Have you read the news about the Edmonton bus driver who was fined $600 for failing to proceed through an intersection safely and killed a 21 year old rider?
"Judge M. Allen refused a crown request to suspend Annie Stenbeck's license for three months, saying she would lose her job and her only livelihood if he did.....Allen noted Stenbeck had no criminal record and has a long history of community service. She is also very active in her church.....Allen noted that had Delano been in a truck or a car rather than riding a motorcycle, the collision would likely have resulted in a fender-bender rather than a fatality."
Read the article: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=fd3beef9-0725-4c30-9994-4648ff5e21ac
I have some HUGE issues with this Judge - how about you?
This woman - who DRIVES FOR A LIVING should have been charged with driving with undo care and attention causing death and she should have gone to jail. But because it was someone on a motorcycle that was killed - in the Judges words: " had Delano been in a truck or a car rather than riding a motorcycle, the collision would likely have resulted in a fender-bender rather than a fatality."
Her ability to earn a living, her ability to enjoy her life is being protected - yet she took a life - because - "She didn't see him"
I Googled the area to ensure my memory of the area was accurate and it is....
View Larger Map
So - was it raining? On May 5th, 2008 it was 19 degrees with no rain...
There are no obstructions here...I don't know if the Sun was a factor...
Given what few details we know- how do you feel about this situation?
Talk to me....
And if you are one of the lucky one's to still be riding, keep it your self k...
It's minus 12 here with snow - so don't be rubbing it in...OH and RIDE LIKE THEY CAN'T SEE YOU....stay safe.
Belt Drive Betty
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
This and that...
We say goodbye to Sean O from New Brunswick.
I am unsure what caused him to close down his blog and pull away from the community entirely but there you have it, that's what's happen. I do know that he was discouraged by the unwillingness of those in his area to promote themselves or to let him help promote them. Perhaps that had something to do with it. I also know his health isn't the best.
So as I said - I am unclear as to the why and he did not elaborate.
I for one will miss him.
He was trying so hard to shine some kind of light on what's going on in his area.
I know how discouraging it can be to get people to work together.
People are fearful, uncertain, skeptical, protectionistic - and in some cases rightfully so.
People are busy, stressed and stretched.
We all need to understand that there are certain common causes and information that we need to share as a community.
I have been around for 5 years going on 6 and in that time my message, my mission has not changed - in order to have our voices heard, in order for our community events to be successful, in order for our business community to be secure and be there for us when we need them (for services and sponsorship) - we have to support each other, we have to communicate with each other.
The fact is there are close to 522,433 registered motorcycles in this country.
(Stats Canada 2007)
If you look at our Riding Clubs Pages - amassed through a whole ton of research and data entry -
Between Web Sites and Forums there are over 350 riding clubs and their chapters on the web.
An Update - 1pm Friday Nov 7th - Over 371 Riding Club Sites/Pages or Forums!
If you look in our events calendars you will see that at the peak of the season - not including sporting events - that there are over 900 events...
Our community is growing by leaps and bounds and there are new clubs and groups springing up everywhere, old clubs and groups closing down and moving...If anyone doubts what I say look at the CAV and how they have grown - they are up to 47 units - last year we only had links to 21 Units!
If you are a busy person - like most people - you don't get to your favorite sites all of the time - when they move they forget often times to tell people.
How does someone new to riding find what they need?
I want to make it simple and easy for people to connect, to find what they need.
That's it - that's all.
www.beltdrivebetty.com is here to be a giant repository of information on the Canadian Motorcycle Scene - If you want to know what's going on, if you want to find a club or chapter that suits you - we are trying to provide you a one stop place to find the right one.
I don't want to mow any one's lawn. I want to shine a light on it - I want to help grow what you do. I want your club to get the exposure to grow, I want your community event to get the exposure it needs to be successful.
I am a rider - our web mistress is a rider - every one who works with us either as a volunteer, a club reporter, moderator or sales person...heck even the man who prints the Busted Knuckle Chronicles is a rider.
We all got together through a common desire - to see the community we love, the community we live in - the Canadian Motorcycle Riding Community - be strong, successful and here for a long time to come.
If you are lucky enough to be still riding - you suck (Which means I'm green with envy)
Please ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
I am unsure what caused him to close down his blog and pull away from the community entirely but there you have it, that's what's happen. I do know that he was discouraged by the unwillingness of those in his area to promote themselves or to let him help promote them. Perhaps that had something to do with it. I also know his health isn't the best.
So as I said - I am unclear as to the why and he did not elaborate.
I for one will miss him.
He was trying so hard to shine some kind of light on what's going on in his area.
I know how discouraging it can be to get people to work together.
