Posted on 10/08/2015 5:06:19 AM PDT by Elderberry
The National Motorcycle Profiling Survey that began October 1st is beginning to show some strong early trends confirming that motorcycle profiling is a prevalent and widespread problem. The survey is intended to provide a clearer picture of motorcycle profiling from a national perspective through a thorough and comprehensive series of specific and detailed questions. Although there have only been approximately 1,400 surveyed in the first couple of days, some trends are so strong that they are worth talking about now.
84.52% of motorcyclists report riding a motorcycle places them under a higher level of scrutiny from law enforcement and business owners. Motorcyclists feel that they are separated from their fellow Americans. Importantly, this is not just a club issue. 41.48% of those surveyed were independent riders being stopped due to their VFW, Legion Rider, and ABATE patches.
53.79% of those surveyed have witnessed police presence or investigations at planned and publicized motorcycle gatherings. This is particularly disconcerting considering these scenarios involve law enforcement stereotyping of the entire community, not a specific club for specific reasons. In nearly 45% of these cases police were actively gathering intelligence and taking photos of everyone coming and going. These events are social, charitable, and political in nature. This type of harassment represents beeline discrimination based on stereotyping and is constitutionally impermissible.
80% of those surveyed believe that there is a police cover-up or intentional deception relating to the facts surrounding the Waco incident. This clearly demonstrates the level of distrust between the motorcycle community and law enforcement. Profiling directly isolates an entire class of Americans from the mainstream cutting them off from their fellow Americans.
85% surveyed also believe that the civil liberties of the 177 arrested are compromised. Only 1.5% believe the mass arrests are justified. Clearly, the lack of specific probable cause and oppressive bail results in the majority of people understanding that the Waco PD was clearly not justified.
The National Motorcycle Profiling Survey, created by the North Florida COC and sponsored by the MPP, provides valuable insight into the issue of motorcycle profiling in America. As we move towards an effort to pass a national motorcycle profiling law participation in the survey will provide a valuable piece of evidence in the overall pattern justifying relief. If you haven’t taken the survey yet, it can be found here. And please encourage as many as you can to participate in this most important effort. There is no democracy without participation.
Since the max speed limit here is 35 I have 125cc scooter. The Guam cops never give me any problem. Maybe I need to wear more leather
Muslims are unfairly targeted because other Muslims are jihadist murderers.
HUH?
If you ride a hog and dress like a Hell’s Angel or other biker gang, perhaps we should use our objective minds to wonder if you are in fact a threat. Sorry, just because a few lawyers and doctors like to ride, doesn’t mean the majority of bikers are suspect.
Everyone and Everything they do is OK or you’re a racist - bigot .
I’m so sick of this crap.
My Son was stationed on the SSN Buffalo, home ported on Guam.
Funny, I have been riding since 1957 and have never felt like I was being “profiled”.
But then, I have never identified with the “Biker Culture”.
Could it be that the author is confusing Motorcycle Profiling with Biker Profiling?
Intentionally. And I bet the victims have 'Pants up, don't loot' bumper stickers too.
Leather in Guam? Yikes!
IBTG
Yes, but you ride a scooter with shorts, sandals and a gayly dyed scarf, you might be profiled as a California-trained wimp.
Why does everyone else need to pay for gov't EPA regs, seat belts, airbags, etc. etc.? Cry me a river.
Not even wearing my Patriot Guard black leather vest.
When I bought my first HD, I rode over to my oldesr brother’s house to show him. As i pulled up their driveway, his wife of 40 years, and who knew me since I was 8, started backing up toward the house, and was visibly nervous and scared. Then when I got off she stsrted yelling for him come out just because I was wearing my leather coat, sun glasses, helmet and was riding a Harley.
Well, if the individual is wearing the outlaw-gang colors, they are already self-profiling. Otherwise the cops should leave riders alone.
Even so, I'd like to know how much "biker crime" affects the general public, drugs prostitution, violent crime etc and who's doing it. Especially in comparison to say...."black-on-black" pr moslem crime.
My husband’s sergeant in 1974/75 at Ellsworth AFB was from Guam. Nicest man - we’ve been wondering where he got to over the last 40 years.
I understand this because I used to ride my motorcycle everywhere.
I dealt with it. I knew it was reality.
And I don’t shake my fist at the sky when it rains, either.
That's because it is a car.
Not even wearing my Patriot Guard black leather vest.
Well, you shouldn't be anyway unless you're actually on a mission.
I know a cop that pulls over every car he sees with upscale rims and illegal tint. He keeps the tint meter on the front seat of his cruiser. It is all just an excuse to identify and sniff out any other possible crimes. If people don’t like it they can take the illegal tint off their windows.
The only trouble I’ve had was in late spring in Virginia Beach in 1971. Harley riders were targeted in an effort to “clean up the beach” before the arrival of tourists. People who rode foreign bikes were left alone. One morning I was pulled for loud pipes. While the officer was talking to me he had to pause as a very loud rice burner passed us. Nothing was said, I pointed at the bike but the officer just shrugged.
My pipes were not loud but were aftermarket. I was given a warning and told to get stock pipes and keep the receipt. I bought a set of stock shotguns, they were much louder than what I had but when I showed the cop the receipt he said it was much better.
After the tourist season passed I ran out of gas, gas stations were closed early. A cop helped me by getting a gallon of gas. The tourists were gone and they were again “officer friendlies”.
Plain and simple, that’s the intent of pretending to look like a menacing criminal. Whether any of them are honest enough to admit it.
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