| Author | Message | ||
     1313 |
Jim (Nance), The NC legislature has created a bunch of loopholes for getting out of tickets. There was an article in the paper on it about a month ago. Do share, please, do share! 1313  | ||
| Mr_gto |
They are really nice. Just doing their job. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Ok you guys here's an official response from THP; Heres the mail I sent, Dear Sirs, I live in France but have many American motorcyclist friends, whom I visit whenever possible. I visited the Deals Gap area for a week, 2 years ago & was mightily impressed by the area & the people. I am at present in the middle of planning a trip for a small group of European riders to come & visit the area, probably in the early fall or late spring of next year, to rent motorcycles from local dealers & obviously to use all the local facilities. I have been very dismayed to learn of the law enforcement action in the area & would like to know if this is a short term problem that will be shortly resolved, or if this is to be a continuing policy for the area, or just a media over-reaction. As you will no doubt understand we would not wish to make such an expensive trip to find that we would only be exacerbating any existing problem and be unable to enjoy our stay. If you could please provide me with any relevant information & advice I would be extremely grateful. Many Thanks, And here's the reply As you have noticed, the THP has started an enforcement program in the Deals Gaps Area of Hwy. 129. Some people are very upset with this effort and some people applaud it as long overdue. We are receiving emails on both sides of the issue. I can tell you in the past year, we received calls and emails every few days that ask us to do "something" in this area. The overwhelming majority of people describe this area as "total chaos and lawlessness." When you combine these type of descriptions and the statistical information on crashes and fatalities (three fatalities in one weekend two weeks ago), we felt like we had to do something as a public safety organization. You may not agree with our program but it is aimed at protecting the public who frequent that area and ride in a safe manner. It has nothing to do with "quotas" and driving tourism from Tennessee. Anyone who rides in that area and does so safely is always welcome and will not have any problem with the THP. We will continue to conduct our enforcement program for the near future in an effort to make Deals Gap a safe place for recreational motorcycle activity. Lt. Colonel Tracy G. Trott Tennessee Highway Patrol Field Operations Bureau- East 1150 Foster Ave. Nashville, TN 37249 615-251-6311 Fax 615-253-8781 Draw your own conclusions. Just to add, I sent my mail about 8pm your time last night& received the reply just after 9am your time this morning, a very prompt response, which shows to my mind that the issue is being taken seriously. (Message edited by Mr_grumpy on August 07, 2007) | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I'm convinced that if you show up in Deal's Gap and keep your common sense at the top of your priority list you'll not be hassled. There's more than enough stupid people to keep the LEO presence busy. | ||
| Mr_gto |
Hey everybody come ride 116 with me! Just have to come on the weekends as there are many coal trucks during the week. Talk about a fun road. Its 10 min. away from my house so post ride yellow dopes for everyone! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I talked to a THP the other day and they are forcing them to come up there on their days off and weekends and they have to write tickets or they get in trouble. They hate it just as much as we do! No wonder they look so grumpy. I would say that they are at the end of the crap funnel. Bredesen got a bug in his butt for DG and is raking everyone below in law enforcement over the coals. These poor guys are the ones tasked to make it happen. My guess is that they believe that the nastier they are the more people above them will feel they are being effective and will allow them to dial it down sooner. If not, at least everyone else will be as miserable as they are. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
This is what they put up at fatal accident locations here in France, one for each victim.  | ||
| Mr_gto |
My wife was passing someone up there and a THP saw her and was going to give her a ticket until she came back and was escorting a tractor trailer through. He pulled the truck over and bitched him out and was very nice to my wife and let her go. So I dont know about them being so nasty. | ||
| Mr_gto |
By the way Ft_bstrd thats a nice jacket you got on there. I have a NJK breeze jacket and love it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Thanks Mr. Goat. I really like the fit and Kelcey is a great guy to deal with. I see you're in Oak Ridge. Big Ed's is bitchin'! You coming down for Buelltoberfest? We're gonna hit Deals, Cherry Cola, and Suches that weekend. Hopefully all this nonsense will be over by then. | ||
| Mr_gto |
Yeah Kelcey is top notch. I wish i could afford a set of custom leathers. I eat @ Big Ed's alot!!!! Yall should swing over this way sometime and my wife and i will meet there. When and where is Buelltoberfest? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Buelltoberfest is the answer to not wanting to wait a full year for the next March Badness. It's the first weekend in October. Several of us are meeting at the Iron Horse and riding the Gap/Cherohala that Friday. Then several of the C3 and 3%er folks are staying in Suches, GA and camping at TWO Friday and Saturday night and riding the north GA roads. You ought to try to come down. Chad Hargis and I tried to go to Big Ed's Memorial Day. We asked three people at mini-marts how to get there and they couldn't tell us. Evidently the intellectually underwhelming exist in the shadow of the PHDs. When we finally found it, it was closed. | ||
| Mr_gto |
My b-day is the 3rd of Oct. so that and the Buelltoberfest would give me a great reason to get some good riding and good drinkn in that weekend! Hey maybe i could stuff some Big Ed's in my jacket for ya! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I'll trade you beer for Big Ed's! Just keep the pocket lint and finger nails to a minimum!  You don't need to reserve a spot at TWO. Let me know if you plan on coming, so I can look for you. Here is the website for TWO: http://www.twowheelsonly.com/ | ||
| Ulywife |
Mr_gto - PM sent re: Buelltoberfest | ||
| Etennuly |
I live about 50 miles from the Dragon. I won't go there on a weekend anymore simply due to the overzealous idiots that are beating the Dragon's heart to death. These guys are the ones that rip it back and fourth all day with the super-moto bikes and the squids on sport bikes that have so much to prove. It seems they stay in local motorcycle inns and ride the Dragon as if it were a closed race course. They use their motel key as if it were a track pass at Road America instead a ride on a state highway. On weekends it isn't the road that will get your heart beating as much as it is the near misses with disrespectful riders. They are either coming at you pushing into your lane at the edge of their abilities, or passing you on a blind corner at break neck speeds. I do like to occasionally "push" it a bit, but these guys definitely abuse the ride. I recommend that anyone riding up there make a couple of passes then move on. It is only a part of the awesome riding in this area. Buelltoberfest....huh! Riding around Suches....huh! Hanging out with BadWeb Buellers all weekend....huh! I should be able to make it.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Thanks Kristi! I no talk good. | ||
| Mr_gto |
sorry, got distracted by work! Ill make sure i clean my pockets out before i stuff Big Ed's in there! I saw a write up about TWO in a VTwin magazine about a year or so ago. Ulywife, got your pm. Ill have to talk it over with he boss! | ||
| Jimidan |
How DARE those country folks in TN and NC try to live in our beloved playground. These unfriendly people just do not welcome motorcycles. | ||
| Mikej |
http://bp1.blogger.com/_LxZ4Mi3rR3Q/RrlwRVtNK-I/AA AAAAAAC0w/CZ1Rp0XRRLg/s1600-h/img_4748.jpg http://bp1.blogger.com/_LxZ4Mi3rR3Q/Rrlm5VtNKxI/AA AAAAAACzI/OxOMdnTbTIg/s1600-h/img_4159.jpg | ||
| Macbuell |
I played on the Dragon for a few days last summer. It was fun and I definitely enjoyed it but I can see how people can get themselves in trouble there really fast. There are a ton of decreasing radius, off camber turns all through the Dragon. If you don't know the roads and are inexperienced and you push it, you might be off-roading, or worse, crossing the double yellow, before you knew what happened. The north Georgia mountains contain just as much fun and excitement but it's a little more forgiving, IMO. Maybe that's just because I am far more familiar with the roads. Anyway, I guess my point is, why travel up to the Dragon to be harassed by cops when I can enjoy roads here in GA that are just as good as far as I am concerned. | ||
| New12r |
Mac, when we gonna ride together?? I have limited time and usually hit Dales by 7:30am and roll out before the squids wake up. | ||
| Xbrad9r |
hey guys... until all this mess clears up at the Dragon, give the snake a try. Great roads, great people at the store, and if you come on a Sunday, send me a pm and i will try to meet up with you and ride. this weekend will be crowded because of their annual rally and bike show, etc. here are some links with more info...and the third link is a video of part of the snake. www.shadyvalleycountrystore.com http://www.motorcycleplayground.com/Roads/421/road s421.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0wvQUqs90o&mode=re lated&search= | ||
| Macbuell |
I've had a horrible riding season this year. Works been crazy and I'm playing in two different hockey leagues and this has all cut into my riding time. That being said, things should be getting better soon and I'd love to meet you up at TWO for some riding soon. Can't this weekend but maybe the weekend of the 18th or 25th. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I just took a look at the pics Mikej posted. I'm surprised the Po Po have't started to scan the pics on Killboy and pass out tickets based on that. | ||
| New12r |
I'm surprised the Po Po have't started to scan the pics on Killboy and pass out tickets based on that. Because the cop did not witness the actual event. | ||
| Macbuell |
Doesn't stop them from sending tickets to people based on pictures taken from traffic cams. | ||
| Mikej |
There is a case of someone being prosecuted in California for poaching with the evidence being plantlife in the picture of the shooter and the deer only being in bloom during the non-hunting season. | ||
| Court |
OSHA has levied fines based on photos of violations. | ||
| Slaughter |
I'm still amazed at WHY the Dragon is so popular. It's freaking tight and twisty. If you have a supermotard, could be fun but in only 11 miles, there's what... 300+ turns? That's crazy. There have GOT to be much better roads with MUCH less traffic - and reading some of the posts above - that seems to be the case. Give the poor Dragon the rest she deserves. |
