The annual rally in Sturgis, S.D., drew hundreds of thousands of people. It will be challenging to track any coronavirus outbreak as bikers return to their home states. by Mark Walker, NY Times

STURGIS, S.D. — And just like that, the roar of the motorcycles was gone.

Ten days after Sturgis, S.D., drew hundreds of thousands of bikers from all over the country to its signature motorcycle rally despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, the parties ended and most of the crowds headed home on Sunday.

Uncertain still was what effect, if any, the event will have on the spread of the virus. Because of the time it can take for symptoms to appear and the way coronavirus cases are tracked in the United States, officials may never know whether the annual rally was a place where the virus was widely passed along.

There were no immediate signs that the rally had led to a significant uptick: The county that includes Sturgis has reported 104 coronavirus cases during the pandemic, 33 of them since the start of August. On Monday, state health officials said they knew of one case of the virus in someone who had attended the motorcycle rally, according to The Rapid City Journal. And Mark Schulte, president of Monument Health Sturgis Hospital, confirmed that some people in Sturgis for the rally had tested positive for the virus, though he would not say how many.

But if a flurry of new cases were to emerge — days from now or even longer — they would likely be reported by attendees back in their hometowns, and would not necessarily ever be tied to the rally.

It is a challenge that public health officials have faced repeatedly as they try to understand how the coronavirus is making its way through the country: When people gather for a large event and then return to states with different health departments, it is difficult to be sure whether the event was part of an outbreak.

The issue has stymied certainty about how the virus’s spread has been affected by events like a rally for President Trump in Oklahoma, protests in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd, holiday weekend visits to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans and spring break trips to Florida.

The rally in Sturgis, one of the biggest regional events to proceed amid the pandemic, drew attention from all over. More than 350,000 vehicles had flocked into the small town during the first week of the event, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

With the future of motorcyclists’ rights advocacy deeply entrenched in the early days of bikers’ rights and freedom rallies, the men and women who started it all knew there were others with similar backgrounds, and they reached out to find us. In September 1985, a few more than a hundred of us met, many for the first time, in a cheap hotel in St. Louis, Missouri.

There wasn’t much at that meeting except introductions and commitments to work together Today, that handful of bikers has grown to touch all corners of the U.S. From “just talking” when we met at the first Meeting of the Minds, the successors of that early group are now making strategic plans for the future of motorcycling and motorcyclists’ rights advocacy.

Friday’s General Session is just the beginning of a weekend packed with nothing less than ten information fill presentations and 15 workshops!! Yeah, the MRF Board took a long look at how the Meeting of the Minds material sort of drifted away from the stuff we were famous for – information filled workshops that provided attendees with the nuts, bolts and tools to help build and maintain their organizations and legislative endeavors.

Workshops from Advocacy – Beyond Face-to-Face to “Kickin’ Ass & Takin’ Names”; from Media Madness to Public Relations; from With Freedom Comes Responsibility to Bridging the Gap between Clubs & SMROs. That’s the “What” of the Meeting of the Minds. That’s the “What” needed to protect your rights, your motorcycle and your lifestyle and there’s a lot more to come.

Use this link and register at Meeting of the Minds 2020. Call 317-767-4769 for Hotel reservations. The Meeting of the Minds is in Indianapolis, Indiana, September 24-27, 2020

from https://www.financialexpress.com

Electric Honda motorcycle in the works: Leaked patent images depict bike to be based on CB125R

Honda patent images reveal a new electric motorcycle that seems to be based on the existing CB125R. The patents show a Neo Sports Café inspired motorcycle with chassis parts of the CB125R but with an electric motor.

It was rather sudden focus on electric motorcycles grew but soon the global markets were dotted with electric two-wheeler startups. Did they pay attention to a segment that would see growth at a time when mainstream players didn’t? That may have been the case but now, the story got different when Harley-Davidson rolled out in its first electric motorcycle. Kawasaki is working on an electric Ninja and Royal Enfield has an ongoing electric motorcycle project. And now, the word is that Honda too is stepping in the game. According to a report by Visordown, Honda seems to be working on multiple electric motorcycle models.

The report mentions patent images that depict an electric motorcycle based on the Honda CB125R, adding that the manufacturer recently patented design for the electric CB125R hinting that the bike likely in its final stages of development.