People are fearful, uncertain, skeptical, protectionistic - and in some cases rightfully so.
People are busy, stressed and stretched.
We all need to understand that there are certain common causes and information that we need to share as a community.
I have been around for 5 years going on 6 and in that time my message, my mission has not changed - in order to have our voices heard, in order for our community events to be successful, in order for our business community to be secure and be there for us when we need them (for services and sponsorship) - we have to support each other, we have to communicate with each other.
The fact is there are close to 522,433 registered motorcycles in this country.
(Stats Canada 2007)
If you look at our Riding Clubs Pages - amassed through a whole ton of research and data entry -
Between Web Sites and Forums there are over 350 riding clubs and their chapters on the web.
An Update - 1pm Friday Nov 7th - Over 371 Riding Club Sites/Pages or Forums!
If you look in our events calendars you will see that at the peak of the season - not including sporting events - that there are over 900 events...
Our community is growing by leaps and bounds and there are new clubs and groups springing up everywhere, old clubs and groups closing down and moving...If anyone doubts what I say look at the CAV and how they have grown - they are up to 47 units - last year we only had links to 21 Units!
If you are a busy person - like most people - you don't get to your favorite sites all of the time - when they move they forget often times to tell people.
How does someone new to riding find what they need?
I want to make it simple and easy for people to connect, to find what they need.
That's it - that's all.
www.beltdrivebetty.com is here to be a giant repository of information on the Canadian Motorcycle Scene - If you want to know what's going on, if you want to find a club or chapter that suits you - we are trying to provide you a one stop place to find the right one.
I don't want to mow any one's lawn. I want to shine a light on it - I want to help grow what you do. I want your club to get the exposure to grow, I want your community event to get the exposure it needs to be successful.
I am a rider - our web mistress is a rider - every one who works with us either as a volunteer, a club reporter, moderator or sales person...heck even the man who prints the Busted Knuckle Chronicles is a rider.
We all got together through a common desire - to see the community we love, the community we live in - the Canadian Motorcycle Riding Community - be strong, successful and here for a long time to come.
If you are lucky enough to be still riding - you suck (Which means I'm green with envy)
Please ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Some interesting things I've read....
When sifting through the news today I came across an interesting editorial by a man named LJ James.
It was on the topic of the Mongols loosing the right to wear their patch and the potential ramifications to other groups and communities. I do not know much about the history of the man who wrote the article other than he is a member of an MC. 1% or Outlaw - I know not.
No matter his membership and the viewpoint from which he writes, he brings up some concerns and questions that I think have some merit and validity that will be overlooked and discounted by many because of the patch he wears. Here is the link to his editorial... http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=49606286&blogID=443277492
As I said, one has to look at what he says and understand the perspective he has on this subject, and even though he slightly exaggerates the rate about things like "We hear about Drug dealers, Rapists, Murderers in the National Football League and in Major League Baseball everyday."
He still makes some points that warrant looking at.
Read it for yourself and then tell me what you think. I for one can see some situations that could arise and none of them are very savory. What's your take on what he's saying?
Then there's this piece entitled "Lousy Cop" I came across it when reading A Cops Thoughts Blog.
I found it incredible to read. I know many of you have heard the video or read the poem "Just a Biker" if not you can see it on our web site at www.beltdrivebetty.com
"Lousy Cop" is written in more of a conversational style and it brings home something about human nature that we all must examine in ourselves...escpecially when you look at all three perspectives and see the similar vien and thread in them all - While "Just a Biker" is more about dealing with our safety - the feelings and impressions of being discriminated against are very evident.
How is it, we can know how it feels to be discriminated against and yet - we discriminate.
I know I have. Having been a rape victim, I can tell you quite frankly that I have discriminated - I have in the past tarred all those who wear red or yellow stripes down their leg as potential threats to me and treated them as adversaries. I based my attitude on how one of the 90 or so thousand Canadians who wear those pants treated me.
It took me a long time to be able to deal with that segment of our population in a rational manner. I had to learn to look at the individual rather than the clothing in order to come to a place where I didn't blame or mistrust every one them - especially the males.
Today I am a rape survivor. I no longer look through the glasses of the victim I once was.
Today I have adopted an attitude of always striving to remove preconceived notions out of my head when dealing with people from different communities.
How many times are our assumptions about other people wrong or off? I know that I have harshly judged a person who didn't deserve it. I did it because one person from his community hurt and insulted me. I had to get over it - I still have to remind myself at times to look at the person - not the clothes.
There are other things that I do and sometimes say thoughtlessly...and I have hurt the feelings of others needlessly - I hope that someday I will get to a place where I am always balanced in my approach to dealing with others.
So where does prejudice and discrimination come from?
Fear of the unknown and personal experience.
