Moto Guzzi Club of Queensland Forum

I have recently commented a few time about editing out licence plates or taking photos from different angles so not to show any ones rego plates.
A few people have asked why I do this, as they possibly feel that this is unnecessary.

Here's my reasoning or it,

As some/most of you know, I've owned some pigs, in fact two, the first for a few years until someone just had to have a 'bikies' bike, you should know the type, ape hangers, suicide clutch, hand shift, hardtail. The second was an early nineties softail, which lasted 9 years & 500 000k's until I came to see how f#cking useless it was & got rid of it to buy the Cali.
What some may or may not know but probably have guessed, is that I rode with a club, yes an outlaw one & heavily involved in Bikers Limited.
Nobody at an outlaw show or ride allows anybody to take photos of licence plates.
A friend in the thick blue line in Sydney, once gained access to my file, it was about two phone books in size, full of photos of guys I rode with, both in & out of the club scene.
When I left Sydney & the club scene & moved to Brissie, one of the first things that happened was I was stopped by 2 D's, the think blue line up here have what they called at that stage was Operation Amber or something to that effect. It is an intelligence gathering operation, I think that they thought if they spoke to enough intelligent people (bike riders) it may rub off on them.
There was also a ring in Sydney whom were taking photos of bikes, they had an insider in DMT & were running the plates to gain addresses of suitable new "acquisitions", then visiting the residence when nobody was present to take delivery of their 'new' bike. It wasn't just pigs either, there were a few Euros & some collectible Jappas added to there inventory, generally they had lists of 'parts' that they required. They also used to follow bikes if they spied them by chance to see were a bike 'lived', I am still in the habit of checking my mirrors on the way home to see if the same car is still behind me, dodging down back streets, altering which route I take on the way home.

It may be that I am still paranoid, but I value my stuff & the stuff of my friends, no amount of insurance will replace your pride & joy when someone decides that your pride & joy 'needs' a new home.

Quick post-script, about 12 months ago, at the meeting one night, we had some D's wandering around the bikes parked outside the meeting room writing down rego numbers of the bikes, so what was their motivation?

There you go, something to think about next time that commondore seems to be following you or that guy with the SB&S (short, back & sides) hair cut & the nice clean joggers & jeans is writing something down in is little book or is f#cking around with his mobile phone or camera whilst standing behind your bike.

Stay safe,

Fascinating, Wal !!
Your "service" is excellent too.
Muchas Gracias !! Bill

I'm with you on this one Wal. If I ever have pictures of bikes sent for use on the website that show the rego plate I always give them the Photoshop treatment before posting. Am I paranoid? Maybe. I prefer to think I'm just careful. Besides, it is quick and easy so no reason not to do it I reckon.

Wal, agree with what you say. I have a friend that had a 4WD that was on the front cover of a 4WD mag. His plates where on view. 3 days after the mag hit the stands, he recieved a letter from the DMT in Brisbane for a car inspection. Yeah this truck had all the mods including a 6" lift. Yeah its was against most of the QLD laws, but was a well modded truck. In the end he was reqired to strip it back to stock and sold the truck. Two trucks from the same mag got the inspection notice.

Just shows that they are watching mags and forums alike to see what we do to our machines.

I also go the extra step of not using mu suburb in my sign block for the same reason you never know who is watching.

Hey wal
Yes the people are watching and I don't think they have our best interests at heart
so the timely reminder about the plates was appreciated and acted on.
Thanks swagzz

Wal,
When I read this I thought it a little over the top, but then thought of some of the things I have seen and had done to me by both the QLD and NSW police farces. Yes I have ridden with some people, I've never had any trouble with them, but law orifices find them as suspect. Let's just leave it at that.
But today I got this and had the joy of speaking with one of the people involved (I work with him) and is the the future in QLD.

I have to ask, is this 2009 Australia or 1939 Germany.

Read on ... (Sorry for the cut and Paste)


Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:21:15 +1000



This happened yesterday (Saturday). This is the police response to the
new proposed laws in Qld. It was posted on a forum I belong to. Read and
digest - and make sure everything is kosher on your bike and your person
when riding.







