We were heading west on Rte. 62 at Rte. 140 in Sterling this afternoon (Wednesday) around 5:00PM and there was a random safety checkpoint for bikes. They pulled all bikes over going by, including us.

This is the first one I've seen in MA.


The guys doing the inspections are from the RMV. They were checking stickers, tires, etc. We passed muster.

They were set up right down the street from the Rendezvous 140 Pub, a cool dive/biker bar.

Just fair warning to everyone..................

 

Interesting .....
We went thu that same exact intersection at 2pm but no one there !
Heading West also. We went as far as Rt.68 then headed North through
Gardner to Winchinton then up Rt.12 North to Keene.
Came back East on Rt.101 and then down Rt.202 to Kimball's.
Did they mention WHAT they were looking for ?
You running STOCK pipes ?
Because of Pub 140 and the other burger joint up the
road abit that road gets ALOT of motorcycle traffic.
Rob ......

 

Just asked the Wife (Lynn) and she said tonight (Wednesday) is Bike Burger Night
at the Burger joint up at the corner past Pub 140 heading towards Wachusett.
Rob .....

 

That would be cuckoo bird Capt Bob's.

 

Rob,

They didn't say what they were looking for. We have Rush pipes but they're not that loud. They must have setup shop there to catch the "after work crowd" (us) going for a spin. We heded north on 140 after that and there were plenty of bikers heading south which I'm sure got stopped, too.

I didn't ask many questions;I was a little miffed, though about having our rides interrupted so I kept my big mouth shut. Everytime I open my battleship mouth, it gets my rowboat *** in trouble!

 

Yes and he is such a BIG A-HOLE to boot !
Came through there one cold fall day and he had ONE customer at the window.
So we were just passing by and wanted somewhere SAFE to stop so Lynn could
hook up her heated gear. Ya ... I know he has like a BIZZILLION signs saying
"No Stopping" unless you are buying something. But the friggin lot was EMPTY
and we parked at the farthest point on his lot and next to the road.
We weren't there 5 min and the A-HOLE comes over SCREAMMING 'No Stopping,
can't you read the signs". So I then walk over to the service window and yell
in at the ******** that how the hell did he know we just didn't park there and
I was going to come over ? Because there was alot of times we would stop
and go to his motorcycle burger nights. We stopped going to those when the
A-hole gave us greef about Lynn bringing her own soda (which she ALWAYS
carries). The next few times we rode by and if I saw him outside I would
always wave at him showing him he was #1 in my book (If you know what
I mean .... LOL ...). Now I don't even bother looking in when we ride past.
Rob .....

 

BTW .... Point Man ....
I send a LINK to this post to the MMA just so they are aware !
Rob

 

Rob,

That intersection is in Sterling, according to Princeton PD. I am editing my original post. I called Sterling PD to ask some questions regarding the "safety checkpoint" but got transferred to an extension with no name and it says leave a message. I didn't. WIll call again to get some answers.

 

Yes, I figured that because we come through Sterling center to get there.
Rt.140 does go back and forth between the same towns in a few places
along the way up to Club 140 & Capt'n Bob's.
Rob .....

 

Here's the latest info on the Sterling Police/RMV "Safety Checkpoint":

I contacted the RMV and spoke to two supervisors; one of which was there at the Sterling checkpoint on Wednesday. I asked him who instituted this checkpoint and he informed me that the chief of police of Sterling, MA requested the RMV's assistance in the checkpoint for motorcycles only because of speeding and other bike violations.

I then asked him if those RMV employees had police powers ( I knew they didn't) and could stop any motor vehicle operator and he stated, "of course not, we're civilians."

I was then informed that the Sterling Police (with the assistance of Princeton police) were stopping "RANDOM" motorcycles to THEN check for safety violations. The officers would stop the bikers (as in my case) and then the RMV guys would approach you, request your license and registration and start checking your bike.

The supervisor told me that if they found a safety violation, they'd inform the officers and it would be up to the officers whether or not to cite the biker.

I then informed the RMV official that to stop a motorcycle for no reason other than to "CHECK" for a violation (after the fact), is ILLEGAL and a violation of the 4th Ammendment and his answer to me was, "Well, we've been doing it for years." (I guess that makes it OK?)
Bottom line is this: If you or someone you know was stopped on Wednesday7/15/09 at this intersection by the Sterling police and not immediately told that you were being stopped for a violation under the CMR's or MA General Laws under Chapter 90, then you were illegally stopped. If you were given a citiation for any alleged violation AFTER THE FACT, I would appeal the citation the grounds that you were illegally stopped under the 4th Ammendment.

According to the RMV, this checkpoint that was setup on Wednesday was the only one requested by the chief of Sterling Police.

Here's the chief's email address in case you want to contact him and request his interpretation of the 4th Ammendment Right to Search and Seizure:

chief@sterlingpd.com

The department phone number is 978-422-7331

Since Princeton police were assisting Sterling police in this checkpoint, they are responsible as Sterling. Here's the email for the Princeton police chief Charles Schmohl:

chief@princetonpolice.org

Princeton PD's phone number is: 978-464-2928


I urge everyone that was illegally stopped that day at this "checkpoint" to respectfully contact the Sterling Police for an explanation.

This was obvious select targeting of motorcyclist by Chief Gary Chamberland done in a manner violating our civil rights.

MY civil rights were violated that day and I would guess many others were, too. I base my legal arguments on my extensive knowledge of MA General Laws. Enough said...