We tend to ridicule and fear things and people that we don't understand.
We also tend to tar entire communities over the actions of one. And when we see similar actions in others of that same community - well we tend to put the tar on just a bit thicker. 1 bad experience leads to mistrust....two or three makes us get out that old tar bucket and point accusatory fingers at entire communities - 10 or twelve experiences of similar nature get us up in arms....why? Because we internalize everything. We look at it in the microscopic - we don't look at the big picture.
We forget that the guy next to us is JUST as human as we are - he is just as susceptible to making mistakes as you or I....
It is one of the hardest challenges we face as human beings - learning how to open our hearts and our minds before we judge some one - when we learn to judge the individual by using our gut and not preconceived notions - When we do decide a person is a threat to us we need to realize it is the individual who is the threat - not necessarily the whole community.
There are situations where judging someone in an instant is more than acceptable behavior, its called survival. But there is a difference between the two and common sense needs to be used. But again, as part of the human condition we are ruled by our emotions more often than not and therefore we do not approach certain situations from the position of logic.
When you figure that there are 6.7 billion or so people on this planet and you accept that most of us are going to make mistakes or have had bad experiences that will taint our interactions, none of us is perfect or living without some kind of baggage......
How we deal with each other as individuals is what's reflected around us in the world....
Its human nature.
From one extreme to the other and even in the middle - there is fear, anger and contempt towards those who have caused pain. Here I have given you the example from an MC Members point of view, from the every day riders point of view and from the police services point of view- read them all and then tell me something - are we really all so different from each other?
Its minus 12 with 4 Cm's of snow on the ground here so I am NOT riding.
If you are lucky enough to still be riding, please - Ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
It was on the topic of the Mongols loosing the right to wear their patch and the potential ramifications to other groups and communities. I do not know much about the history of the man who wrote the article other than he is a member of an MC. 1% or Outlaw - I know not.
No matter his membership and the viewpoint from which he writes, he brings up some concerns and questions that I think have some merit and validity that will be overlooked and discounted by many because of the patch he wears. Here is the link to his editorial... http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=49606286&blogID=443277492
As I said, one has to look at what he says and understand the perspective he has on this subject, and even though he slightly exaggerates the rate about things like "We hear about Drug dealers, Rapists, Murderers in the National Football League and in Major League Baseball everyday."
He still makes some points that warrant looking at.
Read it for yourself and then tell me what you think. I for one can see some situations that could arise and none of them are very savory. What's your take on what he's saying?
Then there's this piece entitled "Lousy Cop" I came across it when reading A Cops Thoughts Blog.
I found it incredible to read. I know many of you have heard the video or read the poem "Just a Biker" if not you can see it on our web site at www.beltdrivebetty.com
"Lousy Cop" is written in more of a conversational style and it brings home something about human nature that we all must examine in ourselves...escpecially when you look at all three perspectives and see the similar vien and thread in them all - While "Just a Biker" is more about dealing with our safety - the feelings and impressions of being discriminated against are very evident.
How is it, we can know how it feels to be discriminated against and yet - we discriminate.
I know I have. Having been a rape victim, I can tell you quite frankly that I have discriminated - I have in the past tarred all those who wear red or yellow stripes down their leg as potential threats to me and treated them as adversaries. I based my attitude on how one of the 90 or so thousand Canadians who wear those pants treated me.
It took me a long time to be able to deal with that segment of our population in a rational manner. I had to learn to look at the individual rather than the clothing in order to come to a place where I didn't blame or mistrust every one them - especially the males.
Today I am a rape survivor. I no longer look through the glasses of the victim I once was.
Today I have adopted an attitude of always striving to remove preconceived notions out of my head when dealing with people from different communities.
How many times are our assumptions about other people wrong or off? I know that I have harshly judged a person who didn't deserve it. I did it because one person from his community hurt and insulted me. I had to get over it - I still have to remind myself at times to look at the person - not the clothes.
There are other things that I do and sometimes say thoughtlessly...and I have hurt the feelings of others needlessly - I hope that someday I will get to a place where I am always balanced in my approach to dealing with others.
So where does prejudice and discrimination come from?
Fear of the unknown and personal experience.
We tend to ridicule and fear things and people that we don't understand.
We also tend to tar entire communities over the actions of one. And when we see similar actions in others of that same community - well we tend to put the tar on just a bit thicker. 1 bad experience leads to mistrust....two or three makes us get out that old tar bucket and point accusatory fingers at entire communities - 10 or twelve experiences of similar nature get us up in arms....why? Because we internalize everything. We look at it in the microscopic - we don't look at the big picture.
We forget that the guy next to us is JUST as human as we are - he is just as susceptible to making mistakes as you or I....
