remains were found.

I feel for his family and friends, but perhaps this mystery is now over and they will get some closure.

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago will be testing it's ground breaking bionic leg Sunday when Zac Vawter attempts to climb 103 flights of stairs to the top of Chicago's Willis Tower, one of the world's tallest skyscrapers.

According to the article in the Ottawa Citizen, Zac Vawter considers himself a test pilot. After losing his right leg in a motorcycle accident, the 31-year-old software engineer signed up to become a research subject, helping to test a trail-blazing prosthetic leg that's controlled by his thoughts.

It will be a huge boon to those who loose limbs in crashes and through illness!

Now for something straight out of the bizarre files... a Saudi Sheikh is causing a huge controversy because he was caught riding on a motorcycle

Apparently there are those who think this Sheikh should not be riding on a motorcycle and are attempting to put that theory to the test by asking if the Koran would approve... Well, I am not sure how  the prophet Mohammed would have viewed this behaviour but I for one don't see it as an issue, but then again I don't live in Saudi Arabia..what are your thoughts?

I'd love to hear them!

There is a ton of news in the feeds today that just might affect your day or life as a rider, visit www.beltdrivebetty.com where our work is keeping You informed!

Today we kick off a special contest - Belt Drive Betty & Johnny Pag Motorcycles have a secret.

If you guess what that secret is you could win some wonderful swag from Johnny Pag and Belt Drive Betty!  It's a simple and easy contest - you just log in at www.beltdrivebetty.com and go to the contest page - type your guess into the comments box and wait until December 13th when we reveal our big secret and announce the winners of the swag!

We are also sponsoring the BikerGeo contest.

Lots of ways to grab your BDB Swag including buying it at our store: www.bdbstore.com 

It's Thursday, which means it is paper day!  The Busted Knuckle Chronicles is filled with wonderful articles from the CMDRA, travel stories and a special feature on a lady rider that intends to light the USA up with a passionate fire! Joan Krenning from Design Wraps Brands (Riders Wraps) has an incredible story to share! Read all about it in this weeks paper! If you don't get the Busted Knuckle Chronicles, you are missing out on some great news and stories! You could wait until next week to read the stories on line OR you could get our newspaper delivered to you and read it while it's still news! Why not subscribe today?

Have a fabulous day and stay safe, warm and dry....

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Wild weather & wild news

Winter has arrived with a vengeance in northern Alberta and many places across the continent.  Hurricane Sandy is doing her level best to devastate the east coast and people in British Columbia got an eye opener after a 7.7 earthquake.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all for their safety.

As wild as the weather has been there is a little gal in Texas who had a wild ride this past weekend.

Jennifer Robertson is officially the fastest woman in the world on a motorcycle - Robertson set a speed record of 243.6 mph on her Suzuki Hayabusa in a standing mile. 

She also holds a land speed record of 376 mph aboard the Ack Attack streamliner at Bonneville!

CONGRATULATIONS Jennifer!

Our online auction is support of Mark Mullen, an Autistic artist who is 19 years old, was a huge success raising over $4,500 for the talented young man. We'll be keeping an eye on him in the months and years to come as he and his mom Kristina host a motorcycle event called Help Solve the Puzzle!

The news feeds are relatively quiet today with regards to motorcycle news as the wild weather takes over the headlines, but there are articles that may be of interest to you or affect your day and life as a rider - check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com, where our work is keeping You informed!

I leave you with prayers for all those in the path of Sand!!

Have a warm and safe Monday everyone,
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider