Ten year ban for pulling a wheelie

[tcfjr]

Via VisorDown, November 27, 2007:

STUNTING BIKERS in Miami may have gone just a step too far at the weekend, and their antics look set to bring in tough new laws that is likely to see their bike taken off them, their licences revoked for TEN years and a mandatory stay in prison.
State representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera went on a ride-along with the Florida Highway Patrol to check out the local problem of speeding bikers for himself.

"This guy did a wheelie," Lopez-Cantera said of one motorcyclist. "It's unbelievable. These motorcycles passed us like we were standing still." Lopez-Cantera said he witnessed racers speeding at up to 120mph on the Dolphin Expressway. "They're just blatantly riding in excessive speeds, putting themselves and other motorists in danger," Lopez-Cantera said. "It's just too much."

Police officers had complained that they were virtually powerless to pursue the bikers and said that they were frustrated as they watch their tactics, like flipping the bike's number plates around so they can't be traced.

True to his word, Lopez-Cantera filed a bill in Tallahassee after the ride-along that would toughen penalties on speeding, stunt driving and hiding or flipping number plates.

"They'll lose their bike," Lopez-Cantera said. "Their motorcycle license will be revoked for 10 years, and it's a mandatory arrest so they will go to jail."

If there are no delays with the law-changing bill, it could be heard as soon as this December which would place it for a full vote on implimentation next year.

 

[KSFJR]

A stiff penalty is fine but what is the penalty in FL for DWI I wonder, which of course should be equal to or greater than the MC penalty.

Chester

 

[GunMD]

IMHO this won't fly. This guy seems to have been driven by the emotion of his recent ride-along when he drafted this. While they may implement a lesser version of his draft, I doubt very seriously if the 10 year ban could ever become law. And prison time for stunting? I think lawmakers and the state's budget would prevent that. Overcrowding is already a problem in most places (I can't speak to the availability of prison beds in FL).

We'll see I guess.

:dntknw:

 

[wfooshee]

And how much easier will it be to enforce? If they can't get them, they can't get them. Period.

Like most politicians, he wants to be seen "doing something" about the problem, and like most, accomplishes nothing. Kind of like political threads. (Although this one is motorcycle-related.)

These guys piss me off royally because when people who don't know me find out I ride but I don't ride a Harley, this is what they assume I do. Oh, you're one of those guys we see on Youtube, huh?

 

[GunMD]

Don't get me wrong. I agree that this sort of behavior on public streets isn't good for our beloved sport, but I agree with wfooshee...not any more enforceable than current laws.

.02

 

[dcarver]

If your Harley won't wheelie then you don't have a problem.

 

[madmike2]

Has anyone warned "hotrod502" that Florida is looking for him? :lol:

 

[painman]

If they outlaw stunt bikes only outlaws will have stunt bikes. And uh, flipping license plate, hum....Skyway you home? PM. <><

 

[exskibum]

If they think they had a problem with stunters running before . . .

Just wait until the penalty for stopping for the pretty flashing red and blue lights is jail time, forfeiting the bike and no license for 10 years. **** -- even I'd probably run with those consequences.

While I don't ride wheelies, I have been known to get the front wheel off the ground on occasion with hard acceleration. Wonder what the line is going to be on this new law. As was said above, I just don't see this law going into effect in as extreme a form as was reported, whether this legislator has a hard-on for stunters or not.

 

[Jazzzzz]

A power wheelie is one thing, riding a highchair at 120 on the freeway is something entirely different. The problem is trying to get a police officer to differentiate between the two reliably. If the bill is not worded very, very specifically, you could wind up in court trying to get your bike out of impound for getting on the throttle just a little too hard coming out of a corner or up an onramp.

Having said that, I'm all for throwing the book at the idiots riding like this on the highway - keep it to a parking lot or a private road and I couldn't care less. Ride a highchair down the shoulder at 100+ and you deserve whatever you get.

 

[Honzo]

Stupid politician should do what stupid politicians do, cater to the problem. They build parks so all the degenerates on skateboards have a place to let Darwinism run its course. Why not for motorcycles? Well it will only work to void the streets of the problem if you can get spectators to watch. Most people are out to prove something and show off only if there is someone to prove something and show off to.

 

[FJstaR]

While I don't ride wheelies, I enjoy watching others who do! :yahoo:

 

[huron52]

If you come to Ontario..... Same sort of law is here.... and don't even think about standing up on your pegs.

Well I guess the fine is a little less. You lose your bike on the spot for 7 days, licence on the spot for 7 days and min. fine of $2000 dollars.

 

[Neil San Diego]

Kneejerk reaction by the ignorant.

 

[Rondo777]

Dont those laws already exist? I thought that was called speeding and wreckless driving. Theres also already a law in place covering the lisence plate issue. What a tool box this politician is. :dribble:

 

[ionbeam]

Man, those wild kids doing stunts on public highways. It's probably because they are riding sport bikes which should be banned too.

See what I mean --->

 

[Toecutter]

Has anybody seen a kid do a backflip while leaving the motorcycle and land back on it?

There needs to be a YouTube reward/bounty section. We could pass the hat, post up, and watch the squidly antics abound!

 

[madmike2]

Has anybody seen a kid do a backflip while leaving the motorcycle and land back on it?
There needs to be a YouTube reward/bounty section. We could pass the hat, post up, and watch the squidly antics abound!

What, a pre-mortem offering?

 

[Flyguy]

I was at a toll booth this AM in Orlando and was waiting for change when I heard a sportbike climbing the tach. A second later this guy, laid down on his tank, come through the Epass lane at what had to be 90+! Then another follows only, a bit off the pace of the first, but this nutcase is riding side saddle with his hand over his plate!! I couldn't believe it. I asked the attendant if he had ever seen anything like that before? He responded that he sees these guys on motorcycles trying to beat the cameras all the time. For 75 cents! At the time there were a few patrol cars in the parking area. One officer bolted to his car but I think he was going for his radio as he did not give chase. Would have been pointless anyway. This is getting out of hand.

The new law, as written, seems reasonable. I don't at all feel threatened by it. Remember, the arresting officer has the discretion of using the big stick for those "attitude problems" or flagrant violators. The guy with a Busa who inadvertently lifts on a empty road would not necessarily receive the same treatment.

The problem is going to come when these squids run from law enforcement. As someone pointed out earlier, these guys are probably not deterred by threatening their endorsements as most of them probably don't have them anyway. Then the only solution will be to limit the performance of the vehicles to the point they are no longer able to do the stunts or run successfully. That probably means a resurrection of the talk about 99 hp max limit for starters. Probably not a bad thing as it would raise the value of our pre-neutered bikes.

This may be in the minds of the manufacturers already. Possibly that is one additional reason they are using multiple maps. In the future they just eliminate certain maps for certain countries. I understand that in France there is some talk escalating on requiring proof of compliance with their standards. This is happening as many are buying bikes out of the country.

It is really getting unhealthy out there