It is one of the hardest challenges we face as human beings - learning how to open our hearts and our minds before we judge some one - when we learn to judge the individual by using our gut and not preconceived notions - When we do decide a person is a threat to us we need to realize it is the individual who is the threat - not necessarily the whole community.
There are situations where judging someone in an instant is more than acceptable behavior, its called survival. But there is a difference between the two and common sense needs to be used. But again, as part of the human condition we are ruled by our emotions more often than not and therefore we do not approach certain situations from the position of logic.
When you figure that there are 6.7 billion or so people on this planet and you accept that most of us are going to make mistakes or have had bad experiences that will taint our interactions, none of us is perfect or living without some kind of baggage......
How we deal with each other as individuals is what's reflected around us in the world....
Its human nature.
From one extreme to the other and even in the middle - there is fear, anger and contempt towards those who have caused pain. Here I have given you the example from an MC Members point of view, from the every day riders point of view and from the police services point of view- read them all and then tell me something - are we really all so different from each other?
Its minus 12 with 4 Cm's of snow on the ground here so I am NOT riding.
If you are lucky enough to still be riding, please - Ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Holy Cow!
I just completed the BDB Club (Bikers Discount Buying Club) Members Listings for November.
We now have 93 business partners! It's been a great exercise in laying out the phone book of Rider Friendly Businesses!
Have you downloaded and printed off your savings card? Why not?
It's located here: http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media/busted-knuckle-news-home/bikers-discount-buying-club
Scroll down to the bottom of the page!
Our classifieds section has been reinstalled and we have a ton of new items for sale including some great motorcycles!
The link to our classifieds section is: http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media/busted-knuckle-news-home/classified-ads
Every day you will be seeing changes, some will be subtle and some will be in your face but pretty much every day there will be something new to see or do on the site.
www.beltdrivebetty.com A Motorcycle Riders Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Department all rolled in to one!
If you aren't a member or you don't log in you will never know how much wonderful information you are missing out on! Join us today - it's free!
Snow here in Grande Prairie will preclude us from riding for a while! 3 cm of the fluffy white crap has landed! UGH.
How do you feel about "President Obama"?
I for one see so much of JFK in him. I think he is going to make a great President and look forward to the changes he plans on bringing not only to the USA but North America and the WORLD! Congratulations President Elect Obama.
If you are lucky enough to still be riding - Please ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
We now have 93 business partners! It's been a great exercise in laying out the phone book of Rider Friendly Businesses!
Have you downloaded and printed off your savings card? Why not?
It's located here: http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media/busted-knuckle-news-home/bikers-discount-buying-club
Scroll down to the bottom of the page!
Our classifieds section has been reinstalled and we have a ton of new items for sale including some great motorcycles!
The link to our classifieds section is: http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/Motorcycle_Media/busted-knuckle-news-home/classified-ads
Every day you will be seeing changes, some will be subtle and some will be in your face but pretty much every day there will be something new to see or do on the site.
www.beltdrivebetty.com A Motorcycle Riders Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Department all rolled in to one!
If you aren't a member or you don't log in you will never know how much wonderful information you are missing out on! Join us today - it's free!
Snow here in Grande Prairie will preclude us from riding for a while! 3 cm of the fluffy white crap has landed! UGH.
How do you feel about "President Obama"?
I for one see so much of JFK in him. I think he is going to make a great President and look forward to the changes he plans on bringing not only to the USA but North America and the WORLD! Congratulations President Elect Obama.
If you are lucky enough to still be riding - Please ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
Monday, November 03, 2008
Busy like a beaver
Well gang we are getting there! I have about 350 riding clubs,linked to their site and patches - still about 100 or 150 to go between club sites and forums!
Ali has been working on a Java Script error that has been crashing the home page of our community site if you are using Internet Explorer. IE is a painful browser to use as I have discovered. I recently downloaded both Google Chrome and Foxfire and now use all three browsers so I can see the way our web site looks for those on these other browsers. I really enjoy both Foxfire and Chrome. Try downloading them and using them instead of IE - you'll find a whole new world opens up for you.
Layout begins for our very first phone book - Wednesday - so for those stragglers that still want to be included - you'll have another 8 - 10 days - drop me a line!
Anyway - back to work - that slave driver I work for says I need to get links finished...
If you are lucky enough to be riding - Ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
Ali has been working on a Java Script error that has been crashing the home page of our community site if you are using Internet Explorer. IE is a painful browser to use as I have discovered. I recently downloaded both Google Chrome and Foxfire and now use all three browsers so I can see the way our web site looks for those on these other browsers. I really enjoy both Foxfire and Chrome. Try downloading them and using them instead of IE - you'll find a whole new world opens up for you.
