Legal Guide to Sturgis

I was reading the insert in American Bagger and came across an article written by Tobin Karn who is a lawyer and biker, outlining some of the reasons bikers get pulled over and cited in Sturgis.

Lack of proper eye protection – while you don’t have to wear a helmet, eye protection is still required.  Don’t forget to take those sunglasses off the top of your head when getting on your bike.

Ape Hangers – In South Dakota your handgrips can not be at shoulder level or above.

Dragging your feet up to a stop or post stop – Somehow law enforcement has been able to constitute this as careless riding or an indication of alcohol consumption.

Burn outs – Don’t do them.

Drunk hooker on the back of the bike – will get you pulled over.

Revving your enging to show off your pipes – Yea, yea we all got them and you are impressing nobody especially the cops who will cite you for disturbing the peace.  (Plus you just look like an idiot anyways)

Speeding – Speaks for itself.

Swerving within your own lane – You can get off this one in court but it will cost you time and money.  Play it safe and don’t do it.

Riding beside another bike or passing a bike within your own lane – Not a good idea, its illegal.

Wrecking – Be cool there are an average of 250,000 riders present in a town the size of Mayberry on any given day of the rally.  Most of them can’t ride, so watch out.

Riding Naked – While expected in the campgrounds, it is illegal anywhere else.

Riding Drunk – Speaks for itself.

Stopping because your buddy or lead bike got pulled over – Keep going, we all have cell phones.   If you pull over, you will be the next person talking to the cops.  They have a term for someone who does this, “its a gift”.

Wearing a Buffalo head with horns for a helmet – This alone is probable cause, save the crap for the campgrounds.  BTW: Its not cool there either.

Not riding a Harley – Even cops have morals.

This is not exactly what the article said, but close.