Scared right off the road, why riders need to unite.

Out of Australia there is a story on just how bad the Anti-Bikie laws there are hurting the motorcycle industry in their country.

Travis Windsor

According to the article and the gentleman interviewed in it, (Australian Motorcycle Business Chamber founder Travis Windsor) in 18 months the estimate of lost revenue is some 50 Million Dollars!

Why?  Well, people are fearful of the police there. Since the introduction of the VLAD laws, numerous people have experienced roadside detentions, exhausting grilling by the police and some have been unlawfully jailed and so the riding community of Australia has virtually stopped riding as a result.  Motorcycle sales in that country are down 70% according to the article.

With the ever encroaching laws that are being implemented in this country to curb the 1%er population of our community, we all need to be on guard for the infringement on our rights and be at the ready to protect them.

What do I mean?

Well, in Australia, they have started a Chamber of Commerce geared towards the motorcycle industry and it is holding events to educate and unite the businesses to protest the laws and challenge the laws.

They are also organizing to mount a lawsuit for compensation for those wrongfully arrested or harassed.

They held a meeting in Queensland that was attended by only 50 people, many who wanted to attend were fearful to do so. 

According to the Motorbike Writer's article - BEGIN QUOTE:
The former head of the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Commission and now state parliamentary leader of the Palmer United Party told an anti-VLAD meeting tonight in Brisbane that he believed the government would lose the High Court challenge to the laws.

“I have been reliably informed that the State Government has been advised that the High Court challenge will probably succeed and it will put the state in for a massive compensation claim,” he said. He later estimated that the compensation bill would be in the order of $50-$100m and that he wouldn’t put it past the government to try to revise legislation to avoid paying the costs. “The government is terrified and is in serious trouble.”

Alex was one of several guest speakers at the meeting which only drew about 50 interested members. However, several people said they had friends and associates who wanted to attend but were too scared that they would breach the draconian legislation. Even some of the guest speakers did not attend for fear of breaching the laws and sent friends to read out prepared statements. END QUOTE

There is a website called BikeME.TV that is warning Australians to NOT fill out the form that the police service there calls the "Declaration of Disassociation"  they also offer up the police services page on HOW to Disassociate yourself.

According to the article there are MANY, MANY reasons why you shouldn't fill out the form, among them...

BEGIN QUOTE:
The laws will still apply to you, in their entirety, despite you telling the Queensland Police that you have ‘disassociated’.

You may still be subject to arrest for having a beer with your mates if you fill out the form.

You may still receive 15 or 25 years in jail for a petty offence if you fill out the form.

You may still have bail refused, if you fill out the form.

You may still lose your right to work in your chosen trade or profession if you fill out the form.

The legislation which provides the authority for your arrest, detainment and loss of your rights, does not mention anywhere that if you ‘disassociate’ the laws do not apply to you.

In fact, the laws state just the opposite. If you are, or ever have been, a member or associate of any of the declared organizations, including attending any event in the past that was organized by a one-percent club, the laws apply to you. The definitions of ‘participant’ are very clear about this. “We went to a bike show and now we’re going to jail!”    END QUOTE

I encourage you to read all of the articles I link to in this post - educate yourself.  

What is happening there in Australia, can and will come to a country near you, in many ways, just done more stealthily, we already have pockets and places in this nation of ours that have made it so association is illegal - MANITOBA would be a great example. They have used Peace Bonds to prevent people with no criminal charges pending, from communicating with "associates".  Manitoba is also the first jurisdiction in North America to declare the Hells Angels as a criminal organization.

While we non 1% riders still have the right to meet and organize in this country without fear or reprisal, it might be a good time to do just that. Otherwise, we could see ourselves in a similar situation as Australia is going through.

The 64 million dollar question is, do Canadian riders give a damned enough about the freedoms they espouse to actually unite and start protecting them?

I highly doubt it, but I will continue to dream of a day when we have a true National Riders Rights Organization that is committed to protecting and educating the riding community from the over zealous use of laws meant to discourage 1% clubs.

What say you?

