State Police defend checkpoints as 'data-driven'
EAST SYRACUSE -- As police from across the state gathered for a traffic safety conference at the Doubletree Hotel in East Syracuse, about two dozen angry bikers protested outside. They're upset with a three-year-old program in which authorities set up checkpoints which they say unfairly targets motorcyclists for safety violations.
The motorcycle organization ABATE says motorcycles already undergo annual inspections. "We want it stopped." said ABATE President Tim Werder, "There's absolutely no reason to pull over motorcyclists from the highway other than it serves only to harass and intimidate and annoy."
State Police Lieutenant James Halverson says the motorcycle checkpoints are no different from the ones they set up for trucks, boats, snowmobiles and seatbelts. "Just like the seatbelt checks... we were able to raise our compliance rate and by raising the compliance rate, we've seen passenger car fatalities rapidly decrease."
Halvorsen points out that in 2005 there were 4,892 motorcycle crashes. By 2007, it had grown to 5,426. During that same time period, injuries went from 4,515 in '05 to 4,727 in '07.
The bikers say the higher numbers are more a reflection of the fact there are more motorcycles on the road. ABATE says rather than ticketing bikers, the state should improve safety education for bikers and motorcycle awareness for drivers.
