THis was in the morning paper. If your going to be here for the Nat Hog rally and are heading for the Dragon have your Reg,Ins,and Motorcycle opperator edorsment or your lisc.
THP kicks up patrols on Dragon
There acting like a bunch of
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By Iva Butler
of The Daily Times Staff
Tennessee Highway Patrol officers wrote 142 tickets for motorcycle and car violations on the Dragon last weekend in a crackdown promised to extend through September.
The tickets, 92 for motorcycles and 50 for cars, included tickets for violations such as speeding, registration, driver’s licenses, helmet law, lane violations and riding standing up.
The Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office provided $60,000 for overtime enforcement on the Dragon, where three motorcyclists have been killed in Blount County this year.
The Dragon refers to the 11.1-mile stretch of U.S. 129 which runs from Tabcat Creek to Deal’s Gap at the Tennessee and North Carolina line. Known worldwide as a premier ride for motorcyclists, the section of roadway has 318 curves.
Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Highway Patrol had 11 troopers enforcing traffic safety laws on the Dragon, said Trooper John Pedigo,
Today through Sunday, THP is expected to have two or three cars working that stretch of road. Pedigo said the increased enforcement will run every weekend through the end of September. Several Dragon motorcyclists complained and called the THP blitz harassment.
Herb Handly, executive vice president for tourism of Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau, said “apparently bikers on the Dragon have taken a dim view of having increased enforcement.”
Handly said the governor has taken a dim view of having Lifestar helicopters called so often to transport injured motorcyclists off the Dragon.
“Some people are speeding and driving recklessly, so the governor had THP go in force over the weekend,” he said.
Apparently numerous people have e-mailed the governor, correspondence that was forwarded to Tennessee Commissioner of Tourism Susan Whittaker.
“People have canceled or been threatening cancellations of travel plans to this area,” Handly said.
“We certainly understand safety issues having to deal with that area. We think safety should be a high priority. We are encouraging people to use care and caution in that area and remind them we have a variety of rides besides the Dragon that are safe and enjoyable,” Handly said.
Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau has a brochure, called Circle the Smokies, that lists a variety of routes from Townsend that motorcyclists might want to consider, he said.
“They might want to stay away from The Dragon until this enforcement blitz is over,” Handly said.
Last modified: August 10. 2007 8:23AM
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Topic: Crackdown efforts on Tail of the Dragon (Read 1307 times)