MRAQ (Motorcycle Riders Assoc Qld) meets every first Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Lord Stanley Hotel, Stanley Street, East Brisbane.  Since the new Committee were appointed in Dec 2010, we have had a number of guest speakers providing insight into a number of issues which face motorcycle riders in Qld.  For our meeting on 1 June, we have two representatives from Hydra speaking about what Hydra does and also speaking at length about the Anti-Association Laws.  All bikers are welcome to attend and I look forward to seeing you there.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the subject matter, all questions at the end of the presentation will be recognised by the Chair (Me) before being put to the Guest Speaker.

From current feedback, we will have riders from various lifestyles attending so could be a big night. Reason we got Hydra in was one of our members got pulled over on a charity ride and experienced breathtest, drugtest, license check, rego check, identity check, tattoos and distinguishing marks check, photo of bike, photo of helmet, photo of rider, photo of riders pillion (wife), photo of rego and licence together. He was more than a little pissed off and was threatened with arrest if he didn't comply.

We know its been happening for years, but now we have taken the opportunity to have Hydra speak and let everyone know what is happening from their side. It is also a GREAT opportunity for all riders to attend and let Hydra know what they think of it. The plus side is that we are going to have a couple of legal beaks there to address what may or may not be legal in terms of what is demanded from riders at these stops. The issue in the past is that riders have complied with the demands on the basis that they do not end up with multiple tickets on basic infringements, guess it is high time that riders in general took a stand.

hope you keep us informed of what the outcome is........some of us cannot make it. does this sort of shit happen everywhere or just in the cities?

From what I have heard, it is starting to happen more often than not and not just in the cities. Will advise the outcome after the meeting. If you can make it, you are more than welcome and you will get to hear first hand from the horses mouth (assuming we are not going to get the sanitised version.)

Meeting starts at 7.30 tonight. All welcome.

Basically, they stated that if you attend a ride held by an outlaw club, you will be treated as an associate of same.  I don't really have a problem with drug or breath tests etc, I do have a problem with the photographing and identifying tattoo's side of the argument.  The boss of Hydra did the presentation and stated you do not have compy with the requests for photographs or identifying marks/tattoos.  They are allowed to take photos if in a public place but they would be of the general type.  He also stated that you can take photos of them and they cannot stop you for doing so because again, it is in a public place.  After the presentation, the attendees asked them a number of questions and also elaborated on personal experiences so I would guess that they left without doubt that the general public has had more than enough.  As the MRAQ is a registered association and is also a Lobby Group, I am going to guess that quite a few members intend going on club runs to ascertain the type of interfereance done by the boys in blue and quite possibly, may have legal representation on hand as well.  Just saying........