Layout begins for our very first phone book - Wednesday - so for those stragglers that still want to be included - you'll have another 8 - 10 days - drop me a line!
Anyway - back to work - that slave driver I work for says I need to get links finished...
If you are lucky enough to be riding - Ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Vancouver Island Policing Pilot Project Catching On
Project Traffic Tragedies: From the Nanaimo Daily News
"In 2007 motorcyclist fatalities skyrocketed 300% to a dozen deaths on Vancouver Island. (BDB's comment: Do the math from 4 to 12 deaths)
Using (undisclosed) unconventional surveillance methods and "wave-overs," police targeted problematic areas throughout the Island and stopped hundreds of motorcyclists after Project Traffic Tragedies launched in May.
I find the use of statistics in this article interesting up 300% down 58% - we are talking 4 deaths in 2006 up to twelve in 2007 and down to 5 in 2008....One is too many in my opinion but lets keep perspective here.
I am all for the preventing of fatalities through education, but it appears again that the police services are using whatever they can for excuses and reasons to stop motorcycles. Its a career and budget building tactic that is used by them often. At least this time they have some education involved and not just a straight targeting of motorcyclists.
The surveillance thing I guess is what bothers me. Again, our community like all others is inhabited by people, and all it takes is a few bad apples - right.
You see inconsiderate and unsafe riders exist every bit as much as inconsiderate and unsafe drivers.... the "Cowboys and girls" of our community have made it so the RCMP have singled us out again for special attention over and above that of larger community of road way users.
Just like the RCMP who are undergoing some pretty intense scrutiny right now because of the conduct of three officers - our community is undergoing intense scrutiny and will continue to by the looks of it as whatever they are doing on Vancouver Island has caught the attention of other detachments and is spreading for 2009.
To all of those who ride like show offs and jerks - thanks! What a wonderful pre-Christmas present that is - now next year when we go riding we all get to have an extra special once over every time an officer is around so he can save us from ourselves.
Policing VS Education
I wonder what the actual cost of education for riders vs the extra police it takes to conduct surveillance on us...
If one hour of an officer with a squad car costs us approximately $85 per hour (That's what I was charged in Olds a year ago) and with out a car costs approximately $50 dollars per hour the cost for two officers in one car the cost would be $135/hour.
Now there is planning time, administration and execution, then more administration and debriefing....so if a town had 6 officers with 3 cars - involved in a 5 hour street project in a weekend and they spent 5 hours on preparation, admin, debriefing - the cost per town per weekend would be 3 teams x $135 dollars per hour for 5 hours and 3 teams at $100 per hour for 5 hous admin time.
That equals $ 3525 for 5 hours of street and 5 hours of office time for 6 officers and 3 cars in one weekend in one community. At an average cost of $250 for rider training that would pay for the training of 14 riders. I'm not talking about "sessions" of one or two hours - I am talking full blown training.
Below is my If List - a dream or wish list:
If rider education was mandatory and affordable then perhaps we'd see a hell of a lot less accidents, injuries and deaths in our community.
If our roadways were in good shape and didn't hold so many dangers like cracks, pot holes, frost heaves and debris coming off the back of vehicles....
If our roadways were clear of gravel and sand...
If our roadways were free of impatient, wreck less and inattentive drivers and riders...
If our roadways were free of show offs or drunks no matter the vehicle they command...
If people showed each other more consideration...
If...it's a nice dream that will Never come true....because people are the wild card.
So what could be done differently to prevent accidents, injury and deaths?
Let's get some ideas on the table....
I am all for training and education and think that is the best way to address the problem, but that's just me. What ideas do you have to offer on this subject? Talk to me - let's get a concrete action plan for accident and injury prevention.
I'm all for finding concrete ways to reduce the number of accidents and deaths in our community.
Maybe if we put together a thoughtful action plan we could make a positive difference....
Now for some personal news. Hubby and I escaped for an hour yesterday and went for a little 30 - 40 km burn out to Sexsmith on the bikes. It was pretty brisk - 5 degrees but oh it felt good. Anyday a rider can ride in Northern Alberta in NOVEMBER - that's a damned fine day!
If you are lucky enough to still be riding - PLEASE, ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
"In 2007 motorcyclist fatalities skyrocketed 300% to a dozen deaths on Vancouver Island. (BDB's comment: Do the math from 4 to 12 deaths)
Using (undisclosed) unconventional surveillance methods and "wave-overs," police targeted problematic areas throughout the Island and stopped hundreds of motorcyclists after Project Traffic Tragedies launched in May.
Charges were laid for everything from defective motorcycle equipment to drunk riders.
