Bikers Of America, Know Your Rights!

“THE BIKERS OF AMERICA, THE PHIL and BILL SHOW”

2012-02-13T00:58:00.001-08:00

.
“THE BIKERS OF AMERICA, THE PHIL and BILL SHOW”,
Live! goes live at 6pm PAC, 9:00pm EST every Tuesday & Thursday
on BlogTalk Radio. Check us out!

And do not forget, if you want to call in live and speak with the host, be sure to dial (347)826-7753. You will be placed into the caller queue where you will still be able to hear the show while you are on hold.
If you miss this above event you can listen to the archive anytime by clicking on the same link below.
Enjoy the show,
www.blogtalkradio.com/bikersofamerica.
Two ways to listen on Tuesday & Thursday
1. Call in: (347) 826-7753 ... Listen live right from your phone!
2. Stream us live on your computer:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bikersofamerica.

NOW ON TUESDAY`S and THURSDAY`S
SHOWS ARE ARCHIVED FOR LISTENING - DOWNLOADING, ANYTIME - / AT YOUR CONVENIENCE FREE OF CHARGE!
ALSO WERE GOING TO BE ON TUESDAY`S AND THURSDAY`S, SAME TIME JUST
ADDING A SHOW TO THE WEEK. SO PLEASE TUNE IN AND SUPPORT US.......
Screwdriver And BILL
THANK YOU
"IF YOU VIOLATE OUR BIKER RIGHTS... YOU BETTER WATCH OUT FOR OUR BIKER LEFTS!"
Hits Like a bored and stroked big V-twin is the hardcore biker right’s talk show that will shift the thoughts and minds of all! Screwdriver is a member of Bikers of Lesser Tolerance, which is a "No Compromise" philosophy that rights cannot ever be negotiated and the west coast Representative of B.A.D (Bikers Against Discrimination)and Bill Kennedy of Kennedy’s Custom Cycles!!! Join us each week as we give you straight talk on what is happening to Bikers on the Left Coast along with what YOU can do to join the cause! Tune in and check us out!!!!

Screwdriver and Bill are hosting “THE BIKERS OF AMERICA, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS” show every Thursday at 9 pm Est/ 6 pm Pac. We invite you to participate by clicking the web address
Here is the Show guide
www.blogtalkradio.com/bikersofamerica. or by calling #347-826-7753 and follow the prompts.
and the Blog can be reached at
bikersofamerica.blogspot.com

Screwdriver at Countermeasures Division (strokerz383@gmail.com). Please note that this e-mail address is being protected from spambots so you will need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The next “THE BIKERS OF AMERICA (THE PHIL and BILL SHOW)” will be on Tuesday
FEB /14/ 2012 at 6pm Pacific and 9pm Eastern. AS Well As Thursday FEB/ 16 / 2012 night`s 6pm Pacific and 9pm Eastern. We will be featuring different topics Guests from around the World. Bikers Rights, News off the wire and B.O.L.T updates from across the country.

Other potential topics –
• How Bill and I have been involved with over the years;
• The unconstitutional roadside checkpoints;
• The motorcycle only checkpoints;
• The Helmet Law’s Unconstitutional Enforcement;
• Legislation and Politics;
• The Veterans Groups,
• The V.A. Hospitals, and
• Helping Our Brothers and Sisters when asked.

Participation Options: Our show is flexible so we can either control the topic or we will be happy to turn the podium to you. Should you wish to hold the podium, please email me, Screwdriver at Countermeasures Division (strokerz383@gmail.com). Please note that this e-mail address is being protected from spambots so you will need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Let’s Not Forget:

Hermis LIVE, Wednesdays at 9 pm Est or 6 pm Pac, www. HERMISLIVE.com.

For broader communication, since these shows are open to the public, please pass this email along to your family and/or friends, who you know are interested in Motorcyclist Rights. Remember the bottom-line; we all have a sincere involvement with knowing, sharing, and/or enhancing our understanding about our rights as members of the biker community so I am asking for you, family, and friends to support the above two (3) shows.

Thank you, in advance, for your anticipated support and participation in these important discussions.

Philip (aka Screwdriver)
BOLT of California
(760) 207-2965 or strokerz383@gmail.com
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information about Bikers Of A Lesser Tolerance, please visit http://boltusa.org/ or for California Rights information see http://www.boltofca.com/

Make Way For WAASS: H.R.658 Accelerates Drone Deployment For Surveillance Of American Citizens

2012-02-13T00:58:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
MAKE WAY FOR WAASS: H.R.658 ACCELERATES DRONE DEPLOYMENT FOR SURVEILLANCE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
Perhaps emboldened by the impotence of the ACLU, BORDC, Center for Constitutional Rights, "Oath Keepers" and other toothless rights watchdogs, as well as the inability of the Occupy Movement to break through the corporate-controlled mainstream media blackout of efforts to "Undo NDAA", yesterday H.R.658 - euphemistically entitled the "FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act" - sailed through the U.S. Senate (75-20-5) and is now headed to the White House where our corporate fascist puppet President Barack Obama is expected to swiftly sign it into law:
http://tinyurl.com/77lsh3p
As were Sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 - which despite Obama's signing statement and other claims to the contrary do in fact codify the indefinite detention without charge or trial of American citizens on American soil - tucked neatly away in H.R.658 (and likely never read by most of our lobbified legislators) is Section 320, officially summarized as follows:
"Requires the FAA Administrator to: (1) develop plans to accelerate the integration of unmanned aerial systems [drones] into the National Airspace System, and (2) report to Congress on progress made in establishing special use airspace for the DOD to develop detection techniques for small unmanned aerial vehicles and to validate sensor integration and operation of unmanned aerial systems. Directs the DOD Secretary to establish a process to develop certification and flight standards for military unmanned aerial systems at specified test sites."
With that exposed, a more fitting moniker for H.R.658 might be the "Skynet Surveillance Enabling Act of 2012". According to USA Today, "Drones, perhaps best known for their combat missions in Afghanistan, are increasingly looking to share room in U.S. skies with passenger planes... Now, organizations from police forces searching for missing persons to academic researchers counting seals on the polar ice cap [are] eager to launch drones." In more specific and less candy-coated terms, once the Wide Area Aerial Surveillance System - or WAASS (think Skynet) - drone surveillance network enabled by H.R.658 is in place, privacy in real as well as virtual space will become a thing of the past as Big Brother will be able to spy on just about anyone doing just about anything just about anywhere in the United States or elsewhere. As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated:
"The primary objective of WAASS is to provide persistent, long-term surveillance over urban and rural terrain at least the size of 16 km2. The surveillance system shall have an electro-optical capability for daylight missions but can have an infrared capability for day or night operations. The sensor shall integrate with an airborne platform for data gathering. The imagery data shall be displayed at a DHS operations center and have the capability for forensic analysis within 36 hours of the flight."
http://tinyurl.com/79n7o33
And as we previously reported, "Skynet" citizen surveillance has already begun:
http://tinyurl.com/82ld3vu
Welcome to 1984...
NO MORE LEFT. NO MORE RIGHT. TIME TO UNITE. STAND AND FIGHT!
IronBoltBruce via VVV PR ( http://vvvpr.com/ | @vvvpr )
Img: http://veritasvirtualvengeance.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/hr658_skynet_surveillance_drones.jpg
Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6xERbRHH-E
Tag: #hr658, #waass, #drones, #dhs, #surveillance, #privacy, #ndaa, #fascism, #ows, #worldwarweb, #vvvpr
Key: h.r.658, dhs, waass, drones, police drones, dhs drones, surveillance drones, surveillance, privacy, ndaa, ndaa 2012, fascism, corporate fascism, ows, occupy wall street, world war web, vvv pr

Knife Laws in California: Is It Legal Carry One?

2012-02-13T00:57:00.005-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
FOR THOSE OF US HERE IN O`SIDE CA, IT VARIES FORM CITY TO CITY,TOWN TO TOWN COUNTY ALSO....
Oceanside California Knife Laws

SECTION FIVE: DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN PACKIN' STEEL
First thing: don't get nervous. If you've read this, you're not going to be breaking any knife laws. California's knife laws are actually pretty decent, better than most states (even the shall-issue gun permit ones). If you're nervous, the cop will read that, and he won't know what to think - but the conversation WILL go downhill.
If you're walking past a cop with a legally concealed knife, DO NOT "pat the knife" to make sure the concealment is still effective. That's the number one way cops spot people packing guns illegally. They'll think that's what you're doing. The resulting conversation won't be pleasant.
If there's any chance at all that the guy is gonna search you, politely declare that you're carrying a "pocketknife legal under state law". Got that? Tell him where it is on you, let him take control of it. DO NOT SCARE THE DUDE WITH THE BADGE AND GUN. Don't reach for nuthin' unless he tells you to do so. At all times, act like this is just a normal business transaction.
So what if he/she thinks your piece(s) is/are illegal?
You explain that California knife law has changed a bunch of times starting in 1997 and twice more that you know of, so you're not terribly surprised there's confusion. Calmly explain as much of the relevant Penal Codes as you can recall...if you're into big folders, PC653k and the bit in 12020 about "not readily available if concealed in the closed position" is a start. If he ain't buying, calmly ask for a supervisor.
If he wants to confiscate your cutlery, ASK FOR A RECEIPT. If he says anything about "that'll mean you'll get a ticket too, and/or an arrest", stand your ground and calmly ask for a receipt. He's bluffing because he wants your knife. Sorry if any cops reading this are offended, but it happens - I've met enough people it's happened to to be a believer, although it hasn't happened to me. If he just plain takes it without a receipt, get his badge number and/or car number (if the latter is all you can get, record the TIME). If it was a city or county cop, make a THEFT complaint in detail with your nearest California Highway Patrol station (they investigate local wrongdoing). If it was CHP, hmmm...complain to the CHP supervisors maybe, or the Sheriff, but for God's sake don't let 'em off clean.
IF YOU HAD TO THREATEN AN ASSAILANT WITH A DRAWN BLADE:
You have two choices: get the hell out of there ASAP and travel far and fast, because odds are, crooks that get chased off by an armed citizen love to file a "he threatened me" complaint and bust YOU. Bug out. NOTE: we're talking about a situation in which you haven't committed a crime, and since no actual violence occurred neither did anybody else. So "fleeing the scene" rules don't really apply. And you also don't want the SOB coming back with reinforcements and/or heavy artillery. Time to go!
If that's not possible, because the crook knows where you are or who you are (or have your car's license plate number), jump on 911 and report an attempted crime, pronto. There are too many lazy cops that just believe the first complaint. Make yours first. You'll probably have one major advantage: the crook will have a violent record and you won't.
IF YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY DRAW BLOOD IN DEFENSE:
When the cops show up, there are only three things you should say: I was in fear of my life, I'm too shaken up to talk, I want a lawyer. (If there are witnesses you know of, point them out to the cops and tell the cops to talk to them.)
Bernie Goetz didn't do that. He was furious at the four attempted muggers, he made that anger plain in a long discussion down at the station, and he ended up getting charged with murder and attempted murder when it was absolutely clear-cut self defense.
When a cop gets involved in a shooting, they understand that immediately afterwards, he's too shaken to explain clearly what happened. So most departments give him 24 hours to settle down before talking to him. But if you're involved in lethal force, some will take advantage of your rattled state to pry garbled statements out of you. You HAVE the right to remain silent. Use it.
I'm assuming here that if you drew or used steel, you had a damned good reason. That's a subject for a much more detailed (not to mention PROFESSIONAL) treatment - see Introduction for some reference works.

Oceanside City Code 20. 10

Sec. 20.10 – Weapons - Possession in Public - Prohibited

No person shall be or appear in any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or any public place or place open to public view while carrying upon his person, or having in his immediate possession, any dangerous or deadly weapon. This section shall not be construed to duplicate prohibitions of California state statute, or to prohibit the possession of weapons expressly authorized by California state statute.

Knife Laws in California: Is It Legal Carry One?

For my first Bailing Wiring Column, I was asked to write about knife laws in California. After researching the law, I certainly understood why some confusion exists as to what is legal to carry and what isn’t: there are over a dozen statutes on the subject, as well as numerous municipal codes, and inconsistent court decisions that further muddy the water. This article is intended to shed some light on the rules and inconsistencies in California knife laws.

Of course, I wouldn't be a very good attorney without giving a few caveats before I begin. First, remember that carrying any weapon, even one that’s legal, can cause you a lot of grief with law enforcement. Cops routinely write tickets and make arrests for things they incorrectly think is illegal. Being found “not guilty” will not make up for the time and aggravation of getting arrested and missing work -- not to mention the cost of hiring an attorney. Also, this article only covers California law. State laws can vary greatly, and taking a knife that is legal in California over state lines may get you into trouble with federal laws or laws of other states. Local ordinances may also impact the legality of your knife.

With those warnings out of the way, California laws covering switchblades, daggers, and disguised blades are discussed below. For those of you with a short attention span, here is the summary:

In California, the following are illegal: (1) Any knife with a blade of 2" or longer, that can be opened with a button or the flick of your wrist; (2) concealed possession of any "dirk" or "dagger," i.e., any stabbing device with a fixed blade, regardless of blade length; (3) possession or sale of any disguised blades, i.e., cane swords, writing pen knives, lipstick knives, etc., or any knife that is undetectable to metal detectors; (4) possession of a knife with a blade longer than 2 1/2" on any school grounds; (5) possession of a fixed-blade knife with a blade longer than 2 1/2" on any college or university grounds; and (6) flashing or waiving any knife or weapon in a threatening manner. Also, certain municipalities have their own laws that may affect the legality of carrying a knife. In Los Angeles, for example, it's illegal to openly carry any knife with a blade longer than 3".

Each of the above issues is discusses in greater detail below.

Switchblades - Penal Code § 653k

Switchblades and other spring-loaded knives are generally illegal in California. Included in the legal definition of switchblade is "[any] knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever." The statute expressly excludes pocket knives that can be opened with one hand by pushing the blade open with one's thumb, as long as

the knife "has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position."

The statute further states that it is unlawful to : (1) to possess a switchblade in a vehicle, (2) to carry a switchblade anywhere upon one's person, or (3) to transfer or attempt to sell a switchblade to another person. In the 2009 case of People v. S.C., the Court of Appeals held that possession of a switchblade in a person's pocket, boot, etc., is unlawful, even if even if in one's own home. In other words, it’s illegal to have a switchblade with a 2" or longer blade – period.

It should also be noted that a pocketknife that was legal when manufactured, but is broken or modified so that it will open freely, is a switchblade within the meaning of the statute. For example, in the 2008 case of People v. Angel R., the Court of Appeals examined a conviction over a pocketknife that, as originally manufactured, had a hole in the back of the blade that prevented it from flicking open. The trial court found, however, that the knife had been modified or damaged, and the resistance mechanism did not function so that the knife would open with a flick of the wrist. Despite the original design of the knife, the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction.

Concealed Knives, Dirks, and Daggers - Penal Code § 12020

In California, it is illegal for any person to carry concealed, certain knives, legally described as "dirks" and "daggers," i.e., any fixed-blade knife or stabbing weapon. Pursuant to the statute, it is illegal to carry concealed upon one's person any fixed-blade knife. This does not include a legal (non-switchblade) pocketknife, as long as that knife is closed. Carrying a knife in an openly-worn sheath is not concealment within the meaning of the statute. As discussed below, however, this law may be impacted by local ordinances.

Cane Swords and other Disguised Blades - Penal Code § 20200 et seq

Any knife or blade that is disguised so as to not look like a weapon is also illegal in California. This includes, cane swords, belt-buckle knives, lipstick case knives, air gauge knives, writing pen knives, etc. Blades that are undetectable to metal detectors (e.g., ceramic blades) are also illegal.

Possession of Knives on School Grounds - Penal Code § 626.10

It is illegal for any person to bring or possess "any dirk, dagger, ice pick, knife having a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches, folding knife with a blade that locks into place, [or] razor with an unguarded blade . . . upon the grounds of, or within, any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12 . . ." The law with regard to college campuses is similar, but less restrictive. Subsection (b) of the statute provides that it is illegal for any person to bring or possess "any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or knife having a fixed blade longer than 2 1/2 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any [college or university]."

Brandishing Knives - Penal Code § 417

In California, it is illegal to brandish any deadly weapon, including knives. The law states that it is unlawful for any person to "draw or exhibit any deadly weapon . . . in a rude, angry, or threatening manner, or . . . to unlawfully use a deadly weapon." This does not include use of such a weapon in self defense.

Local Ordinances - Here's Where the Law Gets Messy

If the laws above seem confusing, as the saying goes, "you ain't seen nothin' yet." Local ordinances vary from city to city, and county to county. Worse, California courts have been inconsistent in ruling on the enforceability of these local laws.

For example, in the City of Los Angeles, it is illegal to publicly carry, in plain view, any knife, dirk or dagger having a blade 3" or more in length, any ice pick or similar sharp tool, any straight-edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle. (There are certain exceptions, such as where the knife is for use in a "lawful occupation, for lawful recreational purposes, or as a recognized religious practice.") The County of Los Angeles has a similar rule, which makes it illegal to openly carry, in public, "any knife having a blade of three inches or more in length; any spring-blade, switch-blade or snap-blade knife; any knife any blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device; any ice pick or similar sharp stabbing tool; any straight-edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle." In other words, it is illegal in Los Angeles County to openly carry any knife with a blade of 3" or longer.

It gets worse. Los Angeles Code section 55.01 also makes it illegal to carry any weapon concealed on one's person. As such, in Los Angeles, you can't openly carry a blade over 3", but you can't carry such a weapon concealed, either.

Interestingly, the Courts have held that the Los Angeles law forbidding carrying a concealed weapon is invalid. In the 1968 case of People v. Bass, a man was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed folding knife. The Court of Appeals overturned the conviction, holding that the Los Angeles law conflicted with the state law, and was therefore invalid. Nonetheless, the Los Angeles law is still on the books.

What is even more interesting is that other, more recent cases completely contradict the decision in People v. Bass. In the 1985 case of People v. Gerardoi, the defendant was charged with violating a local law of the City of Commerce that is nearly identical to the Los Angeles local law prohibiting carrying blades over 3". On appeal, the defendant cited the Bass case, arguing that the city code was invalid. The Gerardoi court rejected the holding of Bass, and found that the city code was valid.

Where does all this information leave us? The short answer is, in a mess. There are certainly things that are illegal: any switchblade with a blade 2" or longer, or concealed possession of any knife with a fixed blade. Other knives may or may not be legal,

depending on how and where you carry them, and where you are in California. The best this to do is to check local ordinances before deciding to carry a knife or any other weapon in California. Better yet, think twice before carrying a knife. As you know, some cops look for any excuse to hassle bikers.

Ride safe, and stay legal. If either of these fail, call me!

ABOUT SY NAZIF, ESQ.

Sy Nazif is a life-long motorcyclist and an attorney who specializes in biker’s rights and representing motorcycle accident victims in California. He is a graduate of the esteemed University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, and has worked with AIM, NCOM, and the COC. He later founded RiderzLaw.com and began his own firm, which is quickly becoming one of the leading motorcycle rights and injury firms in the state.

sy@riderzlaw.com

1-888-5-RIDERZ

This article is written for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Sec. 20.10 – Weapons - Possession in Public - Prohibited

Oceanside California Knife Laws. As always I am not a lawyer and these videos are strictly for informational Purposes only if you need legal Advice Seek out A Criminal Lawyer. As always read and keep a copy of all pertaining knife laws for yourself, practice stating them so you sound confident and intelligent, you're your best advocate. Stopping the process at the initial contact is better than wining a court case after lots of legal action.

NEW ZEALAND - Future Hells Angels bike rides possible: police

2012-02-13T00:57:00.004-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
KELSEY FLETCHER
Source: stuff.co.nz
Police won't rule out future Hells Angels charity bike rides despite a number of minor incidents during yesterday's event.
An estimated 270 bikers took part in the ride from Northcote to Puhoi with the assistance of uniformed and mufti police officers.
The ride was organised by breakaway gang Hells Angels 81 Nomads and encouraged participants to donate $20 to the Red Cross.
Patched members from various gangs - including the Hells Angels, Nomads, Head Hunters, Black Power, Filthy Few, the Hu Hu's and the Redeemed Motorcycle Ministry - entered the event.
It was also publicised as a New Zealand first and encouraged non-members to take part.
Waitemata superintendent road policing manager John Kelly says police became involved for a number of reasons.
''Number one was to make sure they rode within the law, and number two was to primarily prevent the inconvenience to the public,'' he said. ''When motorbikes ride together they create chaos so we minimised that.''
Kelly said a number of incidents took place during the event where participants had to be stopped and spoken to.
One participant left the road and crashed his motorbike but only sustained minor injuries, Kelly said.
''We did breath tests and all [the motorbikes] were up to standard and licences up to date.''
Kelly said as far as police were concerned, the event worked out well.
''There was some inconvenience. Our job was to minimise that and get the motorbikes out as fast as we could and we achieved that pretty well.''
Kelly said an annual event by Hells Angels 81 Nomads based on this event could be viable.
''If they decided to do this on an annual basis we would want some more structure for future events,'' he said.
''What they have to remember is there are other road users and they have to fit in - they have to learn to share the road.''
New Zealand Red Cross national fundraising manager Alice Montague said earlier this week the organisation had no qualms with accepting any donation following the gang-organised ride.
''Hundreds of community groups have been raising funds for us,'' she said.
''To our knowledge this has always been done with the best intentions and we have received the funds raised. One of the Red Cross' fundamental principles is impartiality, and it does not judge any organisation that offers to raise money for the community.''
A member of the Redeemed Motorcycle Ministry, who only wanted to be known as Mark, said it was pleasing that a charity like the Red Cross would benefit from the ride.
''It's a good event and great money is being raised,'' he said. ''There are people here from all sorts of different groups. It's great that something good will come out of it.''

Washington: Marijuana Regulation Measure Certified For 2012 Ballot

2012-02-13T00:57:00.003-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Olympia, WA: State election officials on Friday approved a statewide measure for the November ballot that seeks to regulate the production and distribution of marijuana for adults.
Sponsored by New Approach Washington, the measure -- Initiative 502 -- will technically first go before state lawmakers. If legislators fail to endorse the measure, then it will go directly before the voters this fall.
New Approach Washington collected over 350,000 signatures from registered voters to qualify I-502 for this year's ballot. Backers of I-502 include two former US attorneys -- John McKay from the George W. Bush administration and Kate Pflaumer who held the job under President Clinton -- as well as Seattle's former FBI agent-in-charge Charles Mandigo.
If enacted, the measure would remove state criminal and civil penalties regarding the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults age 21 or over. It would not alter existing state prohibitions regarding the private cultivation of cannabis for non-medical patients.
I-502 also seeks to enact statewide regulations allowing for the commercial production and sale of marijuana to adults in state licensed stores. The measure does not amend any existing regulations regarding the possession or cultivation of marijuana by qualified patients, who are already permitted under state law to grow up to 15 plants and possess up to 24 ounces of cannabis.
If passed, I-502 would also impose new per se traffic safety standards for anyone over age 21 who operates a motor vehicle with detectable levels of active THC in blood above 5ng/ml. (The presence of inactive THC metabolites in blood or urine would not qualify as a violation under the proposed law.) The controversial provision would lower the legal standard necessary in Washington for a criminal DUI cannabis conviction from one that requires the state to show recency of marijuana use and a positive relationship between that use and behavioral impairment to one that merely requires prosecutors to prove that a defendant operated a motor vehicle with trace levels of THC in his or her blood. I-502 will not lower the probable cause requirements that must presently be met before the state can legally demand a suspect's blood.
To date, few states have enacted such per se standards for THC because its presence at low levels in blood is viewed by some experts to be an inconsistent predictor of behavioral impairment, particularly in more frequent consumers who may potentially test positive for residual THC levels in their blood for periods of time exceeding any period of acute impairment.
The Washington state Democratic Party has endorsed I-502, as has the King County Bar Association, among other groups.
For more information about I-502, please visit New Approach Washington online at: http://www.newapproachwa.org/home.

