Heads Up for those who plan to ride the Blue Ridge Pkwy this Spring.

[Alien]

Here's an idea:   

Have you papers in order and leave your dope at home (or hide it really really well).
If you ain't doin' anything wrong, all you lose is a few minutes of your time and you get to rest the iron butt while doing so.  LOL

I'm not siding with the LEO's, but I know not to fight a losing battle.  All the emails in the world won't change a thing!  Accept that and prepare accordingly.
Who knows, there might be safety checks in other areas too.

I really hate to read posts like this from people I generally respect!

I eat breakfast at a local diner and have this discussion about searches with many of the waitresses and customers and they all agree that they have nothing to hide let them search. If enough people roll over that right no longer exists! I am squeeky clean with no tickets/accidents in over 15 years and gun permits in 3 states and a federal collectors license. If I am stopped at one of these I will voice my displeasure with the violations of my rights. I will file a complaint. I will write editorials to local newspapers. I will contact the AMA. Imagine if our founding fathers had your attitude, we would still be british?

If we stick together and DO NOT roll over like sheep. If we fight these injustices and keep the pressure on our ELECTED officials we can stop or slow the erosion of our constitutional rights!

Whats acceptable, road blocks? Show your papers? Illegal wiretaps? Searches of your home? Where do we draw the line? This is NOT acceptable in the United States of America!

[egstandard]

Well said Alien.

[96flhpi]

I'm with Alien.  Unfortunately we've already accepted wire taps without warrants and torture (long as they ain't Americans) just recently - add those to the long list of things we let slide cause "I've got nothing to hide."

I know it's in bad taste, but do you really think the people of Germany said "hey, let's elect a genocidal megalomaniac" in the early 1930's.  No, they elected someone they trusted, who then over the years said "we have to do this, it's for the good of the country."

[Deye76]

Here's an idea:   

Have you papers in order and leave your dope at home (or hide it really really well).
If you ain't doin' anything wrong, all you lose is a few minutes of your time and you get to rest the iron butt while doing so.  LOL

I'm not siding with the LEO's, but I know not to fight a losing battle.  All the emails in the world won't change a thing!  Accept that and prepare accordingly.
Who knows, there might be safety checks in other areas too.

No dope, but you had a couple beers with lunch, at the checkpoint they smell it on you, .....have a nice ride from the local lockup.

The Brady bunch hopes the same attitude, (can't beat the system) prevails within the ranks of the NRA, and society as a whole.

[panz4ever]

I guess that old SS uniform I collected in Germany while in the army just might come in handy some day.
Just for kicks I would love to get a bunch of dudes together, dress up in Nazi uniforms with flags and everything.
Then go to one of these "safety" check points as a group.  With banners proclaiming that we totally support our LEO's
and all the good work they are doing for "our" country.......Sieg Heil a$$wipes.

Happy New Year & AMF/Ride Safe

My grandfather (a Jew) served in WWI; his son (my dad) served in WWI. Both are buried in the national cemetery in Colma, Ca with the Star of David atop the grave marker. I am a Viet Nam vet. I retired after 37 years as an LEO. Your statement is racist, offensive and in extremely poor taste.

[guido4198]

This is a huge load-o-crap.
We need a review session of our side-of-the-road rights from a good attorney. When stopped randomly...can you not answer questions, ask if you're under arrest...?? Can you ask what is their probable cause for stopping you and requiring you to show your "Papers"? If you're under arrest, you do have aright to know why,if not, can you request to be on your way, without showing your "Papers"..??
I'm not suggesting any attitude...just a simple VERY polite flexing of OUR rights. Do we actually have any left..??
Rights are like muscles...you gotta flex'em every now and then, or they go away.
Lookin' for information here...not trying to start an argument. This stuff is only gonna get worse...let's get educated, and prepared to "flex" the rights we have.

[Faast Ed]

If I am stopped at one of these I will voice my displeasure with the violations of my rights. I will file a complaint.

It's been my experience that "voicing my displeasure" gets me more tickets (or worse).  You can't beat these guys!

I mean no disrespect to anyone here. (I am on your side).

No dope, but you had a couple beers with lunch, at the checkpoint they smell it on you, .....have a nice ride from the local lockup.

Excellent point and I could easily fall victim to that one!

[Faast Ed]

Keep in mind:  It's your word against the cops word.

Who will the judge believe?

You flex your rights, and he can 'say' that you did more than flex your rights. The judge will side with the cop. Every time!
A simple "yes sir/no sir" will likely let your vacation last longer, and possibly keep the hook off of your bike.

Ask any LEO if he don't agree.

They have safety checkpoints for big trucks in my region all the time. It is legal.  Not clear what excuse they use for bikers, but with trucks they call it "safety".

[fxrp]

I don't think even the tickets (helmet, etc) would stand up in court with this "checkpoint."