There is so far no confirmation from the company and Honda have not given it a name yet either. But the patent images do show frame from a CB125R that houses an electric powertrain, along with drawings of the electric motor as well. The motor seems to be a slim pancake-style design with a large diameter that should make it easier to fit onto the slim frame of the CB125R.

The Honda electric motorcycle will not be one of those performance EVs and would likely have similar power figures as its petrol-powered counterpart. The ICE (internal combustion engine) CB125R puts out 13 hp and does speeds of up to 130 km/h. The electric version could offer similar speeds but initial acceleration may be quicker given that electric motors deliver maximum torque the moment you twist open the throttle.

The patent images suggest the electric version of the CB125R could share about 75% of its components with the petrol-powered Honda CB125R. That should make the development process simpler and hence easier and quicker to roll out in the market.

by Bang Showbiz from https://www.contactmusic.com

Ana De Armas bought Ben Affleck a motorcycle for his 48th birthday at the weekend.

Ana De Armas bought Ben Affleck a motorcycle for his birthday.

The ‘Knives Out’ actress celebrated her boyfriend turning 48 on Saturday (15.08.20) with the BMW vehicle, which was built from scratch for the actor by WYLD Garage Co., People magazine reports.

And that’s not all because the 32-year-old beauty also surprised Ben with his and hers matching helmets, in a similar shade of green to the bike.

The couple were seen riding the new motorcycle together in California over the weekend.

Sunday (16.08.20) marked the ‘Gone Girl’ star’s debut on Ana’s Instagram account, as she shared a black and white picture of them together.

But rather than add a gushing birthday tribute, the ‘No Time To Die’ actress simply captioned the photograph with a heart emoji.

Meanwhile, a source claimed earlier this year that Ana has been enjoying spending time with Ben’s kids, Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, eight – as their romance has gathered pace.

A source said: ”Ben and Ana are happy together and have enjoyed spending time with his family.”

Ben and ex-wife Jennifer Garner are determined to make their co-parenting arrangement work for the benefit of their children.

And the current dynamic is one that works well for everyone involved – including Ana, who met Ben on the set of ‘Deep Water’ in 2019.

The insider explained: ”He and Jen continue to work together on co-parenting. They make it work. Everyone is in a good place.”

The loved-up duo went public with their romance in March, when they went on holiday to the actress’ native Cuba and Costa Rica.

And Ana has been blown away by how ”supportive” Ben has been during their relationship so far.

The source explained: ”Ben is very supportive of Ana and tells her how amazing she is.

”Ana’s friends are constantly telling her how lucky she is to have Ben and think he is so charming, cool and fun. They’re so happy for her.”

Just 5 days to go until the 97th Laconia Motorcycle Week and your safety continues to be our top priority. We urge all residents and visitors to ride safely and just as importantly, follow the CDC guidelines for frequent hand-washing/sanitizing, social-distancing and wearing a face-mask. As per Governor Sununu’s recently announced state mandate, all riders will be required to wear a mask when indoors or in a scenario in which they cannot maintain 6 feet of social distancing. This includes all shops, restaurants, and bars where patrons will be required to wear their masks when not seated. Standing around and/or co-mingling is not allowed at restaurants or bars – patrons must be seated. To be clear, we want everyone to have fun but not at the expense of safety. Bring your mask! Sanitizer stations will be available in various locations along Lakeside Avenue.

As you know, there won’t be centerline parking on Lakeside Avenue and vendor booths will be limited to non-profit organizations (including Rally Headquarters) on the boardwalk of Lakeside Avenue. Entertainment will be provided by individual establishments only, such as the NASWA Resort, Tower Hill Tavern, and the Big House. What hasn’t changed is that we’re a ride-focused rally. You can look forward to exploring the wide open roads that wind their way around New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains as well as the 3 organized rides taking place during the week: The Peter Makris Memorial Ride on August 22nd, the USCRA Vintage Race Gypsy Tour Ride on August 23rd and the Mae West Memorial “For the Love of Pets” Ride on August 24th. Each of these rides lead to NH Motor Speedway for a lap around the track!

Although there will be no vendor displays, concessions or demo rides at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, there will be plenty of track action, including the U.S. Classic Racing Association’s FIM North American Vintage Championships, the 97th Annual Loudon Classic and the Granite State Legends Cars races.

