Ten Years for One Wheelie?
Wednesday November 28, 2007
According to Visordown, Florida State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera became so irked when he witnessed stunting motorcyclists on public roads that he decided to do something about it. The politician, who reportedly witnessed riders hitting 120 mph and riding recklessly, later said, "It's unbelievable. These motorcycles passed us like we were standing still... They're just blatantly riding in excessive speeds, putting themselves and other motorists in danger... it's just too much."
So, like any proactive lawmaker, Lopez-Cantera flexed his legal muscle and filed a bill that calls for far stricter penalties for speeding, stunt riding, and concealed license plates. In his words, "They'll lose their bike, their motorcycle license will be revoked for 10 years, and it's a mandatory arrest so they will go to jail."
I've reported on boneheaded riding that resulted in strict punishment, nitpicky ticketing of motorcyclists at Tail of the Dragon, and the well-intentioned efforts of a DOT boss to encourage motorcycle safety, but this bill, if it passes, would-- to use Frank Zappa's words-- be like treating dandruff by decapitation.
Will this bill become a law? That's yet another question that only time will answer, but one thing is for certain: until the minority of irresponsible riders stop raising the ire of law enforcement and government officials, the rest of us will have to bear the stigma of the few that spoil it for the crowd.
Photo © Clive Rose / Getty Images Sport
Comments
The province of Ontario, earlier this year introduced new legislation allowing police officers the power to impound your car/bike on the side of the road, fine you $2000, and sieze your license for a week if you’re caught in excess of 50kph / 30mph over the posted limit. This is in response to a number of deaths in Ontario over the last couple years attributed to street racing - one of which was 2 people killed by an idiot on a bike…almost cut the car in half.
The law and it’s reasoning are legitimate - however the execution is poor…this puts a driver / rider in a ‘Guilty until proven innocent’ position. By the time your day in court comes around, you’ll have your bike/car & DL back, but it’s too late if you happen to be found innocent. Suffice to say it has created massive dislike and distrust of the police-mostly unfounded, but real nonetheless.
This sort of knee jerk, poorly thought out law making is going to spread in both countries unless the MC community & industry start riding, advertising and thinking with their brain instead of their right hand. Save it for the track or at least a LONG WAY from the city! Big brother is most definitely watching and they’re not liking what they see.
There are closed courses available for racing and people should use those for fun and games rather then the streets.
As far as Ontario, I think 30 mph is a pretty big enough buffer that a resonable person shouldn’t worry about losing one’s bike, vehicle or license.
Scottie…you’re absoluetly right - however, the numnber of unreasonable people who feel it’s “Us (riders) against them (Police)” is absolutely staggering. Some of the things people ae saying would land them in jail in less democratic countries, much less actually doing them. No shortage of morons!
I think your dandruff analogy is right on. Wheelies and stunt riding on public roads may be inappropriate and annoying, but very rarely cause harm to anyone but the rider. It is, therefore, wrong to treat wheelies or stunting as a criminal act. The public will see no benefit from such laws. Conversely, the public would see huge benefits if existing laws were enforced - unsafe lane changes, failure to use turn signals, and driving while distracted. These careless driving habits kill and seriously injure countless more people than wheelies or stunts ever will.
It’s funny, like Tennessee’s new law declaring wheelies as reckless driving, yet no Tennessee politician presented any statistics showing that wheelies present any public danger.
Jeremy,
The fact that a wheelie is analagous to driving without a steering wheel, I would deem that as reckless driving.
I also agree that people need to stop fiddling with radios, iPods, dells phones, blackberries, digital displays, GPS displays, and hot cups of coffee from Starbucks while they are driving.
However, if it’s saturday and it’s your fourth trip to home depot or lowes, you really ought to be allowed to sip a beer.
Thats impossible! Nobody can do a wheelie for that long!
Jerry,
I like the way you think.
On the flip side, now you have the potential for more of these guys running from the police. And then you have the potential for some serious collateral damage…
If the law is that strict, they simply twist the throttle of their sportbikes and make all the bad police go away.
Pete, you and Scotty are lames. I dont see how Jeremy thinks wheelies are annoying. I think Tevo is an insurance agent. EvilSeed, you are exactly right. F.T.P.