Thursday, August 26, 2010

Cruisers not welcome in Royal Oak? Well, whether you agree or not with Ed, let us know by leaving a comment below. Oh, and be sure to see what people already had to say!

Woodward Dream Cruisers,
You are not welcome in Royal Oak.
Seems that since the very first Woodward Dream Cruise, Royal Oak has made it clear that they do not like the Dream Cruise event.
The years of whining about the cost of overtime for the army of police, and all those annoying out-of- towners spending money in their town is just too much to handle. This past weekend the Royal Oak motorcycle force was up to the assignment of making sure anyone possibly enjoying the worlds largest car event were under scrutiny. Any infraction of the pages of obscure city laws would be dealt with to the fullest measure.

Last year it was the hundreds of onlookers sitting in lawn chairs with their friends and family that brought down the heavy hand of the Royal Oak cops.
Rousted from their chairs and sent away or be arrested were the orders of the evening along Woodward. South of the 14 mile Royal Oak border, you are a possible violator of the generally peaceful Royal Oak decorum. North of Royal Oak's border, you were an unmolested taxpayer enjoying a summer evening watching cars go by.
Not just satisfied with the “move-a-long” orders more money could be generated for the force with the issuing of traffic tickets for the slightest
infractions. This weekend the Royal Oak cops were like swarms of mosquitoes buzzing around looking to suck some money out of any hapless victims. Two at a time, the mounted officers of the elite motorcycle force made their authority well known.
The jack-booted cycle cops set the rules for a car event. No need to ask questions just had over your papers. One officer writes the ticket while his backup stands at the rear of your car's passenger side, hand at the ready to draw his Glock.
Save your time trying to explain your case to the judge. It is a big fine or at least 20 days in jail. Prices seem to start at $150.00.
Expect you will also receive a second fine from our soon to be gone Canadian Governor.
South of Royal Oak no noticeable police force, North of Royal Oak no police around. Also, no trouble in those towns.
My advice is to sign up for the Pontiac location, and spend your time and money in a city that has the welcome sign out.
Let's be clear; while the Pontiac Police are friendly they will not ignore dangerous activity. As I have observed in the past, if you get a ticket in Pontiac you had it coming.
Signup for Pontiac, and have a safe and reserved place to park your Dream Cruiser. Take a cruise down Woodward and turn around before Royal Oak.
Ed.

Here are some of the comments Ed has already received; please leave your thoughts!

Blogger Jim of L-Town said...
   Ed has it soo right. Royal Oak is out-of-control and its cops are a disgrace to law enforcement. I don't usually support boycotts, but it would serve Royal Oak right if car show enthusiasts completely avoided Royal Oak and its businesses until they join us in this century.

Blogger Susan said...
    As a police retiree, I'm disappointed to hear that the police officers in Royal Oak are being told to enforce infractions that don't mean doodley squat! This cruise might just be considered a parade, which does qualify for the use of those antique license plates, that would be my defense, when I drive "Big Red" in the cruise in 2013. Why in the heck would any town laying off police officers alienate public support and hurt local business?
  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
    Thanks Ed for haveing the Balls to stand up and say what everyone else wants to, we have a large group of car people that Do NOT and well not go or shop in Royal Oak anymore, and we keep telling more people all the time. hope on day the get the message. dought it...its all about the MONEY.

Anonymous Anonymous said...
    We had an upsetting time when a Royal Oak policeman approached us, with our autistic son, who loves the Woodward Cruise and brings his "die cast" cars and puts them on the trunk of our car. He had about 6 of his little cars sitting on the trunk and the officer told him to put them away! Our son was crushed, he didn't understand. We didn't argue, but we were outraged that an officer would do such a thing to a sweet special needs young man. It was an awful thing to have happened and had a huge impact on our special son (he still remembers it and gets upset), and it was all for nothing. The officers in Royal Oak are harsh and disrespect everyone, including SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE, and that is just wrong. Thank you for writing this article and bringing it to everyone's attention. The Chief of Police needs to do something to change this.
    Our son was the poster child for Easter Seals of SE Michigan and served as the Child Ambassador from 1998-2000, and he didn't deserve to get treated like this by police officers.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You have a Firts Amendment right to gather peacefully on public property, an Illinois Supreme Court ruled againts the City of Chicago. If you are ticketed for loitering of which the law was proven illegal in Chicago, not only did the violators have their tickets recended, but the City had to compensate them for violating thier Firts Amendment rights, that cost the City in the millions of dollars. That's why the City of Royal Oak won't give you a ticket for loitering, because they know of this ruling. But they will threaten to give you one. Case in point, one person was told to leave while he was sitting in front of an eating establishment in R.O on Woodward Ave. He said, I'm not leaving, I'm a customer, and if you want me to leave, put the cuffs on me, and he put his wrist out. The R.O. Police Officer relented. You have a First Amendment right to gather peacfully, don't let anyone take that Right away from you. Google: Hanging Out Is Not Illegal, for more information.

August 31, 2010 at 11:24 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who decides what is or is not a real car show or meeting? the Royal Oak Cops?
I see that the RO Cops were still in their Drean Cruise mode dealing with the Arts,Beats and Eats this weekend. They need a new chief and city hall
housecleaning!

September 6, 2010 at 10:14 AM 

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Ed Noble has been a car enthusiast his entire life. From the 1950s' on Woodward Avenue to writing automotive reviews for The Oakland Press Wheels page, car cruising is a summertime event he looks forward to each year. Ed will write new vehicle reviews for The Oakland Press and also provide some cruise news and other related information.


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