The courts have held checkpoints legal for DUI enforcement, etc but at those the cops stopped everyone. If they're just stopping motorcyclists then its blatant profiling. Of course if you live 1,000 miles away are you going to go back in a week to fight a traffic violation? Probably not.

Personally I would stop and provide license, registration, and insurance information at the checkpoint.  If they asked me to open the bags for a search I would refuse. I would challenge the stop as profiling and I would ask them to explain what they had for "probable "cause" to search my bags. I'm not carrying so I'm not worried about them finding anything but they will by god get a f~^kin warrant if they want to search my stuff. I always have my camera and I'll photograph the whole event.

Paul

[ChromeWhore]

I think a lot of coppers are getting a bum wrap on this. The fuzz can piss me off sometimes too especially when I get stopped for speeding, but we couldn’t go off our front porch without police. We would be screwed big time without them.

This is the kind of complaints I hear from African-Americans and other groups that have been fighting discriminatory behavior for eons. It seems like a lot of people don’t give a rats a$$ about how others are treated until it happens to them--then it’s a major frickin catastrophe…

I’m okay with shootin the "Potty mouth" with the fuzz as long as it’s for a good cause and protecting the safety of my fellow countrymen.. As far as the stop being a revenue generating scheme, well that’s possible, but remember if the state or county wants to truly generate revenue generating schemes, they have a boat load of ways to do it… The could legalize prostitution, for instance, and tax us on it… That would generate a helluva lot more revenue than any check point known to man. ..

After all, do you want one of those terrorist cells in your backyard--and the reason the f@#kers went undetected was because no one checked the area for terrorist bastards in the name of freedom?  Remember freedom has its constraints. For example, should we allow someone to flick a cigarette butts all over an officially declared fire hazard dry forest area that could result in burning down the whole fickin area? The smoker could reply and say, “Why not, it’s my freedom to smoke.”  So, let’s respect freedom…and be responsible as possible. I’m not perfect… I have the “damndest” time going the speed limit…

I wish all of you the funnest and safest riding times…

PS: I don’t mind shootin the "Potty mouth" with the fuzz as long as there is no booze on my breath…    Cheers..   

[EZGlider]

Well, didn't mean to stir up anti Police sentiment with this BUT I do believe it is profiling.  IMHO, unless you have a reason other than "they belong to "blank" group, you cannot single out riders for stops.  Stopping only or even primarily MCs is discriminatory and I am an ex LEO.

In my experience, hard working Policemen cringe at this kind of stuff.  It just hurts the image and makes the rest of the job harder.  Since I ride the Parkway alot, I can tell you that cages crossing the center line while rubbernecking the eye candy scenery, motor homes piloted by inexperienced drivers who have little on their minds but "I'm on vacation!!!!" and deer and other creatures entering the roadway are alot more dangerous and rate much more attention regarding safety than checking motorcyles for "equipment violations" as a thin excuse for harrassing a specific group and justifying illegal seizures.

Even seizures pursuant to legal arrests for traffic violations are tainted by an illegally contrived "safety checkpoint", IMHO.

EZ (Pro Law Enforcement Period, not just the one's I agree with)

[longshooter]

I'm not siding with the LEO's, but I know not to fight a losing battle.  All the emails in the world won't change a thing!  Accept that and prepare accordingly.
Who knows, there might be safety checks in other areas too.

It is a good thing the majority of people did not feel this way when we were getting mandatory helmets forced on us. Perhaps you were not riding at the time and it did not impact you or you just felt the same way then. But I was and I signed petitions, supported M/C rights groups and rode to my state
capitol to protest the unfairness of the law. The "system" was big then, it may have seemed like a losing battle to many people, all I know is that today,
I have the freedom to choose to wear a helmet, or not. The only sure lost battle is the one not fought!!!!

We must all abide by the laws of whatever state we ride in .. fair enough. But if we feel those laws are unfair, illegal or violate our constitutional rights,
then WE have the RIGHT AND OBLIGATION to oppose it to a final conclusion.

longshooter

[longshooter]

Sorry about the above post. The first part is the quote and the second part is my response.

longshooter

[Alien]

Damn, just damn. There was a time "bikers" would have fought something like this. Now all I here is there is nothing we can do.

I've heard it said who would the judge listen to? Lawyers supress evidence and question the legality of evidence all the time and win! There are also the dash cams, be respectfull, ask if you are under arrest and what is the probable cause/reasonable suspicion for the stop? Sobriety checkpoints are not legal everywhere and they have to follow certain rules to perform them (even though I believe they are a violation of the same 4th ammendment rights this safety stop violates)

If minorities did not fight for their civil rights they would be still sitting in the back of buses and drinking out of different fountains. Descrimination is discrimination whether it be color of skin or mode of transportation (equal protection under the law)

The cigarette butt anology is a flawed one! Littering is not a protected right, try again!

I did not say and do not advocate yelling at the officers and telling them I KNOW MY RIGHTS. You can still be respectfull and demand your rights be respected. If you are going to demend respect and your rights you better damn well be squeeky clean, I am!

