Bikers miffed at Snohomish's $30K event fee -Puget Sound

[GrafikFeat]

SNOHOMISH -- A motorcycle group may cancel its popular bike show in downtown Snohomish or move it to Sultan after being asked to pay thousands more in fees this year.


http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090219/NEWS01/702199933/-1/HEADLINES

Update:

Motorcycle group cancels show in Snohomish

SNOHOMISH — The organizers of a bike show that draws thousands to downtown Snohomish have canceled this year’s show after a late night meeting Wednesday.

It’s unlikely the event will ever take place in Snohomish again, organizers say.

The motorcycle group that puts on the Old Snohomish Antique & Classic Motorcycle Show said they can’t afford to pay thousands more in fees this year.

City officials wanted organizers to pay $30,360 for 44 police officers to staff the event. The Sky Valley chapter of the American Bikers Aimed Towards Education paid about $5,000 last year.


http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090219/NEWS01/902199988&news01ad=1#Bikers.cancel.show.in.Snohomish

[bflemingor]

Just a PC way of saying "No Bikes".. Happening more and more these days...

[Montana]

No bikes, no bikers. No bikers, no money. Short-sighted business owners.

In our area they get other PDs to send folks to help at events as part of a cross-training arrangement. We sent some of our PD to the Olympics in Salt Lake City; same concept.

[aaaaaa]

Not worth the grief to communities anymore. NH passed a law requiring tachometers on all bikes. NYC wanted to impound bikes without an EPA stamp on the muffler. Backlash against the noise and hooligans. Don't just pin it on Harley's. There's plenty of loud sport bikes doing stoppies. Try the dragon on the weekend of the rally this year. If they allow the road to be open to bikes, there's bound to be checkpoints and a huge speed trap there. Just another part of our social downward sprial. Oh well.....
robert

[OfficerImpersonator]

Yeah - but these are the ABATE Harley riders with their loud pipes, leather vests, do-rags under skull cap helmets and a hatred for any rules making riders safer.

Sorry, but I don't have much sympathy when those who cultivate or try to emulate the "bad boy biker" image end up getting flak from the cops.

I've been warned by a neighbor who rides a Honda ST 1300 for a local sheriff department to watch out for members of "three patch" clubs looking for confrontations with cops on bikes - or people who ride cop bikes. There is a long-simmering local feud between a couple of the "three patch" clubs and the "Iron Pigs", a M/C club for law enforcement officers. They had their big shoot-out with the Hell's Angels in Sturgis last summer, and the fall-out is still worrisome to local law enforcement.

While I realize the average ABATE member or cruiser rider has zero connection to "three patch" clubs, cops around here are on edge and wary of this sub-culture. I'm sure this all factored in to the decision of the City of Snohomish's police chief to require a massive law enforcement presence.

When you cultivate a renegade image, you need to be prepared to suffer the consequences as well as the benefits of a chosen lifestyle.

[12bswayed]

Remember when we went there last year Jim? 80% Harley. I don't know if you noticed, but there were at least 25 Bandido's there milling around, not even giving a crap about vintage motorcycles. Can't say I blame the city. The organizers have no control over who shows up. This is a clear case of the thugs making the event their own. It's a shame the organizers will be punished for the thugs, but that's the way it goes.

[Montana]

I certainly wasn't questioning the need for the police presence, just the pricing model.

We've hosted the Hell's Angels ride-in a couple of times now. The police presence is required because of all the a**holes, college punks and cowboy-wannabes that show up downtown to prove they are tough enough to mix into the biker crowd. Then, the bikers go back to their private campground-lodge and the mix downtown explodes on its own, self immolation. One year I took three days off of work just so I wasn't riding in town with this going on. We even had helicopters circling overhead with spotlights, and I have no idea where they got them. The only helicopters here are either life flight, private or military.

[GrafikFeat]

Last years show... Note the sidewalk...

[GrafikFeat]

Same show... Other side of the street, minutes later. Literally!

[r11rs94]

When you cultivate a renegade image, you need to be prepared to suffer the consequences as well as the benefits of a chosen lifestyle.

I agree 100% and people wonder why we are welcomed less and less everywhere...
If we as motorcycle riders cannot get our act together, the non-riding general public will, no matter how much noise the AMA makes in Washington. Time is not on our side..

[AndyMcLain]

What option did the city fathers have do you suppose? If you insist on associating with scumbags, try to look like a scumbag or actually ARE a scumbag you should expect regular people, who aren't quite as enlightened about the "lifestyle" as yourselves, not to want you around. Thanks Harley-Davidson.

[bdiver]

Hey Grafikfeat that 2nd photo looks like the bar 2 blocks from my house in Everett. (I know it's not but might as well be....) Those bandidos hang out there and I get to enjoy the "loud pipes save lives" group well into the early morning :rolleyes :nono which I totally love since I get up at 3:45 to go to work :mad

I made some stickers for some Nomads one time and told one of the guys about the local Tav, he said to sneak up and put a Support the Nomads sticker on the front door of the place and they'd make me an honorary member :laugh :bolt I said "No thanks"

Since Snohomish was mentioning it would cost 30K or summat for security and with our economic climate I don't see an issue with shutting it down or asking for $ to cover security, port a potties, etc.