Drones roam skies of US cities

2012-02-13T00:57:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

>>> drones have become a familiar tool in u.s. missions overseas. we have heard a lot about those remotely controlled eyes in the sky over the middle east. now some police departments here at home are adding drones to their arsenals. and that's raising eyebrows among privacy advocates. we get our report tonight in nbc's charles headlock.
>> reporter: we have seen them in action in iraq, afghanistan and pakistan. unmanned american drones are the high-tech fixtures of modern military warfare. and now, their surveillance technology is about to be used in a whole new way at home. miami-dade police are among the first to test this new breed of aircraft.
>> like a rocket.
>> reporter: a uav, an unmanned aerial vehicle with some of the same technology as military drones, but much smaller and lighter.
>> has no weapon, it's not capable of any offensive or defensive. it's just a camera. it's a flying camera.
>> reporter: companies that make the uavs claim they can be used in a manhunt. or in a standoff or hostage situation.
>> it gives them that ability to deploy something quickly in less than five minutes as opposed to a full-sized aircraft.
>> reporter: to know what to expect.
>> this gives us realtime data to make decisions.
>> reporter: the sheriff's department used federal homeland security money to buy a $300,000 helicopter drone. small enough to fit on a table.
>> it's so simple in its design and the objectives of it, you just wonder why anyone would choose not to have it.
>> reporter: police helicopters have been flying around major cities for years. but critics say the prospect of unmanned drones with cameras peering into backyards and following people may be going too far.
>> i think that there are an opportunity for fishing expeditions.
>> reporter: terry burke with the american civil liberties union of texas say police drones may have a legitimate law enforcement purpose, but fears they'll be too easy to misuse.
>> in an era where we have warrant warrantless searches and privately intrusion, the drones are an excuse to trample on the constitution.

CA - SAN DIEGO - Audio Tape Leads To Claims Of Oceanside Police Cover-Up

2012-02-13T00:57:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
10news.com
Former Officer Gilbert Garcia Sues Oceanside PD, Claims He Was Fired For Not Destroying Evidence..
SAN DIEGO -- Questions of a possible cover-up are being raised after just-released audio recordings detail an incident involving an Oceanside police officer.

» Video: DA's Office, FBI Yet To Investigate Cover-Up Allegations
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Sources told 10News the FBI has obtained the recordings and could pursue an investigation into whether the Oceanside Police Department ordered incriminating tapes destroyed after one of their officers appeared to have committed a crime.

On an August night in 2009, an Oceanside man named Tim was in his yard when he said he saw a Toyota Camry drive by and the driver tossing out a beer can.
"He drove by once, took a big swig of beer," said Tim. "Came by once again, took another swig, and tossed the beer can out." Tim contacted police following the incident.
Oceanside police Sgt. Travis Norton and Officer Gilbert Garcia, who turned on his tape recorder, questioned Tim.
"So he was drinking as he went by?" Norton said in the recording.
"Oh, yeah, absolutely; and he was sort of flaunting it," replied Tim.
Soon after, a license plate match led officers to another home and a familiar face: Oceanside police Sgt. David Larson.
Once again, Garcia's tape recorder was turned on as Larson was questioned.
"So I'm asking was that you?" asked Norton.
Larson responded, "I had a beer on the way home."
"OK, was that you driving past them?" asked Norton.
"Yeah," Larson replied.
"How much have you had to drink?" asked Norton.
"Two," said Larson.
Moments later, Larson was asked to blow into a breathalyzer device.
"All right. Will you blow in a PAS (preliminary alcohol-screening device)?" asked Norton.
Larson replied, "Now? I'm going to blow over."
Norton said, "Why don't you hang tight right here for me … I've got a couple calls."
After some calls were made, Garcia told 10News he was cleared from the scene.
No charges were ever filed.
In November 2009, Garcia was fired over a sexual harassment claim.
Garcia's attorney, Dan Gilleon, has filed a wrongful termination suit and said the trumped up reason hid the real motive.
"As far as smoking gun evidence, this is pretty much as good as it gets," Gilleon said of the recordings. "The audio tapes make it very clear that they were covering this DUI up. The harassment claim was a case of crude banter on both sides. Garcia was told it was a minor issue, until they realized he wasn't going to destroy the tape."
Gilleon said Garcia was told by Norton on the night of the incident to destroy the tapes and that Chief Frank McCoy himself had approved of halting the probe.
According to documents obtained by 10News, in a 2010 arbitration meeting about Garcia's firing, Norton was asked: "Did you, for whatever reason, direct Officer Garcia to dispose of or destroy the audio recording?"
Norton answered "yes."
The original incident happened more than two years ago, but the explosive audio tape was part of a court filing on Thursday.
Oceanside police did not comment on the matter and referred 10News to the Oceanside City Attorney's Office.
Oceanside City Attorney John Mullen sent the following statement to 10News:

I cannot comment on an amendment to a complaint that I have not seen. However, I will reiterate that Mr. Garcia was terminated for extreme violations of the City's policy on the prevention of sexual harassment. The termination was confirmed by an independent arbitrator mutually selected by Mr. Garcia and the City. Garcia's legal counsel had the opportunity to submit all relevant evidence during that hearing. The City has a pending motion to dismiss the Garcia complaint on several grounds. Among other things, Garcia is barred from challenging his termination after he lost his case during a binding arbitration and he failed to challenge the arbitrator's decision.
The allegations raised by Garcia's counsel are ludicrous and will be proven false in court. The City will aggressively seek recovery of every public dollar spent defending this frivolous case.

Tanya Sierra, the public affairs officer for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, issued the following statement:
Anytime the District Attorney's Office receives information, we review it carefully and can only file charges if we believe we can prove a crime was committed beyond a reasonable doubt. If our office is presented with new evidence or information, we will evaluate it carefully for potential criminal charges. Regardless of who the suspect may be, we follow the same ethical and legal standard for filing charges in every case.

Previous Stories: November 15, 2011: Former Officer Sues Oceanside Police, Claims Cover-Up

COMMENT -
I really am begining to think that at least once a week, in just the last 3 or 4 yrs.alone lately. That there has been an onrunning string of Police criminalism, corruption and or skullduggery being committed on an ongoing rate(county-wide mind you). That I have ever witnessed before as an Native Oceanside Resident. Truly and remarkably unbelievable, it's gotten to the point of being a commonly occurring ritual...really pathetic! It makes me wonder WHAT in the HELL is going-on!
Sgt Ron Hardy of Oceanside Police Dept is the true villian. He does IA investigations and makes up stuff ON people, I've seen it first hand!
He is in charge of their IA...just who are you going to file a complaint to and do you really think anybody is going to listen.There is a lot more then that OPD is covering up. OPD has for several years, placed unwarranted tracking devices on peoples cars, for years, a female takes her clothes off in one patrol car takes pictures of herself, and sends them to other cops and city employees, this is not the 1st issue with Sgt Larson either, yet he got promoted and the mexican got fired..
Ask John Mullen if the blood tech perjured herself during civil depositions. Ask John Mullen if the City lost their motion for summary judgement last month.typical OPD tactics,they have been sued by numerous male and female officers for everything from sexual harassment,racial prejudice,lack of oversight for senior officers by the chief and the city.how can you have any faith in the fact that you will be treated fairly when you have contact with them.and its not just a isolalated incident,we are talking about numerous individual cases being brought against OPD and all are from internal related cases..

ABATE of California's 18th Annual Regional Rally - 5/11/12 - 5/13/12

2012-02-13T00:57:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

ABATE of California's 18th Annual Regional Rally - 5/11/12 - 5/13/12

Shady Oasis Kampground - 16530 Stoddard Wells Rd Victorville, California, 92395

Best Biker Run of the Year! Everyone Welcome, All Riders, All Makes, All Models. A Family Oriented/Friendly Event. $200.00 Pre-Reg. Cash Drawing, Bike & People Games, Judged Bike show, Horseshoe Tournament. Hourly Raffles, Vendors, Live Music, DJ. Full Hook-ups, Pool, Mini Store on Site, Recreation Room, Bike Rentals, Playground, Laundry. Pre-Reg. Price Single $30.00, Couple $40.00, Day of Event Single $35.00, Couple $45.00. RV's must pre-reg. $60.00 per RV Does Not Include Entry. Sign-in Opens for Pre-Reg. Friday 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon for Non Pre-Reg. Positively No Early Entries. Pre-Reg. deadline is April 30, 2012. For more information to be a Sponsor or Vendor go to http://www.bikernews.net/index.cfm/d/events/p/showEvent/eid/www.socalregionalrally.com

Contact: Paul Thomas

BABE OF THE WEEK, Alesia Pleasure

2012-02-13T00:56:00.001-08:00

Alesia Pleasure alesiapleasurefanclub@gmail.

if ppl join my fan club they get 1 free pic a month.

Join at alesiapleasurefanclub@gmail.com

Dont forget to order your Alesia Pleasure 2012 calendar. Filled with great custom bikes and the HOTTEST ADULT FILM STAR. Place your orders at alesiapleasurefanclub@gmail.com $12.00 plus $3.00 SH.

You can win a free personally autographed calendar By sending us your best picture of you and your bike..

New York City: Still The Marijuana Arrest Capital Of The World

2012-02-13T00:56:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Paul Armentano

NORML Deputy Director

Low level marijuana arrests in New York City rose for the seventh straight year in 2011 to 50,680. The arrest total is the highest total on record since former pot smoker Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office and it is the second highest total of pot arrests ever recorded in the history of the city (just 587 arrests behind the record holding year 2000, when Mayor Rudolph Giuliani oversaw some 51,267 people arrested for marijuana violations).

Shockingly, the near-record high arrest total comes just months after New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly called on officers to cease making marijuana misdemeanor arrests. Apparently, NYPD officers aren’t very good at listening to their commanding officer.
Of course, what is most troubling about these arrest figures is that under state law they largely shouldn’t be occurring at all. Since 1977, New York State law has categorized the possession of 25 grams of marijuana or less as a violation, not a misdemeanor crime. So then how are NYPD making so many misdemeanor pot arrests? By violating the spirit of the law, if not the law itself.
Rather than ticketing low level marijuana offenders, City police for over a decade have been taking advantage of a separate statute, NY State Penal Law 221.10, which makes it a criminal misdemeanor to possess pot if it is ‘open to public view.’ According to an investigation last year by New York City public radio station WNYC, it was determined that City cops routinely conduct warrantless ‘stop-and-frisk’ searches of civilians, find marijuana hidden on their persons, and then falsely charge them with possessing pot ‘open to public view.’
And what has been the result of these illegal ‘stop and frisks?’ A press advisory issued yesterday by the Drug Policy Alliance lists the grim details.

– The NYPD has made more than 100,000 marijuana possession arrests for the last two years; nearly 150,000 marijuana possession arrests in the last three years; and more than 227,000 marijuana possession arrests in the last five years.
– New York City spent at least $150 million in the last two years and has spent at least $340 million in the last five years making marijuana possession arrests.
– In the last decade since Michael Bloomberg became mayor, the NYPD has made 400,038 lowest level marijuana possession arrests at a cost to taxpayers of $600 million dollars.
– Nearly 350,000 of the marijuana possession arrests made under Bloomberg are of overwhelmingly young Black and Latino men, despite the fact that young whites use marijuana at higher rates than young Blacks and Latinos.
– In the last five years, the NYPD under Bloomberg has made more marijuana arrests (2007 to 2011 = 227,093) than in the 24 years from 1978 through 2001 under Mayor Giuliani, Mayor Dinkins, and Mayor Koch combined (1978 to 2001 = 226,861).

Commissioner Kelly’s 2011 memorandum explicitly directed officers to stop charging defendants with criminal misdemeanors in instances where the contraband ‘was disclosed to public view at an officer’s direction.’ Nevertheless, the record number of low level pot arrests appears to be continuing unabated. Most likely, it will take an act of law to stop this practice.
Fortunately, bipartisan legislation is pending in both the New York State Assembly and Senate to stop this disgusting, ongoing practice. Assembly Bill 7620 and Senate Bill 5187 reduce marijuana penalties involving cases where where marijuana was either consumed or allegedly possessed in public from a criminal misdemeanor to a non-criminal violation. Passage of SB 5187 and AB 7620 will save taxpayer dollars, protect New York City’s citizens against illegal searches, and reduce unwarranted racial disparities in arrests by clarifying the law and standardizing penalties for marijuana possession offenses.
If you reside in New York and want to end the City’s dubious distinction of being the ‘marijuana arrest capital of the world,’ then please contact your state elected officials today and urge them to support SB 5187 and AB 7620. You can do so via NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ here.

CALIFORNIA - Fresno men indicted in medical marijuana scheme ..

2012-02-13T00:54:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Associated Press

A federal grand jury has indicted half a dozen Fresno men in an alleged medical marijuana scheme that saw weed shipped to at least eight other states.
The U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS made the announcement Friday.
The indictment is against Fresno men Joseph Edwin Gable, Elgeron Graves, Vincent Graves, Herman Graves, Damone Kelly and Catatea James. Kevin Eugene Spencer of Roseville was also indicted.
The men are charged with money laundering and trafficking.
Gable allegedly was in charge of a long-term interstate marijuana-trafficking conspiracy. The Graves brothers are accused of recruiting people to obtain California medical marijuana recommendations from a local physician for the purpose of growing marijuana, which was being shipped to Alabama, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/fresno-men-indicted-in-medical-marijuana-scheme/article_9f83a69a-d2aa-5ac1-b7c3-df5963d65207.html#ixzz1m8ZXW7TM

Dr. Thomas Sowell - scary!

2012-02-13T00:51:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
This is scary!

A great article. One of the most intellectual human beings in this country, hits it right on the head!
Occupy Wall Street by Thomas Sowell
By Dr. Thomas Sowell

The current Occupy Wall Street movement is the best illustration to date of what President Barack Obama's America looks like. It is an America where the lawless, unaccomplished, ignorant and incompetent rule. It is an America where those who have sacrificed nothing pillage and destroy the lives of those who have sacrificed greatly.
It is an America where history is rewritten to honor dictators, murderers and thieves. It is an America where violence, racism, hatred, class warfare and of murder are all promoted as acceptable means of overturning the American civil society.
It is an America where humans have been degraded to the level of animals: of defecating in public, having sex in public, devoid of basic hygiene.
It is an America where the basic tenets of a civil society, including faith, family, a free press and individual rights, have been always rejected.
It is an America where our founding documents have been now shredded and, with them, every person's guaranteed liberties.
It is an America where, ultimately, great suffering will come to the American people, but the rulers like Obama, Michelle Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, liberal college professors, union bosses and all other loyal liberal/Communist Party members will live in opulent splendor.
It is the America that Obama and the Democrat Party have now created with all the willing assistance of the American media, Hollywood , unions, universities, the Communist Party of America, the Black Panthers and numerous anti-American foreign entities.
Barack Obama has brought more destruction upon this country in three years than any other event in the history of our nation, but it is just the beginning of what he and his comrades are capable of.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is just another step in their plan for the annihilation of America .
"Socialism, in general, has a record of failure that's so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it."
Dr. Thomas Sowell (A National Humanities Medal Winner)

CANADA - Federal government unveils counter-terrorism strategy

2012-02-13T00:49:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Jeff Davis
windsorstar.com
Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews, seen during Question Period Wednesday, has announced an inter-departmental counter-terrorism strategy.Photograph by: Blair Gable, Reuters

OTTAWA — Public Safety Minister Vic Toews unveiled Canada's first comprehensive counter terrorism strategy Thursday, which includes response plans to major attacks and strategies for de-radicalizing homegrown terrorists and 'lone wolf' attackers.

Toews said Canada will be more resilient to terrorist attacks now that the sweeping, interdepartmental strategy is in place.

"The reality is that no government can guarantee it will be able to prevent all terrorist attacks all the time," he said. "Nevertheless, Canada is committed to taking all reasonable measures to address terrorism in its many forms.

"One of the biggest threats — the evolution of the threat — is the domestic homegrown terrorism, which is some of the most difficult terrorism to detect," he said.

Security experts welcomed the new plan, saying inter-agency co-operation has declined in recent years, and that domestic terrorism is a much more serious threat than most Canadians realize.

Building Resilience Against Terrorism: Canada's Counter-Terrorism Strategy identifies both domestic and international terrorist threats.

Sunni Islamic extremist groups such as al-Qaida and Al-Shabaab remain major threats, the strategy says, as do radicalized Canadian residents hatching "do-it-yourself" terrorism plots.

Authorities will also be on the lookout for domestic issue-based terrorism — such as the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings or Anders Behring Breivik's bloody rampage in Norway last year — authored by devotees of causes ranging from white supremacy and anti-capitalism to animal rights and environmentalism.

Toews said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service will step up its efforts to counter homegrown terrorism in vulnerable communities such as Somali Canadians.

"Terrorism is not specific to any one religion, community or ethnic group," he said. "Preventing terrorism ideology from taking hold of vulnerable individuals is the best scenario."

Toews said the strategy clarifies the existing counter-terrorism roles and responsibilities of various agencies such as the RCMP, CSIS, Foreign Affairs Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency and the armed forces.

How quickly Canada can bounce back from a major terrorist attack depends on the level of co-ordination between these agencies, he said.

The strategy describes a number of classified government "command centres," and which will be used in response to various types of terrorist attacks.

Toews admitted that it will prove difficult to determine how well the strategy is working.

"Its very difficult to measure effectiveness on the basis of an event that does not occur," he said.

Former CSIS agent Michel Juneau-Katsuya said that while Canadians normally equate terrorism with extreme Islam, what he called "white terrorism" is a bigger threat to Canada.

Since 9/11, Juneau-Katsuya said, Islamic terrorists have not succeeded in detonating a single bomb in Canada. Canadian-born citizens, meanwhile, have successfully staged 30 bombings, he said.

While ten of these were perpetrated by outlaw bikers, the rest came from a motley assortment of neo-Nazis, white supremacists, anti-globalization activists and other politically-motivated groups.

"All those people were born, raised and pissed off right here in Canada," Juneau-Katsuya said. "All the bombs that exploded here were groups operating in Canada, targeting Canadian interests right here."

Juneau-Katsuya said there has a been a sharp rise in membership and activity among white supremacists in Canada and the United States, particularly since Barack Obama was elected president. There already have been multiple attempts on Obama's life, he added.

"The Canadian and American white supremacists and neo-Nazis are keeping close tabs on each other, supporting each other, and providing weapons to each other," he said.

John Thompson, a security intelligence expert with the Mackenzie Institute, said there are significant efficiency gains to be had from closer inter-agency co-ordination and task forces. In Canada, he said, there is an astounding array of federal, provincial and municipal counterterrorism units that often are not informed of each other's activities, allowing clues to fall through the cracks.

"The first problem we have is all of our agencies and police intelligence services are underfunded and understaffed and overtasked," he said. "And one of the way is to increase efficiency through task-forcing."

Thompson said he thinks the government is trying to return to the way it combated terrorism before the Maher Arar Inquiry, which looked into allegations Arar was tortured after being sent to Syria by the Canadian security apparatus.

During the inquiry, as various agencies tried to avoid taking the blame, efficient co-operation broke down, he said.

"What they're going back to is what worked for three or four years after 9/11," he said. "Then the Arar issue came up threw a spanner into the gears . . . everybody stopped co-operating."

Better inter-agency intelligence sharing is needed to stop homegrown terrorists, he said, many of whom are on the verge of carrying out an attack when they are caught.

"With homegrowns, they've been coming faster and faster and police have been catching them later and later in the planning loop," he said.

NDP public safety critic Jasbir Sandhu said his party is uneasy with the new plan, given the government's recent signals that it is willing to use information gleaned through torture. "Their track record isn't exactly reassuring," he said.

Liberal public safety critic Francis Scarpaleggia said he was disappointed that the plan does not create a national security adviser's office, which the Air India Inquiry recommended.

He said he expects Toews to appear before the standing committee on public safety and national security to explain the plan in detail.

"It's very difficult to know specifically what the government is going to do differently," Scarpaleggia said.

jdavis@postmedia.com

THE TWO POOREST COUNTIES IN AMERICA ARE IN SOUTH DAKOTA- BUFFALO COUNTY (CROW CREEK RESERVATION) AND SHANNON COUNTY (PINE RIDGE RESERVATION)- WHY HAS AMERICA LET THIS HAPPEN TO NATIVE AMERICANS ?

2012-02-13T00:48:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

February 12th, 2012

By Hermis

NAHA TRUCKS BRINGING MUCH NEEDED FOOD/SUPPLIES TO NATIVE AMERICANS IN S. DAKOTA

THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED ON THIS PAGE DECEMBER 17, 2011
EVERY DAY, NAHA (NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION) MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY NATIVE AMERICANS ON THE SIOUX, SHOSHONE & ARAPAHOE RESERVATIONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING.
AFTER ALL. IF NAHA DOESN’T HELP THEM…… WHO WILL???
RECENTLY MUCH HOOPLA & EXCITEMENT SURROUNDED THE NOW HISTORIC “ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE” FEATURING 23 ROCK BANDS PERFORMING 58 “LIVE” SHOWS DURING THE FOUR NIGHT CRUISE. HEADLINING THIS “WOODSTOCK ON THE WATER” WAS “ZZ TOP”.
THE ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE WEBSITE LISTED THE LEGENDARY LINE UP THAT HELPED LAUNCH THE EVENT INTO A GALAXY OF ITS OWN, UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC PRODUCTION-EVER.
WHILE ITS UNDERSTANDABLE THIS HISTORIC LINE UP WOULD GENERATE SUCH A DEAFENING BUZZ FROM PASSENGERS AND MEDIA TYPES, THE ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE WAS HELD FOR ONE REASON: TO HELP NATIVE AMERICANS LIVING IN THE POOREST CONDITIONS IN AMERICA, LET US NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THIS FACT.
A LITTLE ABOUT NAHA, THE ORGANIZATION WHO BROUGHT US THE ”ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE”; STARTED IN 1993BY DAVID G. MYERS, NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION IS A CHARITABLE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES IN NEED LIVING ON RESERVATIONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING.
AFTER SEEING THE EXTREMELY POOR CONDITIONS NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE TO COPE WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, MR. MYERS KNEW HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEM. SO THE MISSION BEGAN TO HELP AS MANY NATIVE AMERICANS THAT NEED A HELPING HAND.
FOR 18 YEARS, THROUGH THE LOYALTY OF OUR DONORS, NAHA HAS CONTINUED TO GROW. WE PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, HEATING ASSISTANCE AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROGRAMS TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET EACH MONTH.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A CHARITABLE DONATION TO NAHA. OR, TO ASSURE WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR REGULAR PROGRAMS, YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT SUCH AS A MONTHLY DONATION. CHARITABLE BEQUESTS AND OTHER PLANNED GIFTS ARE ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATED.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES FULL DISCLOSURE OF OUR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT YOU MAY MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT YOUR CHARITABLE DONATION.

NAHA HAS RECEIVED OUR 7th CONSECUTIVE 4-STAR RATING FROM CHARITY NAVIGATOR- WE ARE THE ONLY NATIVE AMERICAN CHARITY TO BE AWARDED THIS RATING FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME.

94% OF OUR TOTAL REVENUE GOES TOWARDS OUR PROGRAMS.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT NAHA’s WEBSITE AND PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A CONTRIBUTION WHILE VISITING THE WEBSITE.

