Thursday, December 10, 2015

Mongols MC Held at Gunpoint For Simple Traffic Stop

OFF THE WIRE
Mongols MC Profiling Stop Idaho 2011 AR-15s used in Traffic Stop
The epidemic of motorcycle profiling in Idaho is not a brand new phenomenon. Recent accounts from Pocatello to Nampa are only the newest examples. There has been a long history of motorcycle clubs being selectively targeted for abusive military-style search and seizures for no reason other than membership in a motorcycle club. The following incident involving the Mongols MC demonstrates the blatantly abusive and discriminatory mindset of many in law enforcement regarding motorcycle clubs. It is essential that the irrefutable pattern of evidence be presented to legislators urging adoption of a law addressing the epidemic of motorcycle profiling in the state.

The Mongols MC Pack Was Pulled Over Merely For Riding in Idaho


Mongols_MC_Profiling_stop_idaho_2011_2The Motorcycle Profiling Project received the following account from a member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club relating to an egregious incident of profiling that occurred in 2011. A swarm of FBI and other law enforcement agents descended upon a pack of 20+ motorcycles and conducted a 2 hour felony stop at the point of an AR-15.  The entire group was treated as if they were violent criminals with absolutely no just cause. Many were placed in handcuffs and every individual was searched without consent. Blatantly unconstitutional.

What reason was given for the stop?  Officers said the pack was stopped because they had never seen Mongols MC in Idaho before. That is not probable cause or reasonable suspicion of criminal or violent behavior.  Although a speeding pretext was ultimately used to justify the stop, the highly discriminatory and military-style operation was clearly not motivated by traffic enforcement. And even if it were, 2 hours is far beyond the reasonable duration required for reasonableness under the 4th Amendment.
Mongols MC Profiling Stop Bikers Sitting the Road
Mongols MC Profiling Stop Idaho 2011 Letter from Mongol

2 Hours on the Side of the Road, At the End of Assault Rifles…for Wearing a Patch


Mongols MC Profiling Stop in Idaho 2011, Biker being Searched

There should be grave concerns about traffic stops conducted with AR-15’s. Motorcycle clubs, including the Mongols MC, are 1st Amendment protected associations.


There is “no evidence that by merely wearing [motorcycle club] “colors,” an individual is “involved in or associated with the alleged violent or criminal activity of other [motorcycle club] members. It is a fundamental principle that the government may not impose restrictions on an individual “merely because an individual belong[s] to a group, some members of which committed acts of violence.” In fact, the Supreme Court has long “disapproved governmental action . . . denying rights and privileges solely because of a citizens association with an unpopular organization.” Healy v. James, 408 U.S. 169, 185-86 (1972) (See Coles v. Carlini, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Civil No. 10-6132, Opinion, 9/30/2015, p.28)

As the documented cases and history of motorcycle profiling continues to proliferate the time for legislative relief becomes more urgent. The pattern of profiling is undeniable. Motorcycle clubs are 1st Amendment protected associations and membership in a motorcycle club should not mean being subjected to unconstitutional law enforcement tactics. From a public policy perspective such gross mismanagement of public resources cannot be tolerated. The solution is simple and achievable. A law addressing the issue of motorcycle profiling is an empirically proven policy that reduces incidents of abuse at virtually no cost. The time to act is now.


About the Author

David
is the Spokesperson for the Washington State Confederation of Clubs and US Defenders, The Motorcycle Profiling Project, and also works with the Confederation of Clubs and US Defenders at the national level. Contact: Send Email,