# Motorcycles Close DC Beltway Sunday Dec 27, 2015 To Play **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 29, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600 "2015-12-29T00:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/1 "2015-12-29T00:37:47Z")
Really not much to say here, the video says it all: a large group of motorcycles along with some cars full friends shut down the DC Beltway in Maryland (inner loop PG County @ Rt 202 for those who care) [Here’s a really good video of the incident](https://youtu.be/VTbbgdHlBYE) (not the only one, but a good one). Needless to say there’s not much police can do about it - can’t chase them, etc. Anyway I thought the video was interesting and you all would enjoy watching it. I know how I feel about it, how about y’all? ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/2 "2015-12-29T01:18:46Z")
they are nothing but selfish punks. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/3 "2015-12-29T01:21:07Z")
Were they protesting something or trying to make a point other than “we are assholes”? ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/4 "2015-12-29T01:22:49Z")
Another bunch of selfish idiots giving a bad reputation to motorcyclists. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/5 "2015-12-29T01:28:15Z")
Not a protest, and also not new, though a larger group then has been before seen I believe. Search DC Street Bikes or such on YouTube will show tons of videos of the street bike & 4 wheeler groups shooting their own ‘outlaw videos’ ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/6 "2015-12-29T01:29:32Z")
Where’s a [del]cop car[/del] [customized pickup](http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/11/30/The-Pickup-Trucks-of-War-During-the-Libyan-Liberation-7706096/) when you need one? > [@J-P\_L](#): > > Another bunch of selfish idiots giving a bad reputation to motorcyclists. Not motorcyclists but crotch rocketeers. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/7 "2015-12-29T01:35:49Z")
1. The bikers were/are morons. 2. Traffic was slowed to a crawl but hardly shut down. Rolling Thunder - now _that_ can shut down roads when things go wrong. 3. Loved the license plate in front of the car filming it; SMIRK. Wish I had thought of that one. 4. I wonder if there were any accidents as a part of this. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/8 "2015-12-29T04:00:27Z")
I’ve seen some of these guys many times, riding in herds around PG and DC, running traffic lights en mass when conditions allow. Mostly dirtbikes and 4 wheelers on the surface roads; the sportbikes usually keep to the freeways. Wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen a guy pulling a wheelie on Rt. 5 while passing me at 90mph. The police know better than to chase them, ever since an innocent woman was killed by an officer chasing a motorcycle maniac at high speed, so not much gets done. I know they’ve impounded the occasional bike, but not enough to make a noticeable difference. While they’re most certainly a reckless bunch who care nothing for your traffic laws, I’ve never seen any evidence that they’re malicious. Best just to stay out of their way when possible. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/9 "2015-12-29T04:10:29Z")
yeah, well, [those of us with brains are pretty pissed off about this.](http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/dickhead-bikers-shut-down-capital-beltway-for-stunts-1749986578) ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/10 "2015-12-29T05:50:36Z")
It’s hard to believe the police can’t do anything about it - Your’re telling me that if 10-12 squad cars rolled and blocked off ramps, put up a roadblock, whatever that they wouldn’t catch ANYBODY? And there are enough number plates displayed to make for some very uncomfortable visits from law enforcement should it be made a priority… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/11 "2015-12-29T06:31:31Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Your’re telling me that if 10-12 squad cars rolled and blocked off ramps, put up a roadblock, whatever that they wouldn’t catch ANYBODY? I was thinking the same thing. Might be tough to mobilize enough squad cars and get them in place on short notice. I wonder if they could use traffic sensors in the road to identify where this was happening. And the motorcyclists don’t seem to mind going the wrong way on the freeway, so a roadblock would have to block them going forward and backward, and any ramps in between. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cyclists had scoped out their escape routes beforehand, things like breaks in the jersey barrier where they could cross over to the opposite lanes. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/12 "2015-12-29T06:42:30Z")
I’m sure the locals would have a better idea than me, being all the way on the other side of the world - but out of 200+ motorbikes, cars, quad bikes and an entire police force they can’t catch _anyone_? yeah, like you, I’d think most would scatter and be difficult to catch, but you really don’t need to catch everyone - even if it’s only two or three who really get the book thrown at them, isn’t that a decent deterrent for next time? ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/13 "2015-12-29T14:56:40Z")
Not saying that it’s impossible to catch these guys; certainly some must get caught, but it is very difficult. Exactly how do you surround a guy on a motorcycle so that he has no escape? Most bikes can easily out-accelerate your police cruisers. The ATV’s on the other hand, should be easier to catch, which may be why you don’t see many. But no matter how many cops you involve, there’s rarely any opportunity for police to snare them without getting into a high speed chase, and those chases haven’t ended well, so the cops are now prohibited from doing that. You can run the license plate on a bike, but the common belief is that many of these guys are running stolen plates. That’s more plausible than the idea that the PG County police - known for aggressive law enforcement - aren’t willing to even try. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/14 "2015-12-29T14:59:56Z")
This happened in Miami a while ago. I remember watching it live on the news. The police blocked off intersections to keep stray traffic from getting in the way. There was even video of some of the motorcycles refilling at a gas station, so it’s not like they were on the move constantly. It really annoys me that no one seems to get arrested or even ticketed for stunts like this. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/15 "2015-12-29T15:03:18Z")
Good Christ, weren’t the straight pipe jerk-offs enough?:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/16 "2015-12-29T16:35:57Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Where’s a [del]cop car[/del] [customized pickup](http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/11/30/The-Pickup-Trucks-of-War-During-the-Libyan-Liberation-7706096/) when you need one? While I sympathize, I prefer my [cyclist-sweepers](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/cd/1a/81/cd1a814fabfb4c451e95cac4623fac95.jpg) American Made. Its kind of a shame that our nations capitol is so weak, impotent, and under-defended that it has no ability whatsoever to flush these types of blockages out of its system… if only for National Security. The Beltway is the jugular vein of America. (Even if it was only The Large Intestine, its still important. Kinda-sorta.) “Are there no Cobra Gunships…? Are there no A-10 Warthogs…?” ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/17 "2015-12-29T16:49:27Z")
Couldn’t they increase the licensing fee on motorcycles. $1,000 a month to have a motorcycle license would make people think twice if this was worth it to them. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/18 "2015-12-29T16:56:40Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > Couldn’t they increase the licensing fee on motorcycles. $1,000 a month to have a motorcycle license would make people think twice if this was worth it to them. I don’t pull this shit on my bike, why should I have to pay that? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/19 "2015-12-29T16:57:36Z")
They certainly picked a great day to screw up travelers - figure a lot of folks were traveling after Christmas so they could get to work on Monday. That just adds to the dickishness. My husband belongs to a HOG chapter in southern MD and his group is very safety conscious when they do mass rides. The pre-ride briefs always include safety info and rules about spacing and lane usage. I’m pretty sure they’d have no regard for jerks messing with traffic. Not all bikers are asses… ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600/20 "2015-12-29T17:00:37Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > Couldn’t they increase the licensing fee on motorcycles. $1,000 a month to have a motorcycle license would make people think twice if this was worth it to them. ?? What they need to do is catch a few of these idiots and through the library at them. In the mean time, pass legislation that makes these stunts a VERY serious offence. They did it with drinking and driving, we need the same kind of penalty here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycles-close-dc-beltway-sunday-dec-27-2015-to-play/741600.md?page=2)