BIG LIVES and the women who live them! Meet Laurie Latham

Laurie Latham is a former motor cop and police detective who is now the chief instructor and owner of Arizona's Play It Safe Defence company.

Before she founded her company, one that teaches women and children the art of self defence, Laurie spent 5 years as a motor cop until she suffered a bad work related crash.

She didn't want to get back on a bike, it held no appeal to her, the bike was nothing more than a tool of the trade of being a police officer.

But things changed and today Laurie is back riding and enjoying it immensely. She attributes the change in her thinking to being around other women who ride. Listening to their stories of the places they visit, the way the wind and their motorcycle soothes their soul and makes them feel, created a desire to ride again, this time for pleasure.



During her time as a police officer and later as a detective, Laurie trained a lot of officers in self defence and when she retired from the force, she decided to start instructing women and children on the art of self defence.

Her motivations? The statistics she lists on her web site:

According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice one out of every four women will be attacked or raped in her lifetime. Look at these alarming statistics:

• 83% of rape victims are between the ages of 12 years and 25 years of age.
• 90% of women assaulted knew their assailant.
• 25% of college women surveyed are victims of rape or attempted rape.
• 85% of rapes on campuses are acquaintance/date rapes and most happen in the first three months of college.
• 90% of all campus rapes involve alcohol.
• Women who resist are twice as likely to escape injury as others. According to the Women’s Self Defense Institute, an analysis of 3,000 actual assaults showed that half of the attackers fled from a woman who was willing to resist! The key, however, is to learn how to effectively resist.

Her training techniques are far from conventional.

In her courses for women, she teaches them how to use weapons, in her mind every woman should know how to handle a weapon. She told me a number of stories of women; some who died because they were too afraid to use a weapon that their assailant had dropped or that was within arms reach, and of others who, although they did not shoot on a regular basis, defended themselves successfully because they were not afraid to pick up a weapon.  She says that learning to use a weapon, to know what it feels like helps to remove a psychological barrier.

"Women who know how to use a weapon are less likely to freeze up during a confrontation and that helps many of them to extricate themselves from a potentially deadly situation." said Laurie.

Laurie also teaches situational awareness and a host of other self defence strategies and techniques.

Her courses for children include role playing where children are taught about bullies, who they are and what they look for in a potential victim and how to talk to them and react to them. All  courses are taught at age appropriate levels.

As a police officer Laurie saw the best and the worst in people.
She is a champion for the underdog. She wants to share her knowledge to ensure that as many people as she can touch are given the tools they need to stay safe.

Laurie is a level headed, big hearted woman who is living out the best times of her life and helping others to do the same.

You can find out more about Laurie Latham and her company Arizona Play it Safe Defence by visiting: azplayitsafedefense.com

I hope you are enjoying this series on BIG LIVES and the women who live them.

I know how much I am enjoying writing them.

Have a fabulous day and if you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding your motorcycle, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider








Disclaimer:
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

BIG LIVES and the women who live them! Meet Terri Collier

In advance of International Female Ride Day in May, I thought I'd start doing a series of articles on some of the amazing women in the riding world that I have had the pleasure of meeting face to face or just interviewing over the phone.

I have dubbed this series of articles "BIG LIVES and the Women who live them!"

These are very talented and incredibly generous of spirit women who are doing some amazing things, over coming some herculean challenges and life situations and who are living life on their terms.

Over the next few days and weeks ahead, I am going to give you a glimpse into what it is that makes these women so special.

BIG LIVES and the women who live them! Meet Terri Collier

The first lady I want to introduce you to is Terri Collier of Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma & Arkansas.

Terri is a hard core rider who quit a 25 year career in banking, even though she was a vice president!

She had had enough of the pressure, the hours and the rat race of the corporate world.

She went through a heart wrenching divorce, a horrific head on automobile crash and is also a recovering alcoholic.




In 2008 Terri bought Thunder Roads Magazine; Oklahoma & Arkansas and became the editor in chief.

Terri has loved riding all of her life.  Her story is typical of so many. She started out on dirt bikes as a kid. Her father was an oval track racer and her family owned a race track so sweat, grease and wrenching are something she's very comfortable with. And so becoming the editor of a motorcycling magazine was not as big of a leap as one might think.

She prefers her new office where she can get into the zen rhythm of the road, meet others of like mind and make an impact in her community in ways she could never do while tied to the corporate world.

Today she owns a pair of bikes - a 2007 Big Dog chopper named Lola and a 2014 Street Glide Special and she loves to ride hard.

Terri is active in her community and speaks at events like the Oklahoma State University's Design, Housing & Merchandising seminars and volunteering for Special Olympics.

Terri is constantly espousing the benefits of motorcycle tourism and how it can help to grow rural businesses at many Chamber of Commerce and other business gatherings. She also loves to empower other women to grab life by the bars and fulfill their dreams.

Through her magazine, Terri is able to give back to a community that she loves, the riding community. She gets out to as many events as she can, sponsoring a ton of them with free advertising and articles.
She attributes much of the success of her magazine to the terrific team that makes up Thunder Roads Oklahoma & Arkansas.  "You need a great team if you are going to do great things," says Terri.

As Terri also said to me; "Unless you are in service to others, your life never feels full, it feels empty and hollow. I love giving back, making a difference".

She is strong willed, determined, passionate and very generous of heart and spirit.

As a recovering alcoholic with 10.5 years of sobriety, Terri has come to understand that she can overcome pretty much anything, and has, with the help and love of God and she says that life is better than she had ever dreamed it could be!

You can learn more about Thunder Roads Oklahoma & Arkansas here:
www.thunderroadsoklahoma.com

Next up will be an amazing little gal from Antigonish, Nova Scotia who has overcome some huge challenges to live a life that is so big that...well....I won't give it away, you can read all about her tomorrow!

