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World Superbike Event In Utah Not Very Biker Friendly
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/...ectandserv.htm Traffic between Miller Motorsports Park and Utah Highway 80 is backed up for miles, say numerous calls to Soup's mobile communicating device. Person who were involved in the back up say that the stopped traffic will cause a 40-60 minute delay in travel times. According to Miller Motorsports Park, the situation is that the Utah Hiway Patrol has set up a motorcycle safety check between the racetrack and Hiway 80. John Gardner, Miller Motorsports Park PR Manager, says that they have contacted the Governor of Utah Gary R Herbert to get the inspections stopped ASAP. Numerous sources say that the Utah Hiway Patrol closed one lane of traffic, and are pulling over every single motorcycle leaving the track and giving them a "safety inspection". I guess track officials must have called the popo to call off their dogs. Miller Motorsports PR man John Gardner says that the Utah Highway Patrol check point set-up on highway 36 near the track has been canceled, the police have left and traffic levels are returning to their normal haul-ass levels. "What happened is that the local highway patrol received a federal grant to run a six-hour motorcycle safety checkpoint," Gardner said. "They were going to pull over a few motorcycles at a time and give them a pamphlet to promote safe motorcycling, talk to the riders a little. It was well-intended, but poorly implemented. It was supposed to take maybe ten minutes and just a few bikes would be pulled in. Obviously, it went differently. We called our contacts in a local Commissioner's of Public Safety's Office and the checkpoint was shut down. We were assured that it won't happen again." "We apologize to everyone for this, it won't ever happen again." Miller Motorsports sources first expressed disbelief and then frustration upon learning about the motorcycle-only checkpoint. "We do so much to try and attract motorcyclists to our event, it's just unbelievable that this happened," said one. |
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Obviously the cops knew the race was going on, so they set up where they could cause the most hassle for motorcyclists. Why not target cell phone using cagers in Salt Lake City and on I-15. That would probably do more to protect motorcyclists than checking to make sure they have enough tread on their tires.
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Awesome PR for the Utah Highway Patrol. They get a WSBK race and harass the attendees. Glad a few phone call were made and they put a stop to it quick.
"They were going to pull over a few motorcycles at a time and give them a pamphlet to promote safe motorcycling, talk to the riders a little". Bullshit *cough cough* |
a load of bollocks
That bullshit excuse just underscores the contempt that the highway patrol has for Miller, the Director of safety, Utah tourism, the Governor and all of us motorcyclists.
If they really were interested in public safety they could have set up an area in the circuit, given demo rides and true safety inspections such as chain maintenance and tire care etc like normal cops would do that actually give a shit. Have they ever pulled over skiers, RVers, boaters etc? How about the drivers leaving a Jazz game? If the organisers of the event don't put pressure on the Governor to have the Head of the UHP removed it will be a sad day. Was that really the best use of federal monies? It aint hard to see how things are so messed up when you condone this type of fiscal irresponsibility. |
Poorly planned and executed. Target audience in mass, however the crux of the message was lost in in the over-zealous delivery. I doubt that the Utah Stae Police have a "hard on" for motorcyclists but events such as this make it seem that way. Since when does a cop know more about tire care and chain maintenance than I do? Traffic awareness, situational awareness and educating the public about SUV driving, cel phone using, multi-tasking soccer mom's will keep more of you alive than having a cop look at your tires and chains.
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:( A sad day for Utah.
What moron thought that, "They were going to pull over a few motorcycles at a time and give them a pamphlet to promote safe motorcycling, talk to the riders a little." was a good idea anyway ? Pulled over for NO reason except that you ride ? TOTAL crap. It was, however, an awesome weekend :D Great races at the best facility/track in the country. Stunt show by Christian Pfiefer (bmw), stunt planes, concert, lotsa meet and greets with the riders, etc. |
The simple fact that they are pulling people over for being riders means they have missed the mark... Doesn't matter what they actually do once you are pulled over, could very well be well intended, but it's still targeting a single group, on false grounds...
Oh, yeah... And the politician that actually believed the cops when they said "Just a pamphlet and a chat"... Well... The word moron doesn't quite cover it... When they start pulling over soccer moms and confiscating their cellphones & make-up kits, then they are welcome to pull me over for a chat about my tires as well... |
I've always wondered how that doesn't come up under "illegal search / seizure" or something along those lines constitutionally? They are admitting up front they are pulling you over without probable cause, doesn't that make it very illegal from the get go?
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pulling over only bikers makes it profiling and un-constitutional, but hey the constitution has been a joke since FDR walked all over (and did some great things while doing so).
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