The program, run by RCMP Island District Traffic Services in partnership with the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation, also featured an extensive summer-long media campaign, visits to driving schools, dealerships and community groups and offered free rider skill sessions Island-wide. It wrapped in September.
Motorcycle deaths this year were down 58% to five."
So what are these "Unconventional" Methods of surveillance?
The RCMP won't say much except that they can use cameras and binoculars and all sorts of things to target problematic riders. "I find the use of statistics in this article interesting up 300% down 58% - we are talking 4 deaths in 2006 up to twelve in 2007 and down to 5 in 2008....One is too many in my opinion but lets keep perspective here.
I am all for the preventing of fatalities through education, but it appears again that the police services are using whatever they can for excuses and reasons to stop motorcycles. Its a career and budget building tactic that is used by them often. At least this time they have some education involved and not just a straight targeting of motorcyclists.
The surveillance thing I guess is what bothers me. Again, our community like all others is inhabited by people, and all it takes is a few bad apples - right.
You see inconsiderate and unsafe riders exist every bit as much as inconsiderate and unsafe drivers.... the "Cowboys and girls" of our community have made it so the RCMP have singled us out again for special attention over and above that of larger community of road way users.
Just like the RCMP who are undergoing some pretty intense scrutiny right now because of the conduct of three officers - our community is undergoing intense scrutiny and will continue to by the looks of it as whatever they are doing on Vancouver Island has caught the attention of other detachments and is spreading for 2009.
To all of those who ride like show offs and jerks - thanks! What a wonderful pre-Christmas present that is - now next year when we go riding we all get to have an extra special once over every time an officer is around so he can save us from ourselves.
Policing VS Education
I wonder what the actual cost of education for riders vs the extra police it takes to conduct surveillance on us...
If one hour of an officer with a squad car costs us approximately $85 per hour (That's what I was charged in Olds a year ago) and with out a car costs approximately $50 dollars per hour the cost for two officers in one car the cost would be $135/hour.
Now there is planning time, administration and execution, then more administration and debriefing....so if a town had 6 officers with 3 cars - involved in a 5 hour street project in a weekend and they spent 5 hours on preparation, admin, debriefing - the cost per town per weekend would be 3 teams x $135 dollars per hour for 5 hours and 3 teams at $100 per hour for 5 hous admin time.
That equals $ 3525 for 5 hours of street and 5 hours of office time for 6 officers and 3 cars in one weekend in one community. At an average cost of $250 for rider training that would pay for the training of 14 riders. I'm not talking about "sessions" of one or two hours - I am talking full blown training.
Below is my If List - a dream or wish list:
If rider education was mandatory and affordable then perhaps we'd see a hell of a lot less accidents, injuries and deaths in our community.
If our roadways were in good shape and didn't hold so many dangers like cracks, pot holes, frost heaves and debris coming off the back of vehicles....
If our roadways were clear of gravel and sand...
If our roadways were free of impatient, wreck less and inattentive drivers and riders...
If our roadways were free of show offs or drunks no matter the vehicle they command...
If people showed each other more consideration...
If...it's a nice dream that will Never come true....because people are the wild card.
So what could be done differently to prevent accidents, injury and deaths?
Let's get some ideas on the table....
I am all for training and education and think that is the best way to address the problem, but that's just me. What ideas do you have to offer on this subject? Talk to me - let's get a concrete action plan for accident and injury prevention.
I'm all for finding concrete ways to reduce the number of accidents and deaths in our community.
Maybe if we put together a thoughtful action plan we could make a positive difference....
Now for some personal news. Hubby and I escaped for an hour yesterday and went for a little 30 - 40 km burn out to Sexsmith on the bikes. It was pretty brisk - 5 degrees but oh it felt good. Anyday a rider can ride in Northern Alberta in NOVEMBER - that's a damned fine day!
If you are lucky enough to still be riding - PLEASE, ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Hold the bus here....
How many of you have read the news today?
I have and I have got to tell you that my opinion of the police services (in particular the RCMP)in this country falls a little harder each day.
A third RCMP officer charged with impaired driving.
Or should I say the first.
(See our News Headlines at http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/ Under Busted Knuckle News)
From the Globe and Mail.....The newly disclosed case involves Corporal Darren Baker, a 38-year-old school-liaison officer with the North Vancouver RCMP.
Last Dec. 15, he was stopped just before 1 a.m. by members of the West Vancouver Police Department assigned to an integrated road-safety initiative.
"They stopped the vehicle after observing it being driven erratically and, while dealing with the driver, they formed the opinion that the driver's ability to drive a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol," Constable Linteau said.
Based on two samples of his breath, the driver was served with an appearance notice and administrative driving prohibition, she said.