5 blokes go for a saturday morning ride,good weather ,good roads and
good mates. none of them are clubbies,3 big jap sport bikes,an old
ducati and a triumph sport bike.they do the usual,woodford,peachester
road,then to maleny for breakfast ,then return via woodford ,across mt
mee to dayboro pub for a beer and a yarn . on the ride they are stopped
4 times by police for random checks,no fines for anything. in those 4
stops they were twice subject to roadside searches,full warrant checks
and vehicle inspections.all were questioned as to their club
associations[none]. full details written down.on one stop they were
pulled up by a large four wheel drive,two gentlemen in black
overalls[ninja turtles] did the full boogie on these
blokes,search,warrant check,questioning etc. held for about 1 hour.men
in black were aggresive and intimidating.they told these riders that
they were targetting "bikies" and that it was "open season" on ANYONE
riding a bike.all these guys live in the same area and are work mates.
all are fully employed,mid thirties to mid forties,no tatts,no long
hair/beards. all married with young families,none have any criminal
history,all in all pretty average guys.after all the attention they
decided to shorten the ride and give the dayboro pub a miss. they get
home about lunchtime. one bloke decides to mow his lawn. while mowing
the lawn a police car cruises pat his house,slows down while passenger
take photos of house and bloke mowing lawn. the guy questions the police
as to why they are photographing his house etc and was told it was part
of "intellegence gathering". calls his mates and finds all have had
similar visits.one was questioned and told that he had been seen on a
recent poker run and was seen,on that run,talking to a club member. he
was asked about his connection to the club[none] connection to the
member[none] and was then told he would be watched closely and was told
that "bikies" would not be tolerated in "their" area and everything
would be done to get rid of them by whatever means necessary. these guys
believed they would be unaffected by the intro of these new laws,they
are not "bikies" not in any club at all,and all use their bikes as
general transport. they now understand the implications of these laws.
so anybody who buries his head in the sand and believes they will not be
affected,should wake up to reality. this story was told to me this
morning via a phone call from one of the blokes involved. it happened
yesterday.


Now this e-mail is from a work college and worded as such so no names etc. could be traced as it was posted to a forum as well. Pigs can read (Remember the kid's book "Charlotte's Web") but why is this.

If I get pulled up and told the above line about targeting "Bikies" and stereotyping implied, I wonder what the response would be if I told the story about Tony Fitzgerald and all the corrupt coppers he found and the activities they had in the world of drugs, prostitution, stand over tactics, murder etc.
Wonder how quick I'll be arrested ............. or worse ...............................

Mate, I think I've posted here & have told people at club meetings-
About 2 or 3 months ago, for a whole week, I had a white van with dark tinted windows parked across the road from my place, I guess they were just checking up to see what club affiliations I still have, whether I am still a 'threat' to Joe public.
Not sure, but I imagine they probably will, the NSW Plods have a file on me that is about the size of a file box, whom I associated/ worked/ played football/ drank with, hey it's part of being a member of a motorcycle club & being a political agitator, they'll gather as much information about you so that they can draw their own conclusions.
I think I've related the 'Operation Amber' details before here, this was (not sure if that is still their code name for it) a QPS 'intelegence gathering' operation about 'outlaw' m/c's, but remember, it doesn't matter if you have 'X outlaw' club painted on the sides of your bike, under the law you are required to give your name, address & date of birth plus your drivers licence if requested by a member of QPS, your civil liberties & the law state that you need NOT answer any other question, trying to be helpful because you don't want them to hassle you won't work, as they are just trying to intimidate you & catch you out, yes you may get a defect, BUT give them the required details, supply your licence when requested, then walk away, sit on the ground if you want, BUT all your answers from here on should be 'I don't know' or better (but you will get a defect here) 'my civil liberties entitle me not to answer your questions'.

Always get the Plods badge number, carry a pen or better take his photo with you mobile phone, make sure if they are in plain clothes that they show you their official identification, this is your right by law, be polite, remember, YOU ARE INNOCENT, you have nothing to hide & even if you are guilty of something, the onus is on the prosecutor to PROVE your are guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

If you think you were harassed or assaulted (placing a hand on you IS assault, try touching Cuntstable Plod he'll warn you of such) & have witnesses, even better if they are passers by, then don't hesitate contacting a solicitor or better the civil liberties council (they love getting the chance to have a shot at the police or pollies).


Enough of my yelling, so I'll get off the soapbox now.

Here's a political party but with a difference. Have a look at their policy on motorbikes http://www.ldp.org.au/federal/policies/Motorcycles.html

They believe in smaller government and keeping the government's nose out of places it doesn't belong.

I've spoken with one of the founder members and yes, they are sincere.


Oh, by the way, a friend of mine was secretary of the Shooters Party. His phone was tapped.

Wal,
Only having met you once I thought, because of your colourful nature (you are a Cali Rider ), this may have been a little stretched.
But it made me think, and I remember a few things that fit in with this and when you put it all together, it's just sad.
Look I'm not paranoid, just a realistic person.
Look at the "Pink Ribbon" ride, deemed not worth the effort and possible fallout from the so called "Association" laws, and the hassles caused by the "Traffic Gestapo" and the "Any more that 30 riders traveling together is a bikie gang", made the last ride a joke. Wonder how the next "Daniel Morecombe" ride will pan out, or will the Gestapo let that slip cause it may dirty there "squeaky clean image" if they try to Jack Boot that one.
As I'm a long time supporter of the "Pink Ribbon", I have just shaved Head Beard and Eyebrows for $259 for them, so the next time you see me at the meeting, Just look for the "Uncle Fester" look-a-like. No I'm not trying to copy your style, just raise money for a Great cause.