 

Still Plenty of Scenary!

The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad will be running daily from both their Meredith and Weirs Beach stations for shuttle or scenic rides through the Lakes Region. The M/S Mount Washington will be open daily to the public for boating excursions on Lake Winnipesaukee as will the Mount Washington Auto Road for riders interested in a trip up the northeast’s highest mountain peak.

August is a busy time for the Lakes Region as a tourist destination – Please watch for motorcycles and help keep NH safe by wearing a mask, sanitizing often, and maintaining social distancing by getting on your bike to RIDE! Any/all updates will be posted to LaconiaMCWeek.com, through their e-newsletter and on all LaconiaMCWeek social media channels. For more information on visiting New Hampshire and our state’s guidelines relating to COVID-19, please visit: https://www.visitnh.gov/covid19/reopening “Laconia – Where Rallies Were Invented”

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (August 16, 2020) – The opening round of the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross Championship kicked off Saturday at the inaugural Loretta Lynn’s National in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee as Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider and three-time defending 450 class champion, Eli Tomac, captured third overall on the day after earning 7-2 moto scores while teammate Adam Cianciarulo earned 12th overall in his premier class debut. In the 250 class, Cameron McAdoo claimed seventh overall (9-6) in his Pro Motocross debut with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team with his teammates Mitchell Harrison and Darian Sanayei scoring 15th and 18th overall respectively.

Due to the heavy downpour of rain the day before, the Kawasaki riders found themselves struggling with the rest of the field to make their way through the sloppy conditions as Tomac spent a vast majority of the second 450 class qualifying session trying to free his bike from the mud after getting stuck during the opening laps. He eventually managed to qualify seventh, three spots behind his teammate and 450 class rookie Cianciarulo who qualified fourth in his debut 450 class ride.

By the time the gate dropped on Moto 1 in the 450 class, the mud began to dry up, leaving behind some deep ruts presenting additional challenges as Tomac battled to seventh in the first lap with Cianciarulo in 10th. Halfway through the moto, Tomac and Cianciarulo raced their KX™450 motorcycles through similar lines at a good pace as they made their way up to fourth and fifth respectively. The teammates began to struggle with the changing track conditions in the latter portion of the moto, losing a few positions as Cianciarulo finished sixth and Tomac in seventh.

Moto 2 saw the reigning 250 class champion, Cianciarulo seize the lead early as he grabbed the holeshot, while Tomac found himself mid-pack off the gate before swiftly making his way up to eighth in the first lap. Tomac capitalized on the bike adjustments made in between motos as he charged forward to cross the finish line in second place and land on the podium for third overall (7-2) on the day. Just as it looked like smooth sailing for Cianciarulo, he caught a rut on the face of a jump and crashed hard, forcing him to roll off to the mechanic’s area to eventually withdraw from the moto resulting in a 12th place overall finish (6-38).

“Third overall on the day and the best way to put it is it was hot and cold. I was up front with the leading group in Moto 1, but I just went backward because I was struggling a bit and with the track. I just wasn’t comfortable, so the team and I made some changes to the bike between motos and I was able to improve and push to the front to be in the fight for the win in Moto 2. We’ll take this result on the day, but we’re looking forward to getting better when we get back out here again next weekend.” – Eli Tomac

“The Loretta’s track was nothing like I remember. I had zero sense of nostalgia out there. The track was ripped way deeper and you need to ride so much harder than I ever did as an amateur here. Obviously I’m tired of crashing, but I felt really good in Moto 2 and even grabbed the holeshot. We’ll keep working hard over the week and suit up for better results for Round 2 at the Ranch.” – Adam Cianciarulo

In their Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Pro Motocross debut rides, McAdoo and new teammates Harrison and Sanayei were greeted with hot and humid weather in typical outdoor national fashion. In addition to the weather challenges, the trio fought through their first-race jitters as Harrison qualified 13th, McAdoo 14th and Sanayei 22nd in the 250 class.

As the gate dropped on Moto 1, the teammates battled the 40-rider field to grab positions near the front as Harrison pushed forward in eighth on the opening lap and continued to gain positions, even breaking into the top-5 at one point before making a critical error towards the end of the moto and dropping back to finish 23rd. Both McAdoo and Sanayei found themselves further back in the pack but maneuvered their way onward as they went on to finish ninth and 14th, respectively.