Charges of impaired driving and driving over .08 were approved by the Crown in March of this year, and Cpl. Baker is to face trial on Jan. 27 in Provincial Court. He is also facing a disciplinary hearing next February.
From CBC...Linteau said the RCMP also conducted a code of conduct investigation against Baker, who belonged to a school liaison unit, but has since been placed in administrative duties. He will face a disciplinary hearing on Feb. 25 and 26, she said.
From the Vancouver Sun...New Westminster police spokesman Sgt. Ivan Chu would not release the name of the officer but confirmed she was a secondary school liaison officer. GlobalBC identified her as Tomi Hamner. She was moved to administrative duties following the accident, Chu said.
OK, so now there are three RCMP officers from the lower mainland of BC that have been charged with impaired driving.
Now correct me if I am reading wrong. School Liaison Officer?
Two of them WERE School Liaison officers at the time they were arrested for impaired driving and the other officer allegedly had his kids in the car.
I am detecting THREE very unsettling themes here.
1: 3 RCMP Officers Drinking and Driving - all from the lower mainland of BC
2: A total lack of regard for the children of our communities....
3: RCMP officers and their superiors Serving their own agendas and Protecting their butts.
I may not be the brightest bunny in the bunch but I have a decent memory for an old broad and I recall something my father told me a long time ago and I have heard similar things preached by motivational speakers and people of wisdom...
"One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency."-Arnold Glasow
"The best leader brings out the best in those he has stewardship over."-
J. Richard Clarke
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."- William Arthur Ward
Well, something appears to be wrong with the leaders of the RCMP in the Lower Mainland Region of BC - somehow they are not getting the message through to their officers. Its one thing to get down on the individual members involved here. They should know better than to behave the way they have.
But the real question here is - did no one see that these officers were in trouble?
Are the powers that be not paying attention to their people? What kind of leaders don't see that the stress their officers are under is doing them in? Or are the higher ups leading by example and these officers felt it was OK to drink and drive? WHAT is going on?
How do you get kids to have respect for a uniform when this is the kind of conduct they are hearing and seeing? When an officers name is shielded from the same type of media exposure as John Q Citizens...how do you teach our kids?
With the Young Offenders act protecting them and the ones who are supposed to be leading by example committing these kinds of offences....you tell me - how do you convince kids they should show some respect? These three officers make that next to impossible - the message that's being received and perceived by the youth of this country is devastating.
My next question about all of this involves the naming of officers when the are charged.
The normal process as I understand it is:
Step 1: Arrest
Step 2: Charges (informal) laid by police/RCMP - it is here in most cases involving John Q Citizen that names are released to the media
Step 3: Formally charged by judge
But when are the names of Police Officers who have been charged (Step 2) released?
In the case of all three officers the media found out by searching court records - not through any release from the RCMP. Step 2 it appears is only for John Q Citizen - In every release they refused to name the officer.
If you believe B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal - (From the Edmonton Sun) Oppal points out no member of the public is ever named prior to the laying of a charge.
He says because the officer’s name has been reported by several media outlets it could be argued that the Mountie is receiving unfavourable treatment. (Look at the dates of the charges in the other two officers March and October of 2008 something about his comment doesn't ring very true now does it?)
My head is swimming.
I can not wrap my head around all of the dire consequences of the actions of three individual police officers, their commanding officers, the BC Attorney General and the many mixed messages that are being put out there - I can only imagine what a hormonal and angry teen must be thinking - I remember those days.
In an ironic way what's happening to the RCMP's reputation is fitting - it's being damaged by the actions of a few. Just like what happens to OUR community. How many times have people who ride motorcycles been tarred by a brush that wasn't theirs to wear? I know I have been.
If one applied the tactics and logic the RCMP as a whole appears to use when dealing with "Bikers" and "Motorcycle Event Coordinators" then one could, if one chooses to, tar all RCMP officers with the brush of drunken, disrespectful, self serving, authority abusing oafs.
Paybacks are a bitch and sometimes very humbling. And I for one love Poetic Justice.
My father, who was filled with many tidbits and truisms, once said on the subject of dealing with jerks, liars and bullies - "Give them enough rope - they'll hang themselves - you don't need to do anything - they'll do it to themselves." Guess what - he was right.
If you are lucky enough to still be riding - PLEASE ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
I have and I have got to tell you that my opinion of the police services (in particular the RCMP)in this country falls a little harder each day.
A third RCMP officer charged with impaired driving.
Or should I say the first.
(See our News Headlines at http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/ Under Busted Knuckle News)
From the Globe and Mail.....The newly disclosed case involves Corporal Darren Baker, a 38-year-old school-liaison officer with the North Vancouver RCMP.
Last Dec. 15, he was stopped just before 1 a.m. by members of the West Vancouver Police Department assigned to an integrated road-safety initiative.
