Going for a ride this weekend on your motorcycle? Enjoy, but be on your best behavior in Lake County.
The CHP there has received a federal grant via the state Office of Traffic Safety to have two officers on overtime target possible DUIs and traffic violations, particularly among motorcyclists, on weekends.
From 2001 to 208, the CHP says, motorcycle-involved collisions in Lake County jumped 144 percent while alcohol-involved crashes rose 13 percent.
“You have so much less leeway and margin of error with motorcyclists that you don’t have with cars,” CHP Officer Steven Tanguay said,
The scenic highways of Lake County draw motorcyclists from the Bay Area for weekend rides, particularly in the summer when dozens of riders often can be found taking breaks at delis and restaurants in Middletown.
The Lake County CHP program, called Five Alive, started last weekend and will last a year.
Tanguay said speeding is the top offense for most motorcyclists, but officers will be watching for other violations, such as passing over double yellow lines, handlebars too high and license plates not clearly readable.
In addition to enforcement, he said the CHP will start a public education program where officers will discuss safety issues with local motorcycle groups.
“Enhanced enforcement efforts directed at motorcyclists and impaired drivers, coupled with an aggressive public education and awareness program, should help reduce the number of fatal and injury collisions,” Lt. Mark Loveless, commander of the Clear Lake area office said in a statement.
Ken
Singling out one group of motorists (unequal enforcement) is unconstitutional. Why don’t they then target Asian women drivers? I hope that motorcyclists will stop spending money in these towns and boycott the area. I also hope someone sues the CHP for this rights violation and blatant money grab. They are trying to balance the budget by writing tickets. Nice!
March 12th, 2011 9:03 am
Paul I
Overtime the key to Californias demise.
Why do we always need OT in Public, and better efficiency in Private
Lesson why CA is broke.
March 12th, 2011 10:47 am
Richard Mayer
While the Highway Patrol have these motorcyclist pulled over they might as well check to see if their exhaust system is legal.
March 12th, 2011 11:21 am
Safedriver
I read about these federal grants months ago in my motorcycle consumer news mag. The first “crackdowns” were in New York and they were pulling large groups of bikers over on the main roads leading to a big bike rally going on that weekend. Now the money has spread to all states. I’m not impressed. Another stupid federal move to spend money it doesn’t have for special pet projects by some politician who don’t like motorcycles. Lake Co. CHP is paying it out in overtime wages? This doesn’t sound fiscally responsible to me. Let’s see, if I’m a CHP officer who’s already put in 50 hrs this week (no time left for a life) and I’m on more overtime to catch bikers?? I think I’d pull under a quiet tree somewhere and take a nap!
March 12th, 2011 1:10 pm
collinsfriend
Why? So far most of the wrecks were caused by cars.
The headline Motorcycle Hits Truck? NO-The truck left turned on the bike’s right of way. THAT was later on in the article. The headlines however…
They must be P.O.’d because Full Throttle Tavern gets to have live music and their nepotistic BOS/PD/CHP are going to scratch each other’s backs again. Some business with influence doesn’t like it and they’ve got a friend or relative in a position and so on and so forth…
March 12th, 2011 8:27 pm
Keith
Loud motorcycles are way TOO LOUD; give all loud motorcycles tickets. Enforce the noise laws for all vehicles.
March 12th, 2011 11:10 pm
M.C Rider
Stop picking on the bikers it’s the texting yapping cellphone drivers that put the bikes in danger, Thats a needed crackdown not bikes!.
March 13th, 2011 12:31 am
Lionel Manboobs
It’s profiling, nothing more. Why don’t they enforce traffic laws equitably and uniformly?
March 13th, 2011 7:48 am
doghtr
If Lake County is so worried about speed, why don’t they go after tweekers? Everybody knows Lake County is the Meth Capitol of CA. Oh, I get it now. The tweekers don’t have any money left for the Government to suck dry. Handle bars too high? Get a life you bunch of busy bodies…Live to Ride, Ride to Live. ESAD
March 13th, 2011 10:42 am
Provocateur
This will really help LC draw some visitors.
March 16th, 2011 12:07 pm
Big Jim
An absolute waste of tax payers money, And indeed illegal as profiling Fuel costs are adding to the amount of bikes. I am a rider home owner and a tax payer in this county for over 20 years. I do no drugs nor do I personaly anyone that does. And I cant stand the cage drivers that cut bikes off cuz they are on the frigging phone or have their radio cranked to high. You dont like the noise?? stay home! I am in full agreement with the officer that suggests there is less margin for error And so Live to Ride, ride to live.
June 10th, 2011 10:36 am
Lake County Rider
I noticed this happening before I even read this. I’ve lived here for 8 years now, and have not been pulled over until 2 weeks ago. Now I’ve been pulled over twice now. Once in my red neck-lookin 4×4 vehicle, and the other on my motorcycle. My buddy was also pulled over on his bike 1 week ago. If there were not some many crackhead on the road that don’t even know your there we wouldn’t need 2 have a load exhaust to let you know that we are on the road also. This has all happened in Clearlake.
P.S. We did not get a ticket because they are looking for you Crackheads!
July 13th, 2011 12:25 am
Paul Anderson
Loud exhaust doesn’t save lives.That is just a bunch of BS posted by those that have an idiotic look at me mentality.If you are too frightened to go riding with a legal exhaust then I suppose that you are too much of a chicken to own a bike.
March 9th, 2013 12:16 pm