LAS VEGAS - Attorney Stephen Stubbs is not your stereotypical biker. He wears a bow tie, not a leather vest, and he rides a constitution-covered motorcycle.
Stubbs is joining "Chytown" from the Lokos, "Blanco" from the Mongols, and "Bandido Guido" from the Bandidos motorcycle clubs in alleging the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has violated their constitutional rights.
"They'll pull us over all the time, profile us, and it's just because we're part of a motorcycle club," "Bandido Guido" said.
"The history is there with the clubs. Unfortunate things have happened in the past, and they can't let that go," added "Blanco". "They're just going to go ahead and keep holding us now to everything that happened in the past."
Stubbs is the attorney for the Confederation of Clubs, which represents 37 motorcycle clubs in southern Nevada. He says he may sue Metro.
"Specifically, last June and as recently as this week, they contacted local bars and threatened them with a pulling of their liquor licenses if they allow certain motorcycle clubs to go into their bar," Stubbs said.
Scoundrels Pub on Decatur Boulevard near Harmon Avenue has been visited by Metro Police, who are concerned about the clientele there.
"Three different times for three different individual biker clubs," said "Chytown", who is the bar manager at Scoundrels. "We appreciate Metro. We know they have a job to do. I understand that, but you need to stop taking it too far."
In June, Metro sent Scoundrels a letter saying an event sponsored by the Vagos motorcycle club is in violation of Clark County code, and could put the bar's liquor license at risk.
The letter says Metro considers the Vagos a criminal gxxg. Stubbs says police are overstepping their bounds.
"The Nevada Supreme Court has said specifically it is a First Amendment violation to try to pull somebody's license because of their association with someone else," he said, "It's no different than me and my brother, my brother does something wrong, and you come and punish me for it.'"
Stubbs says he'll continue to roar for First Amendment rights. He says another bar that doesn't want to be identified was forced to cancel an event Saturday after being contacted by police.
Stubbs may file a lawsuit in the coming weeks, but the bikers insist they will not sue for money.
Metro was unable to give 8 News NOW an interview Friday evening.
Metro, meanwhile, is working hard this weekend to keep the annual motorcycle event Las Vegas BikeFest safe. That event has not had an incident in ten years.
Video:
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/15592480/motorcycle-clubs-accuse-police-of-unfair-treatment
"Three different times for three different individual biker clubs," said "Chytown", who is the bar manager at Scoundrels. "We appreciate Metro. We know they have a job to do. I understand that, but you need to stop taking it too far."
In June, Metro sent Scoundrels a letter saying an event sponsored by the Vagos motorcycle club is in violation of Clark County code, and could put the bar's liquor license at risk.
The letter says Metro considers the Vagos a criminal gxxg. Stubbs says police are overstepping their bounds.
"The Nevada Supreme Court has said specifically it is a First Amendment violation to try to pull somebody's license because of their association with someone else," he said, "It's no different than me and my brother, my brother does something wrong, and you come and punish me for it.'"
Stubbs says he'll continue to roar for First Amendment rights. He says another bar that doesn't want to be identified was forced to cancel an event Saturday after being contacted by police.
Stubbs may file a lawsuit in the coming weeks, but the bikers insist they will not sue for money.
Metro was unable to give 8 News NOW an interview Friday evening.
Metro, meanwhile, is working hard this weekend to keep the annual motorcycle event Las Vegas BikeFest safe. That event has not had an incident in ten years.
Video:
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/15592480/motorcycle-clubs-accuse-police-of-unfair-treatment