"They stopped the vehicle after observing it being driven erratically and, while dealing with the driver, they formed the opinion that the driver's ability to drive a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol," Constable Linteau said.
Based on two samples of his breath, the driver was served with an appearance notice and administrative driving prohibition, she said.
Charges of impaired driving and driving over .08 were approved by the Crown in March of this year, and Cpl. Baker is to face trial on Jan. 27 in Provincial Court. He is also facing a disciplinary hearing next February.
From CBC...Linteau said the RCMP also conducted a code of conduct investigation against Baker, who belonged to a school liaison unit, but has since been placed in administrative duties. He will face a disciplinary hearing on Feb. 25 and 26, she said.
From the Vancouver Sun...New Westminster police spokesman Sgt. Ivan Chu would not release the name of the officer but confirmed she was a secondary school liaison officer. GlobalBC identified her as Tomi Hamner. She was moved to administrative duties following the accident, Chu said.
OK, so now there are three RCMP officers from the lower mainland of BC that have been charged with impaired driving.
Now correct me if I am reading wrong. School Liaison Officer?
Two of them WERE School Liaison officers at the time they were arrested for impaired driving and the other officer allegedly had his kids in the car.
I am detecting THREE very unsettling themes here.
1: 3 RCMP Officers Drinking and Driving - all from the lower mainland of BC
2: A total lack of regard for the children of our communities....
3: RCMP officers and their superiors Serving their own agendas and Protecting their butts.
I may not be the brightest bunny in the bunch but I have a decent memory for an old broad and I recall something my father told me a long time ago and I have heard similar things preached by motivational speakers and people of wisdom...
And that is: A team is only as good as its leader.
"One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency."-Arnold Glasow
"The best leader brings out the best in those he has stewardship over."-
J. Richard Clarke
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."- William Arthur Ward
Well, something appears to be wrong with the leaders of the RCMP in the Lower Mainland Region of BC - somehow they are not getting the message through to their officers. Its one thing to get down on the individual members involved here. They should know better than to behave the way they have.
But the real question here is - did no one see that these officers were in trouble?
Are the powers that be not paying attention to their people? What kind of leaders don't see that the stress their officers are under is doing them in? Or are the higher ups leading by example and these officers felt it was OK to drink and drive? WHAT is going on?
How do you get kids to have respect for a uniform when this is the kind of conduct they are hearing and seeing? When an officers name is shielded from the same type of media exposure as John Q Citizens...how do you teach our kids?
With the Young Offenders act protecting them and the ones who are supposed to be leading by example committing these kinds of offences....you tell me - how do you convince kids they should show some respect? These three officers make that next to impossible - the message that's being received and perceived by the youth of this country is devastating.
My next question about all of this involves the naming of officers when the are charged.
The normal process as I understand it is:
Step 1: Arrest
Step 2: Charges (informal) laid by police/RCMP - it is here in most cases involving John Q Citizen that names are released to the media
Step 3: Formally charged by judge
But when are the names of Police Officers who have been charged (Step 2) released?
In the case of all three officers the media found out by searching court records - not through any release from the RCMP. Step 2 it appears is only for John Q Citizen - In every release they refused to name the officer.
If you believe B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal - (From the Edmonton Sun) Oppal points out no member of the public is ever named prior to the laying of a charge.
He says because the officer’s name has been reported by several media outlets it could be argued that the Mountie is receiving unfavourable treatment. (Look at the dates of the charges in the other two officers March and October of 2008 something about his comment doesn't ring very true now does it?)
My head is swimming.
I can not wrap my head around all of the dire consequences of the actions of three individual police officers, their commanding officers, the BC Attorney General and the many mixed messages that are being put out there - I can only imagine what a hormonal and angry teen must be thinking - I remember those days.
In an ironic way what's happening to the RCMP's reputation is fitting - it's being damaged by the actions of a few. Just like what happens to OUR community. How many times have people who ride motorcycles been tarred by a brush that wasn't theirs to wear? I know I have been.
If one applied the tactics and logic the RCMP as a whole appears to use when dealing with "Bikers" and "Motorcycle Event Coordinators" then one could, if one chooses to, tar all RCMP officers with the brush of drunken, disrespectful, self serving, authority abusing oafs.
Paybacks are a bitch and sometimes very humbling. And I for one love Poetic Justice.
My father, who was filled with many tidbits and truisms, once said on the subject of dealing with jerks, liars and bullies - "Give them enough rope - they'll hang themselves - you don't need to do anything - they'll do it to themselves." Guess what - he was right.
If you are lucky enough to still be riding - PLEASE ride like they are out to get you.
Belt Drive Betty
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