Have a great day and if you are fortunate enough to live where you can be riding, PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider





Disclaimer:
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

Riding Clubs & Associations - the DOWN SIDE to being identifiable

So you want to be in a riding club or motorcycle association....

Do you know the risks of being in an identifiable group like motorcycle riding club?

HOW ABOUT BEING SUED FOR BEING NOISY?

Does your riding club or association have insurance?
Can you afford a lawyer?  Will your insurance provide one?
Do you have a Defence Fund? Are you prepared for an increase in your insurance, assuming you have some.

We have well and truly become Americanized; where everyone sues everyone in order to force their point of view.

The Fort Saskatchewan Motorcycle Association has been named in a lawsuit along with the city of Fort Saskatchewan, a number of city officials, Justice Minister Jonathan Denis and the RCMP according to and article in the Fort Saskatchewan Record.

The courts will take two weeks to decide if this case will move ahead, however, whether it moves forward or not, there is a certain amount of damage already done to the FSMA over this and that is that their association's insurance premiums will most likely be increased and that will cause the group untold financial discomfort and could put their Toy Run and Cancer Run at jeopardy. In fact, this could reverberate down to every non profit and their insurance.

The dispute stems from the noise of motorcycles, and according to news articles, the man at the centre of the dispute, Richard Charles Jones who is 70 years of age, says he has been battling for 15 years over the noise generated by the FSMA's Toy Run. He's been a resident of Fort Saskatchewan Alberta for 17 years according to the referenced article. The FSMA has been around since the 1970's.

He claims: "“I’m a reasonably patient man but 15 years has just put me over the top, especially with that Toy Run parade, which is nothing but a hoax,” Jones said, adding he believes the Fort Saskatchewan Motorcycle Association misrepresents themselves and is a “clandestine” organization.

“This is a hoax for a bunch of bikers to get together and make a lot of noise. That’s all it’s ever been and it will never be anything else,” the plaintiff remarked." End Quote

I have attempted to find out which Quebec community won an 8 million dollar lawsuit that Mr. Jones references in his interview. I will be working very hard to find that come Monday as of the time of wiring I have had no success finding that information.

There is a partial solution to the motorcycle noise problem, one that would eliminate probably 70% or better of the noise issues and complaints and that is for motorcycle dealers to quit selling aftermarket pipes that are meant for off road use only and putting them on for highway use motorcycles.

If it were illegal to sell them and install them and dealers were fined - we'd resolve a lot of the issue.

Yes, there would still be the guys who would modify their exhaust on their own, but with the lack of knowledge most people have of computer controlled fuel systems etc., they would be fewer and farther between. Once their motorcycle started running like crap they'd be repairing their exhaust.

Another part of the solution, is for riders who are respectful, who don't want to be targeted or sued all the time to out those who are not considerate or respectful. That could be done a number of ways.  I'll leave it to your imagination as to how you could help keep the disrespectful in your community in line a little more.

Another thing that could be done is a signage program asking visitors and local riders to respect one's community by throttling down in residential, hospital, seniors home and school zones.  Reminders NEVER HURT.

Or we could all turn to electric motorcycles.
Then no one could bitch about us or our noise, because we wouldn't make much noise.

The bad assed image, the role playing so many who get on a motorcycle partake in; that's our problem!

The man in this lawsuit, Richard Jones, has had an offer of financial support for his court costs from the group One Square Inch of Silence, a Seattle noise-free advocate group for Washington’s Olympic National Park according to the article referenced above.  I will be making phone calls to find out if that is in fact true.

Alberta has become the centre of the fight against motorcycle noise pollution in Canada.
The eyes of noise pollution activists are going to be on this suit as it has been reported throughout the media all across North America.

This man, Richard Jones, has set a dangerous precedent and whether he is successful or not, others who follow will learn and change tactics and the try it again - have no doubt about that.

A non-profit motorcycle association, one that has been around since the 70's is facing a legal battle they cannot afford to fight and why? Because they are identifiable; visible.

The Fort Saskatchewan Motorcycle Association needs help. If for no other reason than the ensuing rise in their insurance premiums, but be aware, they won't be alone. Every riding club and  association's risk factor for being sued just went up and that will reflect in increased premiums most likely.

I want to make one thing abundantly clear to everyone who reads this - this issue of noise is NOT going to go away.

So folks, all of you who are in a social riding club, do you have insurance?
Are you prepared to fight a legal battle if need be?
Do you have a Legal Fund?

If not, you'd best get your affairs in order, because this IS going to become the norm.

I have been PREACHING for years that we needed to self police things, that we needed a riders rights organization, but as usual deaf ears heard none of those dire warnings.

Now everyone who rides with a motorcycle riding club, association etc. could find themselves being sued, even if they aren't the offenders. You are identifiable because you wear a patch, you are at risk while the person with no patch and rides in an obnoxious fashion is not so easily identified.

Well done complacent riders of motorcycles - well done. Its time to pull your heads out of the sand and quit thinking it won't affect you or that it doesn't affect you because it does.  It affects our events, our lifestyle and our freedoms.

Now we all get to pay the price for the inconsiderate few.

M.O.D.E.L. (Motorcyclists Opposed to Discriminatory Exhaust Legislation) has not gotten the support from riders it needs to get rid of the discrimination aspect of the Edmonton Motorcycle Only Noise Bylaw.

Now this situation in Fort Saskatchewan - I guess it is truly time to look at electric motorcycles and how they will allow us to stay riding and on the right side of our neighbours because yeah - we aren't smart enough collectively to do the right thing - PIPE DOWN IN URBAN AREAS and to out those who are destroying it for the rest of us.

