5/20/2012 2012 Bike Blessing Photos posted

5/14/12 New address, PO Box 40344, Providence RI 02940-0344

4/28/2012 5/1/2012 New Board Meeting Location: Impossible Dream, 575 Centerville Ave, Warwick, RI

New General Meeting Location: Fireman's Hall, Oakland Beach Ave, Warwick RIPO Box 40344, Providence RI 02940

2/19/2012 Add your events to RIMA's calendar and have it posted within 24 hours.  New event calendar allows you to post your event faster and have it up and visible within 24 hours. Add your event here, See event listing here.

12/9/2011
MOTORCYCLE ONLY CHECKPOINTS RULED
LEGAL IN NEW YORK COURT CHALLENGE
The Federal Court in New York last month issued a ruling on a case which has pitted New York motorcyclists against the State Police and their use of the "Motorcycle Only" checkpoints.
In terms of background, in 2008, the New York State Police decided to implement checkpoints that targeted motorcycles only and in the areas of and at same time as some of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the state.
The statistics from these checkpoints are staggering:
- 5,342 motorcycles passed through 17 checkpoints in 2008.
- Authorities inspected 2,278 of those vehicles.
- They made four criminal arrests
- They issued 1,064 tickets
- 365 for helmet violations
- 99 for other safety violations
- 600 for non-safety violations.
In this court challenge, brought by motorcyclists that were forced to comply with this checkpoints, it was argued that motorcycle checkpoints were a form of profiling and this type of action violated their constitutional rights.

The court disagreed and said, in part:
".......checkpoints were enacted to promote motorcycle safety, a manifest public interest; they were effective in addressing this interest; and that any interference with individual liberties was not only minimal, but also grossly outweighed by the interest advanced." The program gave police “appropriately� limited discretion and was “minimally intrusive,� with evidence showing bikers were detained at most 45 minutes even when they got secondary inspections and were cited for inadequate helmets, the judge wrote.
So, what is the effect of this ruling for bikers and motorcyclists in New England? In my opinion, increased confidence for law enforcement and anti-motorcycle groups with a stake in local and state government for the development and implementation of similar programs. Once in effect, the burden would shift to us to mount our own legal challenge. While courts do look to precedent for guidance in making decisions, this decision is fresh and fortunately here in the "1st Circuit" we have judges that don't automatically follow other jurisdictions. But it is an effort adverse to our motorcycling interests and one that we as bikers and motorcyclists must start thinking about.
I cannot stress enough, the importance of supporting the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association. This is the organization that will be marshaling the effort to combat such intrusive anti motorcycle government activity. These efforts take time, public support and money.
Submitted by Paul Lancia, Esq.

2011 Toy Photos Published