Obama invokes NDAA and Declares a National State of Emergency

2012-02-12T18:08:00.001-08:00

Obama invokes NDAA and Declares a National State of Emergency NDAA Legislation authorizes the
president to take military action against anyone nation organization of person abroad or
domestically the congress also says that obama does not need approval or oversite for use
of military force and this gives the president the authority to lauch and use any thing they
need to even if this leads to attacking usa citizens obama is also given the right to declare
marshal law and urban warfare and is given permission to place military weapon and troops across
the US and is given permission to fly fully armed reaper drones above the us skys and is also given
permission to spy on citizens across the us 35k drones have been aproved to be used soon as they need
to gps units will be given to federal empolyes to be used to gps lock loctions across the us the un
is given permission to send troops to us shores if needed and is given permission by acta and sopa laws
to track and spy on people on the net if the un or obama deems any citizen a threat they will be
detained at an undisclosed location these are the rules of ndaa sopa and acta the permison has been
approvde by congress

Today's POW/MIA Veterans newsletter is done... link inside

2012-02-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Good afternoon all:
Today's POW/MIA Veterans newsletter is complete.... for those of you that do not receive it directly to your inbox you can always read it from the website.

Here is the link: http://Gypsypashn.com/VeteransToday.htm/

As always, if you have any news to share kindly pass it along to me, thank you!
Semper Fi~
Gypsy

And he also said, “The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.”

2012-02-12T16:57:00.001-08:00

Thomas Jefferson said, “Laws that forbid the carrying of arms…disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”
And he also said, “The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.”

USA - Price of gas up nearly 12 cents in last 3 weeks

2012-02-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
David Henry

To head yet higher as rising crude costs not completely passed along, observer says..

The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States rose nearly 12 cents in the past three weeks to about $3.51, due in part to higher prices for North Sea crude oil, according to the nationwide Lundberg Survey.

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose 11.57 cents to $3.5101 as of February 10, the survey of about 2,500 gasoline stations in the continental United States found.

That was a greater change than the 3.5-cent rise in the previous survey, which covered the two weeks that ended January 20.

Survey editor Trilby Lundberg told Reuters that the higher prices came as the price for North Sea Brent crude rose more than $7 per barrel. Brent prices are more volatile and sensitive to changes in the Middle East than is U.S. crude.

Video: Gas prices soaring

Open in new window

ENGLAND - Rhian Touches Herself HD.

2012-02-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Lingerie model and page 3 girl Rhian Sugden shows us her raunchy side in this darkly seductive short film shot by world renowned photographer Rankin

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/mcac_rhian_touches_herself

Actual ad for prostate cancer check~ you'd never see this in the US!

US - Motorcycle-only checkpoints rev up controversy in Congress

2012-02-12T00:58:00.002-08:00

latimesblogs.latimes.com

OFF THE WIRE

Motorcycle-only safety checkpoints have revved up controversy among some lawmakers who say the inspections are another example of intrusive federal policies.
A measure inserted into the House transportation bill would bar the U.S. Department of Transportation from providing grants to local or state governments for such inspections.
The action grows out of a furor over checkpoints set up in Georgia last year and planned again this year under a $70,000 federal traffic safety grant.
The roadside checkpoints operate similar to the popular drunk-driving checkpoints. Law enforcement officials signal motorcyclists to pull over and then conduct on-the-spot safety inspections, checking on the condition of the bikes and whether drivers are properly licensed and complying with the state helmet law.
Similar checkpoints have been set up in New York.
But Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), among a bipartisan group of lawmakers who pushed for the provision in the bill, assailed motorcycle-only checkpoints as "an intrusive governmental overreach."
"Motorcycle riders are right to be outraged at being singled out for safety inspections," Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) added in a statement.

Jackie Gillan, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, criticized the provision. The group describes itself on its website as a coalition of "consumer, health and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America's roads safer."

"What you see are the fingerprints of the anti-helmet people,'' Gillan said in an interview. "We're fighting efforts in state legislatures to repeal rider helmet laws. Now, what they're doing is attacking, in those states that require helmets, the ability of law enforcement to enforce the law.''
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spokesman said that the agency's administrator David Strickland is concerned about the increasing proportion of fatalities among motorcyclists.
"If the argument is, well, you can't single us out by vehicle, we do,'' said Lt. Jim Halvorsen of the New York State Police. "When we do seat-belt checkpoints, we waive the motorcyclists through because they don't have seat belts. Both helmets and seatbelts are required safety devices."
Of approximately 27,000 motorcyclists that passed through their checkpoints last year, about 2,500 were stopped for closer inspection, Halvorsen said. Of those, 380 were ticketed for an illegal helmet. Six motorcyclists were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Forty-nine motorcyclists were ticketed for operating a motorcycle without the proper license class. A total of 1,665 tickets were issued.

In 2009, 4,462 motorcyclists were killed, a decrease of 16% from the previous year, according to the most recent figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Twenty-two percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2009 were riding without a valid motorcycle license at the time of the collision, compared with 12% of drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes who lacked a valid license, according to the agency.

The American Motorcyclist Assn. believes that "strategies to promote motorcycle safety must be rooted in motorcycle crash prevention, and don't include arbitrarily pulling over riders and randomly subjecting them to roadside inspections," according to its vice president of government relations, former Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard.
Strickland, in a 2010 letter to the American Motorcyclist Assn., noted that of 225 motorcyclists inspected at one New York checkpoint, 11% were found to have unsafe tires, and 36%were not wearing helmets meeting state law.
A letter sent to the House Transportation Committee by the bipartisan group of lawmakers in support of the provision said that funds would be better spent on educational programs aimed at reducing motorcycle crashes
Both chambers of Congress are expected to consider their own versions of the transportation bill next week.

NEW ZEALAND - Peaceful Hells Angels rally aids charity..

2012-02-12T00:58:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Police say there was no trouble from a motorcycle rally held north of Auckland on Saturday by a breakaway Hells Angels gxxg.Ride with the Angels was organised by Hells Angels 81 Nomads who encouraged riders to donate $20 to the Red Cross.
The breakaway gxxg was publicising the ride as a New Zealand first, and encouraging non-members to take part.
The Red Cross says it has no problem accepting funds from motorcycle gxxg members.
The charity's national funding manager, Alice Montague, says Red Cross is impartial and does not judge any group offering to raise money for the community.
A spokesperson says up to 200 motorcyclists travelled from Northcote through Helensville to Puhoi on a poker run, which involves collecting cards from checkpoints in order to compete for the best hand.
The spokesperson says police officers accompanied the convoy to make sure roads were not blocked.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/98156/peaceful-hells-angels-rally-aids-charity

Charity happy to accept funds from motorcycle gang
radionz.co.nz
New Zealand - The Red Cross says it has no misgivings about accepting funds raised at an Auckland motorcycle gang event on Saturday.

Ride with the Angels, organised by Hells Angels 81 Nomads, leaves from Northcote with participants riding through Helensville to Puhoi.
Organisers are encouraging riders to donate $20 to the Red Cross. The breakaway gang is publicising the ride as a New Zealand first and encouraging non-members to take part.
The charity's national funding manager says Red Cross is impartial and does not judge any group offering to raise money for the community.
Alice Montague says hundreds of groups have been raising funds for Red Cross and it has always been done with the best intentions.
Waitemata road policing manager Superintendent John Kelly says police will be monitoring the ride in cars and on motorbikes to make sure it is safe and the public are not disrupted.
Mr Kelly says about 200 riders are expected to take part.

AUSTRALIA - Bikie's murdered son buried at mosque

2012-02-12T00:57:00.005-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
REBECCA PUDDY
theaustralian.com.au
THE murdered son of bikie Vincenzo Focarelli has been buried amid a visible police presence at a mosque in Adelaide.
Reflecting the intense public interest in the escalating bikie-gang violence in South Australia in recent weeks, police and media crews yesterday surrounded the fenced Al-Khalil mosque as more than 100 family and friends gathered inside.
Police had earlier warned media and the public to be vigilant about their personal safety, with some television crews bringing private security guards for protection.
Authorities had warned of the potential for renewed violence between rival bikie gangs and had opposed the release of Mr Focarelli on bail to attend the funeral because of the risk to both him and the public.
Mr Focarelli has survived four attempts on his life and his lawyer warned he will be a "sitting duck" for his enemies in jail.
The South Australian government yesterday denied Mr Focarelli's eleventh hour request to attend his son's funeral based on the significant threat to public safety.
Street gang the New BoyZ have pledged revenge for the murder.
Mr Focarelli was yesterday transferred under secure escort from the Royal Adelaide Hospital to a high-security facility where he will remain in custody for 11 counts of breaching bail and the alleged possession of 413 grams of liquid drug butanediol, a precursor to date rape drug GHB.
Family members dressed in white and bikies clad in gold jewellery carried the shrouded body of 22-year-old Giovanni Focarelli in a procession from the mosque to his grave site, where he was buried by about 100 men in a private ceremony.
Twenty-two white doves were released at the graveside before 30 female family and friends dressed in white with their heads covered carried flowers to the grave.
Family friend and Comanchero Michael Sfyris was joined at the funeral by members of rival club the Finks, including Mr Focarelli's close friend Dylan Jessen, and members of the New BoyZ.
Despite Giovanni Focarelli 's links to Adelaide's bikie underworld, the funeral lacked the traditional send off of bikies clad in their motorcycle club colours and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles, with mourners departing the funeral by car.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Feds decide to shoulder $30k of cost of policing last summer's Hell Angels 'run' .

2012-02-12T00:57:00.004-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Michael Kitch
laconiadailysun.com
Sheriff Craig Wiggin told the Belknap County Commission last night that the federal government has agreed to reimburse local law enforcement agencies for up to $30,000 of the personnel costs incurred in policing the Hell's Angels "World Run" held in Laconia last July.
The World Run, a convention of sorts, was the second held in the city since 2003. Wiggin said that initially he and former Laconia Police Chief Mike Moyer were informed that unlike in 2003 when the New Hampshire Congressional delegation secured federal funds they should not expect assistance. However, John Kacavas, the United States Attorney for New Hampshire, approached the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ), which provided funds through its "Project Safe Neighborhoods" program.
Wiggin estimated that between 500 and 600 Hell's Angels attended the World Run. He said that Laconia incurred $10,000 in additional expenses, Belmont $1,500 and the Belknap County Sheriff's Department $2,000 while Meredith and Gilford have yet to report, estimating the aggregate costs will be less than the $30,000 awarded.
The focal point of the gathering, as before, was a compound located at the dead end of Fillmore Ave., off White Oaks Road in Laconia.
No significant law enforcement issues or incidents were reported during the World Run
Wiggin also announced that the USDOJ awarded Laconia a $21,571 grant, $3,000 of which must be shared with the Belknap County Sheriff's Department. He said that he would use the funds to purchase a mobile data terminal for one the department's cruisers.
NOTES: The Belknap County Commissioners unanimously agreed to contract with Bauen Construction of Meredith to complete the renovations to the HVAC system at the Belknap County Courthouse. After revising the scope of work, Bauen trimmed its original bid of $1,473,780 to $1,039,000 and suggested that the cost could be further reduced to less than $1-million the commissioners budgeted for the project. . . . . . After reviewing the financial condition of the county, Moody's chose to maintain its bond rating at AA2 with a negative outlook, which County Administrator Debra Shackett described as "a very good rating for any county or city." She explained that in 2009 Moody's added the negative outlook primarily because of the level of the undesignated fund balance and prevailing economic conditions in the county. She had hoped that a growing fund balance would prompt Moody's to remove the negative outlook. However, she that because the county's finances were buoyed in 2010 and 2011 by "stimulus funds" allocated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, they decided to revisit the issue in two years, when those monies would be off the books.

AUSTRALIA - Rebels bikie club praised by mother of boy run down..

2012-02-12T00:57:00.003-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Jon Kaila
Sunday Herald Sun
THE mother of a boy killed in a road accident involving a member of the Rebels has praised the bikie gang for having "the biggest hearts we've ever seen".
Robyn Tingey's son Hayden, 9, was run over by a motorcycle in Springvale last December. Police cleared the rider of any fault.
"They have shown us the biggest hearts," said Ms Tingey, adding that Rebels attended Hayden's funeral and donated money.

Hayden's parents Robyn and Jeff comfort each other at the scene of the accident. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: Herald Sun

NEW HAMPSHIRE - House Motorcycle Noise Bill Deemed Too Strict...

2012-02-12T00:57:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
More than 200 people voiced objection to a local rep's bill.
A motorcycle noise bill similar to a recent North Hampton ordinance that generated a lawsuit was amended in Concord this week after more than 200 motorcycle club members and supporters packed a hearing to voice opposition to the bill's "impractical" and overly-harsh limits, according to a Nashua Telegraph report.
House Bill 1442 was proposed by state Rep. Michele Peckham, R-North Hampton, and sought to place a 82-decibel limit on a motorcycle's exhaust while it is idling, among other things.
That limit is identical to the North Hampton ordinance that passed at the 2010 town meeting. North Hampton's ordinance was eventually deemed unenforcable and overturned in court after a local group sued the town. The state's limit is 104 decibels.
The Telegraph reported that House Transportation Committee Chairman Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, proposed amending the HB 1442 cap to 92 decibels, which gained overwhelming support from those who attended the Concord hearing on Tuesday. The Telegraph reported that Packard proposed the state also adopt a noise standard "that could be tested by police at the scene" and wouldn't require the motorcycle owner to "leave their bike" or take it "to an inspection station" after the test.
North Hampton Police Chief Brian Page, who has been a big proponent of drafting a noise bill that can be safely enforced by officers, couldn't be reached for comment this week.
http://hampton-northhampton.patch.com/articles/house-motorcycle-noise-bill-deemed-too-strict#photo-8761637

Banished Veterans Rally against the Deportation of United States Veterans

2012-02-12T00:57:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Banished Veterans Rally against the Deportation of United States Veterans

Saturday, February 18, 2012

12:00pm until 5:00pm

We will hold Rallys on the San Diego US Side , And Mexican Side

"We are showing the world that US Veterans are being thrown away by the US Goverment,
we are not protesting but standing up for our rights as we defended your families and ours
We still hold to that Oath and Allegiance to the People and would gladly Defend our Country"
Ma...nuel Valenzuela & Hector B

For more information on the deportation of US Veterans visit our site
Banishedveterans.info
brothersvalenzuela.com

Hector Barajas US Veteran 82nd Abn Deported for Life
is the contact person for Tijuana/ Rosarito/ Mexican Side
626-569-5491
Banishedveteran@yahoo.com
skype Banishedveteran
Banishedveteran@yahoo.com

Richard Pitts
(Korean War Veteran) Mexican side
951-241-001

Bertha Guitierrez is the contact person for San Diego
619-646-4611
birdiegutierrez@yahoo.com

Brothers Valenzuela
Manuel and Valente Valenzuela both facing Deportation , Valente is a Broze Star recepient
both are combat Vietnam Veterans
719-282-5314
brothersvalenzuela@gmail.com

More names and info to follow by tomorrow.
rally, map , press release , flyer

at 3 Pm we will walk over to the fence
Hector Barajas or a Pastor will pray for the fallen
A moment of silence.
And pray for all Veterans past and Present
who are homeless, addicted encarcerated, , deported, on Active duty, overseas,
and their loved ones.

CALIFORNIA - Fees stack up, boost cost of traffic tickets

2012-02-12T00:57:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/10/4253074/back-seat-driver-fees-stack-up.html
We hear often from drivers who suffer sticker shock when they're pulled over by police and handed a ticket for a moving violation.
The actual cost is far more than many drivers had thought it was going to be.
Take, for instance, when the state passed its handheld cellphone ban a few years ago. Officials trumpeted the fine as $20. More than a few drivers think: What the heck. Worth the risk. But $20 is just the base fine. They call us screaming when they discover the real cost: $166.
When you pay a citation, you aren't just paying for your errant act. The Legislature has, for years, been adding fees to finance dozens of programs, some that aren't even related to driving safety.
Let's look at one of the most common citations in Sacramento County – running a stop sign. That's Vehicle Code Section 22450. The base fine is $35. But you'll pay $236.
Here's the money trail:
The $35 base fine goes mainly to city and county general funds. Those general funds supply the police and sheriff budgets.
If the CHP tickets you, that $35 still goes to the local city and county, not to the CHP.
But the state, along with the county, makes a bundle off you nonetheless, thanks to an $80 state penalty assessment that's tacked on.
Much of that $80 goes to the state's trial court fund and the state courts construction fund. Ten dollars of it goes to the local county's general fund, to be used any way the county wishes. Some of it gets put into the county courthouse construction fund. Seven of those dollars go to the county's jail construction fund. A few dollars go to the county fingerprint fund, and $7 goes to an account that reimburses doctors and hospitals for unpaid emergency care for crash victims and others.
Then comes another set of charges:
You'll chip $7 directly into the state general fund via what's called the state criminal surcharge. (Who says crime doesn't pay?)
They even charge you $10 to reimburse the county court for the cost of searching the DMV database to see if you have prior convictions.
There's $8 you pay into a state court construction fund called the Immediate and Critical Needs Account.
And add on a $4 fee for the Emergency Air Medical Transportation Act.
Is that it? Nope.
You pay a "criminal conviction assessment" of $35 that also helps pay for state court construction.
You also pay $40 for what used to be the local court security fee (such as X-ray machines at the doors). It's been expanded to cover court operations costs.
You'll chip $16 into the state's DNA testing program. Finally, you pay $1 to fund the county night court.
Here's an idea: When you come to stop signs, do your wallet a favor. Stop.
***I read that as $236 in fees added on. Say it is not about money.

Shooting Cops... Larken Rose, If blunt truth makes you uncomfortable, maybe you need to be uncomfortable.

2012-02-12T00:56:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

VIDEO BY LARKEN ROSE
http://youtu.be/CjDHQ16MyKY

USA - MILITARY: Marine commandant apologizes, orders further probe of SS incident..

2012-02-12T00:56:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

By MARK WALKER

mlwalker@nctimes.com

This September 2010 photo that was posted on the Titiusville, Fla.- based arms manufacturer Knight's Armament's Internet blog, shows members of Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, out of Camp Pendleton in Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan. The Marine Corps confirmed Thursday Feb. 8, 2012 that one of its scout sniper teams in Afghanistan posed for a photograph in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS. knightarmco.com via AP

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos
BILL WECHTER
| bwechter@nctimes.com

The head of the Marine Corps has ordered a further probe into the use of Nazi symbols by sniper or reconnaissance troops after officials confirmed a Camp Pendleton squad used such an image in a photograph that surfaced on the Internet.
Gen. James Amos also issued an apology Friday to "all offended by this regrettable incident."
"I have directed that my commanders investigate the prevalence of the use of SS or other unauthorized symbols within the reconnaissance or sniper communities," Amos said in a statement issued from his Pentagon office.
The action came after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Friday directed the Marine Corps to re-examine its initial investigation.
The Associated Press quoted Pentagon spokesman George Little saying Panetta wanted the Marine Corps to "take appropriate action."
In response, Amos said he has also ordered his top sergeant major to meet personally with every non-commissioned officer and enlisted Marine from those squads to make sure no such symbols are being used.
The four-star general's moves come after it was revealed this week that a Camp Pendleton sniper unit posed for photographs with a flag bearing a logo nearly identical to that of the notorious Nazi SS.
The photograph, taken in September 2010 in the Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, showed members of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion with an American flag and a blue flag with the SS logo.
"I want to be clear that the Marine Corps unequivocally does not condone the use of any such symbols to represent our units or Marines," Amos said.
Camp Pendleton officials said Thursday that the Marines who used the symbol were unaware of its connection or similarity to the one used by the notorious Nazi police force.
The photograph first came to light in November when it surfaced on an Internet blog.
Investigators who looked into the incident in November determined there was no malicious intent and the Marines in the image were not disciplined.
"(Investigators) determined that the Marines in the photo were ignorant of the connection of this symbol to the Holocaust and monumental atrocities associated with Nazi Germany," Amos said.
SS stands for "Schutzstaffel," which in German means "protective shield." A paramilitary group under Nazi control in Germany during World War II, the SS was responsible for an array of crimes against humanity.
The Marines in the photograph are no longer with the unit, according to Marine Corps officials.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation in Washington has expressed outrage at the photograph and demanded a broader investigation and disciplinary action.
The picture sparking the controversy first surfaced on a blog for a weapons firm in Florida. It has since been removed.

Call staff writer Mark Walker at 760-901-4080.

Civil suit filed in deaths of 2 NJ motorcycle club members in Pa. crash

2012-02-12T00:55:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
EASTON, Pa. — A civil suit in the deaths of two New Jersey motorcycle club members names the man charged in that crash that killed them and a trio of Pennsylvania bars.
The widows of Keith Michaelson and Michael Zadoyko and four other club members filed suit Wednesday against John Heaney III and the taverns where the plaintiffs say he drank before the fatal July 1 crash.
Michaelson and Zadoyko were traveling to a funeral with other members of the New Jersey-based Last Chance Motorcycle Club. Authorities say Heaney was driving drunk and crossed into opposing traffic, causing the crash that killed two and injured four.
The Morning Call of Allentown (http://bit.ly/yOucys) reports the suit claims the bars should have recognized Heaney was intoxicated and refused to serve him.
Heaney has pleaded not guilty to charges including vehicular homicide.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/1322e5d47e814cd39ecc6e4d6ec92bcc/PA--Motorcycle-Club-Fatal/

FLORIDA - Ignorance of law clears Orange County Sheriff's top lobbyist in gun controversy...

2012-02-12T00:55:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
By Henry Pierson Curtis,
Orlando Sentinel

No discipline for identifying gun permit holders to lobby against open-carry law

Ignorance of the law helped clear Sheriff Jerry Demings' political lobbyist of wrongdoing for handing out gun owners' restricted driver's license photos last year in Tallahassee to lobby against an open-carry law, Orange County sheriff's records show.
Capt. Mike Fewless set off a statewide controversy in a April by distributing eight photos from a secret intelligence file that he claimed were outlaw bikers with valid state Carry Concealed Weapon permits.
The lobbying was part of an effort by the Florida Sheriff's Association to persuade legislators that tourists would avoid Florida if gun owners were allowed to openly display their firearms.
Critics of the outlaw biker ploy included former NRA President Marion Hammer, Florida Carry.Org founder Sean Carrana and others representing the state's 900,000 gun owners with concealed weapon permits.
The agency cleared Fewless, because he said he hadn't known the pictures were restricted driver's license photos or that state law prohibited identifying anyone with a CCW permit. The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 also prohibits releasing personal information, including a motorist's license photograph, records show.
"The fact that nobody from the (Florida Sheriff's Association) meeting indicated it was bad idea to show photographs of (the bikers) that had CCF (firearm permits) indicates that nobody was aware of the law prohibiting it," said Fewless, who heads the Professional Standards unit enforcing agency policy.
Fewless blamed the incident on Agent John McMahon, the agency's motorcycle gang expert, for sending him the photos after a late-night telephone request. He said McMahon should have told him the pictures came from confidential files, records state..

The agency cleared Fewless and gave McMahon a written reprimand. Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Angelo Nieves said privacy restrictions involving the driver's license database is "something we have tried to hammer home" in the wake of what happened.
"When you or I do something we're told 'ignorance of the law is no excuse,'"said Hammer, who believes Fewless' actions might become a campaign issue in the fall election for Orange County's 42,000 residents with concealed weapon licenses. "I don't have a crystal ball but people don't like it when certain people are above the law."
The eight motorcyclists have retained Tarpon Springs attorney Jerry Theophilopoulos.
"The Sheriff's intent was to discredit the NRA with back door, underhanded tactics and…now they have egg on their faces," Theophilopoulos wrote the Sentinel. "If the public cannot trust the Sheriff and his staff to follow the law then who do they look to for guidance?"
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/os-bikers-with-guns-sheriff-lobbyist-exonerated-20120208,0,4117978.story

OCEANSIDE CA, THE BIG COVER UP - PROTECTING THERE OWN AND WILL PROBALY GET AWAY WITH IT...

