| | FREEDOM RIDESOTHERWISE KNOWN AS LIBERTY RIDES, FREEDOM RUNS, AND LIBERTY RUNS.
In biker heritage, freedom rides have been typcially used in order to protest helmet laws. They can also be used to protest other unconstitutional actions by local, state, and federal governments, but are most notably for helmet law protests. |  | | | | You will not regain your liberty by leaving it up to others, and you will certainly lose your liberty if you leave it up to those who should be your public servant. Yet, you are theirs! The best thing to do is:
Organize your own freedom rides in your own home county or city. We can help! | |
| | | Asheville Freedom Ride 2008 | 
| Mission Accomplished The mission of a freedom ride in protest of helmet laws is to - have fun,
- meet others who oppose the helmet law,
- learn more about how to fight it in court.
- and have more fun!
Teaching your kids the importance of freedom, rights, liberty, and to think for themselves, cannot be left up to the system which tries to govern your every action. | Asheville bikers had fun on a a ride on a rainy summer day, then went to the steps of the Buncombe County courthouse, in protest of NC mandatory helmet laws. This was one of more than a dozen protest rides held across the state, so far, in 2008. Some rides had as many as 180 participants. For more information about Freedom Rides as a lawful act of civil disobedience, and other ways to fight for repeal of the helmet laws in NC, see B.O.L.T. of NC or start your own freedom ride! |
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| Helmet Model FU-007
Ron, a member of B.O.L.T. of NC from Western NC, shows his manufacturer certified helmet, complete with strap and DOT label, which is the manufacturer certification that the helmet meets or exceeds FMVSS 218. Thus, this is a helmet of a type that complies with the federal standards. If a LEO were to violate Rons’ constitutional rights by pulling him over without probable cause and conduct a no-consent search of his person or property, they will find that it has styrofoam padding and does not have a label inside which says “novelty helmet”. If the state tries making a case of legislative intent, I can testify or provide a sworn affidavit, that I was present in the House Judiciary committee when Sgt Mark Brown of the NCSHP motorcycle patrol unit stated in a House judiciary committee that the only tickets for helmet violations will be for helmets that have a novelty label inside. A good question is, if the state wanted to outlaw novelty helmets, why doesn’t the law say so? Instead, they have vague wording nobody can understand - including law enforcement! Mark Temple, a member of B.O.L.T. of California, has a similar helmet. He received over 70 helmet tickets. He contested all, and lost only one court case - his first - and that was probably due to unfamiliarity of how the legal system works. |
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| | | Freedom Rides and Major Biker Rights Events Coming up: |
| | | May 28, 2008 - NC CBA/ABATE LOBBY DAY
May 29, 2008 - Wake County court date. Jan to motion for continuance in order to get a trial date. Seeks not guilty for a helmet ticket received in front of the NC State Highway Patrol Headquarters. |
| | | June 12, 2008 Maggie Valley, NC HOTELS
MAGGIE VALLEY FREEDOM RIDE
Celebrate NC BIKERS FREEDOM RIDE DAY with a freedom ride from the Wheels Through Time Museum. Please eat before arriving because we’re not stopping for brunch. Gather at 10am. Kickstands up at 10:30am. Destination will either be the courthouse in Bryson City which is already so familiar with bikers that they put up a sign that says “BIKERS ALWAYS WELCOME” or the Bumcombe County Courthouse in Asheville.
BOLTSTERS and others who rode out from the Eastern part of North Carolina in order to meet Pan and Vicki will probably stay around to have a nice ride on Friday, either to GRMCC or Tail of the Dragon or the Natural Bridge. |
| | | June 21, 2008 1pm Asheville, NC HOTELS
WNC Freedom Ride
Western North Carolina Freedom Ride from Bumcombe County Courthouse in Asheville to the Hendersonville County Courthouse. This is to call attention to the helmet law, and to continue our freedom call, “Let those who ride decide.”