Have a great day and remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing good riding gear - someone who loves you depends on it...

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

1%ers sell out while others get a hard time

According to an article in the Vancouver Sun's Real Scoop section, reporter Kim Bolan talked to a police expert on One Percent Bikers: Det. Sgt. Len Isnor, of the Ontario Provincial Police Biker Enforcement Unit, there is a trend in One Percenter Clubs selling of their property.

According to him, the fact that the Nomads have sold their clubhouse in Burnaby BC for over 2 million dollars is exactly what other chapters across the country are doing, selling their clubhouses.

Tired of having their property seized, they are beginning to sell their clubhouses and are going back to renting.

In Australia it is the every day rider who is affected more by the VLAD (Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act) laws there.

While the 1%ers are selling out, others are getting a hard time...

In a recent article from the Fraser Coast Chronicles, non riders have begun shunning those in leather and donations to charity events are way down.

Begin Quote: Although he has not been intercepted by the police, he said it was the public discrimination that was the thorn in his side.
"My wife and I walked into Maccas. There was a lady standing in line. I asked if she's been served. She looked us up and down like we were criminals, ignored us and walked off," he said.

Bikers such as Lizzie Walker, the public relations officer for the recently formed Independent Riders group, said she had noticed a big change in the public's attitude toward them since the VLAD laws were introduced.

It's scaring a lot of people who once donated goods for our raffles and charities.
"When I ask businesses for sponsorship they back off and say: 'no, the rules have changed now.'"
She said by this time of the year she usually had $2000 worth of goods to raffle, but would be lucky if there was $300 in the kitty. End Quote

I can only imagine how frustrating and sad it is for the riders of Australia.

Then we skip over the UK where a man on a trendy mobility scooter has been having his own challenges with the law!

Photo from the article in Western Morning News

He's been given a hard time because he rides his scooter on the sidewalk, that is until police offers get an up close look at it.

Begin Quote: Geoff got the scooter last summer after he was diagnosed with HSP - a condition which means his nerves are dying off, leaving him unable to control his legs.
But he was horrified by the thought of getting an "old fashioned" scooter for OAPs and approached his local retailer to ask if they could source something different.

Photo from the article in Western Morning News

The Sport Rider model features chrome-style forks and handlebars and a large central headlight like a motorbike. However, his unusual mode of transport quickly attracted the attention of the local police. End Quote

So it seems, even as we age, if we want to look cool, we might still get a hard time!



There are lots of other news items over at www.beltdrivebetty.com that might be of interest to you, and I encourage you to check them out.

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone and if you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

The Power of the Patch

The Power of the Patch has landed the Hells Angels a place in Canadian infamy.

Manitoba's department of Justice has deemed the Manitoba Hells Angels as a Criminal Organization.

Manitoba is the first North American jurisdiction to do so.

Club members and associates can now be tried without the prosecution having to bring forth additional proof of the accused being a member of a criminal organization speeding up trial times and making it easier for the province to confiscate property under the Criminal Property Forfeiture Act.

Manitoba is pushing Ottawa to follow suit and declare the Hells Angels as a Criminal Organization on a National level to affect federal cases.

Among their arguments for a National designation of Criminal Organization, the Manitoba Justice department cites the fact that in numerous individual trials in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, members were found to be part of a criminal organization.

As a rider I am concerned with this ruling as it is the same sort of ruling that has brought Australia's riding community untold grief.

We have a situation where you are guilty until proven innocent and innocents are going to become embroiled situations that will become costly in numerous ways.

We have already seen the Manitoba Justice department threaten to put family members in jail for 6 months if they associate with their son/brother/uncle/grandson.

If you have committed a crime you deserve to pay the price for your crime, where I become very concerned is the mentality of todays police officers.

Too many times, right here in Canada, we see cases of police officers lying to cover themselves - like in the Robert Dziekanski tasering where Monty Robinson and three other officers are reported to have met privately to get their "stories straight" according to new charges being brought against them.