This is going to be one expensive lawsuit to fight, and as a non profit they, the FSMA, do NOT have the funds to protect themselves not for the legal fees or the increase in insurance premiums they will undoubtably face.

Our newspaper and web site will be offering all of the support we can to them, but none of that is going to mean anything if people don't reach into their wallets.

Perhaps, just perhaps this lawsuit will be the impetus to a uniting of voices and people to form a Riders Rights Organization. One that can help defend and protect the riding community. I keep hoping, praying....

Your comments on how ridiculous or stupid this is, are not going to change the facts.
Your bitching and whining, is not going to change the facts.
Your spouting off that "Loud Pipes Save Lives" is not going to change the fact that Loud Pipes only saved lives by driving motorcycles right into the ditch: no riders, no death.

I hope that if you are riding today you will be respectful in urban areas and please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

Non Profit Motorcycle Club being sued over NOISE

According to an article on the CBC web site and one in the National Post,  the City of Fort Saskatchewan, the RCMP, and the Fort Saskatchewan Motorcycle Association are being sued by an elderly gent who is tired of having his peace and quiet disrupted.

He says his complaints have fallen on deaf ears for 18 years and he's tired of it.

Noise, it has become such a bone of contention and as our cities get bigger, it will become even more contentious.

I know what the gent in these articles, Richard Jones, feels like. I truly can empathize.

When we bought our home in 2001, it was on a dead end street with a green space at the top of the T intersection that separated our community of Avondale from the bypass.  It was wonderful, two school yards in our back yard (so very quiet at night) and very little traffic in the front.

We felt like we lived in the country with all of the conveniences of being in a small city.

Then the city, in its wisdom, punched through that lovely green space and put a connector to the bypass in.

Our street became a race track.  To slow traffic down, the city the installed these hideous centre dividers with planted trees in them, and installed bike paths although the bicyclists still prefer to use the sidewalk.  They installed these ridiculous bulbous sidewalk turnouts at every intersection so that pedestrians didn't have so far to go to cross the road (Like 10' makes that much of a difference to a person on foot).

All through this process, no matter how much people didn't want this development, not the connector to the bypass or the stupid big cement planters, or the idiotic 3 blocks of bike path, no one would listen to the people who live here.

All of the planning and info meetings were nothing more than a delivery method that said this is what you are getting. There was no consideration for those who live here.

The hideous planters did little to slow people down and when you add the new fire hall into the mix, (we are now on a major route now for the fire trucks), let's just say what used to be a peaceful place to live is no longer peaceful.

Our street used to be a major school bus route and in the winter it was cleaned so fast and so well but now, because of those ridiculously hideous planters and the sidewalk turnouts at the intersections, our street is not the priority it once was and the grader operators have a hell of a time trying to clear our street now.

I understand Mr. Jones frustration with the noise.  For him the noise might be motorcycles, in our case, it's chipped up 4 x 4's and import cars with booming stereos and fire trucks. We have the odd biker that rips through our neighbourhood on the throttle, barking their pipes steady - they piss me off too, but most people who ride through our neighbourhood are polite and respectful.

I know this much:

- There are inconsiderate people in every walk of our society.
- Change is the inevitable.
- Growth has both a positive and negative side.

My husband an I still lament the changes, we still long for the "old" days when our community was a peaceful and restful place at night. (School yards during the day are noisy and we have two directly out back of our home.)

What are the answers to teaching people consideration?
What are the answers to having our elected officials actually listening to their citizens and being fair, impartial and realistic in their approaches to situations?
What are the answers to noise pollution?

I have no idea.

Richard Jones says he's in it for the long haul, that he's tired of being ignored.

Is this a frivolous lawsuit or is it meant to force the city of Fort Saskatchewan to adopt a motorcycle only noise bylaw or more?

I'd love to go set up a video camera on this man's street and record the traffic and noise he says he experiences.  I wonder if all that noise he talks about is truly motorcycles.

I still can't fathom someone suing a non profit association that does so much good in their community.

Did it really need to go this far?

I wonder if at any point it was ever suggested that all parties get together and have a chat?

While I empathize with Mr. Jones, I think his way of going about things is horribly wrong minded, that's my personal feeling.

What say you?

I'll be contacting people from the Fort Saskatchewan Motorcycle Association and seeing if there is anything we can do to assist them in their legal battle. I know all too well how time consuming, how costly and how frustrating it is to be named in a suit that is just so wrong on so many levels.

Have a great day, and if you are blessed enough to be riding today, please, ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

So, what is the "Biker" way?

Throughout the years that I have been part of the motorcycle community, I have heard motorcyclists spout off about brotherhood, family, being solid, having your back.

But really, what does that mean?

I was recently criticized for fundraising for my defence fund in the Sturgis North Lawsuit.
I was compared to the Aging Rebel: "Say what you want to about Aging Rebel, but I could never see him begging money from his readers to pay for legal fees arising from his own stupidity.. But then again, We Americans are different from "We Canadians"... Call the IO, maybe they can help you out"

It's not the first criticism I have received but it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

For the last 12.75 years I have done my best to create a new life for myself as the editor of "The Busted Knuckle Chronicles", Canada's Rider Powered Newspaper.

