Where I am, Hawaii, we have this annual or twice a year cruise that's organized by Racesauce.com. Lots of bikes always attends, well over 300 bikes.

This year, all the bikes met up at a public park's parking lot and we see a police chopper just flying over us watching. Nothing illegal with having a gathering in a parking lot as long as we're not doing anything illegal.

We all leave the parking lot and the chopper follows us. Although there is a lot of us, we split up the groups at each stop light and we follow all stop signs and laws. Nobody is stunting or speeding.

Basically, the entire group gets on the freeway and next thing you know, there's about 12 cops on bikes, and about 5-6 cop cars. They basically block off the entire highway and slow down traffic. They pull over ALL, and I mean ALL, street bikes to the shoulder lane while directing other cars to go around. They even pulled over the cars that were had the Racesauce photographers inside. They also pulled over the U-Haul (one of those big truck containers you can rent to help you move to another house or something) because it contained the entertainment system that they played in the parking lot (speakers and stuff).

Overall, they went through each bike's paperwork: registration, insurance, license, safety check, etc. If something wasn't right, they gave you a ticket for it. Then they also gave tickets to each person that said, "impeding traffic". We were all going speed limit or about 5mph above it so we weren't exactly impeding traffic unless the other cars wanted to illegally speed.

Lots of the bikers are planning on hiring a lawyer and stuff to fight this. Was the police correct on doing this or were they technically harassing us?

Remember, they pulled over ALL SPORT BIKES. There were a bunch also who weren't part of the gathering. They were simply going home from work and rode on the same highway. They got tickets and were obviously pissed about it. However, they let all Harleys and cruisers go right through. Was this illegal for the police to "profile" and pull over all street bikes?

Once again, note that nothing illegal was done. No stunting, speeding, running red lights, etc.

We did nothing dangerous HOWEVER, the police that had the bikes, they actually weaved in between our bikes and tailed our bikes within 1 feet! We have video to prove this! They unnecessarily put us in danger.

Only thing I guess we can admit to is having a large convoy without a permit. In Hawaii, people are saying that in order to have a large convoy, you need to have a permit for it and have a police escort. However, they didn't exactly fine us for that, instead they fined us for EVERYTHING else they could find.

Just trying to spread the word around and asking for suggestions on what we can do to get our struggle out. any opinions are accepted whether you believe it was the biker's fault or the police.

The chopper that followed us


Picture of some of the bikes that were pulled over to the side


Notice the traffic building up because the cop in the middle of the road is forcing bikes to the side. Also notice the truck that they pulled over just because they were taking pics of the cruise.


Another shot


Final shot


Someother pics with cops handing out tickets


Notice the riced out civic hatch being able to pass right through? I say leave us alone and tag the civics, t

 

In no way shape or form did they operate ethically. Of course the people that got paperwork tickets deserved them, but the manner they went about makes me a little angry. This is another example of why the Police need to refine their techniques, they may have wrote a few tickets, but my guess is that about 295 people lost a little respect for them.

 

I just can't think of any positive reason for this .. it spoils it for everyone ... it creates negative feelings and wastes everyone's time...

The police should have better things to do ... is a police force there to fight crime or to just pee off responsible bikers...


It disrupts traffic flow and you also have the risk of lots of minor shunts and things from being being slowed and rubber necking ...

I have to say it's totally bizarre from here ...

Jules

 

Subpeona all the dashboard & Helicopter cams and radio traffic.

 

... oops double post ...

 

You are jumping to the conclusion before you "hear" the other side of the story. You hear what the O/P states however not from the cops....just because he states he wasn't doing anything illegal doesn't mean others weren't. He's guilty by association unfortunately. Is this all over the news in Hawaii? If not than I would wonder why? Racesauce.com...I saw that website and it has stunting written all over it, models and SPORT BIKES. That alone would put the law enforcement on edge. They were probably there for safety and as a precaution "in case" something does get out of hand.

If they pulled everyone over, they may have had a good reason. Do you have a case? I am not a cop or lawyer so the only option is to tell you there's only one way to find out.

IF they did pull everyone over "just cause" shame on the cops.

 

I'm gonna be a cop, but i am still in school, so that technically doesn't make me one. But, i believe that if you did not have a permit for the convoy, than that gives legality to pull you over and search each bike's paper work to find if everyone has registration, insurance, license, etc. Just because they did not fine you for that, doesn't mean that thatmight not have been the reason for the stop. I am in no way saying its right what happened, but its the law. I believe that you may still have a case, but then again you may not based on the police records. Good luck... and sorry another person (large group)had another negative impact by the police.

 

Seems that they were out there to pull you guys over anyways. Not much you could do. Get a lawyer or take it to court on your own.

 

What is the legal definition of a convoy then? Would I be violating it in my car if I was following someone to a location?

 

When I was in my early 20's we used to regularly ride in packs of 15 - 20 bikers .. so was that a convoy?