Belt Drive Betty's Blog

Bob sledding biker in trouble again and more from Australia's turf war

The news from the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/29290-hells-angels-member-charged-with-extortion-former-member-of-national-bobsled-team-in-trouble-again">Ottawa Citizen is that former bob sledder and Olympic participant</a>, Kenneth Peter Laurier LeBlanc, 45, of Calgary, is charged with extortion.  The Hells Angels member has had other brushes with the law  - Begin Quote: He spent behind bars in the early 1990s for threatening witnesses who were to testify at his brother’s murder trial. Most recently, he was handed a two-year sentence and a lifetime firearm prohibition for aggravated assault in connection with a May 2007 incident. End Quote 
 
In Australia, <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/29289-recreational-motorcyclists-voice-concern-at-becoming-police-targets">there is talk of recreational bikers registering with the police</a> to prevent harassment under the new Anti Bikie Laws. 
 
According to several articles on the matter, there were a dozen bikers including Eva Cripps from the Australian Motorcycle Council at a meeting with the Police Minister, Jack Dempsey and several senior police officers. 
 
The police think the easiest way around them harassing non bikies is for non bikies to register their riding events with police. 
 
So this is their solution, make recreational/independent riders register their events with the police instead of the police educating themselves on the non 1% patches and clubs/organizations. 
 
According to the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/361-contacts-sp-451/29288-police-say-they-will-continue-to-pull-over-law-abiding-riders">article in the Telegraph, police say they will continue to pull over recreational riders</a>: Begin Quote- POLICE have defended their treatment of legitimate motorcycle riders, saying it's hard to tell someone's identity when they're wearing a full-faced helmet. End Quote 
 
I'm not sure about you, but it seems to me that the police here in Canada have the same attitude in various pockets of this country too, although they are not as vocal about it as their Australian counterparts.  British Columbia appears to be one of those provinces that has a mentality that everyone who rides a motorcycle is a potential suspect for being a member of a 1% club. 
 
It drives me nuts.  The recreational rider as they call us (those who don't ride with a 1% club) has no rights in the war against motorcycle clubs that the police deem as gangs. 
 
The justice system world wide in fact seems to have this attitude. I read hundreds of articles on this topic and I find that every article where in the police are interviewed has the same type of bent to it. 
 
Everyone who rides is looked at with suspicion by the police. 
 
This WAR against the bikies in Australia is getting ridiculous and fast. The new laws are only 2 weeks old and already they are having to revise them. Why? Because some politician and his cronies decided they were going to make a name for themselves as being the one who brought the bikies down.  The problem is that those laws are not well written, they are draconian in their bent and they are being enforced by people in many cases who are over zealous. 
 
So, what are your thoughts on how the police and the everyday ordinary rider can get around this situation? 
 
The police want to have events and group rides register before they head out. 
 
And so what - you are going out with 3-4 people and you have to tell the police who you are and where you are going to avoid being caught up in the witch hunt? 
 
Seriously? 
 
What about the individual rider? 
Do you have to call into your local and tell them you are going for a ride? 
 
What happens if you are travelling outside of your police district? 
What happens if you are a tourist? 
 
Perhaps everyone who wants to go for a ride should all call into the police stations - I wonder how badly tied up the phone lines would be and would emergency situations suffer for that? 
 
Where in God's name any of this make sense? 
 
People who ride motorcycles in Australia should be very fearful, because obviously in Australia human rights mean nothing. 
 
Australia is a police state now. No one can deny that. 
 
I ask you - do you have an idea or solution to the challenges in Australia? 
 
We'd better start thinking of some answers folks because this could become the reality where you and I live - doesn't matter the country... 
 
So - what are your ideas on stopping the insanity in Australia? 
 
There are many other stories in the news feeds today. Visit <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> to find out what's happening that could affect your day or life as a motorcyclist. 
 
I leave you with a few funnies to contemplate, shared with me by friends on Facebook and via email: 
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Have a great Thursday everyone. If you are a subscriber to our newspaper, the Busted Knuckle Chronicles - I hope you are enjoying your read and taking my message about dressing for the slide seriously.... 
 
Ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and remember to dress for the slide and not the ride. 
 
 
Belt Drive Betty, 
Editor & Rider

Bob sledding biker in trouble again and more from Australia's turf war

The news from the Ottawa Citizen is that former bob sledder and Olympic participant , Kenneth Peter Laurier LeBlanc, 45, of Calgary, is char...

Your rights - In Queensland Australia, bikers have NONE...

If you are a biker in Queensland Australia, you probably have been fearful of riding your motorcycle inspite of the police's public campaigns to the contrary. You'd be right to be fearful... 
 
In a move that they claim was a visit to ensure a veteran motorcycle club could not be infiltrated by bikies, the truth was police raided their clubhouse. These people are in their late 60's and 70's and have served their country... 
 
Begin Quote:  
The raid on Friday night targeted the Vietnam and Veterans Motorcycle Club (VVMC) at its clubhouse at Kingston south of Brisbane. 
 
Twenty officers from Road Policing Command and the QPS Taskforce Maxima anti-bikie group raided the club’s regular monthly "Bunker Bash" party. 
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ABC journalists who attended the club's compound just hours ahead of the raid witnessed people arriving being asked about tattoos, rings, belt buckles and patches that might indicate membership of a "one percent" club. 
 
VVMC president "Agro" said police had immediately recognised Schultzy because of his previous connection with Life and Death, which is on the Government's list. 
 
"I said he’s not [a member any more]," Agro said. 
 
"They say they believe he still is, so they asked him politely to leave and he said yes." End Quote 
 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/361-contacts-sp-451/29278-queensland-police-raid-recreational-vietnam-and-veterans-motorcycle-club-under-anti-bikie-laws">Read the whole article</a> 
 
There are other articles in the news today about the situation in Australia that are equally as concerning.  
Like this one about a poor beggar who <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/361-contacts-sp-451/29280-queensland-anti-bikie-laws-target-property-with-no-criminal-connections-club-that-does-not-exist-in-australia">bought a business that had been owned by a 1%er</a> and the headaches he's having. 
 
The rights of ordinary everyday citizens are being trod on and violated - all in the name of "justice/law, public safety"? 
 
These laws were written hastily, they are flawed and they are being executed by people who appear to be just as big of bullies as the people they are attacking. 
 
I am fearful as one of the latest news pieces suggest that the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/361-contacts-sp-451/29281-vic-bikie-crackdown-won-t-be-last-keenan">state of Victoria</a> is beginning to look at the Queensland laws. 
 
In the meantime, my heart goes out to my brothers and sisters in Queensland Australia. 
I am praying that no more innocents caught up in this gangland war between the police and the 1% clubs.  I pray you are allowed to enjoy your motorcycle un-accosted. 
 
There are many more stories in the news, check out the feeds at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> where our work is keeping you informed. 
 
SPOILER ALERT - This weeks <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/361-contacts-sp-451/29278-queensland-police-raid-recreational-vietnam-and-veterans-motorcycle-club-under-anti-bikie-laws">Busted Knuckle Chronicles</a> has an urgent front page story from moi, Belt Drive Betty. 
 
It's the kind of article no biker ever wants to contemplate writing. 
 
If you are curious about what could be so important that the story of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BikersUnitedInRemembrance">Biker's United in Remembrance Conga</a> be interrupted, then register on my <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">site </a>with the special promo code - INK2013 (I Need to Know2013)  and we'll give you a free 30 subscription to the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/361-contacts-sp-451/29278-queensland-police-raid-recreational-vietnam-and-veterans-motorcycle-club-under-anti-bikie-laws">Busted Knuckle Chronicles</a>, Canada's ONLY weekly newspaper for Motorcyclists. 
 
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic of the day - Motorcyclists - when it comes to war between the police and the 1%ers, do you have any rights or right to protection? 
 
Have a great day everyone and remember that if you are blessed to be riding today you need to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please, dress for the slide not the ride. 
 
Belt Drive Betty 
Editor & Rider 
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