My life has been wildly interesting and filled with big love, big loss, big betrayal, big reward and big challenges so far, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

For those of you who don't know me or my history - here's a brief overview:

• Born in Fort Churchill Manitoba to a French Canadian mother and a Scots/Polish father.
• Oldest of 4
• Lived all over Canada 
• Have travelled all of Canada
• Married an American jet car driver
• Had one child - a girl now 30
• Travelled all of the United States
• Worked 2 and 3 jobs for a lot of years
• Owned my own flower shop for 7 years
• Had a bad automobile accident - a 17" Canoe came off a vehicle travelling the opposite direction and landed in front of my car at 100KPH (60MPH)
• I struggle with PTSD and Depression
• Care gave to my father while he died of cancer. He was paralyzed from the chest down.
• He sexually abused me from the age of 12 to 18
• Cut my alcoholic mother out of my life, physically and verbally abusive are some of her more desirable traits
• Started my newspaper for riders originally as a hobby to give me something to do after the car crash.
• Lost my kid brother to cancer, he was 18 months younger than I, married with an 18 yr old young son who held him as he bled out. During a coughing fit his carotid artery  burst
• I am now a great aunty - three times over.
• My husband, a wonderful man, was diagnosed with MS about 11 years ago - it's been an interesting road for both of us
• In the last 4 months I have said goodbye to 6 friends - three of them very close
• I have been blessed to be able to raise 3/4 of the funds needed to fight this lawsuit so far.

Like every living human being - life has happened to me.

The lawsuit with Sturgis North is a thorn in my side, a drain on the joy of life.
It is time consuming, tedious and outrageously expensive and not just monetarily.

I researched the hell out of the articles I wrote on the event, the event coordinators.
The information I dug up was already in public domain, I just brought it all together in one place where people could educate themselves.  My goal always has been to provide people with the information they need to make informed choices.

There are other 6 people who were sued in this shotgun lawsuit that did nothing wrong either.

All through my life, I have done my best to be generous of my time and my money.
My home has always been open to riders in need, to friends and family in need.

You see my own family didn't know how to love or show it, but the bikers I hung with did.

I do my best everyday to be the best possible person I am capable of being.
I have sold tee shirts, auctioned off all kinds of items and done everything I know of to keep the wheels on the bus. I have employees who rely on me and customers who don't pay their bills - just like every small business owner out there.

Is this the new way in the biker community?
Is asking for help something shameful?

Every weekend this community supports thousands of causes with millions of dollars.
Helping those who can't help themselves is something this community has always done.

It is what I was taught to do...pay it forward into the community...

Since I started the newspaper, I have donated an average of $300,000 in free advertising to the riding clubs and the charities they support.  I didn't give the help and support thinking I'd get anything in return, but I didn't expect to be kicked in the teeth for asking for some help either.

Doc has just under 10,000 Miles on him

Asking for help was a very hard enough for me to do.

My lawyers bill is caught up on for the time being.

I am attempting to sell my Ultra Classic (Doc on the left) to pay the next bill I know is coming.

In the meantime, the lawyer for Sturgis North, Gerhard Pyper is being reinstated by the BC Law Society so perhaps, just perhaps the other 4 cases that were supposed to be dropped will now finally process through the courts and I can get on with defending myself, fighting for my freedom as a reporter and a citizen.

So I ask you - what is the biker way?

I put myself out there to help educate the community about an event/event coordinator with what appears to be a toxic record.

Now I am being sued.

Do I just suck it up and let the bully win because I don't have the resources to fight him?

OR do I ask for help and support?

I hope you have a good Monday and if you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor  Rider

A response from the CFSEC to my letter

Good Morning Ms. Charbonneau,

Thank you for your email. While not a “report”, I want to thank you for bringing what is a poorly worded sentence of some of our old web-only content to my attention, especially since it is accompanied by a photo of a 1% patch next to it that doesn’t represent the best image for the content. I will ensure that the content is updated to clearly reflect that while not all Outlaw MC/MG’s are 1% but all 1% clubs are Outlaw MC/MG’s, that wearing a three-piece patch does, in fact, traditionally symbolize the “outlaw” designation and all that comes with it (consent from the dominant club, a fealty-like form of support and association, etc).

I do notice, however, that you’ve posted a blog entry without the benefit of a reply. I am disappointed that you, who is a motorcycle journalist, would not fact check, make an inquiry, and/or have a conversation with me before you posted your “story”, as the majority of journalists would normally do.

Unfortunately, and quite tragically in many cases, we have seen many “non-outlaw” motorcycle “groups” here in British Columbia in recent years drift closer or associate more and more with the more well-known OMG’s and their overt support clubs in this province. These groups wear three-piece patches with the consent of the HA or their support clubs and in addition to being found at more and more HA rides or OMG events, their members are involved or suspected of being involved in various levels of criminality with or in support of traditional OMG groups.

This is, and should be, completely unacceptable to not only all legitimate MC’s and riders, especially those law-abiding ones in these groups/clubs, but the general public as well. These people are hiding behind what some are purporting to be “non-outlaw” groups, when, in fact, many of them are more “outlaw” than they claim to be and are quickly moving closer to being a “gang” and further from a mere “club”. We know this because of our investigations, what members of these groups tell us, and what is seen in public.

