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Myrtle Beach Helmet Freedom RideOur case is headed straight to the SC Supreme Court. The City of Myrtle Beach will not be able to appeal the decision. Stay tuned for more updates! Take Back May's "Thank You BBQ" has provided freedom fighters within ABATE of SC four additional helmet tickets and plenty of good press for free. The four additional tickets assure us a chance to challenge the City of Myrtle Beach helmet ordinance even if our original 49 tickets are thrown out due to murky circumstances regarding the reissuing of summons and the confusion of whether they were civil or criminal. The trials for all 49 freedom fighters have been stayed indefinitely. All current court dates have been cancelled. I am under the impression the City may still be enforcing the helmet ordinance. If you are cited please consider fighting the ticket rather than becoming part of the problem in Myrtle Beach. The Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court has sent a memorandum to the localities of South Carolina plainly stating that Administrative Hearing Courts are unconstitutional. You may read may read Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal's City or County Administrative Hearing Courts Memorandum for yourself here. In the News
Pretty good press coverage for an unfunded grassroots effort. 
Early Morning Gathering photo by Roach The first Myrtle Beach Freedom Ride took place Saturday February 28, 2009 at high noon inspite of rain and intense police presence. Bikes from as far away as Miami came to take part. Over one hundred motorcyclists gathered at the Beaver Bar and took part in the Freedom Ride. Many Myrtle Beach police were on duty with two cops in every car. They did their best to write everyone a ticket but appranetly only stopped and ticketed 57 bikers. Those ticketed all intend to challenge the law through the court system. Somehow I lost my camera while riding home in the rain. If you found a somewhat damaged yellow Olympus Stylus 850 SW please let me know. The photos are worth more than the old beaten camera. If you have a few photos to share those would be appreciated as well. There is talk about another freedom ride with better weather and greater numbers.
Actual Text of New Myrtle Beach OrdinancesRead the City of Myrtle Beach's new Jim Crow Laws. We all know these ordinances were largely constructed to discriminate against black youth and shut down black bike week. However this is an issue that confronts all bikers regardless of color as I wrote a few years ago in my article NAACP and Myrtle Beach to Discriminate Against All Bikers. Your Rights
It is in your best interest to have your paperwork in order for this ride; have your drivers license with motorcycle endorsement, motorcycle registration, and proof of registration ready. You may likely be stopped; do not carry any contraband. If you are driving without a license or under the influence expect to be arrested. Be certain you and your motorcycle are legal to be on the road in South Carolina prior to participation. The goal of this event is to make a positive difference and not to create more bad press for motorcyclists in Myrtle Beach. Why Use Civil Disobedience
*This information has been posted by request of local Myrtle Beach riders. |
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Civil
disobedience allows us to move the debate from the device to
the law where we have the high ground. However civil disobedience
complements the legislative effort; civil disobedience does
not replace our legislative efforts. The civil disobedience
act of riding without a helmet and being ticketed provides a
measurable metric or cost. When many bikers take part the costs
to society and the state to enforce and prosecute become harder
to ignore. Even if you lose the court case you can still create
a victory by forcing the state to lose money. Consider the cost
to prosecute includes the courthouse lights, and the salaries
of the judge, clerk, district attorney, the arresting police
officer, and others. If your case only takes an hour of time
you have likely made them pay more than they collected. The
individual costs to conscientious citizens breaching the illegitimate
law are also highlighted. Rather than focusing on the device
we focus on the oppression of citizens based on nothing more
than hypothetical fears 
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