A funeral procession through central Tauranga on Thursday is costing some Filthy Few motorcycle club members $50 each.
More than 100 motorcyclists led a hearse down Cameron Road at about 1.30pm on Wednesday en route to the Pyes Pa crematorium where club member Louis Ross Gray-Morgan's funeral was being held.
The majority of riders in the Filthy Few funeral procession wore helmets. Those that didn't afterwards were fined.
Many of the riders did so without wearing helmets as a mark of respect for Louis.
The procession was monitored by police, but they did not intervene.
After the funeral, however, police stopped the riders at a roadblock on Koromiko Street.
Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross says the bikes were inspected and all were street legal, but police did issue 40 $50 infringement notices for not wearing a helmet.
There were no arrests. Louis died in a motorcycle crash on State Highway 2 in Te Puna on Thursday, August 4.
19 comments
ha
Posted on 11-08-2011 14:38 | By locolaura
hopes all the haters are happy! rip lou dogg
All that police time....
Posted on 11-08-2011 17:20 | By Tony
To hand out 40 x $50 fines ,Thats only $2000. All those Police , Cars,Trucks etc all for 2 lousy grand collected after a funeral Gezzz they would have probarly got more if they had just passed the hat ... Who are the gangsters here ?
They can't win...
Posted on 11-08-2011 19:42 | By quinn
People bitch when they think the Police are doing nothing (as evidenced by comments in yesterdays story) and they bitch when Police do something cos it's a waste of time v fines.Geez......
Justice
Posted on 11-08-2011 21:35 | By Gary gc
And what's the bet the $50 just gets 'added to the tabs'. When this country gets real and penalises minor infringements properly will we get anywhere. Learn from other countries people before it's too late! Do you think if the riders knew they would lose their beloved bikes would they still ride helmetless?.. Thought not.
Unbelievable
Posted on 12-08-2011 06:58 | By Chris
The cops really stopped a funeral procession to dish out a few no-helmet fines? How pathetic.
Justice?
Posted on 12-08-2011 07:00 | By Chris
Gary gc - explain to me how that is justice? Shouldn't a rider be able to decide for himself whether he wears a helmet? Don't we have civil liberties in this country? What kind of justice would it be taking someone's bike because Nanny State didn't think he was fit to make his own decisions about his own health and safety? You disgust me.
easy rider
Posted on 12-08-2011 07:59 | By earlybird
The law is the law. We don't get to choose when we obey it. The Filthy Few, like all other gangs, think they're a law unto themselves. The guy whose funeral these people are attending has just been killed on a motorbike and these morons decide to ride without helmets - how dumb can you get? Incidentally @Chris, if you read the article again and again, you'll see that the police stopped helmetless riders AFTER the funeral.
So it should be!
Posted on 12-08-2011 09:57 | By skittles
It isn't about revenue. The point is that any other motorcylcist riding on public roads would be issued a ticket - whether they were on their way home from a funeral or not. Just because they are Filthy's - why should it be any different? Good on the Police for doing their job. Just like any other person gets up, goes to work and does their job - so do the Police.
justice?
Posted on 12-08-2011 10:38 | By labjnz
spot on mate that comment on the bikes geting taking off them is pathetic its there life and lets face it if they have a crash they won't turn out great helmet or not
Louie
Posted on 12-08-2011 11:13 | By upandcomingjourno
What did you think of all this carry on? Long time no see & RIP
The Taxman strikes again.
Posted on 12-08-2011 13:14 | By xenocrates
As much I can say "The Law is the Law" You would think the cops would have better things to do with their time then things like that. Also I think that pulling such a move was dangerous, You're looking at pulling over and fining 40 big assed bikers for not wearing a helmets...Right after the funeral of a mate? I think the cops were lucky the bikers were civilised about the whole situation, I think it's obvious the cops took advantage of the situation to get some extra dosh.
Helmets
Posted on 12-08-2011 13:51 | By earlybird
Ok so the comment has been made about voluntary wearing of helmets - personal freedom etc etc. I would agree with that theory if those that make the personal decision to not wear a helmet formally forgo their right to free medical care and ongoing ACC if they suffer head injuries whilst persuing their personal freedom on their bike. Sorry but you cannot have it both ways.
Waste of time!
Posted on 12-08-2011 16:15 | By emmashaec
They couldn't leave them alone for even one day to mourn the loss of a brother! Never ceases to amaze me the utter stupidity of the police in nz. There are people out there getting raped and murdered and our cops wanna sit and watch a funeral, not to pay their respects but to give out helmet fines! RIP Lou, u will be missed so much.
who cares really
Posted on 12-08-2011 19:30 | By nmgray
When you see the respect that this bunch of guys gave our cousin believe me they would not have cared if the fines they received were $1000.i want to thank the filthy few for the best send off my cousin could have ever asked for.RIP lou you will be missed .
Well done Police
Posted on 12-08-2011 20:26 | By triplediamond
About time... these idiots ride around Tga. like gangsters, speed everywhere, no signals, cut people off and the list goes on! They give real motorcyclists a bad name. No helmet - No free medical treatment. Confiscate the bikes too.... maybe a hard line would get the message through.....
What is the fine for...
Posted on 12-08-2011 20:58 | By KiwiSteve
not wearing a seatbelt? I think it is $150. What is going to cause my personal damage in a crash, not wearing a seat-belt in a car, or not wearing a crash helmet on a motorbike? Its a No-Brainer really! - a bit like people who don't wear helmets or seat-belts!
Top two inches
Posted on 12-08-2011 21:45 | By Gary gc
Three letters... ACC. Something we all pay for when a helmetless one has an accident, quite ironic yet sad given the reason they were in convoy in the first place. Imagine the world without any rules. These are grown ups. Interesting how some think police wasting time doing this when serious crimes outstanding it when its the helmetless ones occupying that time.
WOF
Posted on 12-08-2011 22:32 | By Gary gc
Chris I struggle to reason with you sorry. reason why we have rules is for our own safety and for those that can't make logical decisions themselves. Without these what would then happen? We pick up bill for head injuries and bikes not WOF'd putting others at risk also...
option
Posted on 13-08-2011 07:46 | By west
should be up to the rider. Ive been living in the states for a few years and in some states it isn't compulsory. The riders responsibility, its there life.
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