Regards,

Lindsey

Sergeant Lindsey Houghton Media Relations Officer Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit - BC Desk: 778-290-3099 (Mon-Thurs) Cell: 604-764-9085 Lindsey.Houghton@cfseu.bc.ca @LHoughtonCFSEU CFSEU-BC's Website Follow us on Twitter @CFSEUBC and like us on Facebook Dear Lindsey, The column I write is an opinion piece. The fact remains that, that content is on YOUR web site - I found it through an ad for the 2014 REPORT - Prevention and Public Engagement that takes one to this web page:http://www.cfseu.bc.ca/en/  The report however is buried on the bottom of  this page: http://cfseu.bc.ca/en/end-gang-life The content is on your site, and needed no clarification or verification from your office. The content is there for all to see. It's in public domain, I took offence, I wrote to you and I wrote about the offence I took and shared my letter to you.   For you to accuse me of not being like other journalists, well - I am not.  For you to jump to the conclusion that I would not give your response the "air time" it deserved is totally untrue. Please believe me I will be posting your response, in it's entirety.  Just because I tend to do things a little differently from other journalists does not mean that I don't offer the opportunity to provide dialogue and comment.  Your full response to my first letter letter and my response to you will be the topic of another "Editorial Comment" on this topic, in the very near future. I may or may not wait for your response to this letter before I share my personal feelings, observations and opinions with my readers. Just so as we are both clear, this is on the record. So let's dive into the topic at hand. Your comments are rather confusing as your ad for the web site report was on the Eagle Valley News web site today so I am unclear as to how this is OLD content.  Perhaps having a date it was created would be handy, then one could identify if it is outdated content.   Thank you for your email. While not a “report”, I want to thank you for bringing what is a poorly worded sentence of some of our old web-only content to my attention, especially since it is accompanied by a photo of a 1% patch next to it that doesn’t represent the best image for the content. I will ensure that the content is updated to clearly reflect that while not allOutlaw MC/MG’s are 1% but all 1% clubs are Outlaw MC/MG’s, that wearing a three-piece patch does, in fact, traditionally symbolize the “outlaw” designation and all that comes with it (consent from the dominant club, a fealty-like form of support and association, etc). WHAT is an "MG" if not a Motorcycle Gang?   There are NO Outlaw Motorcycle Groups - they are Motorcycle Clubs.  OMG - Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs is a designation the police services created and has no place in the motorcycle community.  We were discussing Outlaw Motorcycle CLUBS and the mis representation/information on your site that the three piece patch is an indication of 1% affiliation. Your attaching the "MG" police designation beside the MC designation is confusing.  Or did you mean Motorcycle Group?  If that is the case, and I believe it is, then you really are doing a disservice to all riders.  The statement should read "NOT ALL Outlaw Clubs are 1% Clubs but ALL 1% Clubs are Outlaw Clubs". PERIOD I take a lot of offence to this comment: "that wearing a three-piece patch does,in fact, traditionally symbolize the “outlaw” designation and all that comes with it (consent from the dominant club, a fealty-like form of support and association, etc)." In Fact NOT all Outlaw Clubs go to the dominant club for permission, there are many Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs, Veterans Motorcycle Clubs as well as those who accept law enforcement and first responders into their clubs, who wear a three piece patch and have a prospecting phase, who do not approach a dominant and do not follow the COC protocols.   They are still three piece patch clubs, Outlaws by the strictest of definition, but not 1%. The Outlaw designation does NOT necessarily come with consent from the dominant club, it is not a fealty like form of support and in no way represents association.   The Outlaw designation has everything to do with earning a patch and nothing else.  Could you please make your wording less ambiguous? Please? I take a lot of offence to this particular paragraph: Begin Quote: Unfortunately, and quite tragically in many cases, we have seen many “non-outlaw” motorcycle “groups” here in British Columbia in recent years drift closer or associate more and more with the more well-known OMG’s and their overt support clubs in this province. These groups wear three-piece patches with the consent of the HA or their support clubs and in addition to being found at more and more HA rides or OMG events, their members are involved or suspected of being involved in various levels of criminality with or in support of traditional OMG groups.  This is, and should be, completely unacceptable to not only all legitimate MC’s and riders, especially those law-abiding ones in these groups/clubs, but the general public as well. These people are hiding behind what some are purporting to be “non-outlaw” groups, when, in fact, many of them are more “outlaw” than they claim to be and are quickly moving closer to being a “gang” and further from a mere “club”. We know this because of our investigations, what members of these groups tell us, and what is seen in public. End Quote So what you are saying here, if I understand you correctly, is that you are seeing members of Motorcycle "Groups" as you call them associating with Hells Angels or "OMG" feeder clubs.  Is that Correct? To what NON OUTLAW groups do you refer? The Harley Owners Group? The Okanagan Motorcycle Riding Association? The Women in the Wind?  The Rock Solid Biker Church? The Shadow Riders? The Border Riders? Who are these NON OUTLAW, Motorcycle GROUPS you refer to? What do their patches or CUT look like?  Your attempt to tar members of riding clubs and associations with "we have seen many “non-outlaw” motorcycle “groups” here in British Columbia in recent years drift closer or associate more and more with the more well-known OMG’s and their overt support clubs in this province", as a justification for misrepresenting who is who in the motorcycle community appears to me to be nothing more than a profiling of our community.   Just because I wear a patch and ride with an MRC - Motorcycle Riding Club (a motorcycle group as you call it), motorcycle association, motorcycle ministry, veterans MC or manufacturers club does not mean I will gravitate towards a tight relationship with 1% or their feeders clubs.   That is like saying that because I am black, wear a certain style of pants and hat, that I am going to gravitate towards being a member of the Jamaican Posse or some other street gang, or that because there are police officers (now former police officer) like Monty Robinson on the force that all police officers have a tendency to CYA and be drink drivers or alter reports to protect themselves. Or that because priest XYZ molested little boys that all priests have the predilection towards molesting little boys.  Profiling is profiling and it is wrong, but because clothing isn't protected under the charter you seem to feel you are able to profile motorcyclists and that it is OK to do so. It is not OK. I fail to see where your comments regarding non outlaw clubs has anything to do with my original email to you, but you sure have given me more reason to be upset not only as a journalist, but as a rider and taxpayer.  You cause every rider to wear a social stigma because you can't get your terminology right, where is that fair? You cause very rider to experience barriers to tourism and tourism services like meals, beverages etc.  Establishments that are licensed tend to be the ones most fearful of serving riders who wear their patches or cut because of conflicting terminology and a lack of understanding of the motorcycle community and the lack of educational materials like photos to identify the 1% community and training to those establishments and their employees.  I find it interesting that you did not address the fact that many Outlaw Law Enforcement Clubs exist - they have a prospecting phase and wear a three piece patch - you earn that patch, you can't buy it.  You do realize that you have tarred a large percentage of the Police Service Community with the label of 1% er because you can't get your terminology right. Not only that, but many of those Law Enforcement Motorcycle Clubs do not wear the appropriate LE designation and that causes even more confusion and fear for all involved. Please see the attachment of the ad I clicked on and some interesting Outlaw Patches that are NON 1% - in fact all are Law Enforcement Outlaw Clubs. I look forward to your response and unlike other journalists, I will print your entire response, not just a snippet. Sincerely, Renee "Belt Drive Betty" Charbonneau Belt Drive Betty Media Editor- The Busted Knuckle Chronicles So, we shall see what the next response is, if there is one.   This started out to be an editorial rant on the way things are worded and the inferences one draws, but, it appears that is has become one about education and profiling. Semantics and inference... I have attempted at various times in the past to get a civil rights lawyer willing to take on this challenge, but sadly, the Canadian Civil Liberties movement clearly does not extend to the riding community.  There appears to be no one who thinks that the riding community needs and deserves protection under the charter as a visible minority. By virtue of the fact that riders, those who wear a patch or cut, are being "monitored" because they might become friends with someone who wears a 1% or feeder club cut is cause for concern. We truly are a visible minority, we truly appear to be being profiled, but because we have no unified voice, no advocacy group, we are unprotected. It is perfectly fine to label every rider who wears a patch or cut as a potential bad person all in the name of crime prevention. That appears to be the message. In fact, there have been some cases where legitimately non criminal Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs AKA Traditional Motorcycle Clubs have been unfairly tarred with a brush they don't deserve - remember what happened in Orangeville Ontario, in Medicine Hat  Alberta and in Kelowna and Ladysmith BC?  In Orangeville, members of one piece patch clubs were asked to leave a Legion because of liquor license restrictions. In Medicine Hat the Falcons were served their food outside on the grass so as not to violate the license for the legion there - other things transpired here as well - so read the article I linked to above.   In Kelowna and Ladysmith, the Veterans MC have been tarred as 1%. They are adamant that they are not, that they are simply veterans but no matter, they are still under scrutiny - unfairly in my estimation as I know many of the members.  Read through the comments on the article linked above, about a Kelowna Gang that was convicted - the comments become somehow about the Veterans MC and the crew in Ladysmith and have a lot of Veterans MC members very upset.   And frankly I don't blame them. I know that pictures of their cuts were circulated to licensed establishments as a banned club, along with the HA and a few others. I saw the email and the print out with my own eyes.  The ideology behind the "Three piece patch being an indication of 1% affiliation" might be behind the tarring of this club.  I am just guessing here. I support the Veterans MC through our newspaper.  Why? Because I support our military and our veterans and until such time as I know for myself first hand that the clubs are going in a different direction than being about veterans causes and community, I'll keep on supporting them.  Same with the Falcons or any of the others I know who are law abiding. If everything the various newspaper reports on these three incidents, the reports from some of the clubs that were affected like the Falcons MC, is remotely true, then Houston we have a problem... Peoples reputations have suffered, peoples lives have been affected and there truly appears to be no recourse for it. I understand that the police need to do their job and keep communities safe. I do get that. The way they go about doing their jobs though, makes me wonder.   Since when are you guilty until proven innocent?   What say you? If you are blessed enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you - and remember our SPOT THE GEAR FAIL contest for your chance to win some fabulous prizes from Kimpex and Draggin Jeans! Belt Drive Betty Editor & Rider

