Georgia State Police Are Now Tax Collectors

This report is from the Georgia Chapter of ABATE:

Subject: PRESS RELEASE FOR,IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION: Motorcycle
Checkpoints to begin in March
As many of you know, the State of Georgia received $70,000.00 from the
NSTB for Motorcycle ONLY Safety Check Points. They will stop all
Motorcycles at these Check Points.
We were informed by unnamed sources that the Check Points would start
in early March to coincide with The Daytona Bike Week Event. Most points
of entry to Florida will be involved.
We are anticipating them to start March 3rd in order to take advantage
of the additional flow of Motorcycle traffic thru our State.
I was told that the officers conducting the safety check points have
been trained in what to check for sobe sure you, you paper work and your
bike are in order.
We understand that this is just a way to increase revenues so do all
you can to avoid adding to the state funds.

There are many who Trailer into Georgia and ride into Florida from here.
You may wish to change your plans and trailer on through to Florida


Dan Forrest,
State Director of A.B.A.T.E. Georgia

In my opinion this is selective enforcement in order to raise funds during bike week in Daytona. It doesn't take long to figure out that most people that ride to bike week from out of Florida will probably go through Georgia. Why not just put up a toll both just for motorcycles? If this was truly about safety, it would be done year round. The reasoning is probably to get the most bang for the buck.

While I laud police for doing real police work, collecting taxes isn't one of them. I think is degrades the job, the reputation of police and their effectiveness. It also turns some people away that don't want the hassle and before all you law and order authoritarian types start shouting "if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about", let me remind you of the principle of being let alone, often promulgated by Justice  Brandeis. If I am not hurting anyone, infringing on someone else's rights, why the bother? That's the problem with preemptive and proactive law enforcement: It presumes guilt. Our system is supposed to presume innocence. There's something really wrong with the minds and mindset that allows abuse of power. I have nothing to hide and I know I will avoid any state that harasses people for their own purposes. It's just wrong.

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