"The government cannot make any objective standards without taking on liability, and since they are expressly forbidden from taking on liability, they can never make an objective standard for helmets. Without an objective standard, it all becomes ad hoc and arbitrary. Ad hoc and arbitrary is the foundation of vague law. Vague law is unconstitutional. Bye." Richard Quigley
For more info, please email Ron or call 828-890-8485. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DISTRIBUTE THIS FLYER. |
| | | 4th of July, 2008 San Diego, CA HOTELS
HELMET LAW PROTEST
Meet on Fiesta Island at 10am. Ride to San Diego Harley for 4th of July Party!
Support your right to choose. All riders welcome. Please spread the word by downloading this flyer (click here for .doc)and get them circulated. Tell your friends!
For info email Steve “Red” Barron or call (858)270-7771. |
| | | 2008 Freedom Rides and Major Biker Rights Events: |
| | | 1/1/2008 Several Counties in North Carolina
New Years Freedom Rides and Helmet Law Protest Rallies
For years, we’ve been telling the lawmakers we do not want a mandatory helmet law. Let the Rider Decide! For years, they haven’t listened, and they intend to govern. In 2007, NC legislators passed new legislation to “toughen” the existing helmet law, so that riders cannot use our public roads unless they are wearing a helmet of a type that complies with FMVSS 218. It was signed into law by Governor Easley, effective January 1, 2008. Most of the NC lawmakers have no idea what FMVSS 218 is, making the law vague. Prove it to yourself by contacting your representative in the NC House of the NC Senate. Ask them how you can ensure with certainty that you are complying with General Statute 20-140.4 and be sure to ask if they voted for HB 563, and, if so, ask why. (I have been asking everyone, including the AG!!)
The problem with large Freedom Rides, such as in Raleigh, as we’ve had in the past, has been that it takes hours to travel and nobody seems to want to go back to Raleigh in order to do such things as fight helmet tickets in court. This is not as much of a problem to fight a ticket if you get a helmet citation in your own home district, and since the freedom ride will actually take you to the courthouses, you will certainly know where the courthouse is, just in case you need to go back there and continue to fight for your constitutional rights. As such, a series of freedom rides can be held be in several counties at once!
If anyone else wants to lead a ride in their county, get info from FREEDOM RIDES, including a downloadable flyer. Please post your ride on the Cruisin Calendar at Full Throttle Magazine of the Carolinas - www.fullthrottlemagazine.com Also please send ride details to PROTEST. Please pile helmets on the courthouse steps, and take a picture and send the pictures to Full Throttle Magazine for posting in the Feburary issue.
Wake County: Ride around the Governors Mansion Peoples Executive Mansion from 1pm until 3pm.
Catawba County: Ride to the County Courthouse. For details, see the Cruiisin Calendar.
Gaston County: Ride to the County Courthouse. For details, see the Cruiisin Calendar.
Guilford County: Ride to the County Courthouse. For details, see the Cruiisin Calendar.
If anyone else wants to lead a ride in their county, please post it on the Cruisin Calendar at Full Throttle Magazine of the Carolinas - www.fullthrottlemagazine.com Also please email your ride details to PROTEST.
Also please take note that we are planning Paul Revere Rides in various counties on April 18, 2008, followed by the largest helmet protest and freedom ride of the year, to take place in Raleigh.
The PATRIOTS DAY PROTEST RALLY will be held on April 19, 2008!