Why Outlaw MC's and 1% clubs appear to have such a hatred for certain MC's

The motorcycle community is over 115 years old and with that age comes tradition, history and protocols that far too many in this community have ZERO idea or knowledge about.

The motorcycle is a wonderful conveyance that takes us to see fabulous sights, lets us revel in Mother Nature, both the good and the bad, and allows us to meet people we would otherwise never get to know.  Riding a motorcycle erases so many barriers to conversation, almost everyone who rides tends to feel some sort of connection to another person on a motorcycle.

UNLESS you wear a 3 piece patch and then watch the mixed reaction you get.

You'll see everything from fear to abject admiration and respect along with hostility and resentment.

I am not talking about the reactions of non riders here, but of those right in our own community.  

In a previous article that I did on Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs, I covered much of the history of the Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs and how they came to be. Predominantly a man's world, the three piece patch world is one of extremes.  Loyalty and hatred often run equally as deep in this world.

I want to talk about some of the reasons there is so much tension between the 3 piece patch clubs, especially in the US. (As our community here in Canada grows, and more people want to bring an established club from the US to Canada, you will start to see some of those tensions grow here.)

Three piece patches, more than any of the other patches in our community make it very easy to identify who is who, but only when proper protocols are addressed in putting the proper identifiers on your cut.

Sadly there are those who are truly muddying up the waters and making it tough on everyone and those clubs that do that are troublemakers, pure and simple either that or they are ignorant of the MC world and are about to get an education.

The 1% faction of the Outlaw Club world in particular has a problem with other clubs that do not identify who they really are.

• If you are a 3 piece patch Motorcycle Ministry, then you are to put MM for Motorcycle Ministry on your cut.
• If you are a Veteran's 3 piece patch club, the you should have VMC as your designation.
• If you are a Law Enforcement club, then you should have LE MC as your designation. 
• If you are a first responders 3 piece patch club then your designations should be PS MC (Public Service).  Often times fire and ambulance use the symbols of their profession and by doing so identify themselves accurately.
• If you are just a group of guys who does not accept law enforcement in your club then your designation should be MC and you should be approaching the local dominant club about your cut and your bylaws , etc., so they know you are not there to be in their business.