2012-02-12T00:54:00.000-08:00

The wheels are coming off at OPD as all their dirty little secrets are starting to be revealed. Time to clean house.

OFF THE WIRE

By BRANDON LOWREY

blowrey@nctimes.com

A former Oceanside police officer, who is suing the city claiming he was fired as part of a conspiracy to cover up a senior officer's alleged DUI, added more accusations and evidence to his lawsuit Thursday afternoon, including audiotapes in which the senior officer allegedly admits to driving drunk.
The former officer, Gilbert Garcia, filed his initial lawsuit on Nov. 14, claiming the city used trumped-up sexual harassment allegations to fire him after he refused to destroy the tapes. In another complaint, filed Thursday, he accuses the city of engaging in racketeering.
The lawsuit said the recordings were made on Aug. 24, 2009, while Garcia and Sgt. Travis Norton investigated a DUI report that led them to the doorstep of their colleague, Sgt. David Larson.
The North County Times could not independently verify that the voices on the tapes were as represented in the lawsuit.
Garcia's lawsuit said that the recordings include an interview with Rancho del Oro resident Rick Ortiz, who made the report.
Ortiz described a man driving by and throwing a beer can out of his car window. He gave a license plate number and description that matched Larson's vehicle and home address.
"During the interview, Ortiz asked Norton, 'So does he get a DUI for that?'" the lawsuit said, "to which Norton responded, 'Yeah. We're still investigating at this point. We just want to make sure we dot all our i's and cross our t's.'"
The officers then interviewed Larson at his home.
Norton asked Larson if he would blow into a breathalyzer.
"Now? I'm going to blow over," Larson said, according to the lawsuit.
The suit claims that later that day, Larson said Oceanside Police Chief Frank McCoy and then-Capt. Reginald Grigsby told him that he and Garcia were "cleared," and that the officers should write a confidential memorandum about the incident.
Norton then ordered Garcia to destroy the tapes, the lawsuit said.
Garcia, who was being investigated on suspicion of sexually harassing a contract blood technician, turned the tapes over to a police officer's union attorney instead, his lawsuit said.
Grigsby has since retired from the Police Department.
Larson was not arrested, nor did he face criminal charges related to the DUI investigation.
Oceanside City Attorney John Mullen could not be reached for comment after the recordings were released late Thursday. However, Mullen released a statement in November responding to Garcia's initial complaint, calling the former officer's claims "false and defamatory."
"Garcia was terminated for misconduct, and he and his legal counsel had a full evidentiary hearing before an independent arbitrator," Mullen said. "The arbitrator upheld the termination on all grounds. The arbitration ruling is final and cannot be challenged in court at this late date. The full extent of the misconduct will be revealed when the City responds to the case in court. The City is confident that any reasonable person who sees the evidence will agree the City had no other choice but to terminate Garcia."

Call staff writer Brandon Lowrey at 760-740-3517 or follow him on Twitter @NCTLowrey.

Related: EXCLUSIVE: Former Oceanside officer sues police department, claiming cover-up, retaliation

2011: The Year In Review – NORML’s Top 10 Events That Shaped Marijuana Policy

2012-02-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Paul Armentano
NORML Deputy Director
#1 NORML Sues to Halt Government’s Prosecution of Medical Cannabis ProvidersIn October, the United States Deputy Attorney General, along with the four US Attorneys from California, announced their intentions to escalate federal efforts targeting the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries and providers. In response, members of the NORML Legal Committee filed suit in November against the federal government arguing that its actions were in violation of the Ninth, Tenth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the US Constitution. Plaintiffs further argued, using the theory of judicial estoppel, that the Justice Department had previously affirmed in federal court that it would no longer use federal resources to prosecute cannabis patients or providers who are compliant with state law. NORML’s lawsuit remains pending. Read the full story here.
#2 Members of Congress Introduce First Bill Since 1937 to Legalize Cannabis
House lawmakers introduced legislation in Congress in June to end the federal criminalization of the personal use of marijuana. The bipartisan measure – HR 2306, the ‘Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011′ – prohibits the federal government from prosecuting adults who use or possess cannabis by removing the plant and its primary psychoactive constituent, THC, from the five schedules of the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970. The bill awaits Congressional action. Read the full story here.
#3 Gallup: Majority of Americans Support Legalizing Cannabis
A record 50 percent of Americans now believe that marijuana ought to be legalized for adult use, according to a nationwide Gallup poll of 1,005 adults published in October. The 2011 survey results mark the first time ever that Gallup has reported that more Americans support legalizing cannabis (50 percent) than oppose it (46 percent). Read the full story here.
#4 Over One Million Americans Now Use Cannabis Legally Under State Law
Between one million to one-and-a-half million US citizens are legally authorized by the laws of their state to use marijuana, according to data compiled in May by NORML from state medical marijuana registries and patient estimates. Read the full story here.
#5 Marijuana Prosecutions For 2010 Near Record High
Police made 853,838 arrests in 2010 for marijuana-related offenses according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual Uniform Crime Report, released in September. The annual arrest total is among the highest ever reported by the agency. Marijuana arrests now comprise more than one-half (52 percent) of all drug arrests in the United States. Read the full story here.
#6 Largest State Doctors Association Calls For Legalizing Cannabis
The California Medical Association in October called for the “legalization and regulation” of cannabis for adults. The association, which represents some 35,000 physicians, recommends that cannabis be taxed and regulated “in a manner similar to alcohol.” Read the full story here.
#7 Connecticut Decriminalizes Cannabis Possession Offenses
Statewide legislation took effect in July reducing the penalties for the adult possession of up to one-half ounce of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor (formerly punishable by one year in jail and a $1,000 fine) to a non-criminal infraction, punishable by a $150 fine, no arrest or jail time, and no criminal record. Read the full story here.
#8 Vaporized Cannabis Augments Analgesic Effect of Opiates in Humans
Vaporized cannabis significantly augments the analgesic effects of opiates in patients with chronic pain, according to clinical trial data published online in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics in November. Investigators surmised that cannabis-specific interventions “may allow for opioid treatment at lower doses with fewer [patient] side effects.” Read the full story here.
#9 State Governors Call on Obama Administration to Reclassify Cannabis
In December, governors from Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington formally requested the Obama administration to reclassify cannabis under federal law in a manner that would allow states to regulate its therapeutic use without federal interference. The administration in July had previously rejected a nine-year-old petition calling on the agency to initiate hearings to reassess the present classification of marijuana as a schedule I controlled substance without any ‘accepted medical use in treatment.’ Read the full story here.
#10 Delaware Becomes 16th State to Legalize Limited Medical Use of Marijuana
State lawmakers in May approved legislation to allow patients with a qualifying illness may legally possess up to six ounces of cannabis, provided the cannabis is obtained from a state-licensed, not-for-profit ‘compassion center.’ The law is anticipated to be implemented in 2012. Read the full story here.

NORML SHOW LIVE coverage of HIGH TIMES Medical Cannabis Cup Los Angeles This Weekend

2012-02-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Russ Belville
NORML Outreach Coordinator

NORML SHOW LIVE streams every weekday at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern on The NORML Network, where it's 4:20 / 24 / 7 / 365

If you’re not able to attend this weekend’s HIGH TIMES Medical Cannabis Cup in Los Angeles, here at The NORML Network we’ve got the next best thing. Tune in Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 7pm Pacific Time at http://live.norml.org/ for all the panels, presentations, interviews, and floor tours from LA Center Studios.
We’ll also be presenting our “It’s 4:20 Somewhere” raffles. At every 4:20 in America – Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii Time – we’ll be raffling off a prize package of NORML buttons, stickers, pins, books, DVDs, t-shirts, and backpacks for those in attendance. (That’s 1:20pm – 6:20pm Pacific.) For those of you watching online, follow our NORML Network Twitter feed @NORMLNet for your chance to win, too.
If you miss the live coverage, video on-demand will be available at the http://live.norml.org/ over the weekend and permanently at our NORML Network YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/NORMLNet

Medical Marijuana Week
The medical cannabis community is under attack, and we must be heard!
More than 100 DEA raids, dozens of federal prosecutions, manipulation of the tax code, and threats to landlords and elected officials — the aggressive, anti-medical cannabis efforts of Obama?s Justice Department must stop!
Join Americans for Safe Access Chapters and Affiliates across the country in celebrating Medical Marijuana Week by standing up for our right to safe access. Take time each day to participate in the week of action outlined below.
During Medical Marijuana Week (Feb. 13-17), here are some other ways you can get involved and make a difference:
1. Monday, February 13: Call the White House at 202-456-1111 and tell Pres. Obama to keep his promise to not use Justice Department resources to undermine state laws, stop putting politics before science, and act immediately to reclassify cannabis as medicine.
2. Tuesday, February 14: Contact Congress, 202-224-3121, and urge your representative to sponsor legislation to reclassify cannabis, end federal interference in state programs, and provide licensed patients and provides a defense in court.
3. Wednesday, February 15: Ask your Governor to sign the DEA Rescheduling Petition. Find your Governor’s contact information by clicking here.
4. Thursday, February 16 @ Noon: Make your voice heard at a rally near you! Click here for a full list of rallies.
5. Friday, February 17: Join the movement and help fund the fight for safe access. Find out how by clicking here.

Hell of a ride.......

2012-02-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

I don't think wearing a helmet would have helped anyone. Maybe a bra would have helped more . . .
Ride in a race car.
I've watched this video at least 10 times and can't figure out what kind of car that is and three times before I realized someone wasn't wearing a helmet.
http://player.vimeo.com/video/31515908?autoplay=1

2011 Leesburg Bike Fest

2012-02-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

We have just created a WebPage that has Pictures and Video of the 2011 Leesburg BikeFest, held in Leesburg, Florida.
Pictures and Video Include :
Roaming Video, Rats Hole Custom Chopper Show, Three (3) Bikini Contests from The Leesburg BikeFest, Gator Harley Davidson and The Rats Hole, Gator Harley Show and much more...
Click on the Image Below and We Hope You Enjoy!!!
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BlingMasterInc./d89dd05988/8f76f8abed/8e4837fb67

Clint Eastwood: Cut government spending now.........

2012-02-11T19:48:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

By msnbc.com staff

After his “halftime, America” Super Bowl ad, in which he urges the nation to follow in Detroit’s footsteps in rising from the recession, movie actor and director Clint Eastwood appeared on CNBC Friday to discuss another big issue he thinks the country needs to focus on right now: cutting spending.

“The last couple of regimes have been putting us deep in the hole,” Eastwood said.

“It’s such a basic thing,” he continued. “Your parents always tell you … when you don’t have a dollar in your pocket, you don’t spend two dollars. And that’s a basic philosophy of life. People think you can just put if off. If you put it off you just print more money, and the money in your pocket becomes devalued, and it’s not worth as much, and eventually it comes down to zero.”

Eastwood also weighed in on the Simpson-Bowles debate, saying he was “amazed” that President Obama ignored the recommendations of the co-chairs of the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction commission: former Clinton chief of staff Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, a former Republican senator from Wyoming.

“They came back with a recommendation, which was to exactly stop spending, and then everyone said that’s enough from you guys, go home,” Eastwood said. “I thought, that’s a waste of money, a waste of time, a waste of effort from everybody, and not very spirited for the country. I think both those gentlemen are smart and worth listing to, if you’ve gone ahead and assigned them to this project.”

Eastwood appeared in a Chrysler ad that aired during the Super Bowl last weekend.

“How do we come from behind? How do we come together? And how do we win?” Eastwood asks in the commercial, adding that “Detroit is showing us it can be done, and what’s true about them is true about all of us.”

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"http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640"

Risks of Afghan war shift from soldiers to contractors..........

2012-02-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
ROD NORDLAND

Contractors from the United States and other countries were wounded in an attack last year in Logar Province, Afghanistan.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Even dying is being outsourced here.

This is a war where traditional military jobs, from mess hall cooks to base guards and convoy drivers, have increasingly been shifted to the private sector. Many American generals and diplomats have private contractors for their personal bodyguards. And along with the risks have come the consequences: More civilian contractors working for American companies than American soldiers died in Afghanistan last year for the first time during the war.
American employers here are under no obligation to publicly report the deaths of their employees and frequently do not. While the military announces the names of all its war dead, private companies routinely notify only family members. Most of the contractors die unheralded and uncounted — and in some cases, leave their survivors uncompensated.
“By continuing to outsource high-risk jobs that were previously performed by soldiers, the military, in effect, is privatizing the ultimate sacrifice,” said Steven L. Schooner, a law professor at George Washington University who has studied the civilian casualties issue.
Story: US plans shift to elite units as it winds down in Afghanistan
Last year, at least 430 employees of American contractors were reported killed in Afghanistan: 386 working for the Defense Department, 43 for the United States Agency for International Development and one for the State Department, according to data provided by the American Embassy in Kabul and publicly available in part from the United States Department of Labor.
By comparison, 418 American soldiers died in Afghanistan last year, according to Defense Department statistics compiled by icasualties.org, an independent organization that monitors war deaths.
That trend has been growing for the past several years in Afghanistan, and it parallels a similar trend in Iraq, where contractor deaths exceeded military deaths as long ago as 2009. In Iraq, however, that took place as the number of American troops was being drastically reduced until their complete withdrawal at the end of last year. And last year, more soldiers than private contractors died in Iraq (54 compared with 41, according to Labor Department figures).
Experts who have studied the phenomenon say that because many contractors do not comply with even the current, scanty reporting requirements, the true number of private contractor deaths may be far higher. “No one believes we’re underreporting military deaths,” Mr. Schooner said. “Everyone believes we’re underreporting contractor deaths.”
Qais Mansoori, 20, may have been among the uncounted. An Afghan interpreter employed by Mission Essential Personnel, a leading provider of interpreters in Afghanistan, Mr. Mansoori was killed along with five other interpreters when Taliban insurgents overran the military base where the interpreters were staying in the Mirwais district of Kandahar Province in July 2010.
That attack, typically, was scantily reported, since no soldiers died — although the death toll was 17, including an unidentified American civilian, according to Afghan officials and Mr. Mansoori’s friends and family.
Story: UN: Afghan civilian deaths in war hit record high
Under the federal Defense Base Act, American defense contractors are obliged to report the war zone deaths and injuries of their employees — including subcontractors and foreign workers — to the Department of Labor, and to carry insurance that will provide the employees with medical care and compensation. In the case of foreign employees, which many of the dead were, survivors generally receive a death benefit equal to half of the employee’s salary for life; American employees get even more.
Mr. Mansoori’s brother, Mohammad, 35, an employee of a mine-removal charity in Afghanistan, said his brother’s employer, Mission Essential Personnel, promptly contacted the family and made a lump sum payment of $10,004, never mentioning the lifetime annuity to which they were entitled — which given Mr. Mansoori’s salary of $800 a month would have been closer to $150,000 over his survivors’ lifetimes. “I wish he was still here to look after my father and mother,” Mohammad Mansoori said. Their father is blind, and Qais Mansoori was his parents’ sole support, he said.
A spokesman for Mission Essential Personnel, Sean Rushton, disputed that, saying that his company has been making biweekly payments of $190 to Mr. Mansoori’s family and will continue doing so for 29 years. The $10,004 lump sum payment was a voluntary death gratuity paid by the company, Mr. Rushton said.
There were 113,491 employees of defense contractors in Afghanistan as of January 2012, compared with about 90,000 American soldiers, according to Defense Department statistics. Of those, 25,287, or about 22 percent of the employees, were American citizens, with 47 percent Afghans and 31 percent from other countries.
Story: US officials detail Afghan army attacks on coalition
The bulk of the known contractor deaths are concentrated among a handful of major companies, particularly those providing interpreters, drivers, security guards and other support personnel who are particularly vulnerable to attacks.
The biggest contractor in terms of war zone deaths is apparently the defense giant L-3 Communications. If L-3 were a country, it would have the third highest loss of life in Afghanistan as well as in Iraq; only the United States and Britain would exceed it in fatalities.
Over the past 10 years, L-3 and its subsidiaries, including Titan Corporation and MPRI Inc., had at least 370 workers killed and 1,789 seriously wounded or injured through the end of 2011 in Iraq and Afghanistan, records show. In a statement, a spokeswoman for L-3, Jennifer Barton, said: “L-3 is proud to have the opportunity to support the U.S. and coalition efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We mourn the loss of life of these dedicated men and women.”
Other American companies with a high number of fatalities are Supreme Group, a catering company, with 241 dead through the end of 2011; Service Employees International, another catering company, with 125 dead; and security companies like DynCorps (101 dead), Aegis (86 dead) and Hart Group (63 dead). In all, according to Labor Department data, 64 American companies have lost more than seven employees each in the past 10 years.
Story: Panetta: US to end combat in Afghanistan next year
The American dead have included people like James McLaughlin, 55, who trained pilots on a contract for MPRI and was killed by a rogue Afghan pilot who also killed eight American soldiers last April; and Todd Walker, Michael Clawson and James Scott Ozier, employees of AAR Airlift, who were killed in a helicopter crash in Helmand Province last month for which Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility.
For every contractor who is killed, many more are seriously wounded. According to the Labor Department’s statistics, 1,777 American contractors in Afghanistan were injured or wounded seriously enough to miss more than four days of work last year.
Marcie Hascall Clark began the Defense Base Act Compensation Blog after her husband, Merlin, a former Navy explosives ordnance disposal expert, was injured in 2003 while working for an American contractor. She and her husband have spent the past seven years fighting for hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability payments and medical compensation. “It was quite a shock to learn how little my husband’s body, mind and future were worth,” she said.

FLORIDA - Hernando hideout of international criminal and his Jamaican girlfriend comes to light..

2012-02-11T08:32:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Damned Lies - Man Uses Vet Tale to Bilk Bikers
Bryan Harley
motorcycle-usa.com

Friday, February 10, 2012

How many of us out there have either met this guy or seen him at rallies? Turns out, the man who has been passing himself as Robert Harris is really an international criminal called Eugene Paull, according to a story by the Tampa Bay Times. Worse yet, he's been passing himself off as a vet on a mission to raise money for homeless vets but apparently has been pocketing the money himself. Read the story for details.

I’ve been bilked. Bamboozled. Hoodwinked. Had the proverbial wool pulled over my eyes. Worst part is, a lot of you out there did too. This joker fooled a lot of us. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I read this story on the Tampa Bay Times website. It’s a tale of deceit, SWAT raids, shotguns and machine guns and underground tunnels. But let’s rewind a bit before we press forward.

A few years back, met this crazy character in Daytona Beach at the Harley-Davidson Ride-In Bike Show. Dude claimed to be a vet, rode the wildest 1985 FXST decked out with rockets, machine guns, bandoliers of bullets, gas masks, and tons of other military-themed paraphernalia. He called it the “Vietnam Vets Tribute Bike” and called himself Sky Soldier. He then spun a convincing tale of how he was embarking on a cross-country trip, “Operation: Dust Off” to raise money for homeless and disabled veterans. He went on to say how he was going to carry American flags with him on the journey to be signed by dignitaries along the way which were ultimately going to be placed at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in D.C. on Memorial Day. Great story, huh? Easy to buy into, a vet and fellow biker helping out vets. Wanting to help the guy out, I wrote a little story about it. (Veteran Tribute Bike Embarks on Vet Fundraiser)

Turns out, if the allegations in the Tampa Bay Times story are true, it was all a lie. This guy is a complete con artist. Apparently, the guy who rode around rallies on his rocket-launching motorcycle shouting “Look at me, look at me” who we knew as Robert Harris, aka “Sky Soldier,” is really an international criminal named Eugene Paull who's been living under a false identity for the last 33 years. Stole a dead person’s name. According to the story, he’s suspected of racking up a small fortune back in the day trafficking drugs in Jamaica. Yeh, mon! He’s even had him a little long-time, live-in Jamaican girlfriend he snuck into the country illegally.

But that’s not the part that really irks me. What really irks me is this guy has been traveling around motorcycle rallies over the past couple of years passing himself off as a patriot when he’s a total fraud. How many of us have seen him with his crazy motorcycle parked at the Weirs or on Main St. Daytona Beach with his sign: “$1 to photograph the bike, $5 to take a picture with it, $10 to take one sitting on it. To help homeless veterans,” it concluded. Get this, though. The report says that in one year, Paull raised more than $100,000, but investigators could only confirm he donated $1,300 to veterans. Guess where the other $98,700 went? I’ll give you a clue.

Paull was recently caught in Miami with explosives and almost $90,000 in cash they found stashed in gas cans with false bottoms. This after authorities confiscated two houses, three vehicles, two campers, a pair of custom motorcycles, a 47-foot yacht and about $20,000 in cash from him the first time they raided his compound. The story’s just unbelievable. You’ve got to check out the well-done piece the Tampa Bay Times did on it. (Hernando Hideout of International Criminal and his Jamaican Girlfriend Come to Light) You’ll be sitting there shaking your head just like I was.

When I read it, I was angry. How dare this guy abuse the big-hearted nature of the biker community for personal gain. Even worse, he did it under the guise of being a patriot who wanted to help out disadvantaged brothers. That’s treasonous, because from what I understand the guy actually served in ‘Nam. If he really did, which knowing his trail of lies I’d question even that, then how could he betray his brothers knowing first-hand the nature of the beast known as Vietnam? About now, I’d like to kick this guy right in his ‘nads. I rescind my story and apologize to readers for helping to propagate his lies. Now I’m trying to help spread the word about what a low-life this guy is in case he dares show his face at a rally again trying to pull the same old tricks.