Moto 2 saw all three Kawasaki teammates running in the top-10 before misfortune struck for Sanayei as he injured his shoulder during a mid-moto crash, ultimately retiring early to finish 18th overall (14-34). Harrison made sure to improve on his first moto performance as he crossed the finish line in ninth for 15th overall (23-9). It was the No. 29 of McAdoo with two solid and consistent motos for the day after racing to a sixth-place finish for seventh overall (9-6).

Round 2 of the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, originally scheduled to be in Washougal, Washington, will now continue next weekend on Saturday, August 22nd at the same beloved location of Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

“All things considered, I am happy with today’s result. I tipped over early in the first moto which ended up costing me, but I was proud we were able to fight back up to ninth. In Moto 2, I got a much better jump out of the gate and was able to put in a solid ride from start to finish. I know what I need to work on and clean up for next week and we’ll come back out swinging again. I can’t thank my entire Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team enough for giving me such an amazing bike, my KX™250 was an absolute beast!” – Cameron McAdoo

“Well, I can’t be too mad about today. We showed some great speed and consistency throughout the entire day. In Moto 1, I was running top-5 and then I made a boneheaded mistake in the back sand sweeper as I was trying to protect my line and went down. It took me a bit to get going again which ended up hurting my overall. We bounced back in Moto 2 with a ninth place to finish the day out 15th overall. I can’t thank Mitch (Payton) and the entire Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki team enough for this incredible opportunity to race this amazing bike each week. We are going to continue to improve and push each week and put this bike where it belongs, on the podium.” – Mitchell Harrison

“Loretta’s was a tough one for me and I was just off all day. In the first moto, I fell around 10 minutes into it and had to work my way up from 20th to 14th. The second moto I started off good, but I made a few mistakes and I just wasn’t riding at a good pace. Later in the moto, I crashed and popped my shoulder out, so I wasn’t able to finish out the race. I’ll go get it checked out and hope to be back on the bike and ready for Round 2.” – Darian Sanayei

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com

Despite the name, Cowboy’s Chopper will happily modify any type of motorcycle.

Ducati is a manufacturer with no shortage of splendid works of mechanical art, including their monstrous Diavel, the glorious Panigale and a stunning display of innovative engineering, by the name of Multistrada 1200.

Among their masterpieces, we’ll also come across the stunning 2009 Hypermotard 1100. This mean machine was provided with a mighty four-stroke V-twin, capable of delivering as much as 90 hp at 7,750 rpm and 76 pound-feet (103 Nm) of torque output at 4,750 rpm. The air-cooled beast was equipped with a six-speed transmission and had an enormous displacement of 1078cc.

It sits inside a tubular steel trellis frame, which is then supported by Marzocchi 50 mm (1.97 inches) upside-down forks with 165 mm (6.5 inches) of travel at the front and a fully adjustable Sachs monoshock with 141 mm (5.6 inches) of travel at the rear, joined by an aluminum single-sided swingarm.

The front wheel is wrapped in 120/70-ZR17 tires and has been provided with two 305 mm (12.0 inches) brake discs, while this baby’s rear wheel wears 180/55-ZR17 rubber and a single 245 mm (9.6 inches) disc.

Ducati’s 2009 model of the ferocious Hypermotard 1100 weighed as little as 395 lbs (180 kg), meaning that this bad boy would be more than happy to reach a top speed of 123 mph (198 kph) and run the quarter mile in just 12.4 seconds!

Cowboy’s Chopper is a Taiwanese workshop owned by Alex Gao. Although the name might mislead you into thinking he only deals with choppers, Gao specializes in customizing just about anything that sits on two wheels and has an engine. He never ceases to amaze us with some truly sensational builds, which can all be seen on his Facebook and Instagram pages.

While scrolling through his portfolio, I discovered a gorgeous transformation of Ducati’s 2009 Hypermotard 1100 into a muscular café racer. This project was completed over the course of three months and its roots as a Hypermotard are almost unrecognizable.

Whereas the stock model was a collection of triangles and edges, Gao’s reinterpretation is surprisingly curvy. The bike’s bodywork received a complete makeover, giving it a more muscular, yet much smoother appearance.