And then there is no man's land — the clubs that allow both civilian and law enforcement - there is no official designation for those clubs, so they wear the MC and get called out as cop clubs among other things.

These clubs are the ones that are in purgatory.
They are open clubs in that they do not care what you do to earn your living, what bike you ride as far as brand goes, they care about your character.

These clubs party too hard to fit into the AMA world.

They are outlaw clubs with a hang around and prospecting phase, but because they allow Law Enforcement officers, retired and active, they don't fit into the CoC world either.

The two most hated types of MC's in the Outlaw world are those of Law Enforcement MC's who do not fly the LE designation on their cut and those Outlaw Clubs who allow Law Enforcement officers as part of their club.

The Law Enforcement Clubs who do not fly the LE designation on their cut are, in my mind, troublemakers and should not be trusted by anyone be you in an MC or just Jane Q rider.  

These men are looking for, or to cause trouble. Why else would they not run the LE on their cut?
It could be about infiltration of another club, getting intell for work or it could just be that they are bullies who like to fight.

In every case that I researched they all proudly declare on their web sites or Facebook pages that they are law enforcement clubs so they aren't doing a good job for intel or infiltrating other clubs, but they don't fly that designation in their colours. To me these guys are looking for fights and often times these law enforcement clubs do end up in big melee's.

They bring discredit to their badges and unneeded and unwanted grief in the Outlaw MC and consequently the riding world.

Those LE Clubs that refuse to put the LE designation on their cut, often times are the clubs that everyone has most reason to fear, as they will provoke fights with the other clubs, they seem to be rogues and revel in that.  These types of LE MC's leave a bad taste in the non MC rider's mouth too because they further that stereotypical fear/resentment of all things cops that is steamrolling through our society these days.

Here's a few articles to help you understand the grief they cause:

Police Biker Clubs Draw Scrutiny in Wake of Bar Brawl

Police Biker Clubs. Are They Hurting The Credibility Of Law Enforcement?

Lines Blur between cops and bikers across the country

Law Enforcement biker gangs: Damaging Officers Credibility?

They are being purposely evasive about stating who they are and what their intentions are when they are on their bikes and that causes fights - we are after all talking about men, their pride, their sense of territory and mostly their sense of honour.

In the 3 piece patch world, when you clearly identify that you are a Motorcycle Ministry, a Veteran's MC, an LE MC, the other MC clubs generally ignore you because they know and understand you aren't in their stuff, their business, or out to do harm in their territory.  Especially if you have the good sense to introduce yourself and your cut to the other clubs that are around if there are any in your area.

There is very seldom any kind of real animosity.  It's more an air of indifference. Live and let live.

BUT, when you purposely leave that LE off of your colours, your are perceived as being dishonest and devious and that goes against everything that the MC's stand for.  

In the Motorcycle Club world it is important to stand up for what you believe in and to be who you say you are and when you don't shoot straight in the way you represent yourself via your colours you have already proven yourself to be dishonourable, untrustworthy.

No one says you don't have the right to wear the cut of an Outlaw, but wearing the right designations on your cut is as important as the right designations on your uniform at work.  If you are a cop and you are only a corporal, try wearing the stripes of a sergeant and you will get your ass called out and fired most likely. Same shit here - say who you are, be forthcoming and honest or get the shit kicked out of you for being a liar, a poser.

RESPECT is something these particular LE MC's have no idea or clue about and I bet they are the officers on the job the rest of their fellow officers have questions about too.

In my opinion, the LE MC's that do not identify themselves as such on their cut are the biggest bunch of asses in the world. They put everyone around them at risk and don't give a shit, they are the epitome of what is wrong with our society.

For those like the Iron Order who accept all walks of life and for whom there is no real designation in our community, they too often get lumped into the "Cops" + "Posers" category and they tend to be the kinds of clubs who refuse to "ask permission" of the local dominants for their patches to be approved.

These clubs tend to end up in a lot of altercations having to defend their right to be who and what they are.

They are in no man's land, and the ride they take will be filled with land mines, and only the bravest will navigate them and still be standing, having fully earned their place in the MC world.  If there was a designation specifically for clubs that were outlaw but all inclusive with respect to brand and job, we could possibly save further angst and discord in the MC world.

Perhaps the No Man's land clubs should consider starting to use a designation like OC - Open Club or AI - All inclusive club or EO - Equal Opportunity then every other Outlaw Club in the world would know that these people are no threat, not in their business.

But then maybe it would also take away the "fun" of fist fights and bar brawls....and you would not have the great war stories to share if the other Outlaw MC's left you alone...

The bottom line is that...No one in the MC world gives a shit about and your club you unless you are misrepresenting yourself or your intentions. No on in the MC world care's about you unless you are in their business.

So if you want to stay out of harms way, then stay out of their claim bars, away from their clubhouses and parties and don't play tough guy by trying to start shit or it will end badly.
If you are looking for a fight, if you are trying to prove you are tough and bad assed, then have at it - the chaff will rise to the top to be blown off by the wind.

In one day of research I came up with over 90 LE MC's and 49 of them properly represent who they are while 42 of them do not fly the LE designation on their cut.

I came up with 4 no man's land clubs that aren't territorial, aren't in anyone's business and yet they are lumped in with the cop clubs who don't fly proper designation because they allow law enforcement members.  (They allow politicians and lawyers too but no one seems to take offence to these professions as far as membership - only cops)

One of the 4 non man's land clubs has no MC or LE designation and let's women in - so they shouldn't be flying an Outlaw Cut - period. (Iron Plainsmen)
Remember these are supposed to be MEN'S Clubs.