These protest and rides in support of biker rights are supported by B.O.L.T., Biker Court, Bikers USA, and Full Throttle Magazine of the Carolinas. You are all responsible for your your own riding, of course. Please be sure to have your paperwork in order and have your bike in good condition just in case of any hassles. |
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| | | April 18, 2008 107 Edinburgh S Dr, Cary, NC
The Midnight Ride
Night before the rally party starts any time after 5pm at MacGregor Village; a small plaza with pub, restaurants, billiards hall, covered bridge, and host hotel for the Patriots Day Rally. Hang with other Patriots or perhaps we will hang US DOT Secretary Mary Peters or NC House Representative Sutton in effigy. Host Hotel: Courtyard. For reservation discount, call 800-321-2211 and ask for the Bikers USA rate or use this reservation link for April 18 and/or April 19. A block of rooms is being held until April 4. |
| | | April 19, 2008 Raleigh, NC
1st Annual Patriots Day Rally and Liberty Ride
Please fly your flags proudly! No admission fee! All bikers welcome. Wake County Speedway on April 19th, between 10am and Noon. Speakers about liberty, freedom, honoring veterans and troops, and information about the new NC mandatory helmet law battles. Scenic liberty ride at 12 noon to downtown Raleigh, where there is a large Earth Day gathering. What you wear on the Freedom Ride is up to you. If you decide to ride lidless (or topless!), there are no guarantees you will not be ticketed. Party afterwards at the Iron Horse, 2901 Hwy 64, Apex. Host Hotel: Courtyard by Marriot, 102 Edinburgh Drive, Cary NC 27518. For host hotel discount, call 800-321-2211 and ask for the Bikers USA rate for April 18 and/or April 19. A block of room is being held until April 4, so make reservations by then. In addition to the Liberty Ride, there will be a ride led by Gary, kickstands up at 9:30am from McGregor Plaza, (across from the Host Hotel), so visitors to the Raleigh area don’t get lost on the way to the Wake County Speedway.
For more info, visit Patriots Day Motorcycle Rally or call 919-342-0403 or email jan..
Map and other Raleigh area hotels near Wake County Speedway: Closest Hotels Map.
Sponsors: Bikers of Lesser Tolerance (B.O.L.T.), Bikers USA, and the Carolinas Full Throttle Magazine.
Please go on Paul Revere rides and spread the word all across the Carolinas and Virginia by distributing this flyer to bike shops and your local motorcycle clubs. Thanks!
Last Updated on March 17, 2008 |
| | | | | | April 19, 2008 Asheville, NC Asheville Hotels Asheville Map
Helmet Law Protest Ride
Meet at Buncombe County courthouse at 1pm. Kickstands up 1:30pm for ride (about 25 miles) to Hendersonville courthouse. Helmets are up to you. Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions. Speakers about why the law is unconstitutional and fighting a helmet ticket in court. Party afterwards to be announced. Please feel free to download the flyer and distribute it in order to help us spread the word.
For more info, contact Ragdoll 828-348-0213 or Ron
Asheville Hotels Asheville Map
For other statewide freedom rides see http://boltnc.org or Carolinas Full Throttle Magazine. | | | FREEDOM RIDES AND HELMET PROTESTS IN NC IN 2008If there isn’t already a freedom ride in your county, or if you want to ride in from a different compass direction and meet up at your county courthouse.HOLD YOUR OWN LOCAL FREEDOM RIDES IN PROTEST OF NC HELMET LAWS AND IN SUPPORT OF OTHER NC BIKER RIGHTS ISSUES IN 2008. Download the Generic New Years Day Freedom Ride Flyer from the BOLT of NC website, print a few copies and distribute them to biker friendly shops. The flyer can be adapted for use in any county. If there is already a ride in your county, it is best to have just one ride, so please go with the original ride, but if you are riding in from a different direction, and it makes sense, please contact the original ride coordinator in your county, and figure out where and when you can all meet up - perhaps at the courthouse. I suggest using a Felt Marker pen to fill in the Starting Location, Time, Your Name, and Your Phone.
Then, all you need to do is:
1.) post some copies in local biker friendly shops
2.) post your local ride on the Cruisin Calendar at www.fullthrottlemagazine.com
3.) send your event info to PROTEST in order to get your event posted at Bikers USA and BOLT sites.
4.) get some handouts and information by emailing PROTEST, about the new helmet laws and why it is extremely important to fight helmet tickets, so you will know what to tell people on the courthouse steps.
5.) have a fun SAFE ride.