[shovelbill]

Oh I understand better than you think.  I just can't see "beating the system" being even a remote possibility.
"The system" is just too large of an opponent.

imagine if a select few thought the same about England. unbelievable.

[RK101]

Damn, just damn. There was a time "bikers" would have fought something like this. Now all I here is there is nothing we can do.

That's the job of the AMA. We can scream and yell all we want on this site and nothing will happen but if we let the AMA know how we feel,  then they can address the issues we might have. There is power in numbers and we don't have the numbers here on Htt unless we join others. AMA has numbers and people in place that are better able to handle this sort of thing.  JMO.

[mark61]

   Alien  has it right!    Want to flex your right without letting the LEOs and court dick you around?  WRITE AND CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN!  You ARE a registered voter, right? LEARN what to do when stopped! Ask them WHY you were stopped. Ask them "Am I under arrest?" If they say no or do not answer after 3 times you can leave. Keep your lawyer on speed dial! JOIN ABATE/AMA/MRF. Lousy $25 a year to fight this stuff for lazy people who won't make an effort.    Oh   no  that is too much bother,,,,easier to spend your time b$tching and moaning on the net..... The reason "they"  the government groups even try this crap is because people won't/don't be involved in the first place!

GROW A PAIR!

mark61

[shovelbill]

i really had something funny to say, but i wont bother. i'm done.

[Faast Ed]

I could see it now: 

"Sir, I read on the internet that I can leave now, so see ya later!"
(Why is this cop following me with his lights flashing?)
"Nope, I don't have to stop because it is unconstitutional,......  Hey!  He's still up my arse!"
"Sir! Please stop following me!"
I have my rights!  (This vacation is exciting!)

[76shuvlinoff]

Whatever your approach taking it out on the specific leo(s) in question is the wrong tactic. Even if he/she is wrong he/she can and probably will make your life hell for the immediate time being if you are deemed belligerent. In the end you are the only one inconvenienced because that is what they are there for. The most you'll get is an apology from some departmental spokesperson.. maybe.  Be grown up, unite, work the system, get your own spokesperson, vote.  Or wear cuffs and sit in the ditch awaiting transport or release, your call.

[ChromeWhore]

Faast  Ed: You are correct...   

It's a fallacy to assume that you can respectfully tell an officer that you respectfully have rights and walk away.  That's like closing your eyes and tapping your heels three times and saying, "There's no place like home." and expect to be home when you open your eyes....  Not realistic... (I guess someone will reply and say that really works in Kansas.) Actually when you open your eyes, you'll likely find yourself in the slammer... 

Take this posting for what it is because it takes a law degree and passing the bar exam to provide legitimate legal advice. No driver license or gun licenses would make a person an expert on this topic.

And always use common sense. You'll be surprise how far you can go on common sense alone.. 

[Killer]

Well, to all the key-board commando’s out there… reality check..
When the BLUE-LIGHTS come on, you’re soon to be in the LEO world, a simple fact.
I’ve been profiled more times than you can shake a stick at. Ya, you have rights, if they want to give them to you. I’ve found its best to be polite and at the same time, let them know that you know what your rights are, usually they will stop poking and digging in your pockets.
It's just my .02

[tireater]

Roll over...You can't fight the man...The only 2 tickets I have had in the last 20 years came 5 years apart...At the same intersection...
Cali. right turn...I beat this big prick mex/Amer bike cop twice in court...Then I filed a complaint on him with the popo...
YOU CAN FIGHT...YOU CAN WIN !!! Or go to plan B...I have been in 6 police chases in the last 3 years...They never wrote me once...
They got so mad that they put a cop 6ft from my place for 2 days...Just so they could see what I was wearing when I went riding my supermoto...
We finally negotiated...If I didn't run in the city...They would not chase me in the country...Yeah right...
I tested the theory by doing a 60 mph one handed wheelie passing a parked cop car on top of our mountain, throwing gang signs....
They might have chased me...after they cleaned up the coffee and dounuts off each other...Kind of hard to tell....

[panz4ever]

Roll over...You can't fight the man...The only 2 tickets I have had in the last 20 years came 5 years apart...At the same intersection...
Cali. right turn...I beat this big prick mex/Amer bike cop twice in court...Then I filed a complaint on him with the popo...
YOU CAN FIGHT...YOU CAN WIN !!! Or go to plan B...I have been in 6 police chases in the last 3 years...They never wrote me once...
They got so mad that they put a cop 6ft from my place for 2 days...Just so they could see what I was wearing when I went riding my supermoto...
We finally negotiated...If I didn't run in the city...They would not chase me in the country...Yeah right...
I tested the theory by doing a 60 mph one handed wheelie passing a parked cop car on top of our mountain, throwing gang signs....
They might have chased me...after they cleaned up the coffee and dounuts off each other...Kind of hard to tell....

IMHO...you place more importance on yourself than you are really worth.

[tireater]

That's why this is America....We value people with different opinions...