Its hard-crafted fuel tank vaguely resembles that of a Norton Manx and blends surprisingly well with the triangular frame. At the rear, you will notice a new tail that rests on a custom subframe.

To increase its range, an auxiliary fuel tank and electric fuel pump have been attached on the left side of the engine. For a considerable performance boost, the exhaust system features Zard headers and mid-pipes, as well as a custom-built muffler.

Furthermore, we notice a classic 7” (17.8 cm) headlight, new clip-on handlebars and even aftermarket pegs. All things considered, Alex Gao’s reimagined ‘09 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 is a spectacular machine, somehow managing to look seriously aggressive and unbelievably elegant at the same time.

The man behind this project is said to be pretty accustomed to thinking outside the box when customizing his customers’ motorcycles. This Hypermotard, by the name of Hyper Café, definitely accounts for that solid reputation.

We are excited to find out what the creative mastermind at Cowboy’s Chopper will come up with in the future!

by Siandhara Bonnet from https://rapidcityjournal.com

Leading up to the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the city and attendees expected changes in cleaning, events and sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they didn’t expect to see historically high numbers in first-time attendees, vendors and spending.

City Manager Daniel Ainslie said it was also a surprise to see the number of people that came to the city a week or two before the rally began.

“Everyone kind of thought the rally was going to be incredibly small because people are coming the week and two weeks before,” he said Friday. “We heard from vendors, too. Vendors haven’t been able to work since March … and were looking for an opportunity to do something.”

According to the Department of Transportation, the seven-day total for the rally from Aug. 7 was 365,979 people, which is down just by 7.5% compared to last year at the same time.

Ainslie said based on surveys the city has done, the demographic is slightly shifting for the rally, although the data isn’t finalized and won’t be until after the rally is completely over.

He said the city is seeing a drop off in the attendance of those in the 60-70 age range, which is understandable especially during the pandemic. He said there’s been an increase in those in their late 20s to early 30s.

“They say they’re coming because they’re looking for something to do,” he said. “The rally continues to grow and attracts a wider and wider audience that over the past 10 years, we’ve seen a larger and larger international presence.”

With the exception of this year, due to travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ainslie said, though, that it shows the rally is becoming a “slice of Americana” that’s appealing to an international audience.

Robin Baldwin, owner of Black Hills Rally & Gold, said she’s missing some of that international presence since many, particularly from Canada, are returning customers and friends.

Baldwin said she’s seen more tourists and customers before the rally than what’s typical. She also said her kiosks are receiving more business than locations inside a building.

“I don’t know what that means, but otherwise, we’re pleased with where things are because I could’ve not been doing anything,” she said.

There has, though, been an increase in online purchases, and Friday morning was the first day they weren’t “slammed” with orders.

Baldwin said she has sold out of a few items, like glassware, hats and flags, and may have to reorder some things.

Ainslie said final revenue numbers won’t be in until September, which is the deadline for year-round businesses to file their numbers, and won’t have final spending numbers until October.

However, he said the city tracks about 10 different long-time vendors and established businesses and is confident the total spending will be higher despite fewer guests.

Ainslie said the city’s liquor store sales increased by 26.5% compared to last year, selling a total of $429,125. He said he couldn’t release the kinds of liquor, beer or spirits sold at the store.

Both Ainslie and Rally and Events Director Jerry Cole said they think the city saw more turnover downtown than previous years.

“People would come downtown, walk though, buy their shirts, go and someone would pull in right behind them,” Cole said. “I think a lot of people didn’t go to bars or do the things they would’ve before. … Most of the people that came downtown really looked at that social distancing and stayed out in the open air.”

That social distancing and open air mentality is one the city hoped people would adapt this year due to the pandemic when it canceled some of the classic events like the opening ceremony, B-1 Bomber flyover, photo towers and more.

The city also made hand sanitizer dispensers available throughout downtown, which Ainslie said were filled up every night. He said the city had more on hand than used but is glad it was available for people.

Vendors also had hand sanitizer in many of their tents or buildings.

The city also spent more time on washing sidewalks than in the past, as well as cleaning the porta-potties.

Ainslie said the city hauled off 339.25 tons of garbage from downtown as of Thursday, which is down 3.5% from last year in addition to the 124 tons of residential garbage it has collected during rally week.