John Woodrow Cox,
Times Staff Writer
BROOKSVILLE
Eugene Paull heard the beep.
In his three-story home east of Brooksville, Paull was lying on his bed that morning last March when the security system sounded. He rolled over and glanced at two nearby TVs wired to a dozen videocameras. Law enforcement officers swarmed across his property.
Seconds before the 66-year-old could slip into a secret room he had nicknamed the "worm hole," the SWAT team caught him.
Investigators found shotguns and machine guns, inch-wide metal bars guarding doors and windows, the secret room under the floor, and a hidden elevator that led to an underground bunker and an unfinished tunnel.
On Tuesday, Hernando County investigators released details of their stunning investigation for the first time. Paull, an international criminal on the run since 1973, had lived under a false identity for 33 years. He would later tell investigators he had come to Hernando because he felt safe and hidden and free to build his fortress.
Authorities believe he had amassed a fortune from trafficking drugs in Jamaica. But they could only prove that he and his girlfriend stole a pair of dead people's identities, the original tip from federal authorities that led to the raid. The couple avoided prison time because they forfeited most of their assets: two Hernando homes, three vehicles, two campers, a pair of custom motorcycles, a 47-foot yacht and nearly $20,000 in cash.
His girlfriend, Subrena Spence, was deported to her native Jamaica. Paull received two years of probation. He moved to Miami, but federal authorities say they recently caught him with explosives and about $90,000 in cash that was found stashed inside gas cans with false bottoms.
Tuesday morning, Hernando sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Kraft, who helped lead the investigation, stood at the escape tunnel's exit, shook his head and smiled.
"It's like nothing I've ever seen in all my years of law enforcement," Kraft said. "Ever."
• • •
Paull's career in crime began in 1968. Five years later, he was convicted on a drug charge, then released. He never showed up for the sentencing.
He fled to Jamaica, where investigators say the drug trafficking began. In 1978, he obtained a passport under the name of Robert Harris.
On the Caribbean island, he owned a hotel and supported youth boxing. He fell in love with a teenager, Subrena Spence. In 2000, she obtained a fake passport. Six years later, the couple moved to Hernando and bought the home near Brooksville for $350,000. They purchased another house in Brooksville for $114,900 four months later.
Detectives, who for 11 months have continued to investigate Paull's activities, believe he brought his drug fortune with him, and he needed a way to explain it. Spence bought a yacht, named Veteran, and claimed that he chartered trips on it. The boat still sits on stilts in his back yard. It never left the property.
He also created a charity that he claimed supported veterans. Paull, who served in Vietnam, was a patriot, or at least he wanted people to think so. His walls were covered in American flags and POW posters.
To support the charity, he bought a customized motorcycle, adorned with images of war, fake weapons and a sidecar that looked like the nose of a fighter jet.
He traveled to events around the country and asked for money. Signs in his garage indicated what he charged: $1 to photograph the bike, $5 to take a picture with it, $10 to take one sitting on it. "To help homeless veterans," the sign said, "with thanks."
In one year, Kraft said, Paull and Spence raised more than $100,000. Investigators could only confirm that the couple gave $1,300 to veterans.
After being arrested and forced to take on his real identity, Paull became eligible to receive veterans benefits.
Paull, detectives say, knew law enforcement would come for him one day. To prepare, he bought a home at the end of a single-lane dirt road in one of the most remote areas of Hernando. The house, from the outside, looked normal. It had a gate with a call box. A brick driveway surrounded a 6-foot-tall fountain. He housed Rottweilers and built an aviary for his birds.
Clues of Paull's intended seclusion appeared in the back yard. He had stacks of firewood, the makings of a garden and a pond that held catfish and tilapia.
Inside the home, guns were hidden everywhere: an antique Vickers machine gun in the garage, a shotgun in a living room cabinet, a revolver in an empty can of Bon Ami cleanser.
He put in an intricate security system and sealed off the bottom of a spiral staircase to create a secret room the size of a closet. In his bedroom, Paull installed a mechanical elevator that could lower him into a concrete bunker equipped with lights, electrical outlets and a pair of heavy metal doors with dead bolts, presumably to lock behind him as he fled.
The bunker led to a 4-foot-wide plastic tube that extended into the back yard. He didn't like the small tunnels in Vietnam, so he made the pipes spacious. When finished, investigators say, the tunnel would have extended about 200 yards into the woods.
Last fall, soon after Paull received probation and sheriff's officials prepared to seize the home, Kraft met him in his front driveway as he prepared to leave. Paull talked about writing a book and said his life would be made into a movie one day.
He seemed proud.
Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Reach John Woodrow Cox at (352) 848-1432 or jcox@tampabay.com.

Eugene Paull lived under a false identity for 33 years.

Related Multimedia

Photo gallery Images of the unusual house

CANADA - Snitch got second chance at drug bust......

2012-02-11T00:59:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
James Turner
winnipegsun.com
Initial police probe compromised by “a credible threat"

Hells Angel associate Billy Bowden walks into the funeral of Zig Zag Crew member Trevor Savoie in May 2002. He was arrested in Project Deplete this month. (Winnipeg Sun files)

http://www.winnipegsun.com/videos/1432320574001

It began as a high-level police probe into the exploits of a feared biker gang making inroads into Manitoba’s criminal underworld.
But the results of a covert investigation into the Rock Machine — known internally as Project Drain — nearly went down the tubes after the safety of a paid civilian agent informing on the gang’s deeds was compromised by “a credible threat.”
Cops quietly shut down Project Drain in early November 2010 after more than two months of active work.
The agent took what was described as a “phase one” cash payout, declined witness protection, and stayed in Winnipeg.
Despite his allegedly making three “significant” drug buys over the life of Project Drain, police and the Crown elected to make no arrests.
But the cops’ efforts didn’t simply end there, according to documents obtained by the Winnipeg Sun on Wednesday.
Instead, the joint RCMP-Winnipeg police organized crime unit apparently widened their view and launched Project Deplete, described by top police brass last Friday as a $1-million drug and guns case netting the arrests of a number of alleged players in the provincial drug trade.
One suspect, David Thomas, 29, remains outstanding, wanted for weapons-trafficking, police say.
Police roused their dormant investigation last May and employed the same snitch again a few months later, looking to bust crime across “various criminal organizations.”
Wiretaps and covert surveillance loomed large in Project Deplete, details of which are salted throughout affidavits filed by police in support of obtaining arrest warrants in the case.
Those arrested so far have been brought to court on direct criminal indictments — meaning trials will be expedited and preliminary hearings will be bypassed.
Sources say the agent — who is not identified in the documents — was paid in the range of $500,000 for his co-operation.
His work on the initial, but scuttled, Project Drain investigation “proved his viability and capacity to work fluidly with his police handlers,” police say in an affidavit.
According to the documents, the agent arranged multiple deals to buy different drugs from a range of suspects — some of who have reputed gang connections and past involvement with the justice system. Others have no prior criminal records.
Among the 13 suspects now arrested are William ‘Billy’ Bowden, a former Hells Angel whom police allege is now a Rock Machine associate. He is accused of selling the agent cocaine over two separate transactions last fall.
Also suspected is Pardeep Kapoor, who police say told the agent he was a member of the Calgary-based Independent Soldiers gang.
Kapoor is accused of selling the agent cocaine and methamphetamine in two separate transactions in the first, scuttled, undercover project.
Police didn’t announce the arrest of John Kolodrupski, 31, who they suspect of trafficking marijuana and MDMA powder.
None of the allegations have been proven and those suspected are presumed innocent.

AUSTRALIA - Bikie gang flexes its muscles

2012-02-11T00:58:00.007-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Luke Eliot
news.yahoo.com
The Rock Machine bikie gang is believed to have grown in numbers in recent months and may have established a new clubhouse.
Sources have told _The Weekend West _the gang has quietly engaged in a recruitment drive over recent weeks and has almost 20 members.
It is believed they may have established a new clubhouse in O'Connor.
In August, many of the Rock Machine bikies who had been involved in a violent feud with the Rebels bikie gang either left or were booted out of the gang, leaving only a few members.
At the time, Assistant Police Commissioner Nick Anticich said police intelligence suggested Rock Machine was disintegrating, adding there was "unsubstantiated" intelligence to suggest a sub-group that had left Rock Machine intended to join the Mongols.
He said reports of the Rock Machine woes suggested police efforts to deter their activities were working and were indicative of instability within criminal networks in WA.
A post on the Rock Machine MC Perth Facebook page, placed on January 2, refers to the gang gaining "more loyal brothers".
"Rock Machine MC Perth would like to wish everyone a happy New Year's Eve let's hope 2012 is a bit easier than 2011," the post says.
"We are rapidly growing in Perth and worldwide, our brothers in jail are staying strong and have our support 100 per cent.
"2012 is our year to grow and move forward as we are gaining more loyal brothers and our support continues to grow stronger."
The feud between Rock Machine and Rebels bikies involved a string of tit-for-tat exchanges that included firebombings, bashings and the alleged attempted murder of the Rebels WA president Nick Martin.
It was believed to have been fuelled largely by the defection of a member from the Rebels to the Rock Machine.
Throughout the mid-1990s Rock Machine waged a deadly turf war in Canada involving rocket-propelled grenade attacks and bombings against the world's best-known gang, Hells Angels.
That war led to more than 160 deaths, including an 11-year-old boy who died as a result of a car bombing.

AUSTRALIA - Northland police stifle gang tensions....

2012-02-11T00:58:00.006-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Rebels and Tribesmen gang members "eyeballed" each other in Kaikohe.
Northland police were quick to stifle trouble between rival gangs during the commemoration of the 172nd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
There were a couple of potential flashpoints involving Tribesmen and Rebel motorcycle gang members in the Mid North over the weekend and during Waitangi Day on Monday, but nothing which police weren't ready to deal with, the police operation commander for Waitangi 2012, Senior Sergeant Justin Rogers, said yesterday.
Historically a number of gangs, some of them from outside Northland, came to Waitangi for the Waitangi Day commemoration every year, he said
"Police plan for that eventuality.
"We have more than enough police officers who monitor the gangs during the celebrations and we can deal with any incidents that arise," Mr Rogers said.

Police communicate with the gangs and we make it clear what expectations we have of their behaviour, so everyone can have have a peaceful and enjoyable Waitangi Day."
Police were called to a Kaikohe service station after rival gang members began "eyeballing" each other on the forecourt about 3.15pm on Saturday.
About 40 Tribesmen gang members pulled into the Caltex service station on Broadway, in Kaikohe, when two members of opposing gang the Rebels stopped.
Kaikohe police Senior Sergeant Arthur McLean said the Tribesmen members had just ridden through a checkpoint on Mangakahia Rd, where officers checked drivers' licences and ensured bikes were roadworthy.

Knives were seized from members of the group, believed to be from the Murupara chapter.
Mr McLean said the large group of riders had been shadowed by a police team.
At the service station, the two gangs had been eyeballing each other, so Kaikohe police were called, he said.
No one was arrested. It was believed the Tribesmen had travelled to Horeke, but at Paihia on Monday police spoke to about 20 members of the gang passing through the town, reminding them of rules surrounding the Waitangi Day celebrations.
Police established a brief loose cordon around the Caltex service station in Paihia when the Tribesmen motorcyclists stopped in the town at about noon.
Detective Inspector Geoff Scott said police spoke to members of the gang to lay out the rules for those going to Te Tii Marae.
No gang patches were permitted on the marae, and all visitors were expected to behave cordially.
Mr Scott said the gang members he spoke to were happy to comply with the rules.
Members of the Rebel motorcycle gang were also in the area, but police said there had been no reports of any trouble.
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/watchful-eye-kept-on-bikies/1266218/

AUSTRALIA - Bikies relax rules to recruit young thugs...

2012-02-11T00:58:00.005-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
The Advertiser
OUTLAW motorcycle gangs have relaxed strict membership criteria, leading to more diverse and violent gang cultures, the country's peak crime body has warned.
As police plan a strong presence at today's funeral of slain gang member Giovanni Focarelli, the Australian Crime Commission says the gangs have changed their rules in an effort to recruit and groom members from motorcycle clubs and street gangs.
In an attempt to counter declining membership and strengthen their position against rival gangs, groups have evolved from a core of Caucasian males to more diverse mixes, the commission says. Many gangs now include members with Middle Eastern backgrounds - some who don't even ride motorcycles - and younger members recruited from street gangs.
The commission says as well as increased violence, this has led to aggressive expansion and control of illicit markets and less respect for the unwritten rules of the "traditional biker".

"Some outlaw motorcycle gangs are recruiting street gangs and their members to assist in the distribution of illicit drugs and contraband," ACC chief executive John Lawler said.
"Some of these gang members are later recruited and become fully-patched members."
Mr Lawler said one South Australian bikie chapter actively had recruited from a street gang with members aged between 13 and 17 years.
"Over a short period of time, the recruits from the street gang not only became fully-patched members, but asserted themselves as prominent group members," he said.
SA Police Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Grant Stevens agreed bikie groups were more diverse but said a culture of extreme violence had always existed.
"We know their culture of violence is such that members and associates take any opportunity to intimidate and cause harm and use violence to further their criminal activities," he said.
Mr Stevens said eight temporary detectives joining the Crime Gangs Task Force would bolster police operations to disrupt bikie activity.
"Major Crime has responsibility for the Giovanni Focarelli murder and other crime areas, such as the Drug Investigation Branch and Organised Crime Investigation Branch, conduct investigations which support the Crime Gangs Task Force," he said.
A new management plan to come into effect next month means every area of the state's police will contribute in some way to monitor gang members and their associates.
"The management plan will result in a greater focus on the activities of all outlaw motorcycle gang members wherever they might be at any time," Mr Stevens said.
Under the new plan, the Crime Gangs Task Force will direct police officers to target gang members in their local service areas.
They will enforce bail and warrant matters, while also playing a greater role in investigating bikie associates over street-level drug dealing and associated offences.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/bikies-relax-rules-to-recruit-young-thugs/story-e6frg12c-1226267365936

COMMENT... more media hype - smoke and mirrors to divert the public's attention from the REAL do-badders, and government and police's seeming inability to bring members of their own ranks to justice. Hitler found it expedient to control the masses by giving them a common enemy by targeting a minority and it's been a favoured method of capturing the swinging voter ever since. Doesn't matter who the 'common enemy' is - as long as they can be identified as 'different' and are vunerable to having mud slung at them. Some bikers aren't angels - some police and pollies aren't either ... the only difference is, the bikers aren't targeting the police and pollies through the media. Perhaps they should.

NHMRO - Peckham's motorcycle noise bill gains support after amendment

2012-02-11T00:58:00.003-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
By Shir Haberman
newsletter@seacoastonline.com
February 10, 2012 2:00 AM
CONCORD — The motorcycle noise bill submitted by state Rep. Michele Peckham, R-North Hampton, was almost universally panned by riders, organizations that represent them and law enforcement at a hearing Tuesday before the House Transportation Committee.
However, an amended version of House Bill 1442 worked out with the help of committee Chairman State Rep. Sherm Packard, R-Londonderry, gained near-unanimous support from those at the hearing.
"We think this is a good compromise," said Dave Hickey of Rye and a member of the New Hampshire Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles group. "It's the standard used in Maine, and all the information from that state indicates it has helped."
Motorcyclists who attended the hearing were equally pleased.
"If we're really trying to solve the problem (of excessive motorcycle noise), we decided we have to look at it holistically," said Candi Alexander, president of the New Hampshire Motorcyclists' Rights Organization. "This is the best solution that we have."
Peckham's initial bill attempted to use the EPA's federal standard that requires motorcycles to have exhaust systems that limit noise to 82 decibels. It was the same standard in the ordinance North Hampton voters enacted in 2010 that was subsequently ruled to be unenforceable last year by a Rockingham Superior Court judge.
Law enforcement officials at Tuesday's hearing unanimously opposed Peckham's initial bill, as did riders and their organizations.
"I am speaking today on behalf of the (state) Department of Safety, which is opposed to this bill," said Sgt. Stephen Kace of the State Police. "This bill misses the mark."
Kace said the EPA standard was aimed solely at manufacturers of motorcycles and parts, was for one year only, did not address modified exhaust systems on out-of-state motorcycles, and involved compliance checks that required a large, highly controlled area and created safety concerns for riders and law enforcement. He added that having an EPA label on an exhaust system "does not guarantee compliance," since the baffling in the muffler could have been removed.
The amended version of the bill sets a 92-decibel limit on a motorcycle while it is idling. Kace and other law enforcement officials testified that, while it is not clear whether this new standard would make compliant motorcycles quieter, it would allow easier identification and enforcement against those that were not compliant.
"The amendment would (make testing) more practical, more efficient, more beneficial to operators and give law enforcement a better opportunity to address problems," he said.
North Hampton Police Chief Brian Page said determining if a motorcycle meets the EPA standard would be virtually impossible in a roadside setting. "The EPA standard involves a moving test," he testified. "Roadside, it is absolutely impossible to enforce. I'm a firm believer that if you lose the ability to do roadside testing, the problem (of excessive motorcycle noise) would only get worse."
Motorcyclists in attendance also voiced support for the bill's amended version. Imre Szauter, governmental affairs manager for the American Motorcycle Association, urged the Transportation Committee to adopt the Society of Automotive Engineers' standard of 92 decibels while idling.
Another amendment to Peckham's bill raised concerns. The amendment would allow police in communities that can't afford test equipment, but suspect a motorcycle exceeds the 92-decibel standard, to issue a notice of violation that would require the operator to have the motorcycle tested at a state inspection facility within five days in order to avoid a fine.
Motorcyclists, inspection station and dealership owners, and law enforcement all had problems with the provision. Kace said the state Department of Safety was opposed, adding it was not necessary.
"Sound level equipment is already out in the field," he told committee members.
Kace put the cost of all the equipment needed to do motorcycle noise testing using the 92-decibel standard at "less than $700." The House committee has until Thursday, Feb. 23 to make a recommendation to the full House on the original bill or amended versions. Packard said more work is necessary before a recommendation could be made.

Vermont prank: Don’t have a cow, man

2012-02-11T00:58:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Associated press/globe staff illustration

The most astonishing thing about the prank pulled off by an unknown Vermont prisoner who inserted a pig into the crest displayed on the side of state police cruisers is that nobody noticed it until now.

Vermont officials believe that, in 2008, a mischievous inmate at a prison print shop changed the computer program that produces decals. A shipment of decals was ordered in 2009, and emblazoned on about 30 police cars. The official state police seal shows a spotted cow against a bucolic background of meadows and snowy mountains. In the hacked version, though, one of the spots took the outline of a pig, an allusion to a pejorative term for officers.

Fortunately, officials in Vermont have responded with good humor, while noting that the decals will cost taxpayers $780 to replace. But they are planning to destroy the remaining decals, which would be a lost opportunity. If nothing else, keeping one around would be a useful warning to be more careful in the future. And as a graphic design accomplishment and now a part of Vermont lore, an image that fooled a whole state deserves to be preserved.

http://bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2012/02/09/vermont-prank-don-have-cow-man/FW5Xb9WFlHmVqj6ts9ZTyI/story.html

8 States May Legalize Marijuana This Year – Did Yours Make the List?

2012-02-11T00:58:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Erik Altieri,
NORML Communications Coordinator
2012 has only just begun and it is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting and active years for marijuana law reform in some time. More than a dozen state legislatures are currently considering reform measures in some respect and 8 states are attempting to put legalization initiatives before voters this November.
Many of these efforts are still in the signature gathering stage. Check out the list below to see if you might be able to vote ‘Yes’ on marijuana legalization in your state this year and how you can get involved to make that a reality. In addition to the legalization initiatives below several states, such as Ohio and Massachusetts, are working to also put medical marijuana initiatives before voters this year. To stay up to date on all the efforts to reform marijuana laws you can follow our “Legalize It 2012″ hub on Facebook and Twitter.

California

Regulate Marijuana Like Wine
Details: “The “Regulate Marijuana Like Wine” initiative intends to repeal prohibition of marijuana for adults, strictly regulate marijuana, just like the wine industry, allow for hemp agriculture and products while not changing laws regarding medical marijuana, impairment, work place drug laws, or laws regarding vehicle operation. This initiative would also provide specific personal possession exemptions, require dismissal of pending court cases for marijuana possession, and ban the advertising of non-medical marijuana.”
Learn More: http://regulatemarijuanalikewine.com/

Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act 2012
Details: “Aims to repeal current state criminal laws prohibiting the personal possession, use, transportation, and cultivation of cannabis by adults 19 years of age and older. During the first 180-days following the passage of the Act, the Legislature is authorized to create the California Cannabis Commission. This Commission will develop appropriate regulations for the commercial production and sales of cannabis, including licensing and taxation. Individuals are allowed to possess up to three pounds and grow a 100 sq. ft. canopy without being subject to regulations. It maintains penalties for possession by persons under 19, distribution to persons under 19, and driving while impaired.”
More Info: http://www.repealcannabisprohibition.org/

Colorado

Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act
Details: “The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 makes the adult use of marijuana legal, establishes a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol, and allows for the cultivation of industrial hemp.”
More Info: http://www.regulatemarijuana.org/

Michigan

The 2012 Michigan Ballot Initiative to End Marijuana Prohibition
Details: “Proposes a state constitutional amend that states: “For persons who are at least 21 years of age who are not incarcerated, marihuana acquisition, cultivation, manufacture, sale, delivery, transfer, transportation, possession, ingestion, presence in or on the body, religious, medical, industrial, agricultural, commercial or personal use, or possession or use of paraphernalia shall not be prohibited, abridged or penalized in any manner, nor subject to civil forfeiture; provided that no person shall be permitted to operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorboat, ORV, snowmobile, train, or other heavy or dangerous equipment or machinery while impaired by marihuana.”
More Info: https://help.repealtoday.org/index.cfm

Missouri

Show-Me Cannabis Regulation
Details: “A constitutional measure which would regulate cannabis like alcohol, provide access to medicine for cannabis patients, and open a market for farming industrial hemp in Missouri.”
More Info: http://www.show-mecannabis.com/

Montana

Montana First: Ending Criminal Penalties for Marijuana
Details: “The new petition is for a proposed amendment to the state constitution. It would add just two sentences to a portion of the constitution concerning adult rights, which already contains a reference to the legal age for the consumption of alcohol. [Stating] Adults have the right to responsibly purchase, consume, produce, and possess marijuana, subject to reasonable limitations, regulations, and taxation. Except for actions that endanger minors, children, or public safety, no criminal offense or penalty of this state shall apply to such activities.”
More Info: http://www.montanafirst2012.org/

Nebraska

The Nebraska Cannabis Initiative
Details: “Add Proposition 19 to the Nebraska Constitution whose object is to regulate and tax all commercial uses of cannabis, also known as marijuana, and to remove all laws regulating the private, noncommercial use of cannabis.”
More Info: http://www.neprop19.org/

Oregon

Oregon Cannabis Tax Act of 2012
Details: “The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 is a citizen’s initiative campaign to regulate marijuana and restore hemp. Just as ending alcohol prohibition and regulating that market has protected society, regulating marijuana will help wipe out crime. Restoring hemp, made from the seeds and stems of the marijuana plant for fuel, fiber and food, will put Oregon on the cutting edge of exciting new sustainable green industries and create untold multitudes of new jobs.”
More Info: http://www.cannabistaxact.org/

Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement: Initiative IP-24
Details: “Currently known as IP-24, the measure would allow adults over 21 to use marijuana for personal use without fear of criminal sanctions. The bill has substantial safeguards to protect children and public safety. With hundreds of signature gatherers on the streets every day, CSLE is confident the measure will appear on the November 2012 ballot.”
More Info: http://www.ompicampaign2012.org/

Washington

Initiative 502
Details: “Washington State Initiative Measure No. 502 (I-502) would license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for persons over twenty-one; remove state-law criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes; tax marijuana sales; and earmark marijuana-related revenues.”
More Info: http://www.newapproachwa.org/

Get up to the minute updates on all of the marijuana initiatives in play in 2012 by following Legalize It 2012 on Facebook and Twitter.
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RI: Motorcycle Ordinance...

2012-02-11T00:57:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.scindependent.com/articles/2012/02/09/narragansett/doc4f33dbe54cf51224856378.txt
Council passes reading of motorcycle ordinance
By Iain Wilson/Independent Staff Writer
NARRAGANSETT — In hopes of curtailing the ear-piercing wail of illegal motorcycle tailpipes, the Town Council on Monday voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that would allow police officers to perform traffic stops on motorcycles that are clearly audible from at least 200 feet away.
Police Chief F. Dean Hoxsie said his department is consistently fielding noise complaints about motorcycles zipping through Narragansett, primarily in the center of town.
“This will give us a little flexibility,” said Hoxsie.
Armed with the new ordinance, officers would be allowed to conduct a traffic stop on a motorcycle if any sound emanating from the bike is plainly audible from a distance of at least 200 feet.
Motorcyclists would be cited if the exhaust system on the bike was not factory installed.
First offenders would be fined $100, which would jump to $250 and $500 for second- and third-time offenses, respectively.
“It’s very difficult with moving vehicles,” said Hoxsie. “This gives us probable cause to stop that. The person could then be summoned if it is an after-market add-on.”
The ordinance is still subject to a second reading by the council.
Hoxsie said motorcycles with factory-installed exhausts rarely create the noise levels that after-market add-on and modified exhausts typically do.
“The stock pipes you see are fine,” said Councilman Christopher Wilkens.
“[The aftermarket exhausts] wake the kids. They rattle the windows and they make you pass a kidney stone,” said Wilkens, who lives on Narragansett Avenue.
Town Solicitor Mark A. McSally said the new ordinance is the same as one utilized with good result in East Greenwich, which was experiencing noise issues around Main Street.
In 2007, Narragansett adopted an ordinance to deal with loud motorcycles. But, because it was based on a decibel level reading on a moving vehicle, officials have found it difficult to enforce.
“This changes the equation,” said Wilkens.
“It’s a shame to have these loud motorcycles disrupt the beautiful sounds that we have in Narragansett,” said resident Al Alba Jr. during the public comment period.

Marines posed with flag resembling Nazi SS logo in Afghanistan........

2012-02-11T00:57:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Scout snipers in the Marine Corps shown with a flag bearing an "SS" similar in design to one used in Germany by the SS, a paramlitary force that operated under the Nazi party.

By NBC News, msnbc.com and news services

SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed Thursday that a sniper team in Afghanistan posed for a photograph in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS.
Use of the SS symbol is not acceptable, and the Marine Corps has addressed the issue, Lt. Col. Stewart Upton said in a statement. He did not specify what action was taken.
Upton said the Marines in the photograph, posted on an Internet blog, are no longer with the unit. The picture was taken in September 2010 in Sangin province, Afghanistan.
The photo shows a flag with what appear to be the letters "SS" in the shape of jagged lightning bolts. The symbol resembles that used by SS units in World War II.
Another photograph, which showed a stylized “SS” on a rifle held by a Marine, also recently began circulating, the Marine Corps Times reported.
The SS, or Schutzstaffel, was the police and military force of the Nazi Party, which was distinct from the general army. Members pledged an oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler. SS units were held responsible for many war crimes and played an integral role in the extermination of millions of Jews along with gypsies and other people classed as undesirables. The SS was declared to be a criminal organization at the Nuremberg war crime trials.
The Knights Armament Company blog published the photo in May 2011, and attributed it to Tayler Jerome, of the 1st recon BN Charlie Co.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation in Washington D.C., which found the picture online and alerted the Marine Corps Times, said it was outraged and wants a full investigation.
Foundation officer Mikey Weinstein said he has been flooded with calls from former Marines offended by the photo and from one member of his organization who is an Auschwitz survivor.
"This needs to be fully investigated. This is a complete and total outrage," he said.
War stresses to blame in Marine urination video?
Weinstein said his organization was sending a letter to the head of the Marine Corps and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva, a spokesman at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said the photo was brought to the attention of the 1 Marine Expeditionary Force inspector general in November, and he found there was no intent on the part of the Marines to identify themselves with a racist organization.
Oliva said the investigation found that the SS symbol was meant to identify the Marines as scout snipers, not Nazis, but it was nonetheless not acceptable.
Here is Upton's statement on the SS symbol, also called "runes." It was emailed to msnbc.com by Capt. Gregory Wolf, Marine Corps spokesman.

In November, the I MEF Inspector General became aware of the "SS" flag photo. They then received confirmation from the 1st Recon Battalion Commanding Officer in Afghanistan in November 2011 that several of the personnel in the photo were from 1st Recon Bn from the OEF 10.2 deployment (Afghanistan deployment in 2010). These Marines are no longer with the command. 1st Recon Bn is deployed forward again, but none of the personnel in the photo are still in the unit.
Certainly, the use of the "SS runes" is not acceptable and Scout Snipers have been addressed concerning this issue ("SS runes" are prohibited from use as a symbol or any other use).

This is the second time this year the Marine Corps has had to do damage control for its troops' actions.
The Marine Corps is also investigating a separate group of Marines recorded on video urinating on the dead bodies of Taliban fighters.

2012-02-11T00:56:00.001-08:00

CA - Thomas Heath Sentenced

2012-02-11T00:52:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
The great wheel of tragedy turned again yesterday. A 64-year-old Hells Angel named Thomas Heath was sentenced to prison. It will be his second trip to the penitentiary and although he plans to appeal it is unlikely that he will ever be released.
Heath’s biography is Faulknerian. “It’s all now you see,” the greatest American tragedian wrote in Intruder in the Dust. “Yesterday won’t be over until tomorrow and tomorrow began ten thousand years ago.” Even people who have never read Faulkner know his most famous line: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
Faulkner was writing about Thomas Heath.

The Frame Up

As a 29-year-old Hells Angels prospect in September, 1977 Heath walked into a motorcycle shop called the Frame-Up at 5015 North Figueroa Street in Highland Park, California with a tire. The shop was owned by two Mongols and Heath left the tire to be repaired. There was a bomb inside. It killed two people when it exploded. One of them was a 22-year-old Mongol named Henry Jimenez. The other was a 15-year-old boy named Raymond Hernandez.
It was one of four attacks by members of the Hells Angels on members of the Mongols that season.
Less than three weeks before the tire bombing the Secretary/Treasurer of the San Diego chapter of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, Emerson “Redbeard” Morris, and a Mongol named Raymond “Jingles” Smith, who was the Sergeant at Arms of the same chapter, were shot off their motorcycles on the Golden State Freeway in San Diego County. Los Angeles and San Diego newspapers called it “The Labor Day Murders.” Every member of the San Diego charter of the Hells Angels was eventually arrested as a result of the murders of Morris and Smith.
At the viewing for those two dead men a mourner left a white, 1962 Rambler and a bouquet of red and white carnations behind as he walked away. The car exploded moments later and two Mongols and the father of a Mongol were seriously injured. After the fight between Mongols and Hells Angels in Harrah’s casino in April 2002 someone sent red and white flowers to the hospital room of then Mongols President Roger Pinney. The flowers were probably a sour gift from an ATF Agent but whoever sent them clearly intended to remind members of both clubs that the past is “not even the past.”
Days after the Frame-Up bombing, a van belonging to the President of the Mongols San Fernando Valley chapter exploded at 6:30 a.m. when the Mongol opened his van door.
Heath who, with George Christie, was one of the two original members of the Ventura charter of the HAMC was convicted of two counts of second degree murder in 1994 as a result of the Frame-Up bombing. And, for killing those two people he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Domestic Violence

Heath was already locked up at the time. He was sent to prison in 1992 after he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and “dissuading a witness by threats” following an ugly, violent argument with his then wife.
The most recent charges against Heath also stem from domestic violence. Heath was living with a woman in Ventura in November 2010. The woman told him to move out and when he refused, as is now the custom in America, she called the police. She said he threatened to kill her and her adult son. Allegedly, Heath specifically threatened to tell his Hells Angels club brothers that the woman was “a rat.”
The cops who responded to the scene said they heard Heath threaten the woman again. The same police also stated that Heath told them he had killed people before and that “when he wants to kill someone, he doesn’t threaten them, he just kills them.”
As a result, Heath was convicted last December of “threatening a witness” and “street terrorism.”
At his sentencing Friday, Heath’s defender Adam Pearlman asked Ventura County Superior Judge David Hirsch to consider Heath’s “age and health” when pronouncing the sentence. Prosecutor Tate McCallister asked the judge to consider the tire bombing of the Frame-Up. “We shouldn’t be engaging in arithmetic to gauge his life expectancy,” McCallister said.
Judge Hirsch sentenced Heath to 35 years to life.
This is a corrected version of a story originally published on February 4, 2012. The original story identified Emerson “Redbeard” Morris as the “National President of the Mongols Motorcycle Club.

BIKER BABE OF THE MONTH

2012-02-11T00:39:00.000-08:00

CA - SAN DIEGO: Police officer sentenced to 9 years for assaults on women..

2012-02-11T00:23:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

By JULIE WATSON

Associated Press

A judge has sentenced a veteran San Diego police officer to nearly nine years in state prison for sexual battery and other crimes involving female motorists he pulled over.
The case of 41-year-old Anthony Arevalos was among a series of officer misconduct incidents that embarrassed San Diego police and led to department-wide scrutiny in the nation's eighth-largest city.
Judge Jeffrey Fraser said during Friday's hearing that the sentence was meant to not only punish but to act as a deterrent to any other potential violations of public trust by officers.
A jury convicted Arevalos of crimes against five women during an 18-month period in 2009 and 2010.
Many of the victims were intoxicated when they were stopped in downtown San Diego's Gaslamp area, a district with many bars and restaurants.

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com/.

COMMENT

Since this wasn't a single incident and appeared to escalate over time, I suspect his apology is based on the fact that he got caught. Oh, and he was "facing", according to the media, as much as 18 years in the slammer. When a cop abuses his authority the way this jerk did, he should get the max, not half of it. I suppose this will be described as a stiff or severe sentence, but only a life sentence would really be appropriate for a cop like him.

2012-02-10T17:27:00.001-08:00

NEW ZEALAND - Hells Angels ride under police scrutiny

2012-02-10T00:59:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Police will monitor a weekend motorcyle ride organised by a breakaway chapter of notorious biker gxxg Hells Angels.

The newly-formed Hells Angels Nomads chapter has invited members of the public to "ride with the Angels" in Auckland on Saturday, asking non-members to make a $20 donation to the Red Cross to take part.

The Nomads chapter reportedly formed last year when senior members of the Auckland and Whanganui chapters created the new group after the arrival of a rival gxxg, the Rebels, from Australia.

The Nomads were linked to gxxg tensions and a series of shootings in Australia recently.

Police spokesman Inspector Gary Allcock confirmed there would be a police presence at the ride and warned gxxg members and participants to behave.

"It's important members of the public and gxxg members understand the law applies equally to everyone.

"We won't tolerate offending by people who style themselves as gxxg members or are out to break the law."

Waitemata road policing manager, Superintendent John Kelly, said the event would be policed by officers on motorbikes and in cars.

"It's a public ride so there's the traffic stuff as well as any disorder or problems that arise as a result."

Police hoped other road users wouldn't be "inconvenienced" by poker run participants this weekend and urged them to abide by the road rules and for "everyone to behave".

Allcock said there were proven links between the gxxg chapters around the world.

"It's enough to give everyday members of the public as well as police, cause for concern... About certain aspects of their behaviour and activities."

The Auckland ride leaves Northcote at midday.

New Zealand Red Cross national fundraising manager Alice Montague said the organisation had no qualms about accepting donations from the Hells Angels ride.

"Hundreds of community groups have been raising funds for us. To our knowledge this has always been done with the best intentions and we have received the funds raised," she said.

"One of Red Cross' fundamental principles is impartiality, and it does not judge any organisation that offers to raise money for the community."

The Nomads have been at the centre of inter-gxxg tensions in Australia recently which have resulted in drive-by shootings and arson attacks.

According to Australian media reports, defections between gxxgs, the re-establishment of the Nomads chapter in Parramatta and the Parramatta chapter of the Bandidos being absorbed into the Hells Angels are believed to be linked to recent unrest.

One report linked the tensions to a botched assassination attempt on a Nomads member and said six drive-by shootings were under investigation by a police task force set up to investigate the growing tensions between the Hells Angels and Nomads gxxgs around Parramatta.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6394736/Hells-Angels-ride-under-police-scrutiny

AUSTRALIA - Bikies relax rules to recruit young thugs..

2012-02-10T00:59:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
OUTLAW motorcycle gxxgs have relaxed strict membership criteria, leading to more diverse and violent gang cultures, the country's peak crime body has warned.
As police plan a strong presence at today's funeral of slain gxxg member Giovanni Focarelli, the Australian Crime Commission says the gxxgs have changed their rules in an effort to recruit and groom members from motorcycle clubs and street gangs.
In an attempt to counter declining membership and strengthen their position against rival gxxgs, groups have evolved from a core of Caucasian males to more diverse mixes, the commission says. Many gxxgs now include members with Middle Eastern backgrounds - some who don't even ride motorcycles - and younger members recruited from street gangs. The commission says as well as increased violence, this has led to aggressive expansion and control of illicit markets and less respect for the unwritten rules of the "traditional biker".
"Some outlaw motorcycle gxxgs are recruiting street gangs and their members to assist in the distribution of illicit drugs and contraband," ACC chief executive John Lawler said.
"Some of these gang members are later recruited and become fully-patched members."
Mr Lawler said one South Australian bikie chapter actively had recruited from a street gang with members aged between 13 and 17 years. "Over a short period of time, the recruits from the street gang not only became fully-patched members, but asserted themselves as prominent group members," he said.
SA Police Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Grant Stevens agreed bikie groups were more diverse but said a culture of extreme violence had always existed.
"We know their culture of violence is such that members and associates take any opportunity to intimidate and cause harm and use violence to further their criminal activities," he said.
Mr Stevens said eight temporary detectives joining the Crime Gangs Task Force would bolster police operations to disrupt bikie activity.
"Major Crime has responsibility for the Giovanni Focarelli murder and other crime areas, such as the Drug Investigation Branch and Organised Crime Investigation Branch, conduct investigations which support the Crime Gangs Task Force," he said.
A new management plan to come into effect next month means every area of the state's police will contribute in some way to monitor gxxg members and their associates.
"The management plan will result in a greater focus on the activities of all outlaw motorcycle gxxg members wherever they might be at any time," Mr Stevens said.
Under the new plan, the Crime Gangs Task Force will direct police officers to target gxxg members in their local service areas.
They will enforce bail and warrant matters, while also playing a greater role in investigating bikie associates over street-level drug dealing and associated offences.
http://www.news.com.au/national/bikies-relax-rules-to-recruit-young-thugs/story-e6frfkvr-1226267191317

AUSTRALIA - Vince Focarelli appeals to Department of Corrections to let him attend son Giovanni's funeral

2012-02-10T00:58:00.003-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
SHOT gangland figure Vince Focarelli is now relying on the Department of Corrections to allow him to attend the funeral of his eldest son.
Focarelli, 37, of Wattle Park, appeared in the Supreme Court via phone link with the Royal Adelaide Hospital this morning to review a Magistrate's refusal to grant him bail, reported Adelaide Now.

Today, Justice Ann Vanstone agreed with the Magistrate's ruling and denied Focarelli release on bail even for a few hours to attend the funeral, which is believed will be held tomorrow.

"There is a risk of further offending if Mr Focarelli were to be released," Justice Vanstone said.

"There is also the question of his safety and the safety of the community, these things are difficult to evaluate.

"But the killing of Mr Focarelli's son in apparently shocking circumstances show there is a real danger of Mr Focarelli attracting further violence."

Focarelli was charged with trafficking in a controlled drug and 11 breaches of bail last Thursday and has remained in custody of Corrections Services since.

Justice Vanstone said she was not inclined to grant Focarelli bail for "several hours" to attend the funeral service as she had no power to order appropriate protection for the New Boyz associate or the public in those circumstances.

"It's profoundly concerning when a man might not be able to attend his son's funeral, especially when his son died in such traumatic circumstances," she said.

"Nevertheless, because of the real concern for Mr Focarelli's safety and for the safety of others who will attend the funeral, and, having regard to my inability to make any orders that might address those concerns, I am unable to facilitate the request.

"The chief executive of Correctional Services is in a position to assess the risk and marshall security in a way I can't."

The court heard Focarelli lodged a request with Correctional Services yesterday to attend the funeral.

His lawyer, David Edwardson, QC, said he expected an outcome to that application this afternoon.

Focarelli remains in the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he is recovering from an assassination attempt during which he received four gunshot wounds, including one to his head.

His son Giovanni, 22, was killed in the same incident on January 29.

Mr Edwardson said it "seemed implicit" that Focarelli not his son was the target of the attack.

Kos Lesses, prosecuting, said police believed there would be further conflict among Adelaide's outlaw gxxgs and that Focarelli could be involved.

"He is a potential protagonist and a potential target," Mr Lesses said.

"Regarding the shooting incident, police intelligence suggests it was part of an ongoing rivalry between unlawful motorcycle clubs."

Mr Lesses said the nature of phone calls between Focarelli and close friend and business partner Michael Sfyris was also cause for concern.

Current bail agreements signed by Focarelli and Sfyris who are jointly charged over a brawl at the Highway Hotel on Melbourne Cup Day restrict them from communicating except for the purpose of their business, tattoo parlour Ink Central. The documents were signed late last year but since then it is believed the Finks have taken control of the Hindley St business.

Police allege Sfyris called Focarelli from Yatala Labour Prison throughout December and January to discuss an uprising of their former street gang New Boyz.

The group had been affiliated with the Comancheros Outlaw Motorcycle Gxxg for some months prior.

"They were recorded to say they were building a stronger New Boyz and be riding Ducatis, not Harley Davidsons, to get back to their supposed European roots," Mr Lesses said.

Mr Lesses alleged they also discussed the removal of tattoos and converting to Islam to be part of the New Boyz.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/vince-focarelli-denied-bail-to-attend-the-funeral-of-his-son-giovanni/story-e6frf7jx-1226266909041

AUSTRALIA - Fink admits punching police officer

2012-02-10T00:58:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
abc.net.au

A Finks bikie club member who was seen visiting wounded Comancheros bikie Vincenzo Focarelli in hospital has admitted in court to punching a police officer.

Dylan Jessen, 21, pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court to aggravated assault of an officer.
The court was told Jessen punched the officer at the rear of the Dublin Hotel at Glenelg last May after police were called to break up a fight.
Prosecutors said it was an aggressive attack on someone performing their duty.
The court was told Jessen was a former New Boyz street gang member and was convicted of affray over a fight between rival gangs in Hindley Street in the city.
He will be sentenced next month.
Jessen recently visited Focarelli in the Royal Adelaide Hospital and, outside court today, Jessen said the pair remained good friends.

Dangerous Cops in Nevada...

2012-02-10T00:58:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
The man won because he could prove "harm."

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/health/diabetes/video-nevada-cops-beat-man-who-was-diabetic-shock

A Las Vegas man has won a lawsuit against police officers who beat him while he was in diabetic shock -- a beating captured on videotape.

The Daily Mail reports police pulled over Adam Greene early one morning in October 2010 because his car was weaving. Greene said he was driving that way because he was a diabetic and was in shock.

Nevada State Troopers and Henderson police dragged him out of the car at gunpoint and threw him to the ground. While four officers restrained him and yelled "stop resisting," a fifth walked over and kicked Greene in the head several times. Then they found the insulin in his pocket and realized what was going on.

"He's a diabetic. He's probably in shock, semi-conscious," an officer said on his radio.
One of the officers later realized the dashboard cam was one, "It's on camera," he said.
Another officer responded, "They don't know you. I wouldn't worry about it."

The Las Vegas Sun reports the city of Henderson will pay Greene $158,000, and Nevada will pay an additional $30,000.

See above link for video and additional information.

More from NH on noise bill........

2012-02-10T00:58:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Regarding the NH Noise article on Monday:

After having read your article i decided to look up on a noise level chart and see where motorcycles come in at. The chart i downloaded is from http://www.gcaudio.com/ and it shows that motorcycles are at a 100db and that the OSHA recommended exposure to it is 2 hours before damage to someone ears are affected. I dont know of anyone that would expose someone to that level of exposure bt just riding there bikes thought a subdivision a community of homes. But what was more suprising was that lawnmowers where higher, now how long does it take to cut grass? other items mentioned where Desel truck@ 85 db, Sporting mailto:Sportingevent@105db,An Air raid siren@135db and so on . To see more go to the website above . This is just a waste of time and money and hindering buisness and jobs .If they really want to do somthiong construtive they should concern themselves with creating jobs and focus on things of more concern ..........Vinnie Bolt

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2012/02/06/seacoast_lawmakers_look_to_muffle_motorcycles/NH lawmakers look to muffle motorcycles

CONCORD, N.H.—Seacoast area representatives in the New Hampshire House are trying to lower motorcycle noise emission levels with a bill that motorcyclists say takes the wrong approach.
The bill would require an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stamp on the exhaust system and lower the legal noise level to 82 decibels for motorcycles or motorcycle exhaust systems built starting next year. It would not change the 106-decibel noise emission limit for earlier models.
The bill also would place higher fines on offenders with $350 for the first fine and $500 for each subsequent offense. Current fines for noise violations are between $100 and $300.
New, factory-made motorcycles already meet the EPA emission standards specified in the bill, but many motorcyclists buy aftermarket exhaust systems, which can drastically increase the bikes' noise volume. Since many motorcyclists buy them precisely for that reason it could effectively kill aftermarket exhaust system sales in New Hampshire.
The Seacoast region of the state is particularly popular with motorcyclists. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Jim Waddell, a Republican from Hampton, said the motorcycle traffic on state Route 1A near his condominium gets unbearably loud during the summer.
"It gets to the point where you can't hear the TV, hear yourself think or carry on a conversation," said Waddell.
Waddell and his fellow co-sponsor Republican Will Smith from New Castle said they would support any amendment resulting in less noise, whether that means lowering permitted levels or better enforcement of the current 106-decibel level.
The New Hampshire Motorcyclists' Rights Organization (NHMRO) says the problem lies within the current testing protocol, which they say is inaccurate and impractical to apply in the field. Instead, NHMRO advocates a new test from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), which it says would help police better field test for noise violations.
Vice-President Candy Alexander said NHMRO had worked with the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association, the American Motorcyclist Association and state and local law enforcement to determine a workable solution to the noise problem. Alexander said the new test, which can be performed on an idling motorcycle by the side of the road, was more practical than the current system.
The testing system in the bill is even more unworkable, she said, as it requires a reading at 35 mph from 50 feet away. Transportation committee chair Rep. Sherman Packard agrees with that opinion.
"How is anyone in this state anyone going to duplicate that test? It's impossible. It can't be done by law enforcement and it can't be done by a testing station," said the Londonderry Republican, a member of NHMRO.
Packard said similar bills to lower noise emission levels appear frequently in the legislature, but this was the first year the new, alternative test was available.
Packard has authored a possible bill amendment to use the new SAE test to solve the noise problem rather than lower emission levels.
The Transportation Committee is holding a hearing on the bill Tuesday.

MICHIGAN - Charges reissued 'Miserable quirk' nabs Starkweather

2012-02-10T00:57:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Murder charges against a Battle Creek man were dropped Wednesday but quickly reinstated.
Matthew Starkweather, 32, is charged in the Jan. 1 beating death of Lee Taylor, 45. Battle Creek police said Taylor was found dead about 6 a.m. that morning at the Iron Coffin Motorcycle Club, 15 Gilbert St.
Starkweather entered the Calhoun County District Courtroom of Judge Frank Line Wednesday morning for a scheduled preliminary examination on the murder charge.
But Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Kabot said he decided to dismiss the charges because investigators were awaiting results of laboratory tests.
"I have had a conversation with the Michigan State Police Crime Lab and the DNA is not complete and they need more time," he said. "And that is critical evidence as it relates to the prosecution of this case.
"So my inclination is to dismiss and proceed at a later time."
Kabot said Starkweather would be immediately arrested before he was set free and should be arraigned on the same murder charge today.
"I am opposed to this adjournment," said defense attorney J. Thomas Schaeffer. "This is just a ruse to keep my client in jail and violate his due process constitutional rights."
Schaeffer argued that Starkweather has been jailed since Jan. 1 and a preliminary examination scheduled Jan. 13 was adjourned because the autopsy report was not complete.
"Now the prosecutor and the government will do what they do to keep him incarcerated another 14 days."
Schaeffer said if the charges are going to be dismissed and reissued then his client, held without bond since his arrest, should have a bond.
"I ask that bond be set so he can have his liberty until they can get their case together."
Line told both lawyers that the prosecutors are permitted to dismiss the charges, and he granted that motion, and said he could not consider bond until Starkweather is arraigned.
"It is a miserable quirk in the law that they can hold someone until they get their case together," Schaeffer said after court adjourned.
Later, Kabot said investigators also are considering charges against a second man who was present at the club.
"There may be a second person of interest," he said.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20120209/NEWS01/202090310/Charges-reissued?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

CA - Roll On Big Justice

2012-02-10T00:57:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
agingrebel.com

The Christopher “Stoney” Ablett racketeering trial, which is a proxy for the Mongols Motorcycle Club racketeering trial, rolls on in San Francisco.
Ablett is accused of murdering Hells Angels Frisco charter President Mark “Papa” Guardado on behalf of the “Mongols criminal enterprise” in a street fight in the Mission District in September 2008. Ablett faces life in prison if convicted. He has never been offered a plea deal. He has already spent 40 months behind bars.
Now all the Big Justice Department Meat Processing Machine has to do is convince a jury that the homicide was not at all what American philosopher William James called “The Moral Equivalent of War” but really the Countrywide mortgage mess dressed up in a three piece patch. So far, before the defense even begins to present its case, Big Justice appears to be rolling on flat tires.

Koslowski

ATF Special Agent and Super Outlaw Darrin Kozlowski, who began to testify last Friday, was back on the stand from 8:30 a.m. Monday until lunchtime on Tuesday. Ablett’s lead counsel, Richard Mazer, spent part of that time toying with the undercover agent. During one, long rhetorical interlude Mazer asked “Tha Koz” to name the chapter Presidents of each Northern California Mongols chapter. The well prepared witness obliged. Then, one by one, Mazer asked Kozlowski to tell the jury what each of them had been indicted for. That forced the expert witness to reply over and over, “He wasn’t indicted for anything.” So the jury heard over and over that most Mongols have never been indicted for anything.
Mazer also beat Kozlowski about the head and shoulders with the witness’ wretched deceitfulness. “So you deceived all these people who were your supposed brothers? You lied on a regular basis to these men? So, Mr. Kozlowski, you are in fact a professional liar, aren’t you?”
To which Kozlowski replied, “Yes.”

The Missing Evidence

Even more shocking than the total lack of press interest in this trial is the astounding lack of physical evidence.
For example, the gun that killed Guardado is still missing. The bullet that penetrated Guardado’s torso has never been recovered. Guardado’s cell phone is also missing and although he was pronounced dead at 11:02 p.m. the phone was still making calls at 12:05 a.m. Someone checked Guardado’s voice mail five days after he died. The defense attempted to convince the jury that if the dead man’s cell phone was carried away from the scene other evidence may have been as well.
At other points in the trial this week the prosecutors have appeared to be sloppy about details. For instance the government seems to be unable to prove that Guardado’s arm stab wounds were inflicted before he died rather than after. An expert witness in “blood stain pattern interpretation” named Craig Ogino hung Guardado’s jacket on a mannequin and testified that the jacket had been zipped closed. However, Guardado was a stocky man. He was about five-eight and when he died he weighed about 295 pounds. So it might have been physically impossible for Guardado to zip his jacket closed.

Demonizing The Angels

When the defense begins to argue its case tomorrow or next week, Mazer will probably take pains to demonize both Guardado and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Two of the witnesses the defense has subpoenaed to do that are cops.
One of those witnesses is a Laconia New Hampshire Sheriff’s Lieutenant named Christopher Cost who was once assaulted by Guardado. The other witness is a former Petaluma, California detective named Jason Lechleiter.
Lechleiter is described in defense documents as, “the lead detective in a criminal case in Sonoma County in which Guardado led an attack by members of the Hells Angels upon an innocent citizen at a restaurant in Petaluma, California in February 2008. Mr. Guardado and another Hells Angel, Jonathan Nelson of the Sonoma County Chapter, were charged with assault causing great bodily injury and being members of a criminal street gang, as that term is defined under California state law. Mr. Lechleiter spent the next six months investigating the Hells Angels chapters in San Francisco and Sonoma County. He wrote and executed search warrants of the Hells Angels clubhouses in San Francisco and Santa Rosa in July 2008. Mr. Lechleiter developed specialized knowledge of the criminal activities of the Hells Angels in the San Francisco Bay area, and how members of those chapters were operating a sophisticated criminal enterprise that engaged in multiple forms of criminal activity. Mr. Guardado was on bail for the Sonoma County charges when he led the attack on Mr. Ablett in September 2008. Mr. Nelson was later convicted of the February 2008 assault in a Sonoma County jury trial in 2010.”
Lechlieter, who now lives in New Mexico, will testify either by video feed or by a video recorded deposition. The jury should hear his opinions of the Angels next week. And the defense expects him “to support the reasonableness of defendant Chris Ablett’s belief that he was being attacked by members and associates of the Hells Angels on the evening of September 2, 2008, in support of the defendant’s claim that he acted in self-defense and in defense of others, namely the two women he was with when the attack by the Hells Angels occurred.”

Future Witnesses

It seems increasingly likely that Ablett will take the stand in his own defense. An amendment to the jury instructions proposed by Ablett’s defense on Thursday reads, “The defendant has testified. You should treat this testimony just as you would the testimony of any other witness.”
And, it still remains possible that former Mongols President Ruben “Doc” Cavazos may testify on Ablett’s behalf. Defense investigators interviewed Cavazos last week at the California City gulag where the government has been hiding him since last September. Among other things Doc told them he would really enjoy a trip to San Francisco. And, a usually informed source has said that possibility has thrown the ATF Case Agent who put Cavazos in prison, a fellow named John Ciccone, into a “panic.”

SWITZERLAND - Court rules in favor of Hell’s Angel......

2012-02-10T00:57:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
worldradio.ch/
The Federal Criminal Court says a Hell’s Angel should get about 27,000 francs in damages from federal prosecutors, as part of a long-running feud between law enforcement and the motorcycle club.

The member of the Zurich branch of the motorcycle club was detained for 41 days in 2004, as prosecutors aimed to convict Hell’s Angels of being part of an organized criminal gang.
Prosecutors impounded five of the man’s Harley Davidson motorcycles, two luxury cars and a number of weapons.
The man had been awarded 8,000 francs after the federal case collapsed around the club but the man appealed, claiming his property fell into disrepair while impounded.
He also claimed higher legal fees.
The court ruling published today agreed to increase compensation for legal fees but dismissed other claims.

Annelise - Babe of the Week..

2012-02-10T00:56:00.000-08:00

Annelise Marie,
Residence - Fort Collins, Colorado
Current Vocation: Student, model, cocktail at 100 Octane
Relationship Status: SingleAge: 22
Hair Colour: Blonde Eye Colour: Green
Height: 5'8"Weight: 125
Measurements: Chest 34c Waist 24 Hip 34
One of Annelise's favorite things to do is model. A majority of her time when not in school is spent going to different shoots or events. She has a bit of a problem spending the money from the shoots on shoes. She has over 100 shoes in her closet, her weakness is high heels. her favorite movie is Legally Blonde, she owns the DVD and also has it recorded on DVR. Her favorite sport is tennis, as she was all area throughout highschool, and even went undefeated her freshman year. Annelise's favorite team is the Broncos, she has to support her state. She is a Tebow fan. Traveling the world would be a dream of hers, shooting in exciting new locations. She has a vast experience in the modeling world from print, to fashion shows, but her specialty is working events. She is often working at a different event each weekend. Her favorite season is the summer where she can wear shorts and layout in the warm Colorado sun. +She is currently at CSU in Colorado getting a Business Marketing dergree and excited to see what happens when she graduates in May.
Interview Questions:
1.) What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Creatively I love looking through different magazines or online for modeling pictures. It gives me ideas of shoots I would like to do. Thats how I came up with the laying on the floor shot with the clothes next to me.

2.) What turns you off? Cockyness, also is someone is lazy. I'm a hard worker & dont like if I'm dating a guy who lies and calls in sick when he isn't. Jealously too, shows your insecure, a little is good but not a lot.

3.) What sound or noise do you love?The ocean. Also when my little puppy drives to howl at firetrucks, I love that i think its so cute!

4.) What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Photography, or designing clothes or jewelry.

5.) What is your favorite curse word? I try not to curse, but ass would have to be mine.
Photographers, Don Hales, Dana Penington, John Miller, headshot with no makeup by heather davis
http://www.facebook.com/annelisemariemodel
https://twitter.com/#!/annelisejr

R&W Angels Roadhouse

2012-02-10T00:55:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Biker Uses Woman’s Belt To Hogtie Driver Who Nearly Killed U. Of Texas Soccer Player

2012-02-10T00:55:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Kylie Doniak is a four-year University of Texas soccer player who was among a group of people hit by a car in downtown Austin last Friday morning. Of those in the crowd, Kylie got the worst of it, suffering a "significant head injury, multiple rib fractures, a punctured lung and a large laceration to her back. Both bones in her right leg were broken, as well."
It's a bad spot that Kylie's in, but there was some good news today, per her family.
"We got the best surprise God could ever have provided for us today!!!!" her family said this morning on the CaringBridge.org website, which family members have used to update her progress. Family members said Doniak opened her eyes.
I won't get into my whole hit-and-run spiel here, honest. But this one jumped out from the slew I look at each week.

Reason No. 1, from the Austin American-Statesman:
[Driver Nicholas Ray] Colunga made several statements saying he had been drinking that night, the affidavit issued in the case said.
"I hope I didn't kill anyone," Colunga said while being detained, the affidavit said. "I know that I hurt someone. I'll take responsibility. Take me downtown, I know you're going to do it."
Colunga also told police he was "no where near sober" and smelled of a strong odor of alcohol and his speech was slurred and mumbled, the affidavit said.
Reason No. 2, from the Daily Mail:
Sisto Perez was driving his motorcycle in downtown Austin early Friday morning when he witnessed the Chevy Impala strike the pedestrians after running a red light.
[A chase ensues]
Mr Perez, jumping off his bike, lunged toward Mr Colunga coming out from behind the wheel who ... appeared as intoxicated as one could be.
"He said, 'I'm not trying to resist,''' Mr Perez recalled of Mr Colunga, "and I grabbed hold of him, pulled him to the side, kicked him in the knee and dropped him to the ground."
If that wasn't enough, Mr Perez borrowed a woman's belt - from among several bystanders who had gathered to watch - to hogtie the driver and force him against the car.
"My father didn't raise any cowards in my family," Mr Perez said.
http://deadspin.com/5883129/biker-uses-womans-belt-to-hogtie-driver-who-nearly-killed-u-of-texas-soccer-player

In Afghanistan, Our Troops Are Still at War....

2012-02-10T00:54:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
The troops who are still fighting for you and for me in Afghanistan are currently facing frigid wind, snow and ice.
Winter of War in
Bitter Afghanistan

Bullets and roadside bombs are not the only things that endanger our troops in Afghanistan.
Make your Commanders Club gift now as they endure the extreme cold this winter.

Their sacrifice is the reason I ask you to "support our troops" as a member of the DAV Commanders Club.
Listening to the news, you'd think our America had only one duty to veterans — cutting the cost of the care they get when they come home from war.
You can take a more responsible view, Philip. A Commanders Club membership shows that you are a leader, supporting America's leading veterans' organization.
I would like to recognize you as one of our top supporters and invite you to join the Commanders Club.
This membership will mark you as one who doesn't look away America's disabled veterans.
I will send you our 2012 Commanders Club Certificate of Appreciation — simply check the box requesting one when you make your gift.
Without friends like you Philip, we wouldn't be able to reach out to the sick and wounded. You make this happen . . . that's a fact!

Choose Your Commanders Club Level:
Diamond Leader Level: $75
Gold Leader Level: $50
Silver Leader Level: $25
Bronze Leader Level: $15
The need for your help is great. While the disabilities of oder vets grow worse with age, a new generation needs more help — essential help — from the DAV now.
In a Time of Ongoing War,
Arthur H. Wilson,
Disabled American Veterans
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
OUR MISSION:
Since its founding more than 90 years ago, Disabled American Veterans has been dedicated to a single purpose: Building Better Lives for America's Disabled Veterans and Their Families.

P.O. Box 14301 | Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301
Please thank a disabled veteran for their sacrifice and service!

USA - Federal Air Marshals Face A Hostile Work Environment, ABC News Reports

2012-02-10T00:54:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

An ABC News report that aired on Tuesday night investigates the apparently crazy world of air marshals.

According to the report, there is a "striking" lack of professionalism within the agency. Current and former air marshals spoke with the news outlet telling them, "Managers at the Federal Air Marshal Service regularly made fun of blacks, Latinos and gays, took taxpayer-paid trips to visit families and vacation spots, and acted like a "bunch of school kid punks."
Former air marshal and "whistleblower" Steve Theodoropoulos spoke with ABC and told them that culture within the agency is "hate African Americans, hate females, go after gays and lesbians cause we don't like the way they think."
Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of Florida asked for an investigation into the air marshal program two years ago. He told ABC, "Sooner or later, if you do not have people operating at their peak efficiency, then you take the risk that a terrorist is going to get away with his dirty deed."

The 118-page report, which is to be made public on Thursday, reveals that there is "a great deal of tension, mistrust and dislike between non-supervisory and supervisory personnel in field offices around the country." According to CNN, which also obtained a copy of the report, the investigation reveals that "employees' perceptions of discrimination and retaliation are extensive, and we heard too many negative and conflicting accounts of events to dismiss them."

Speeders - check this out

2012-02-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Check out this smart phone application. It's called Trapster. It warns you of radar enforcement, and gives you the ability to warn others of radar enforcement ahead.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/products/10-handy-smartphone-apps-for-drivers?src=nl&mag=pop&list=nl_pnl_aut_non_020912_smartphone-apps&kw=ist#slide-3

AUSTRALIA - Alleged gxxg members plead not guilty

2012-02-09T20:44:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Two local men believed to associates of the Rebels bikie gxxg will contest weapons and drug charges relating to a police raid on their homes last November, Yass Local Court heard on Tuesday.
Christopher John Hasler, 41, of Bowning, intends to plead not guilty to two charges of possessing a prohibited drug (cannabis), two charges of possessing an unauthorised pistol, and one charge of possessing an unauthorised firearm.

Jobay Williams, 40, of Yass, pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing prohibited ammunition, having an unauthorised firearm, having an unregistered firearm, not keeping a firearm safe, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing a prohibited drug.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie adjourned both matters until March 6. They are both subject to conditional bail.

The charges relate to raids on a rural Bowning property and a Yass home on November 24 by detectives of Strike Force Raptor, a gangs squad which investigates and arrests members and associates of outlaw motorcycle gxxgs who are involved in criminal activities.

A third man was arrested during the same raid. Police are still investigating the 63-year-old Bowning man after suspending his firearms licence

http://www.yasstribune.com.au/news/local/news/general/alleged-gang-members-plead-not-guilty/2449979.aspx

NEW ZEALAND - Police to monitor ride by Nomads

2012-02-09T20:43:00.003-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Police in Auckland will keep an eye on a motorcycle ride on Saturday by an an estimated 200 members of a breakaway Hells Angels gxxg.
The Hells Angels Nomads chapter event, Ride with the Angels, will take place on Saturday at Northcote with participants riding through Helensville to Puhoi.

The gxxg is encouraging outsiders to take part.

Superintendent John Kelly says police cars and on motorbikes will be monitoring to make sure it is safe and the public are not disrupted.

Although they acknowledge gxxgs are associated with illegal activities, Superintendent Kelly says the police do not expect any violence or disorder.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/98063/police-to-monitor-ride-by-nomads

AUSTRALIA - Residents disturbed by Kings Cross bikie brawl

2012-02-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
MEMBERS of the 2011 Resident’s Association are disturbed and concerned by the brazen nature of Saturday night’s clash between alleged members and associates of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gxxg and Kings Cross police.

One man, aged 50, and his son, 23, were arrested and charged with affray, assault and intimidate police and resist arrest.

They were alleged to be part of a group of at least 50 bikies, many wearing full colours and supporter’s shirts, who were allegedly attempting to gain entry to nightclubs associated with John Ibrahim.

2011 Resident’s Association president Lucas Crabtree said that while anti-social behaviour in Kings Cross is nothing new, the level of violence and the display of gxxg colours was a concern.

“We don’t normally see bikies in colours in the Cross so this that was a surprise,” Mr Crabtree said.

“Obviously we are concerned and disturbed by it all. The escalation of violence over the weekend is worrying. One of our members lives on Darlinghurst Rd and said it appeared there were hundreds of people involved.”

Both men are due to face Downing Centre Court today.

http://wentworth-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/hells-angels-in-fracas-with-kings-cross-cops/

AUSTRALIA - Ex-gxxg member to hide interstate

2012-02-09T20:42:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
A COMANCHEROS bikie on bail has quit the gang and won court approval to move interstate to escape violence in Adelaide.
The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, yesterday asked the District Court to vary his bail conditions.

He is yet to stand trial on aggravated assault charges.

Tessa Diamandi, for the man, said the man's need to move interstate was pressing.

"The reason for (the application) is there has been a lot of recent events and my client is concerned for his family's safety should he be in the state at the time being," she said.

"He wishes to travel interstate to stay with a friend for a period of time."

She said prosecutors had objected to the application due to her client's Comancheros membership.

"I can state that I do have instructions that my client no longer is a member of the Comancheros Motorcycle Club," she said.

"He has handed his colours in, so that may go some way to putting the court's mind at ease."

She said she was "happy to provide" the interstate residential address to prosecutors but asked it not be kept on the court file for reasons of safety.

The application was granted by Judge David Smith.

http://www.news.com.au/national/ex-gang-member-to-hide-interstate/story-e6frfkvr-1226267202623

2012-02-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

Tennessee - Cannon County deputies shoot, kill man

2012-02-09T12:58:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE.

Richard Butcher, Victim

Reported by Larry Flowers - email

Richard Butcher, Victim

CANNON COUNTY, TN (WSMV) -

Cannon County deputies shot and killed a man they claim attempted to run over them while doing donuts in his front yard. But the family is calling the shooting death senseless.

Richard Butcher, 28, of 2044 Petty Gap Road was shot and killed Monday night.

"One (deputy) was shooting this way, one (deputy) was shooting that way," the victim's brother Nicholas Butcher said.

Nicholas Butcher said he did everything he could to get the Cannon County Deputies to stop shooting last night.

"I came on the front porch and I screamed at the police to stopped shooting, and they didn't they keep going. I screamed three different times they had that much time to keep shooting," Butcher said.

Butcher says his brother Richard, known to his family and friends as "Rick" was doing donuts in the front yard; the tire marks are still visible. He said two Cannon County officers showed up, and things took a tragic turn. Lawmen claim he tried to run over them.

"They said they were in fear for their lives. They pulled on my property if they would have stayed in their cars they wouldn't have been in any kind of danger," Butcher said, "They advanced toward them, and started shooting. They put themselves in that situation, and then felt like they could justify it."

According to the Tennessee Bureau Investigation (TBI), the deputies were in the area responding to a report of stolen scrap metal. The suspect was supposed to have been in a black pickup. When the deputies saw Butcher driving "crazy" in his yard in a black truck, they stopped, said TBI spokesperson Kristin Helm.

"It was pop, then pop, pop, pop," neighbor Becky Sherburne said.

Sherburne was standing in her front yard, and watched the tragic events unfold.

"After he let that first round go the car immediately had started to roll backward and he kept firing. He unloaded his gun on him, and didn't stop until it was empty I'm sure," Sherburne said.

The truck came to rest in a pit of mud. Authorities said Butcher was pronounced dead at the hospital. Family members aren't buying it.

"He died in the truck they let him sit in the truck for 45 minutes and bleed out. The ambulance was here. There were several witnesses," Butcher said.

Cannon County Sheriff Darrell Young referred all questions to the TBI. No word tonight if the two deputies are on routine leave until the investigation is complete.

ILLINOIS - Letting motorcycles drive through red raises safety debate

2012-02-09T00:58:00.008-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120207/news/702079943/
Letting motorcycles drive through red raises safety debate

Jeff Woolard of Elgin, president of the Elgin Area Organization of Harley Owners, said he supports the law allowing motorcycles and bicycles to proceed through a red light after stopping. He has concerns about the potential for abuse because there is no specific length of time to stop before proceeding.
By Bob Susnjara and Lee Filas Illinois' new law allowing motorcyclists to drive through red lights after stopping is drawing some questions because of its vagueness.
Motorcyclists now may proceed after stopping at a red light if a traffic signal fails to turn green within a “reasonable period of time.” Bicycles also fall under the law.
Advertisement
Motorcycle safety
• 343,924 motorcycles registered in the state of Illinois in 2012.
• 130 fatal crashes in 2010, which killed 131 motorcyclists, passengers and one nonmotorcyclist.
• 3%-4% of all motor vehicle registrations are for motorcycles
• 14% of motor vehicle deaths are from 131 motorcyclists.
Source: Startseeingmotorcycles.org
Proponents pushed for the law by saying motorcycles and bicycles aren't heavy enough to activate road sensors that make a red light turn green when there is little traffic at certain intersections, regardless of a city's size.
A few opposing state lawmakers have raised safety concerns.
It's the lack of specificity on how long a motorcycle or bicycle must be stopped before going through a red light that has some suburban law-enforcement officials and others predicting aspects of the law will need to be addressed before too long.
Jeff Woolard, president of the Elgin Area Organization of Harley Owners, said being on a motorcycle and waiting for a red light to change has been a periodic problem for him.
“If I don't take off, and there is a car waiting behind me, they also sit in the intersection waiting for the light to trip,” Woolard said. “It creates a safety problem.”
Woolard said he supports the law but is concerned about the potential for abuse because there is no specific length of time a motorcycle or bicycle must be stopped before proceeding.
Sharing Woolard's concern, Naperville police Sgt. Gregg Bell said the vague phrase “reasonable period of time” may prove to be one of the law's flaws that may wind up needing review.
“The potential does exist to become confusing, not only for officers, but motorists as well,” Bell said. “Motorists on the roadway must be self-conscious of what is going on around them as they go about their business, but more importantly, motorcyclists need to be extra careful when deciding to do this.”
Fox Lake Police Chief Michael Behan said his department would treat the law similar to a right turn on red. That means motorists must come to a complete stop, check both ways and make sure it's safe before proceeding.
“And, if an officer doesn't see the complete stop, or our red-light camera doesn't see it, then we will issue a ticket,” Behan said. “But, there's another issue with the red-light camera. An officer will have to sit down and go through each video to make sure the stop was made. It will have to be looked at in each case.”
Both the House and Senate last November overrode an amendatory veto by Gov. Pat Quinn to create the law, effective since Jan. 1. Chicago is exempted from the law.
Democratic state Sen. Gary Forby of Benton, who took the lead in pushing for the law, said during discussion in Springfield last year he'd expect motorcycle drivers and bicyclists to proceed as they would at a yield sign or unmarked intersection.
Forby said motorcycle and bicycle riders without the ability to activate road sensors deserve the right to proceed in lightly trafficked areas. Forby touts the law as one of his legislative accomplishments in 2011.
“So you're going ... to make a guy riding a motorcycle, you're going to (penalize) him,” Forby said when the matter was debated. “Cause he's got a license, he buys a license, he's paid taxes on it. What the heck? What's the difference between a car and a motorcycle? They ought to have the same rights as a car, a truck, a pickup truck. All I'm asking is the same.”
Forby, a motorcycle enthusiast, didn't return messages seeking additional comment. During the legislative session, he said he agreed to exclude Chicago from the law to “make 'em happy” and gain the needed votes.
Republican state Sen. John Millner of Carol Stream, a former Elmhurst police chief, backed the law. He said it's unlikely officers were writing tickets to motorcyclists who went through red lights and explained the sensors weren't tripped.
But Democratic state Sen. Susan Garrett, one of the few legislators to vote against the law, said it'll make the roads more dangerous particularly if a motorcycle takes off at the same red light where a car is waiting for the signal to become green.
“It's giving a certain group of drivers a convenience that sets a new standard for how we use red lights,” Garrett said in a recent interview.
Garrett said she also has concerns about who's liable if the law leads to a crash.
Bell, an avid motorcycle rider, said he believes fault would rest squarely on the shoulders of a biker for not yielding the right of way.
“I do see the possibility of some confusion existing,” Bell said. “I know I was confused when I saw this law passed.”

