Police bust road-hogging bikers
Too fast, too furious in Oakland
Bike night boon or bust?
Prompted by neighbor complaints about loud engine noise and speeding motorcycles, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office has dramatically stepped up patrols Thursday nights, resulting in more tickets for drivers of all kinds of vehicles on thoroughfares including Interstate 696 and Woodward Avenue. Is the cracking down on bikers a needed protection of the communities or is it harassment?
ROYAL OAK -- Steven Kelsheimer looks forward to Wednesday and Thursday nights, when he rides his Honda GoldWing motorcycle to Main Street to join fellow bikers hanging out downtown.
The informal gatherings, which grew in popularity about four years ago, draw about 300 motorcyclists from across Metro Detroit each night. They eat, swap stories and admire each other's rides.
"I've got a lot of friends that I have just because I've gone down there," said Kelsheimer, a 36-year-old operations manager from Madison Heights. "It's a lot of fun, and it doesn't cost you a lot of money -- as long as you put quarters in the meter."
For some motorcycle enthusiasts, bike night is getting a lot more costly.
Prompted by neighbor complaints about loud engine noise and speeding bikes, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office has dramatically stepped up patrols Thursday nights, resulting in more tickets for drivers of all kinds of vehicles on thoroughfares including Interstate 696 and Woodward Avenue.
Police say they don't want to shut down the weekly gatherings. But they want to make sure that the bikers are not endangering residents or breaking laws.
"We don't mind them riding -- that's a good privilege to have," said Sgt. Michael L. Johnson of Oakland's traffic unit. "But don't come into town doing anything illegal."
Motorcyclists have been ticketed for speeding, improper or missing helmets, obscured or missing license plates and excessive noise, among other infractions.
Mike Gubala, 23, and his riding partner, Kristen Briggs, 24, of Warren last week were issued a verbal warning for the improper display of the license plate on Gubala's 2003 Yamaha R6.
Briggs said the patrols have scared some riders away.
"You see them (officers) hiding all the time," she said.
Some business owners worry increased patrols could drive off customers.
Evarist Vatnikaj, 20, manager of Comet Burgers restaurant on Main in Royal Oak, said revenue he gets from bike nights helps his business survive through slow winters.
He fears the crackdown could send bikers to other cities, such as Ferndale or Birmingham.
The crowds, on a busy night, can stretch over five blocks from Sixth Street north to 11 Mile and wrap around side streets. They spend not only time, but also money downtown, Vatnikaj said.
"This year I noticed that they've been trying to lay down the law," he said. "So far it's been a pretty good biker year, but I think if they go overboard it could send them away."
Chris McNelis doesn't mind the beefed-up patrols. The steel mill employee said he expects to get ticketed if he isn't careful.
He said police have been fair.
They have to keep a lid on things," said McNelis, 51, of Trenton. "There are people who get out of hand in any situation."
Liz Tillander, executive director of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, said bike nights emerged because bikers were drawn to downtown Royal Oak for the social atmosphere and restaurants.
"It's also Royal Oak's accessibility that makes it (a good) meeting place for bikers to hang out with each other," she said of the community's proximity to Interstates 75 and 696.
During the past few years, Royal Oak Police have tried to tackle the problem by passing out fliers explaining traffic laws to motorcyclists. They are not targeting bike night patrons.
Five deputies assigned to the patrols have written an average of 100 traffic tickets on Thursday nights in the four weeks since the crackdown began. They issued 109 citations last Thursday in the 1-square-mile patrol area. Of those, nearly 20 of the tickets were issued to bikers. Throughout August, Royal Oak police officers issued 38 violations for the entire Royal Oak central business district, which includes the patrol area.
Terry Phillips said he hates the loud Harley-Davidson engines that stream by her home.
"I don't like the noise, really," said the 63-year-old. "It does bother me when they rev those engines up, and I think it's uncalled for."
Johnson said the Pleasant Ridge Police Department asked his unit to beef up patrols along Woodward and 10 Mile.
Though Royal Oak officers didn't ask, the deputies also beefed up patrols along Main Street, the hub of activity.
The unit patrols each Thursday because that's sport bike night, when bikers are more likely to speed.
Wednesday nights attract Harley-Davidson owners -- and increased noise complaints.
Deputies plan to continue occasional patrols of the area until the cool weather forces most riders to keep their bikes at home, Johnson said.
Deputy Greg Marohn stops not only motorcyclists but also car drivers.
Marohn, a 24-year department veteran, said there has been less illegal activity in the area since patrols began.
"We're trying to curtail it rather than write tickets," he said.
Topic: Too fast, too furious in Oakland/MIchigan (Read 3480 times)