TEMECULA, CA

Original Message) Sent: 10/30/2008 10:20 AM
TEMECULA ---- Word travels fast, especially on a motorcycle.

Some area business owners are concerned about what Southern California
bikers might be saying about Old Town Temecula after a spike in citations
issued to motorcyclists in the last month.

There is also fear the city's reputation as a destination for two-wheeling
motorists may be damaged, which could in turn damage the Old Town economy.

In September, police officers cracked down on motorcyclists by writing
citations for violations ranging from riders wearing improper helmets to
bikes missing mud flaps. Law enforcement officials say about 52 tickets were
issued in the area ---- 39 to motorcyclists.

Ron Muir, the co-owner of Slap'n Leather Motorcycle Gear, addressed the City
Council this month to tell them the fallout is already being felt by
restaurants and shops. Muir, who with Carl Hoffman has operated the business
for 15 months, said there are 100,000 motorcyclists within riding distance
of Temecula, which has been a destination for their cruises as well as
charitable events.

"The problem is that they don't think they are welcome here anymore," Muir
said. He said that besides receiving citations, riders were verbally
directed by officers to "stay out of Temecula."

As a result, Muir said, many motorcyclists are boycotting Temecula, a
destination they frequented for food, drinks, sightseeing and shopping.

"People come into this town and spend a lot of money, but they are not going
to come in if they have to be looking over their shoulder," Hoffman said in
an interview this week. "This is a destination town where people want to
come and relax."

During the last three weekends of September, police officers were assigned
to focus on Old Town, specifically to cite motorcyclists who were violating
the law, said Temecula police Lt. Jeff Kubel.

"We had some of the business owners voice concerns about motorcycles with
loud pipes disturbing visitors in Old Town and I directed the officers to
pay more attention to the motorcycles," Kubel said last week.

During those three weekends, he said, officers wrote 39 tickets to
motorcyclists.

Seventeen of the citations were issued to riders who were not wearing
approved helmets, 15 were given to motorcyclists who had modified or overly
loud exhaust pipes and two were issued to riders who had no front license
plate. Two cyclists were cited for expired registration on their bikes, two
for driver's license violations and one for a missing mud flap on the back
wheel, Kubel said.

"In hindsight, it would have been better to be more specific, so we didn't
chase people away," the lieutenant said. "I think the intentions should have
been better explained to the officers."

Assistant City Manager Aaron Adams said that since the issues were raised by
Muir at the last council meeting, the city and Temecula Police Chief Jerry
Williams have worked to address the concerns.

"We want folks to know that they are welcome here," Adams said. "From a
consumer and economic standpoint, these people spend money in Temecula and
should not be cut off, and we agree."

Muir agrees with Adams that the chief has been forthright about how the rash
of tickets may have driven motorcyclists away. He said the police chief, a
rider himself, has gone as far as chiming in on biker blogs to reassure
motorcyclists that they can and should return to Temecula.

However, Muir said he thinks there are still forces in the city that want a
continuation of the heavy-handed ticketing of bikers.

"It's political correctness gone stupid," he said.

Rich Quaid, one of four brothers who own Temecula Quaid Harley Davidson,
said the most recent uproar has been a topic among the Harley faithful who
come to his business.

"Our official position is that if these (motorcyclists) are doing something
illegal, then we can't help them," Quaid said. "But while we support
enforcing the law, we don't support that people are being told that they
aren't wanted in Temecula."

Quaid said that he heard reports that about 20 of his customers received
tickets one weekend in September.

"These bikers aren't Mongols," Quaid said, referring to the outlaw biker
gang that recently made headlines when numerous members were arrested.
"These are firefighters, police officers, retired military, doctors and
lawyers who are riding into town."

The blame for the raids has been directed at Old Town merchants who have
complained about the conduct of some motorcyclists.

Doc Laine, owner of Doc's Temecula Traders on Front Street, said he has been
accused of being the reason the city's policy toward motorcyclists shifted
into heavier-handed enforcement.

"I've been saying for years that the police need to watch the 1 percent of
motorcyclists who give the other 99 percent of bikers a bad name." Laine
said Thursday. "If there is a directive given to the police to ticket every
biker in Old Town, well, that ... didn't come from me."

Laine said he supports law-abiding motorcyclists who visit Temecula and
supports the businesses in Old Town who depend on the dollars that ride in
on two wheels. He also empathizes with the anger those business owners felt
after the rash of tickets was issued.

"They have a right, if this was profiling, to scream their heads off," Laine