OFF THE WIRE
The Associated Press
Carolina Beach town officials will consider whether to invite motorcyclists to come visit its hotels and restaurants during Bike Week, scheduled for May in nearby Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The StarNews of Wilmington reported the Town Council will vote Tuesday whether to endorse the invitations.
Restaurant and bar representative Danny Swinson said the invitations would go to motorcycle clubs representing charities or those affiliated with police officers or firefighters.
Swinson said the bikers could mean big business, but some council members worry about the negative image and raucous behavior associated with motorcycle groups.
Mayor Joel Macon recalled a time when bikers did visit Carolina Beach in large numbers.
"The only thing I remember is that we were basically considered a rough beach," the mayor said. "A lot of fights, people being stabbed, just a lot of trouble, a lot of roughnecks."
Macon said the town has worked hard to earn a reputation as a family destination and he doesn't want to jeopardize that.
"There are limitations to having a good time," he said. "We want people who are going to come down here and have fun, go out to eat, go to bars and have a drink and listen to music."
Former New Hanover County sheriff Sid Causey started his career as a Carolina Beach police officer. He said he thinks the beach's former reputation wasn't entirely because of the biker clubs.
And Earl Woodham, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said he doesn't think most motorcycle clubs live up to their rough reputation.
"They go to the same places a family would go to have fun," Woodham said.
In recent years, Myrtle Beach has taken steps to discourage bikers from coming to the area for their annual weeklong rallies. City officials have said there is a major increase in arrests, traffic accidents and other problems associated with the groups that have typically come to South Carolina's main beach city in the spring.
Information from: The StarNews, http://starnewsonline.com/
Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/03/19/2048939/nc-beach-town-officials-consider.html#ixzz1H6BVdo5z
