OK, This sort of thing really grates my nerves:

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_SHUTDOWN.html

I'm sure by now many of you have at the very least heard something about this. If not, let me sum it up for you. Apparently there are no murders, rapes, roberies, thefts, or any other crime in the area of the dragon, because on Aug 3rd and 4th there were about 14 TN highway patrol and 2 Blount County sheriffs cars harrassing motorists, particularly bikers, but some cars too.

I'll let you read the above link for all of the details (WARNING: Your blood WILL boil when you read this.)

SOOOOOOOOOO - I am proposing that for 2008 (and maybe beyond) that MOTD be rerouted to NOT include any part of TN - there are still plenty of great drving roads right there in the same area. I know that a lot of people have already made reservations and plans for this year.

I'm going to leave it at that - I've put out the proposal. I'll leave it up to all of the rest of you now. If you think it is a great idea or you think it would be better of to just leave things as they are. I'll just say that someone needs to send them a message.

 

Why am I not surprised about this?

 

I have no problem with them trying to keep the road safe, but this is nuts

 

I can't say this did not happen, but I mostly am careful about what I read on the internet. I live in Tennessee and visit the dragon a couple of times a year and have never had a problem. I don't think it is because I have local plates.

Please don't blame the citizens or state of Tennessee if it is true. It is more likely some power happy supervisor who is trying to compensate. I know a couple of troopers who would be mad to see this if it is true. Again, not saying it is not but I have see a couple of things on the internet that have been portrayed differently than in real life.

 

I would tend to believe what is posted at the tail of the dragon webite. They have recently & diligently been warning people about the State Troopers being out in force & I believe Troopers being there enmass just started recently.

If MOTD 2008 is rerouted to not include any part of TN that means no driving the tail of the dragon since the whole entire thing is in TN

 

AAA stamps maps where there is aggressive police enforcement. Anyone know if they have for the Dragon?

 

It most certainly is true. A friend of mine saw 18 LEO units on a single pass through the Dragon Saturday. One of many firsthand accounts I have heard.

 

I think all this just started so it's probably too soon & lets hope that it ends long before next May

 

there is no way that they'll continue that level of enforcement every week/weekend throughout the year.

once in a while, though, to keep things under control, I don't have a problem with.

People getting hurt and crashing is what is going to eventually ruin the Dragon for everyone.

 

You might want to ask MINIclo (and others) about that first

You couldn't all it MOTD then could you?

Why does it grate on your nerves. If you read the web pages, the police are stopping people for traffic violations. You have a problem with that?

 

I agree with this.... from time to time they will drag out a peasant and shoot him just to keep the rest in line....

I hope to bring an MC this year

 

the only bad thing is that they seem to be actually harassing people, making up infractions (driving with one hand on wheel, etc) instead of actually policing the place.

that, and the fact that killboy managed to capture a LOT of photos of the officers crossing the double yellow.....

 

Leaving Maryville on US 129 and NOT turning left at that last light out of town and going Dragon Slaying next May is NOT in my gameplan. WHY? Because, 1) taking US 411 thru Maryville, down to Cleveland, TN, and turning left onto US 64/74 east thru western NC is ok, but the whole trip takes ya waaaayyyy out of your way to even get to Hwy 28 and eventually north to Fontana. Besides, US 411 past Maryville is nothing but 40 mph small towns, overly-zealous cops and speedtraps. Of course, 2) one COULD get onto TN 68 at Madisonville, from off US Hwy 411, and head over to Tellico Plains and then take the Cherohala Skyway to Robbinsville and on in, but it is still a long drive.

 

Did you actually read the article before you asked me that?

It's one thing to enforce the law. It's quite another to harrass peeple. When I read about them pulling people over for no reason that is an issue to me. When a cop asks a guy to proove that his glasses are shatterproof, that is an issue to me.

And bamatt - Unless someone sets a fire under their rear about this it's not going to stop. MOTD is now the biggest event on the Dragon for the year. Why would they pass that up?

 

It might be the biggest event for MINIs, at least on the East coast, but lotsa other groups go there throughout the year, too...Harleys, Bimmers...you name it...there's a huge Miata group that goes, too.

 

Of course I read it. So they are enforcing to "rule". So what? So they gave a ticket to somebody touching the yellow line. Woe is me. The police are picking on us

Its their state, their laws, they run it. If you don't like it, don't go there but complaining about the police enforcing to the exact laws, is most likely to get nowhere. The law is the law. They can't keep it up forever. Give it time and it will move on. I doubt this is the first time they have done that. They are making a point. Good for them. It will pass, you know that (I guess you know that).

 

But how is it enforcing the law to pull someone over when they have not done anything in the first place?

I have no problem with them enforcing the law. But what about after they have people pulled over and they start pulling BS? It's one thing to enforce the law. It's quite another to bully people. So it's OK for them to bully people because it will surely pass, and after-all it's their state?

If someone is crossing the solid yellow, then by all means snag them. They are a potential danger. But don't just go " Oh - theres a motorcycle (or whatever it is) - we have to pull them over."