I haven't had a ton of time to research how many no man's land clubs there are, but if there are many, then setting up a designation for their cut would solve a lot of issues.  I truly don't think these clubs are purposefully trying to misrepresent themselves, but there is no designation as an identifier that they could use and so they are deemed untrustworthy and as trouble makers by the 1% and Outlaw MC's.

Here is a list of LE Clubs and how they designate themselves... the first 49 clubs seldom ever have any issues with the other Outlaw MC's, the second group, 43 of them are the ones you will most often hear of in altercations and brawls.  The other 4 have mixed reactions and are also often involved in altercations.

LE MC's Who wear the right Indicia to reflect who they are:

Armaduras LEMC	LE Present
Americas Guardians PS MC	PS - Publice Service Designation
Archangels MC	One Piece Patch  - No LE Present
Blue Bloods LEMC	LE Present
Blue Breed MC	LE Present
Blue Iron LEMC	LE Present
Blue Knights	LE Present
Blue line Brotherhood	LE Present
Blue Steel MC	LE Present
Blue Thunder LEMC	LE Present
Brotherhood of Valour MC	One Piece Patch with 911 In Centre - No LE Present
Brothers of Justice                                               Bullets MC Copperheads MC	LE Present - Updated December 2016 Le Present Now - Updated May 2016
Defenders MC	LE Present
Empire of Freedom LE/MC Puerto Rico Inc.	LE Present
Enforcers MC	LE Present
Exiled Saints LEMC	LE Present
Expendable Souls MC	PS  - Public Service Designation
Expendables MC	LE Present
Forsaken Few LEMC	LE Present
Forsaken Guns LEMC	LE Present
Guardian Nomad LEMC-H Town Boys Chapter	LE Present
Gunners LE MC	LE Present
Iron Angels LEMC	LE Present
Iron Circle LEMC	LE Present
Iron Law LEMC	LE Present
Iron Saints LEMC	LE Present
Iron Shields LEMC	LE Present
Knights Paladin LEMC	LE Present
Knights of Valor MC	No LE Present but a Blue Line they believe shows they are LE
Law Dogs LEMC	LE Present
Lawful Sons LEMC	LE Present
Legacy Knights MC	LE Present
Loyal Warriors LEMC	LE Present
MFC LEMC	LE Present
Protectors LEMC	LE Present
Public Guardians LEMC	LE Present
Reguladores RED RIVER LA	LE Present
Retribution LEMC	LE Present
Rolling Badges LEMC	LE Present
Sanctioned Few LEMC	LE Present
Shields Of Honor LE/MC Old South Chapter	LE Present
Sons of St.Michael LEMC	LE Present
Souls of Justice LEMC	LE Present
Southern Justice LEMC	LE Present
Thin Blue Line LEMC	LE Present
Tier Rats LEMC	LE Present
VINDICATORS LEMC PENNSYLVANIA	LE Present
Warriors of Justice LEMC	LE Present
Watchmen MC	LE Present
Wheelmen LEMC	LE Present
Clubs that are misleading in their Indicia
Alpha Doggs LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
American Kights MC	NO LE In Indicia
American Lawmen MC	NO LE In Indicia
Arresting Souls MC	NO LE In Indicia
Blue Maniacs MC	NO LE In Indicia
Blue Reapers MC	NO LE In Indicia
BROTHERS IN BLUE MC	NO LE In Indicia
Brothers of Justice MC	NO LE In Indicia
Choir Boys LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
City Heat MC	NO LE In Indicia
DEDICATED FEW MC	NO LE In Indicia
Extorris MC	LE/MC Inside a Diamond
Gunfighters MC	NO LE In Indicia
Hard Headed LE MC	No Cut photos to be found
Hired Guns MC	NO LE In Indicia
Huntsmen LEMC	No MC in Indicia
Iron Brotherhood	NO LE In Indicia
Iron Guns MC Oakland	NO LE In Indicia
Iron Spartans MC	NO LE In Indicia
Justified MC	NO LE In Indicia
Knights Cavalry M.C.	NO LE In Indicia
Lawmen Motorcycle Association	NO LE In Indicia
Lex Talionis MC	NO LE In Indicia
Loyal Few LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
Nam Knights MC Merrimack Valley MA	NO LE In Indicia
Punishers LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
Redeemers LEMC	NO LE or MC in Indicia
Renegade Pigs MC	NO LE In Indicia
Roughnecks Motorcycle Club (RMC)	NO LE In Indicia
Sacred Sons MC	NO LE In Indicia
Sentinels Motorcycle Club	NO LE In Indicia
Smokin Guns MC	NO LE In Indicia
Sons of Armageddon MC	NO LE In Indicia
Specialists MC	NO LE In Indicia
Sworn Few LE	No MC in Indicia
The Untouchables MC	NO LE In Indicia
TrenchMen MC	NO LE In Indicia
Tribunal MC	NO LE In Indicia
Usual Suspects MC	NO LE In Indicia
Wild Pigs MC	NO LE In Indicia
No Man's Land Clubs
Shamrocks MC	Started out LE but now is just MC Accepts police members
Necessary Evil MC	Accepts Law Enforcement
Iron Order MC	Accepts Law Enforcement
Iron Plainsman	Accepts Women - No MC or LE Designation on Three Piece Patch accepts law enforcement, vets

Strength & Honor MC                                 Started out as LE but now accepts vets etc and public service employees

For the rest of us, this has been a community service message that hopefully helps you keep your ass out of the middle of something that has nothing to do with you!


Have a great day,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider