Anarchy on the DC Beltway

[CommuterBob]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news.../?postshare=6721451346157269&tid=ss_fb-bottom

Apparently, groups of motorcyclists get together periodically and stop traffic on the DC Beltway for fun, like they did this past Sunday. The police don't do anything about it either, claiming that they can't pursue them because they were not in the act of committing a crime, despite thousands of calls to 911 and police departments. The bikers stop traffic so they can do stunts and drive the wrong way on the freeway.

Someone's gonna die and end up suing the state/county/locality because the police are literally impotent to do anything about this.

 

[UCFKnight85]

And yet, these morons will be the first ones to whine to Watch for Motorcycles!.

Fact: 3 out of every 4 motorcyclists are complete shitheads.

 

[brahmanknight]

This didn't happen before Obama.

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

I would have started shooting at them. Bunch of assholes.

 

[goodknightfl]

That is 90% younger bikers on their crotch rockets or people on dual purpose bikes. Most older riders on on touring bikes or cruisers and they are not designed for that kind of nonsense. As a biker I get pissed off with them as well. You can get into enough bad places on a bike without trying to find them.

 

[EweSeaEff]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news.../?postshare=6721451346157269&tid=ss_fb-bottom

Apparently, groups of motorcyclists get together periodically and stop traffic on the DC Beltway for fun, like they did this past Sunday. The police don't do anything about it either, claiming that they can't pursue them because they were not in the act of committing a crime, despite thousands of calls to 911 and police departments. The bikers stop traffic so they can do stunts and drive the wrong way on the freeway.

Someone's gonna die and end up suing the state/county/locality because the police are literally impotent to do anything about this.

Didn't read the article, but how can the police say they're not committing a crime yet these asshats are driving the wrong way and doing stunts?

 

[CommuterBob]

Didn't read the article, but how can the police say they're not committing a crime yet these asshats are driving the wrong way and doing stunts?

The reason isn't given in that particular article but in others on the same subject. Basically, the cops won't pursue these guys because they aren't in the act of committing a felony, and therefore the local policies prevent the cops from engaging in a high speed pursuit over what really amounts to moving violations. When the cops do show up to those rallies, the bikers scatter like cockroaches and twice as fast. The cops won't go after them and then they just regroup somewhere else.

 

[fabknight]

A "sleepy" truck driver in a loaded semi would do the trick nicely.

 

[CommuterBob]

A "sleepy" truck driver in a loaded semi would do the trick nicely.

I have no way to verify this is true, but a friend of mine who lives in the DC area claims Maryland law allows for no-fault accidents on lane-change maneuvers. So, just like with the flex sticks for the express toll lanes on I-95 in Miami, the driver's willingness to skirt the law has to outweigh the driver's desire to not damage his own vehicle.

 

[CommuterBob]

Update: https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...dcd18a-ae51-11e5-b711-1998289ffcea_story.html

"Maryland State Police “were immediately dispatched to the area” after getting calls, a spokeswoman said, but traffic had returned to normal by the time troopers arrived.

Troopers then “saturated the area,” spokeswoman Elena Russo said, looking for an estimated 50 to 150 motorcyclists, but found none.

Authorities across the region have concluded that pursuing riders on illegal dirt bikes and similar off-road vehicles is dangerous because law enforcement cannot respond quickly enough or safely chase and corral operators who can outmaneuver police cars and escape on stairs and sidewalks and through narrow alleys."

"State police are analyzing videos and will look at license plates, along with faces and tips from witnesses, to try to find those involved. But Russo, the police spokeswoman, said many of the vehicles did not have plates."

And the sure...ok...riiiight moment:

"One member of a motorcycle group said the group was riding lawfully around the Beltway when it was infiltrated by bikers from Baltimore who disrupted traffic with “crazy stunts” that “made us look real bad.”

Del Thompson, 35, of the District, said he was among 75 or so motorcyclists who occasionally organize rides over social media. This past weekend’s outing was called Fun Day Sunday, Let’s Everybody Ride. Thompson said all of their motorcycles are properly licensed, and they rode two loops around the Beltway before the Baltimore group appeared.

“They were driving like crazy,” Thompson said. “It was a fun ride until they came along. They were making videos.”

 

[KnighttimeJoe]

so they can't cite them for reckless driving and then speeding when they haul ass out of dodge? bullshit.

 

[CommuterBob]

so they can't cite them for reckless driving and then speeding when they haul ass out of dodge? bullshit.

I suppose they could...if they could catch them...

but once they bolt, the police are not supposed to chase them in a high-speed pursuit, which it would be very quickly on what they ride.

 

[crambone]

Stupid motorcycles.

 

[Sir Galahad]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news.../?postshare=6721451346157269&tid=ss_fb-bottom

Apparently, groups of motorcyclists get together periodically and stop traffic on the DC Beltway for fun, like they did this past Sunday. The police don't do anything about it either, claiming that they can't pursue them because they were not in the act of committing a crime, despite thousands of calls to 911 and police departments. The bikers stop traffic so they can do stunts and drive the wrong way on the freeway.

Someone's gonna die and end up suing the state/county/locality because the police are literally impotent to do anything about this.

Which is why I laughed when some idiot white lining moron took a 100 yard spill on the Northern Parkway in LI. I remember getting bashed for that, still laughing.

 

[goodknightfl]

Stupid motorcycles.

yep need motorcycle control. 3 day waiting period to buy.
Back ground checks, and a license to operate.

Those on tv in Miami were on dirt bikes which are not street legal to begin with.

 

[mach3ucf]

Not the 1st..

This will be a problem, eventually?

 

[ed4ucf]

Evidently gridlock spreading from the Capitol Building to the suburbs.

 

[goodknightfl]

The young bucks on their dual purpose and crotch rocket bikes see no problem in this behavior.

A lot of those bikes were illegal to run on highways to begin with.