“That’s almost three times as much,” he said. “We’re not done yet. We’ll still be hauling for the next seven days.”

The garbage is taken to the landfill in Belle Fourche, which is about 30 miles away.

Ainslie said the city measures the success of the rally based on the health, safety and security of the community.

This year, there have only been three fatalities during the rally compared to four last year as of Friday, according to the Department of Public Safety.

William Cooper, 22, of College Station, Texas, and Ronald Ratzel, 55, of Ceres, New York, both died in a collision on U.S. Highway 14A Monday east of Sturgis. Steven Peterson, 60, of Cuba, New York was injured.

A 55-year-old woman, whose name has not been released as of Friday afternoon, died of her injuries from a one-vehicle crash Wednesday seven miles east of Hill City.

Tony Mangan, public information officer for DPS, said the reporting period ends at 6 a.m. Sunday.

“The fewer the better,” he said. “The fewer we have, the better for everybody.”

Mangan said the state Highway Patrol’s operations have been pretty consistent with previous years, although officers were given some personal protective equipment, like gloves and masks, due to the pandemic.

According to data, DPS has seen higher misdemeanor and felony drug arrests compared to the same time last year, as of 6 a.m. Friday.

It also saw more vehicle seizures for drug possession, which is typically done for felonies, and more cash seizures, although they’re still under investigation.

Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater and Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin said they’ve also seen a rise in misdemeanor and felony drug arrests.

The city police department had 90 misdemeanor arrests this year compared to 33 last year and 34 felony arrests compared to 19 last year.

“It’s becoming more prevalent of the violations,” VanDewater said. “We end up stopping people for crimes and we’re finding misdemeanor drugs as well as felony drugs. I don’t want to say it’s a common occurrence, but you’re seeing more and more violations.”

Merwin said his department stayed busy with calls from the campgrounds and many were alcohol-related.

“The campgrounds aren’t bad themselves,” he said Friday. “It’s like a city out there, too.”

Ainslie said it’s great to see so few incidents, especially when many were concerned about a number of people coming into the community.

Cole said the real success, though, will be determined in the following months as revenue numbers come in along with COVID-19 cases.

The Delaware Supreme Court ruled recently that red-light camera ticket fines under $100 cannot be appealed beyond local courts. Delaware Code Section 4101 states:

“A person found responsible for a civil traffic offense shall have a right of repeal only in those cases in which the civil penalty imposed exceeds $100.”

Stanley Lowicki challenged his May 2017 $172.50 red-light camera ticket for the reasons most of us do—he wanted to prove his innocence. After he learned that he could not challenge the ticket beyond the local traffic court, he decided to take on the system instead. His case has been winding up through the state court system ever since. Lowicki argued in both lower court and the State Supreme Court that the entire amount of the ticket should be considered under Code Section 4101, not just the actual traffic fine. Here is the breakdown of Lowicki’s red-light camera ticket.

RLC Fine	$75.00
Court Costs	$25.00
Court Security Fee	$10.00
Transportation Trust Fund	$37.50
State Police Fund	$  7.50
Local Law Enforcement   Fund	$  7.50
Ambulance Fund	$10.00

As you can see, the cost of the basic violation is $75.00. The additional “fine” of $97.50 was composed of tacked-on fees, which state law ignores when considering the $100 threshold.

Due process, guaranteed under the US Constitution, has broken down in Delaware at the most basic level—the lowly traffic ticket. If citizens cannot exercise their constitutional rights to fight traffic tickets, how can they protect themselves from governmental overreach?

The Delaware law that authorized traffic cameras does not allow tickets to exceed $110 for a fine paid on time, and additional court costs/administrative fees may not exceed $35.00. It also declares that no assessments “other than those specified” may be imposed. That fee restriction became moot, according to the state, when two years later, lawmakers permitted the levying of charges for a variety of purposes, such as those shown above for all court cases.

As more states attempt to send traffic tickets to civil court, due process will suffer at the most basic level. Instead of “Innocent until Proven Guilty,” the dictate will be “Guilty, no matter what—pay up or else.”

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The Delaware Supreme Court ruling spreads the bounty among many agencies and makes “Policing for Profit” look better than ever for cash-strapped cities and states.