Why Is The Government Treating Motorcyclists As Criminals

02/11/2013

The Queensland State Government recently introduce Anti-Association legislation, supposedly to help wipe out "criminal motorcycle gang related crime".

According to the government, this legislation, and the subsequent crackdown on what used to be call "Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs", but are now referred to as "Criminal Motorcycle Gangs", was not going to impact motorcyclists who were not associated with these groups.

<commence rant>

If that's the case, why are hundreds of motorcyclists being pulled up daily and put through license checks, searches, tatoo checks, etc.  Why also are social groups of motorcyclists being "checked up on" when they decided to go for a social ride?

I was out last weekend with about 20 other riders from the local branch of ...... (sorry, not allowed to use the name, BUT WE ARE NOT ON THE LIST OF DEEMED CRIMINAL GANGS AND SHOULD NOT BE GETTING HARRASSED !!!). The only "drugs" we carry are for blood pressure, arthritis & heart conditions... While we were having a coffee break at Esk, the local "lady in blue" drove past, pulled a U turn and dropped over to check us out. Under the pretext of advising us about roadworks ahead, we were asked where we were going and who we we, etc.   WHY DID SHE NEED TO KNOW !!!!!

About half an hour later, surprise, surprise, there was an RBT just being set up at our designated meeting point at the top of the range.  We weren't test, however, call me dumb, but it certainly looked like the site had been set up to let us know the police were around....anyway, how often are RBT's set up on relatively quiet roads leading into Toowoomba at 10:30am on Sundays???

Reports from the media and various motorcycling forums indicate that A LOT of riders are staying off the roads so they don't get harrassed by the police.  Reports from a lot of the country towns that thrive on weekend motorcycle groups visiting are that numbers are down by up to 80%... 80% fewer weekend visitors buying coffee, food, fuel...that's not going to impact these small towns ..... MUCH

Now the police are advising social riders to notify them who they are and where they are going so they can be added to the "do not annoy" list (read "police intelligence" database).

Geez, now you are requested to report to the police when you want to go for a ride...what next, restrictions on when and where you can ride, curfews, permission slips???

These new laws/rules/recommendations/whatever WILL NOT stop me from riding and WILL NOT stop me from associating with other motorcycle riders...anyone would think the government/police were overly strict parents - No, you can't play with little Johnny because he's a "naughty" boy, no you can't talk to Jimmy because he wears weird clothes.... you get the idea.

</end rant>

Time to follow the wise words of a wise old man...

"Go where you want, when you want, the way you want." 

I'm heading out for a ride. If I'm not back by tomorrow, can someone come and bail me out.....

Thursty