State Rep. Files Bill Targeting Motorcycle 'Thrill Riders'
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State Rep. Files Bill Targeting Motorcycle 'Thrill Riders'
MIAMI -- State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera recently went on an eye opening ride-along with the Florida Highway Patrol, following speeding motorcyclists.
"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 witnessed racers speeding at 120 mph on the Dolphin Expressway
"They're just blatantly riding in excessive speeds, putting themselves in danger and putting other motorists in danger," Lopez-Cantera said. "It's just too much."
He watched as the racers were arrested for reckless driving, and he came upon another racer who was injured on the side of MacArthur Causeway.
"We saw so much blatant disregard for the laws tonight that it doesn't surprise me to see someone injured," Lopez-Cantera said.
Two years ago, NBC 6 investigated the brazen and dangerous stunts of the thrill riders.
"When you're young you like all the adrenaline stuff," one motorcyclist said.
"It's another form of getting high," another rider said. "Instead of smoking, you take it to the bike."
Law enforcement officers said they are powerless to pursue them and are frustrated as they watch their tactics, like flipping the bike's license plates so they can't be traced.
"That tag needs to be permanently attached to that motorcycle," one FHP trooper said. "The problem has gotten worse. The laws need to be changed. The penalties need to be stiffer."
Lopez-Cantera is trying to do that.
"Something has to be done. They have to actually fear the law because right now they don't," he said.
After the ride-along, Lopez-Cantera filed a bill in Tallahassee that would toughen penalties on speeding, stunt driving and hiding or flipping tags.
"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."
He said he hopes to get a law passed that will keep the racers in line.
"Once the word starts getting out that the courts are starting to throw the book at them, hopefully it'll change their behavior," Lopez-Cantera said.
The bill could be heard in a committee as soon as December and may come up for a vote next year.
all i can say is "its about fucking time they did somthing".
State Rep. Files Bill Targeting Motorcycle 'Thrill Riders' - Local News Story - WTVJ | Miami
"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 witnessed racers speeding at 120 mph on the Dolphin Expressway
"They're just blatantly riding in excessive speeds, putting themselves in danger and putting other motorists in danger," Lopez-Cantera said. "It's just too much."
He watched as the racers were arrested for reckless driving, and he came upon another racer who was injured on the side of MacArthur Causeway.
"We saw so much blatant disregard for the laws tonight that it doesn't surprise me to see someone injured," Lopez-Cantera said.
Two years ago, NBC 6 investigated the brazen and dangerous stunts of the thrill riders.
"When you're young you like all the adrenaline stuff," one motorcyclist said.
"It's another form of getting high," another rider said. "Instead of smoking, you take it to the bike."
Law enforcement officers said they are powerless to pursue them and are frustrated as they watch their tactics, like flipping the bike's license plates so they can't be traced.
"That tag needs to be permanently attached to that motorcycle," one FHP trooper said. "The problem has gotten worse. The laws need to be changed. The penalties need to be stiffer."
Lopez-Cantera is trying to do that.
"Something has to be done. They have to actually fear the law because right now they don't," he said.
After the ride-along, Lopez-Cantera filed a bill in Tallahassee that would toughen penalties on speeding, stunt driving and hiding or flipping tags.
"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."
He said he hopes to get a law passed that will keep the racers in line.
"Once the word starts getting out that the courts are starting to throw the book at them, hopefully it'll change their behavior," Lopez-Cantera said.
The bill could be heard in a committee as soon as December and may come up for a vote next year.
all i can say is "its about fucking time they did somthing".
State Rep. Files Bill Targeting Motorcycle 'Thrill Riders' - Local News Story - WTVJ | Miami
Last edited by Liquid; Nov 27, 2007 at 12:44 PM.
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Won't pass. Thats too severe for a wreckless driving infraction. And wreckless driving is bad enough as it is. You get in deep shit for a wreckless driving ticket.
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"They were crying when their sons left, God is wearing black. Hes gone so far to find no hope, hes never coming back. They were crying when their sons left, all young men must go. Hes come so far to find the truth hes never going home."
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I think that would cause more people to run from the cops, mostly for fear of getting arrested, 9 out of 10 times will bikes get away from cops.
I still think its crazy you can buy something with that much power/speed for so little money.
I still think its crazy you can buy something with that much power/speed for so little money.
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You cant control people threw fear and trying only makes things worse!
Its sad that a State Representative went as far as to say "they should fear the law!" I guess he has learned nothing from countries past history.
Last edited by Liquid; Nov 27, 2007 at 08:45 AM.
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. i don't have a problem with thrill seekers but when your doing that shit next to me and putting other peoples lives at risk as well as your own,something needs to be done.
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<rant>
Also, I'm personally a relatively law-abiding biker, I go 10-15 over the speed limit routinely to stay safe in traffic, have never gotten a ticket, and when I see lights in my mirrors I pull over. If a law like this passed, though, I'd have to run if I even suspected I'd be pulled--for one, I can't afford to lose my only transportation; for two, I can't afford to go to jail and lose my career. The bill he's proposing is idiotic for a multitude of reasons, he's only proposing it to play to the media as a cheap publicity stunt, and he should be forced to introduce a bill proposing jail sentences for white-collar crime.
</rant>
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reckless reckless reckless
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LOGIC? You seriously want to invoke logic in a conversation about fake hijackings, missiles hitting the pentagon, and bombs planted throughout the world trade center? I thought it was a given that logic was checked at the door when entering one of these threads.
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Something has to be done. They have to actually fear the law because right now they don't," he said.
hmm ok mr officer let me fear you.. will that make you feel bigger?? LMFAO
hmm ok mr officer let me fear you.. will that make you feel bigger?? LMFAO