Then there is the Orion Hutchison case where Monty Robinson allegedly fled the scene with his children and had a couple of shots to steady his nerves. It is suspected that he was already impaired when he struck and killed the rider, but because he claims to have had a couple of drinks at home to calm his nerves, he got off with only an obstruction of justice charge.

We see in the news where officers have beaten people they felt were disrespectful or belligerent or have abused their authority and used excessive force, like the case in Kelowna where officer Geoff Mantler kicked a man named Buddy Tavares ,who was kneeling, in the face.

So what do you think?

Do you think we here in Canada will be immune to the heavy handed tactics the justice system and police of Australia are using to stomp out Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs?

Do you think our police officers will stop group rides and hassle innocents like they have in Australia?

Are you prepared to live in a country where you have to phone the police station before you go out on a ride?

Unlike Australia, we have no national riders rights organization to fight for us, the everyday ordinary rider, and that National Organization in Australia has made some inroads in improving the treatment of the every day rider.

Do you think our Charter of Freedoms and Rights will protect you?

Are you prepared to be arrested because you were at an event where the Hells Angels or the Bandidos etc. were in attendance?  

Are you prepared to be searched?  

Are you prepared to have your life disrupted to prove your innocence?  

Are you prepared for the costs?  And I am not just talking financial.

Look at tattooists in Australia and the fact that they have to be fingerprinted to work in that country now.

Are you prepared to have your family and life turned upside down to prove your innocence?

Just Google what is happening in Australia with police and their abuse of authority, then Google the same thing in Canada and the US and tell me how well the riding community is going to fare.

Think about it and then tell me your thoughts.

I know where I stand on the subject - how about you....where do you stand?

Have a fabulous weekend and if you are lucky enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Bikers Prevented from Attending Funeral

Members of the Hells Angels have a petition circulating to allow members of the club, associates and family members from out of country to attend the funeral of Cisco Elliot Valderrama.

According to the article attached to the petition - Begin Quote: "just days ago Homeland Security and the Obama Administration relaxed visa restrictions for those who have given refuge and assistance to terrorists who aided and abetted in the killing of U.S. Soldiers and innocent civilians worldwide! It is unjust, unreasonable, and a violation of human rights to intentionally bar bikers, clubs, friends, supporters of bikers, associates of bikers and family members of bikers from entering the United States." End Quote

To me, some things are sacred - funerals would be one of them and in spite of the ban on bikers entering the US, you can be guaranteed that the police will be swarming the funeral of Cisco.  

It appears to me that the Obama government and Homeland Security think that groups like the Hells Angels are worse than terrorists.   

What do you think?

Also in the US a lawmaker says that motorcycles and bicycles do not belong in Suffolk County New York.  According to Mr. Barraga, who was responding to a young man's request for a dedicated bike lane after his mother was hit by a car while riding her bicycle, signs have no impact on drivers.

Begin Quote: I have heard the suggestion of bicycle lanes and additional signage but unfortunately
this would do little to solve the problem. 

Suffolk County is a suburban automobile community drivers expect to see other drivers on the road not bicyclists and motorcyclists. Even in those areas outside of Suffolk County where a portion of the road is for bicyclists they still get hit by motorists. Signage has limited effects there are currently 135 signs between Montauk Highway and Sunrise Highway on Higbie Lane and Udall Road most of them are ignored by drivers.

Reality at time can be difficult for some to come to grips with but giving false hope would be inappropriate. END QUOTE

What do you think of this lawmakers opinions?

In Australia it took 570 cops to raid 60 properties in Victoria and arrest 18 members of the Comancheros Motorcycle Club. According to the intelligence the police received, the Comancheros were going to use explosives to destroy Hells Angels property.

Along with tasers, a large quantity of steroids, ammunition and cash fireworks were confiscated.
It is believed by the police that the fireworks were going to be used to make improvised bombs.

And there is sad news out of Orlando Florida. Two Quebecois riders were killed when a spool of electrical wire came off a truck and struck their bike which then caught fire.  The husband and wife, Andre Grenier, 58, and Helene Bouchard, 54 died on the scene.

My heart goes out to their family and loved ones.

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Have a Happy Hump Day,

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider