Run for 9-11 interrupted by flurry of traffic citations

By NORM LENHART

BULLHEAD CITY AZ - It began as a run Thursday by a national motorcycle organization to remember the lives lost Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked the U.S. It ended at 4:30 p.m. that same day just south of the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce when a police officer, armed with a military-style rifle, stood in the northbound lanes, directing the bikers to an unused dirt lot where many were issued tickets for running a red light.

"I moved to this area in March from Illinois and I've never, ever seen anything like this," said motorcyclist Tony Slade, who was a participant in the 9-11 remembrance run. "This is ridiculous."

Slade's confusion and opinion was shared by other participants involved in the episode who chose to talk about their experience. Most upsetting to those involved was the perceived overreaction by the Bullhead City Police Department.

"This (event) has been (advertised) on TV and in the newspaper. We had gone to apply for the permit and a police escort and were told they (the police) couldn't give us an escort because Highway 95 is a state route. They said to just keep it legal and everything would be fine," said Fran Burdett, a local resident and representative of ABATE (American Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education), a group that works toward safety, education and awareness of motorcycle issues.

"They knew what we were doing," Burdett said.

Burdett said officer who made the stop said he had turned the emergency lights on (to pull the group over) somewhere near the Terrible Herbst station nearly a mile back from where the group finally parked. However, she also said that other members of the group said they had seen the police car, but the lights hadn't came on until after the Silver Creek intersection.

"I think what bothers me the most about this is that they came out with guns drawn," she said. "you're talking about a group of local people who were out trying to remember this day and what it stood for."

Fellow motorcyclist Ted Martello, also a local resident, agreed.

"I live here, I work here, I play here and this is what my tax dollars get me - a $150 ticket. I think we all need to show up at the next city council meeting," he said.

ABATE coordinator Perry Taylor was among those who saw no lights on the police cruiser until after Silver Creek.

"We didn't see any lights 'til the corner. Then there's a guy standing in the middle of the road with an assault rifle motioning us into the lot to park. There were about 30 cars and trucks with us, including members of the River Cruisers (a local auto club), but none of the vehicles got pulled over or ticketed. Just the motorcycles. The (other) vehicles were let go."

According to representatives of the Bullhead City Police Department, in addition to running multiple red lights, members of the group also blocked traffic in intersections along the route so that the remainder of the riders could pass through the red light.

Police public information officer Carrie Conner said the group blocked traffic at the intersection of Highway 95 and Ramar, and at the intersection of Highway 95 and Plata.

"About 25 bikes were stopped. Not all of them will be getting citations, but some of them will," she said. "Our department and members of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Laughlin substation) were involved in the stop.

Although Conner confirmed that the group had tried to obtain permits for the run, her take on the result was different than that given by ABATE's Burdett.

"Someone tried to get a permit, but were told they couldn't get one," she said.

Conner also said that the group was not a part of a gang.

Bullhead City police Lt. Steve Smith said an officer reported observing the motorcycles obstructing traffic.

Smith said aside from their original failure to yield, the group gave no indication of noncompliance.

Regarding the police brandishing weapons, Smith said, "You never know who it is you're facing. It is better to err on the side of caution."

Bikers were ticketed for Arizona Revised Statute 28-645, failure to stop at a red light.

*Reprinted from the 9-11-03 Mohave Daily News online archives. Article written by NORM LENHART.

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