After a nice long break it appears things are getting interesting again in SC. Keep in mind the shit has not hit the fan yet. State Representative Tracy R. Edge has vowed to introduce a statewide all rider helmet law in SC. Those of us in the know are aware his only desire is to reduce attendance in Myrtle Beach. However Mr Edge is likely to behave like a politician and lie about his motivation. If you are a South Carolina and have not yet registered to vote please do so today at http://www.state.sc.us/scsec/vr.html
I've been talking to friends in Myrtle Beach watching the drama unfold in person. The Sun News has been doing a piss poor job of truthfully reporting these ordinances for the most part. However I am including Sun's latest article for what it is worth. Read the ordinances following the article I located on Myrtle Beach's Official Website; I expect you'll understand the title of this email if you read carefully. Those of you new to the biker world may even be shocked by the third class citizen treatment aimed at you and yours.
The one sunny spot in this cloudy forecast is business owners finally getting off the pot and hiring lawyers to address these injustices. The NAACP has also invited bikers to attend their Thursday evening meeting to discuss how to deal with the discriminatory ordinances.
If you have more personal knowledge on these issues please contact me via http://www.fastfreds.com/contact.htm or reply to this message.
FastFred
PS - I have plenty of recent photos and videos to share once I find the time to post them. In the meantime if you'd like to know how we got to this point please read my thought provoking article written February 15, 2006 located at:
http://www.fastfreds.com/articles/naacpmyrtlebeachdiscriminate.htm
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ~Martin Luther King Jr
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/breaking_news/story/605611.html
MB passes rally ordinances
Lorena Anderson
All 15 of Myrtle Beach's proposed bike rally options have become law, though with some modifications.
At this morning's city council workshop, rally proponents raised objections to some details and some entire proposals, like the one that requires riders to wear helmets and protective eyewear within city limits.
Of all the proposals designed to curtail the May motorcycle rallies that draw more than 300,000 to the Grand Strand each year, the helmet law is the least popular among rally supporters.
They say wearing a helmet is actually unsafe and that the city's rule making noncompliance an infraction instead of a crime still supersedes state law.
That ordinance didn't face any changes before it passed 5-1, with Councilman Randal Wallace dissenting. He has never agreed with the helmet law.
The other ordinances passed 6-0, with Chuck Martino absent.
The city planned on limiting parking to one motorcycle per space, but after bikers made the case for multiple bikes in one spot to save parking spaces for other users, the council at this afternoon's meeting voted to allow no more than two bikes per public space.
Councilmembers also passed the 2 a.m. bar-closing law, which says any bar that wants to remain open after 2 a.m. must apply for an exemption and make its security, underage drinking and overpouring policies and procedures clear to the city.
But until this afternoon, the council had been planning to require all official security personnel to be licensed and bonded. Councilmembers removed the bonding requirement before passing the second and final draft of the ordinance.
The juvenile curfew will go into effect in 90 days, as will anti-loitering and public drinking rules and more. Other rules take effect immediately, like stricter noise standards and adding rallies and other unpermitted, unmanaged events to the city's list of nuisances.
Lawyers representing some of the businesses that object to the ordinances attended both the workshop and meeting. Suzanne Coe of Greenville, an attorney for The Dog House and The Masters' Club, spoke up several times during both gatherings to warn the city about legal challenges she sees coming.
In the end, though, the city council said it would face whatever legal challenges come up.
Speakers accused the council of discriminating against bikers, attorney Beth Marlow of Charleston, representing Harley-Davidson of Myrtle Beach and Festival Promotions, registered her objections to a variety of ordinances, including the one that allows the city to hold promoters of events that spill over into the city liable for the city's expenses.
But she said after the meeting that she doesn't anticipate filing any motions to try and stop the city from enforcing the new laws -- yet.
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FF Note: Direct from the source... visit the URL below for more detail:
http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/newordinances.html
New Ordinances
Posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Myrtle Beach City Council approved the following ordinances at its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Some amend existing ordinances, while others are entirely new. Three are effective immediately, including the Noise Ordinance amendment, 2008-68. The remaining 12 ordinances take effect Sunday, December 21, 2008, which is 90 days from adoption. Use the links below to view individual ordinances as PDF documents.
Ordinances 2008-57, 2008-58, 2008-59, 2008-60, 2008-68, 2008-69 and 2008-70 are laws of general application and should be read in context of the Chapter, Article and Division that they amend or supplement. The City Code is available for comparison, but note that the new ordinances have not yet been incorporated into the existing on-line code. Ordinance 2008-71 establishes an administrative process to handle infractions, as specified in Ordinances 2008-61, 2008-62, 2008-63, 2008-64, 2008-65, 2008-66 and 2008-67.
2008-57 Amend existing Nuisance law found in Chapter 10, Article II, Nuisances of the Code. The effects of an unpermitted special event, or rally are a public nuisance against public health, public decency, peace and order, public welfare and safety and the public economy and responsible parties to be held financially responsible for public cost that result from their promotion.
2008-58 Amend existing Special Event law in Sections 19-127, 19-128 and 19-156 of Chapter 19, Article VI, Special Events of the Code. Those events in or adjacent to City limits, permitted or unpermitted, that impose an excessive public resource deployment are unlawful, and responsible parties are to be held financially responsible for public cost that result.
2008-59 New law amending Chapter 14, Article 1, Section 14-1. No alcohol served between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Business can exempt from 2:00 a. m. to 6:00 a. m. sale prohibition upon showing of policy or practice that addresses among other things underage drinking, over-serving, internal and premises security.
2008-60 New Law. Chapter 14, Article 1, Section 14-7. Defrauding a restaurant is a misdemeanor.
2008-61 New law. Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-220. Infraction. Administrative process. Short term rental, payers of accommodation tax, innkeeper or hotel check-in procedures; photo id for check-in; identification of all guests per room, identification of all vehicles; issue parking card.
2008-62 New law. Infraction. Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-221. Administrative process. No alcohol consumption or open possession in parking areas, lots and garages. Business shall not permit.
2008-63 New law. Infraction. Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-222. Administrative process. Use of parking lot for non-parking activities a nuisance. No destruction of landscaped areas by chairs, etc. Businesses shall not permit.
2008-64 New law. Infraction. Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-223 through 14-227. Administrative process. Helmet and protective eyewear required for cycles and mopeds.
2008-65 New law. Infraction. Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-228 through 14-231. Administrative process. No trailers parked on public streets, or unlicensed private lots.
2008-66 New law. Infraction. Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-232 through 14-235. Administrative infraction. Convenience store and premises security.
2008-67 New law. Infraction. Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-236 through 14-239. Administrative process. Minor or Juvenile Curfew: 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
2008-68 Amend existing Noise law found in Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-240. No loud mufflers; EPA labeling required, or maximum 87 decibels allowed at idle measurement.
2008-69 Amend existing law in Chapter 14, Article V, Section 14-85, adding section (b) (10). No loitering on commercial lots after hours, or when posted.
2008-70 Amend existing law in Chapter 12, Article III, Division 1, by adding Section 12- 102: only 2 motorcycles per public parking space; Chapter 12, Article III, Division 2, Repeal deactivation of meters for bike parking.
2008-71 New law to enact Chapter 14, Article X, Sections 14-200 through 14-and/or reserve 14-219. Creation of administrative hearing process for disposition of infractions.
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