[PAULBACH]

What option did the city fathers have do you suppose? If you insist on associating with scumbags, try to look like a scumbag or actually ARE a scumbag you should expect regular people, who aren't quite as enlightened about the "lifestyle" as yourselves, not to want you around. Thanks Harley-Davidson.

Enforce all laws. Start to confiscate bikes that cross the line. The tone will quickly change.

[Motor31]

Enforce all laws. Start to confiscate bikes that cross the line. The tone will quickly change.

Very very easy to say but extremely difficult in execution. New laws would have to be enacted to enable the confiscation aspect, then there is the constitutional issue, that pesky constitutional thingy. Something about due process and all. Don't forget what laws would have to be enacted with clear delineated clauses indicating just where "the line" is and how it is illegal to cross it.

[Montana]

"Cross the line" is pretty vague. There was a proposed equipment ordinance in MT to outlaw handlebars over 15" above the seat. I measured my stock BMW bars and it exceeded this, plus I pointed out this setup might be required; it really depends on the conformation of the rider.

[OfficerImpersonator]

"Cross the line" is pretty vague. There was a proposed equipment ordinance in MT to outlaw handlebars over 15" above the seat. I measured my stock BMW bars and it exceeded this, plus I pointed out this setup might be required; it really depends on the conformation of the rider.

Agreed that "cross the line" is vague, but the cops could start by at least enforcing the laws already on the books - laws against excessively loud exhausts, illegal equipment, improper helmets, burned out turn signals, absence of horns, etc.. Nickle and dime them with traffic regulations and pretty soon they'll stop showing up.

[jpberens43639]

The police hava a darn tough job as it is.

I REALLY don't know how they keep up. I try not to add to the mix, sometimres I can't help myself though. So's when I get stopped, it's usually deserved and I really don't mind the banter. Big plus is I usually learn something too. Somtimes I get a pass, sometimes not.
The police just can't enforce all the equipment violations on bikes.

I help out. I live in a suburb of the HD nirvanna. So, when there's an FNG to HD running straight pipes on a summer night round the hood, I drop the local PO sargent an e-mail to let him know about it.
He's a good guy and responds when he can. I may see & hear the FNG a while longer, but eventually it stops.
Of course, just like flippin bunnies, more soon replace the lost, so I just keep on e-mailing & calling the nice sargent.

That's a mess out there with upping the fee's, but what are the locals supposed to do?

[BONEY]

I don't see the problem with the organizers of any event paying the full cost to the community that their event entails. If you draw a rowdy crowd that requires a great deal of law enforcement presence, then you buy the officer's time. If you draw a bunch of tea totalers then you don't.

ASIDE: Hey, that Indian has Hossack forks, doesn't it?

[wayneswan]

I'd be happy to hang out with all the "biker scum" in Sultan instead. Snohomish is cutting thier own throat with this decision. I've won two trophies for my pair of BMW's there in the past and although it's a HD fest, some of the best M/C's in the NW show up there. And all with money to spend. Everyone behaves and there's nothing to justify the new fee. Yes the pipes are loud and the bikers are a little scary, but that's why 1/2 of us go! This will be a boom for Sultan and a ban for Snohomish. See you there!

[GrafikFeat]

Is Sultan going to host? I heard it was canceled... :hungover

[Manfred]

In central Texas, there is an annual vintage bike rally. I've been to the last two. It's a small rally - around 1,000 people. The first year I went, a San Antonio gang was causing a lot of ruckus - loud, drunken, some stupid dangerous stuff; all without regard to the "regular folk" who were there.

I talked with the rally organizer about it and he promised improvements.

The FAQ for the 2008 rally spelled out unacceptable behavior and its consequences.

The San Antonio gang showed up again. They lined their bikes up better than any cops, made a neat camp, kept to themselves and refrained from all the obnoxious behavior that made them famous in 2007.

As far as I could see, we had zero cops on duty both years. Of course, here in Texas, more people are armed. :nra

[wayneswan]

Is Sultan going to host? I heard it was canceled... :hungover

The date has changed but it appears a deal has been struck per a 4/3 story at www.heraldnet.com. The show will take place on July 12 in Sultan.....

[GrafikFeat]

The date has changed but it appears a deal has been struck per a 4/3 story at www.heraldnet.com. The show will take place on July 12 in Sultan.....

The Story is here. (http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090403/NEWS01/704039907/1052/COMM0620#Displaced.motorcycle.show.moves.to.Sultan )

Thanks for heads up.

[ian408]

Dunno. With govt's hurting, I think it's open season on anyone that wants to host an event that requires extra anything.

[GrafikFeat]

Dunno. With govt's hurting, I think it's open season on anyone that wants to host an event that requires extra anything.

Yeah... But that is a double edged sword...
It also brings in revenue.
Creates a few jobs too, even if temporary.

[ian408]

Yeah... But that is a double edged sword...
It also brings in revenue.
Creates a few jobs too, even if temporary.

Agreed. I bet they come begging next year when they realize that $30K cost them $100K. Whether increased hotel taxes or the money lost by local businesses.

But it is was it is. If a city doesn't have the $30K to pay OT, they need to get it from some where and I'm sure the citizenry is tired of footing the bill.