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/straight-on-red-motorcycle-law-could-be-altered/article_f51bdfa8-51e6-11e1-adba-0019bb2963f4.htm
Straight on red motorcycle law could be altered

By Kurt Erickson | Posted: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 5:50 pm
.SPRINGFIELD -- A Senate panel signed off on a plan Tuesday designed to bring some clarity to a new law allowing motorcycle riders and bicyclists to go straight through red lights after stopping.
Without comment, the Senate Transportation Committee endorsed legislation that would force bikers to wait at least two minutes before proceeding through an intersection. The measure now heads to the full Senate for further action.
The change comes after Gov. Pat Quinn raised traffic safety questions about the original law, which included no time limits. His concerns were overridden by lawmakers during the fall veto session, but state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, agreed to the time limit in order to help police track potential scofflaws.
The original law legalizing straight on red -- approved last spring -- came after motorcycle rights groups argued that motorcycle riders can sometimes get stuck at a red light for several light cycles because the lighter weight of the two-wheeled vehicles won't trigger sensors that cause stoplights to change at some intersections.
At least 12 other states have laws on the books allowing for bikes to go straight on red.
The legislation is Senate Bill 2528.

AUSTRALIA - Bikxx's gun failed to discharge in Parramatta street brawl

2012-02-09T00:58:00.006-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
AN alleged gunman who attempted to shoot two bikies on a crowded street was foiled after he pulled the trigger and the pistol failed to discharge.
Police allege the 31-year-old shooter became involved in a heated argument with the two men - a 26-year-old Hells Angel and a 21-year-old associate of the outlaw motorcycle gang - after crossing paths with them while walking along Phillip Street, Parramatta at 4.45pm yesterday.

The man was arrested a short time later in nearby Horwood Place, with a search of his ute allegedly uncovered a loaded pistol.

Police also intercepted a gold-coloured BMW sedan in Merrylands, arresting the two bikie associates after locating a small quantity of the drug ice.

All three men were expected to be charged overnight.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/bikies-gun-failed-to-discharge-in-parramatta-street-brawl/story-e6freuzi-1226265193253

INFORMATION, CHECK IT OUT, MIGHT KEEP YOU OUT OF THE COURTROOM..

2012-02-09T00:58:00.005-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
1. Under What Condition Can a Police Officer Search Your Car?

Read more: What Are Your Rights During a Police Traffic Stop? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6309838_rights-during-police-traffic-stop_.html#ixzz1lfCsGlVt

2. Police Traffic Stop Procedures

3. Police Procedures for Stopping a Car

Good Hearted Biker tries to save jumper.......

2012-02-09T00:58:00.004-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Headline was Biker tries to save Bridge Jumper

A tough looking group of bikers were riding
when they saw a beautiful woman about to jump off a bridge, so they stopped.

The leader, a big burly man, gets off his bike and says, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to commit suicide," she says.
While he didn't want to appear insensitive, he didn't want
to miss an opportunity either,
so he asked... "Well, before you jump why don't you give me a kiss?"

So she does... And it was a long, deep, passionate, lingering kiss.
After she's finished, the biker says, "Wow! That was the best
kiss I've ever had! That's a real talent you are wasting. You could
be famous. Why in the world would you want to commit suicide?"

"My parents don't like me dressing up like a girl".

The authorities think she may have been pushed.

California Police Policy & Procedure Standards

2012-02-09T00:58:00.003-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Mike Evans

eHow Contributor

California's police policies are determined by California's Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. Within the POST Commission, these standards are set by the Standards and Evaluation Bureau (SEB).

Police Policies & Procedures

2012-02-09T00:58:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Police Policies & Procedures

Police policies and procedures organize the daily work of a police

department and provide guidance for officers' decision-making in the field. Courts and the public look to departmental policies and procedures to determine whether an officer's actions were lawful and appropriate. Draft policies and procedures thoughtfully to encourage a law enforcement environment which meets community needs and withstands public and legal scrutiny.

USA - What Are Your Rights During a Police Traffic Stop?

2012-02-09T00:58:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

By Ralph Heibutzki

eHow Contributor

What Are Your Rights During a Police Traffic Stop?

- Speeding is among the most common causes of traffic stops. truck speeding down the street image by Larry Roberg from Fotolia.com
  Getting stopped and questioned by police is a reality that nearly all drivers face at some point in their traveling life. Whether the outcome is a citation, verbal warning or criminal charge, most motorists have only a hazy understanding, at best, of their constitutional rights. Knowing when to stand on those rights can make a big difference in how the actual traffic stop turns out.
Driver Responses
- Acknowledging the stop by slowing down and pulling over to the nearest safe area is the driver's first response. For stops that occur at night, drivers fearing the possibility of police impersonators are within their legal rights to proceed to a more visible public place, such as a service station, for example.
Remaining Silent
- Not speaking to officers is a basic legal right. Police image by Zeno from Fotolia.com
  Refusing to answer questions beyond providing insurance, license and registration information ranks among the most basic legal rights, as outlined by the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment. As long as the driver's attitude isn't misread as combativeness, there is no immediate problem from invoking this right against self-incrimination.
Vehicle Searches
- Vehicle searches are governed by specific constitutional doctrines. police image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  Searching a vehicle is limited under the "plain view doctrine," which requires officers obtain warrants for looking at the interior, such as the glove compartment, or any area that's not visible at a glance. Unless the driver consents, the officer must find a probable cause to search the vehicle.
Body Searches
- If an officer requests a body search, he is only allowed to pat down outer layers of clothing to check drivers and passengers for possible weapons. If necessary, the officer may reach into a pocket to pull out the weapon. Otherwise, going through someone's pockets is only permissible at the time of arrest.

MICHIGAN - Driver not at fault in fatal crash, police say

2012-02-09T00:57:00.003-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Ray Kisonas
monroenews.com
Police investigating last week’s accident that killed a motorcycle club member as he stood in the middle of N. Telegraph Rd. determined that the vehicle’s driver was not at fault.
Michigan State Police Trooper Michael Peterson of the Monroe post identified the victim as William Walker, 46, of Chesterfield Township. He died when he was struck while attempting to direct traffic in front of the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club near Ready Rd. in Ash Township.
Trooper Peterson said the driver of the vehicle was a Carleton man who was with his family when the accident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday. They were headed home.
“The driver was not at fault at all,” Trooper Peterson said. “There was nothing to indicate the driver did anything wrong.”
Trooper Peterson said Mr. Walker and Mark Calvilla, 50, of Detroit were standing in the right lane of southbound Telegraph attempting to stop whatever traffic was in the area to allow several motorcycles to leave the club.
Trooper Peterson said less than 10 bikes were attempting to leave and there really was not a lot of traffic at the time. The two victims were wearing black clothing when hit. The club was hosting a gathering at the time.
“It was really a strange decision to be out there,” Trooper Peterson said.
Mr. Calvilla was also struck and injured. He was treated for his injuries in a hospital.
Trooper Peterson said the investigation is completed.

thought this would interest you..........

2012-02-09T00:57:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Hells Angels: Rare and Unpublished Photos by LIFE Magazine's Bill Ray, 1965 | LIFE | TIME.com life.time.com
From Jesse James and Butch Cassidy to Scarface and Tony Soprano, outlaws have always held a singularly ambiguous place in America's popular imagination: we fear and loathe gangsters' appetite for violence; we envy and covet their freedom.

Some great photos here!

Using Traffic Cameras To Investigate Crime?

2012-02-09T00:57:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
By Tom Abate

Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli talks about technology at a Coffee with Cops meeting Tuesday morning, and gets earful from a man erroneously detained in January.

More than two dozen people turned out for a "Coffee with Cops" gathering Tuesday morning as Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli talked about making better use of existing traffic cameras to investigate crime.
The meeting allowed residents to ask police about response times, burglaries and other concerns. It was held at the Creekside Bistro inside the office complex catty-corner to the San Leandro BART station.
Salvador Cortez, whose family of three were handcuffed by San Leandro police in a case of mistaken identity in January, attended the forum to complain that as yet he had not received a letter of apology for the error.
Spagnoli took responsibility for the lapse. She said police received an erroneous tip that the family's 24-year-old son, Joshua, was an assault suspect they were seeking, which led to a 45-minute detention until police realized their error.
Cortez sat at the same table as City Manager Chris Zapata who recently started work and was attending his first such meeting.
Neighborhood tips -- obviously not infallible -- and technology emerged as two of the department's favorite crime-fighting tactics.
Crime Prevention Officer Tim Degrano said neighbors and residents were instrumental in apprehending suspects.
"It's fantastic to have all those eyes out there to tell us what you saw," he said.
Spagnoli has been big on technology since she took over the department a little over a year ago. She said Tuesday that the city has a network of low resolution traffic cameras that could be used for gathering evidence or leads.
While a formal plan doesn't yet exist, she told Patch that it should be relatively cheap and easy to better integrate those cameras into a database police can access quickly instead of doing what they do now, which is to request traffic camera files from the city's engineering department.
Spagnoli said once the department comes up with a plan she would present it to the city manager for approval.
Police Department spokesman Lt. Jeff Tudor said an "anonymous" text tip line is also in the works but not ready for deployment.
Tudor said the texting option grew out of feedback from high schoolers who had been bullied but were afraid to report incidents either because of potential retaliation or to avoid being labeled snitches.
The idea would be for an individual to text one phone number and for that number to forward the text to police.
But Tudor was not certain whether this would truly be anonymous or whether, with a court order, the department could reach though the intermediary number to locate the original caller.
Residents raised several issues, including the perception that there were more homeless in the city. Spagnoli said San Leandro had a softer heart than adjoining cities which drew the down-and-out from elsewhere to panhandle here.
One attendee asked about being put on hold for more than eight minutes when she felt accosted. A police department dispatcher said there is one person on duty most of the day to handle all calls, emergency and routine, and sometimes less critical calls must wait.

More from NH on noise.........

2012-02-09T00:56:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
N.H. motorcycle noise bill amended after compromise
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120207/NEWS/120209773/-1/NEWSMAP
2/7/2012N.H. motorcycle noise bill amended after compromise -
CONCORD — The motorcycle noise bill submitted by state Rep. Michele Peckham, R-North Hampton, was almost universally panned by riders, organizations that represent them and law enforcement at a hearing Tuesday before the House Transportation Committee.
However, an amended version of House Bill 1442 worked out with the help of committee chairman Rep. Sherm Packard, R-Londonderry, gained near unanimous support from those at the hearing.
“We think this is a good compromise,” said Dave Hickey of Rye and a member of the New Hampshire Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles group (NH-CALM). “It's the standard used in Maine and all the information from that state indicates it has helped.”
Motorcyclists who attended the hearing were equally pleased.
“If we're really trying to solve the problem (of excessive motorcycle noise), we decided we have to look at it holistically,” said Candi Alexander, president of the New Hampshire Motorcyclists' Rights Organization. “This is the best solution that we have.”
Peckham's initial bill attempted to use the EPA's federal standard that requires motorcycles to have exhaust systems that limit noise to 82 decibels. It was the same standard in the ordinance North Hampton voters enacted in 2010 that was subsequently ruled to be unenforceable last year by a Rockingham Superior Court judge.
Law enforcement officials at Tuesday's hearing unanimously opposed Peckham's initial bill as did riders and their organizations.
“I am speaking today on behalf of the (state) Department of Safety, which is opposed to this bill,” said Sgt. Stephen Kace of the State Police. “This bill misses the mark.”
Kace said the EPA standard was aimed solely at manufacturers of motorcycles and parts, was for one year only, did not address modified exhaust systems on out-of-state motorcycles, and involved compliance checks that required a large, highly controlled area and created safety concerns for riders and law enforcement. He added that having an EPA label on an exhaust system “does not guarantee compliance” since the baffling in the muffler could have been removed.
The amended version of the bill sets a 92-decibel limit on a motorcycle while it is idling. Kace and other law enforcement officials testified that, while it is not clear whether this new standard would make compliant motorcycles quieter, it would allow easier identification and enforcement against those that were not compliant.
“The amendment would (make testing) more practical, more efficient, more beneficial to operators and give law enforcement a better opportunity to address problems,” he said.
North Hampton Police Chief Brian Page said determining if a motorcycle met the EPA standard would be virtually impossible in a roadside setting. “The EPA standard involves a moving test,” he testified. “Roadside, it is absolutely impossible to enforce. I'm a firm believer that if you lose the ability to do roadside testing, the problem (of excessive motorcycle noise) would only get worse.”
Motorcyclists in attendance also voiced support for the bill's amended version. Imre Szauter, governmental affairs manager for the American Motorcycle Association urged the Transportation Committee to adopt the Society of Automotive Engineers' standard of 92 decibels while idling.
Another amendment to Peckham's bill raised concerns. The amendment would allow police in communities that can't afford equipment to test motorcycle noise, but suspect a motorcycle exceeds the 92-decibel standard, to issue a notice of violation that would require the operator to have the motorcycle tested at a state inspection facility within five days in order to avoid a fine.
Motorcyclists, inspection station and dealership owners, and law enforcement all had problems with the provision. Kace said the state Department of Safety was opposed, adding it was not necessary.
“Sound level equipment is already out in the field,” he told committee members.
Kace put the cost of all the equipment needed to do motorcycle noise testing using the 92-decibel standard at “less than $700.” The House committee has until Feb. 23 to make a recommendation to the full House on the original bill or amended versions. Packard said more work is necessary before a recommendation could be made.

2012-02-09T00:54:00.000-08:00

SFV Annual Car & Bike Show, Swap Meet

2012-02-09T00:53:00.000-08:00

SFV Annual Car & Bike Show, Swap Meet
at the DAV, 6543 Corbin Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Sunday June 10th, 2012
10am-3pm
$20.00/person

Peckham's motorcycle noise bill gains support after amendment..

2012-02-08T19:41:00.001-08:00

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120208-NEWS-202080368 Peckham's motorcycle noise bill gains support after amendment

CONCORD — The motorcycle noise bill submitted by State Rep. Michele Peckham, R-North Hampton, was almost universally panned by riders, organizations that represent them and law enforcement at a hearing Tuesday before the House Transportation Committee.
However, an amended version of House Bill 1442 worked out with the help of committee Chairman State Rep. Sherm Packard, R-Londonderry, gained near-unanimous support from those at the hearing.
"We think this is a good compromise," said Dave Hickey of Rye and a member of the New Hampshire Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles group. "It's the standard used in Maine, and all the information from that state indicates it has helped."
Motorcyclists who attended the hearing were equally pleased.
"If we're really trying to solve the problem (of excessive motorcycle noise), we decided we have to look at it holistically," said Candi Alexander, president of the New Hampshire Motorcyclists' Rights Organization. "This is the best solution that we have."
Peckham's initial bill attempted to use the EPA's federal standard that requires motorcycles to have exhaust systems that limit noise to 82 decibels. It was the same standard in the ordinance North Hampton voters enacted in 2010 that was subsequently ruled to be unenforceable last year by a Rockingham Superior Court judge.
Law enforcement officials at Tuesday's hearing unanimously opposed Peckham's initial bill, as did riders and their organizations.
"I am speaking today on behalf of the (state) Department of Safety, which is opposed to this bill," said Sgt. Stephen Kace of the State Police. "This bill misses the mark."
Kace said the EPA standard was aimed solely at manufacturers of motorcycles and parts, was for one year only, did not address modified exhaust systems on out-of-state motorcycles, and involved compliance checks that required a large, highly controlled area and created safety concerns for riders and law enforcement. He added that having an EPA label on an exhaust system "does not guarantee compliance," since the baffling in the muffler could have been removed.
The amended version of the bill sets a 92-decibel limit on a motorcycle while it is idling. Kace and other law enforcement officials testified that, while it is not clear whether this new standard would make compliant motorcycles quieter, it would allow easier identification and enforcement against those that were not compliant.
"The amendment would (make testing) more practical, more efficient, more beneficial to operators and give law enforcement a better opportunity to address problems," he said.
North Hampton Police Chief Brian Page said determining if a motorcycle meets the EPA standard would be virtually impossible in a roadside setting. "The EPA standard involves a moving test," he testified. "Roadside, it is absolutely impossible to enforce. I'm a firm believer that if you lose the ability to do roadside testing, the problem (of excessive motorcycle noise) would only get worse."
Motorcyclists in attendance also voiced support for the bill's amended version. Imre Szauter, governmental affairs manager for the American Motorcycle Association, urged the Transportation Committee to adopt the Society of Automotive Engineers' standard of 92 decibels while idling.
Another amendment to Peckham's bill raised concerns. The amendment would allow police in communities that can't afford test equipment, but suspect a motorcycle exceeds the 92-decibel standard, to issue a notice of violation that would require the operator to have the motorcycle tested at a state inspection facility within five days in order to avoid a fine.
Motorcyclists, inspection station and dealership owners, and law enforcement all had problems with the provision. Kace said the state Department of Safety was opposed, adding it was not necessary.
"Sound level equipment is already out in the field," he told committee members.
Kace put the cost of all the equipment needed to do motorcycle noise testing using the 92-decibel standard at "less than $700." The House committee has until Thursday, Feb. 23 to make a recommendation to the full House on the original bill or amended versions. Packard said more work is necessary before a recommendation could be made.

12NR02 - MRF News Release - US House Committee Passes HR 3199

2012-02-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

WISCONSIN - Urgent: Senate Transportation and Elections Committee to vote on AB55 Thursday, Feb 9 2012

2012-02-08T17:11:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

If you have Senator on this list, PLEASE contact them as a member of the Senate Transportation and Elections Committee tomorrow and urge them to pass AB55 out of committee and onto the Senate Floor for a vote.

Urgent: Senate Transportation and Elections Committee to vote on AB55 Thursday, Feb 9!

archive.constantcontact.com

A public hearing has already been held in the Wisconsin Senate Transportation and Elections committee regarding AB55. There will be a vote by the committee in executive session on Thursday, February 9, 2012. We need this bill to pass out of committee with no amendments. If your Senator is on that co...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Urgent Alert: Senate Transportation and Elections Committee to vote on AB55 Thursday February 9
Your phone calls are needed now.

From Dave "Chubby" Charlebois, ABATE of Wisconsin Public Relations Director

AB 55 technical correction for 2006 Act 466 - The Assembly has passed this bill and now it is in the Senate. Please ask your Senator to support AB55. This bill will ensure that enhancement of the rules concerning right of way violations defined in Wisconsin Act 466 will be enforced

Members of the Senate Transportation and Elections Committee

Senator Lazich R 28st (chair) 608.266.5400
Senator Leibham R 9th (Vice Chair) 608.266.2056
Senator Lasee R 1st 608.266.3512
Senator Erpenbach D 27th 608.266.6670
Senator Coggs D 6th 608.266.2500

###

FBI Announces that Americans Are Now a Threat to America..

2012-02-08T00:59:00.001-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

By Dave Nalle - February 7, 2012 at 2:07 AM
Filed under Civil Liberties , Crime

Following the pattern of other provocative statements about potential domestic terrorist threats from the Obama Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a statement exposing the threat of “hundreds of thousands” of “sovereign citizens” who can turn violent “at the drop of a hat” during encounters with the police.
Citing three specific cases in three years and a trend of an increase in arrests of believers in individual sovereignty from 10 to 18 cases per year, mostly for non-violent crimes, the FBI declared law enforcement to be “inundated” with threats.
This may be the most exaggerated and offensive example of specious fearmongering to come out of an administration which has been promoting irrational fear of generally harmless groups of citizens for three years. The FBI is taking aim at a huge body of citizens who are increasingly angry about government abuse of power and irresponsibility and attempting to turn them into a movement of dangerous potential terrorists.
These dangerous “extremists” hold such horrific views as “outrage at tax collection,” defying environmental regulations and believing that “the United States went bankrupt by going off the gold standard.” The FBI is identifying them as “sovereign citizens” and is defining them as a members of a movement, though they provide no evidence of organized or coordinated activity beyond just being angry with the government, a characteristic shared by about half the nation’s population.
I would say that the concerns over this threat were excessive, but that’s giving the FBI too much credit. Ridiculous is a more appropriate description. Statistically a three year increase from 10 to 18 cases of mostly non violent crimes associated with anti-government activists isn’t a crimewave. It’s not even large enough to qualify as a validly quantifiable trend. Given the hundreds of thousands of crimes committed yearly it’s far below the margin of error for crime statistics.
The FBI claims that they are “being inundated right now with requests for training from state and local law enforcement on sovereign-related matters.” This supposed demand for a response to a nonexistent threat probably would not be there at all had the FBI not been promoting the idea that average citizens are potential domestic terrorists for years. The FBI is creating bogeymen to justify their own actions and to distract from the government’s increasingly callous disregard for the rights of citizens.
The kinds of concerns which the FBI is using to identify these potentially dangerous citizens are not the hallmarks of dangerous extremism. They are mostly reasonable concerns over the current state of our government held by tens of millions of fairly ordinary citizens who have legitimate reasons to be dissatisfied with government. They are also the same kinds of extreme views which were held by our founding fathers. They are targeting Americans for the crime of being American and for holding to values of independence and self-reliance on which our nation was built.
The one genuine, unifying characteristic of all of these “extremists” is that they are not happy with a government which is spending beyond its means, taxing beyond our ability to pay and which encroaches more and more on our constitutionally guaranteed rights every day. In their statement the FBI is not actually identifying a real threat to public safety or to citizens, they are putting us on notice that public expression of justifiable anger at the government can get you labelled a dangerous criminal or even a terrorist.
This is a tactic intended purely and simply to intimidate and silence the public. They are sending the message that protest is a crime and speaking out against government will not be tolerated. The implications of this statement from the FBI are particularly ominous in the wake of efforts in the National Defense Appropriation Act, the PATRIOT Act and the pending Enemy Expatriation Act to empower the government to take away the most fundamental rights of citizens. As they did under Hoover, the FBI is categorizing people and making lists and if you don’t watch your step they’ll put you in a database and take away your rights.
The goal may be to intimidate critics of government, but they are also showing us why we so desperately need to take our government back before these threats of abuse of power turn into full-fledged tyranny.

NEW ZEALAND - Police keeping a close eye on gxxgs in Paihia

2012-02-08T00:59:00.000-08:00

OFF THE WIRE
Police in Paihia have spoken to gxxg members passing through the town, to remind them of the rules surrounding the Waitangi Day celebrations in the Far North.
Police established a brief loose cordon around the Caltex service station in Paihia when about 20 members of the Tribesman gxxg stopped in the town at about noon.
Detective Inspector Geoff Scott said police spoke to members of the gxxg to lay out the rules for those going to the celebrations at Te Tii Marae.
No gxxg patches are permitted at the Marae, and all visitors are expected to behave cordially.
Mr Scott said the gxxg members he spoke to were happy to comply with the rules.
Members of the Rebel motorcycle gxxg are also in the area, but police said there had been no reports of any trouble.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10783725

NEW ZEALAND - Kim Dotcom complains about women inmates' letters

2012-02-08T00:58:00.002-08:00

OFF THE WIRE

Greg Bowker

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2012 file photo, founder of Megaupload.com Kim Dotcom appears in North Shore District Court in Auckland, New Zealand. The jailed founder of the file-sharing website Megaupload is complaining that women inmates are giving him unwanted attention. (AP Photo/Greg Bowker, New Zealand Herald, File) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT

The jailed founder of the file-sharing website Megaupload is complaining that women inmates are giving him unwanted attention.
In a New Zealand courtroom to appeal a decision denying him bail, Kim Dotcom said he's gotten unwanted letters from female prisoners and a phone call from a man posing as a prosecutor, according to reports by media outlets.
A government lawyer said during the hearing that a known forger tried to visit Dotcom.
Dotcom told the Auckland court he would not flee New Zealand and wants to fight to get back his money, some of which authorities seized last month.
U.S. authorities claim Megaupload facilitated millions of illegal downloads. They are trying to extradite Dotcom and three colleagues on racketeering charges.