6.) pile up your helmets on the courthouse steps and send pictures to Mark so he can post them in Full Throttle Magazine.
7.) make plans with everyone to have another ride in a month or two.
8.) promote the Paul Revere Rides on 4/18 and Patriots Day Rally in Raleigh on Patriots Day, 4/19/2008. Make sure everyone knows they are responsible for their own safety and actions, and this is not an invitation to break the laws. Instead, we want to uphold the laws, but that all begins with the US Constitution and Bill of Rights which seems to be forgotten by the Raleigh legislators and the Governor. (See the 14th Amendment). | | | | Summary of Helmet Law Protests and Freedom Rides held to date in North Carolina in 2008. All events were sponsored by B.O.L.T. of the Carolinas with support from Bikers USA, the Carolinas Full Throttle Magazine, and ordinary bikers who understand the value of rights, freedom and liberty..
NEW YEARS 2008 FREEDOM RIDES WERE HELD IN 4 COUNTIES: CATAWBA, GASTON, GUILFORD, and WAKE. Wake County Circled the Governors Mansion. The other Freedom Rides went to the County Courthouse. These were the top news stories on New Years Day and had a total of approximately 320 motorcycle riders. The top ride was in Guilford County which had 180 riders.
In the winter and spring, there have been 7 more protests / freedom rides including the above and Alexander County, Asheville, and Hendersonville. One of these was the Patriots Day Rally in Raleigh which 72 people, most of whom rode “lidless”, or with helmets of their choice into the capital city.
As of April 22, we have four protest rides planned in 5 counties, and unless we get an unconditional helmet law repeal, we will have at least four more after that in 2008.
Virtually all motorcycle riders in the state were killed while wearing helmets. Some studies such as the Cooter Study and the Goldstein Study, present facts and conclusions that helmets can be dangerous. The government says helmets are safer but they will NOT stand behind it. There are over 1/2 MILLION helmets which are listed in the recalls database, and they are not accounted for. This state has terrible safety statistics and refuses to listen to us when we ask them for a repeal. We are going to have to DEMAND rather than allow them to kill more of us. It is un-American to FORCE a device onto a persons head. See NC Biker Rights. | |
| | | MAY 13, 2008 Raleigh NC Raleigh Hotels Raleigh Map
NC LEGISLATURE OPENING DAY RALLY & PROTEST RIDE
Meet at 10 am Whistlers Tavern, 3616 NC 42, Willow Springs, NC.
Ride to NC Legislative Bldg, Jones St, Raleigh, NC at 10:30am.
Ride around the legislative building so the legislators can hear the rumble of bikers pissed off about the new helmet law.
Legislative Scavenger Hunt.
Legislative delegation from BOLT will deliver helmet law repeal petitions.
Sponsored By Bikers USA, BOLT of the Carolinas, & The Carolinas Full Throttle Magazine. Jan, 919-342-0403. FLYER - please print out a few copies and bring them to around to bike shops. Also see Freedom Rides.
NEWSFLASH! There will be a ride leaving FROM MYRTLE BEACH coming to Raleigh.
The ride will be leaving from the DOG HOUSE NORTH at 8am. |
| | | East Coast Helmet Law Protest! May 18, 2008
On your way back from Myrtle Beach Bike Week, stop in at South of the Border, in Dillon SC, which is the northernmost exit off I-95 of South Carolina, to protest helmet laws and participate in a freedom ride. Last year, there were only a couple dozen freedom fighters from SC, NC, and VA who joined us, but we had such a good time that we've been looking forward to the next one all year!
Here's the ritual, so you will know it every year:
The East Coast Freedom Ride is always the Sunday of the last weekend of Myrtle Beach Bike Week.
We always put our kickstands up at 11am.
If you want to wear a helmet and ride in support of those who choose, you are VERY WELCOME to join us. We do not protest the device. We protest the law which is unconstitutional and does not allow our right to choose.
In 2007, groups represented included ABATE of SC, ABATE of VA, and BOLT of the Carolinas. |
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