Everyday Randomness

All Photos Courtesy of Tailofthedragon.com

You may remember a couple weeks ago I wrote about how the Tennessee Law Enforcement, particularly Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Blunt County Sheriff’s Office, have been harassing tourists. If you haven’t read that post, please take a look at it if this post is of any interest to you.

Since that post, I have spoken to a couple friends who have visited Deal’s Gap, but most agreed it was practically impossible to ride on the stretch of Hwy 129 between North Carolina and Tennessee nicknamed “The Tail Of The Dragon”. My friend visited Deal’s Gap a couple weeks ago in the middle of the week. He figured because it was a weekday trip, the possibility of harassment wouldn’t be as high. He was wrong. He attempted to make 1 trip of the 11 mile stretch of Deal’s Gap, but only made it half way before he turned around and gave up. Not only was he stuck in a line of traffic doing 15 mph the entire way, but he was stopped twice just because he was on a bike.

During the first stop, he was asked to show his license and proof of insurance, then he was sent on. The second stop occurred when he turned around. He said the THP LEO pulled over behind him at the pull off and hit his blue lights. After checking his license, registration, and proof of insurance, the LEO made a walk around inspection of his bike, asked him to open his back seat, and inspected his helmet cam. He was then told to shut off his camera.

According to other reports I’ve heard via tailofthedragon.com, he was lucky that he didn’t receive a ticket for having a television related device. That’s exactly what happened to one man (see photo). Here’s what he had to say about receiving the ticket.

THP nabs one of the “lawless” on Saturday. I was ticketed for holding a video camera while driving my car. Trooper Martin stated it is a television or similar device even though the video display was closed and there is no viewfinder to look through. According to the trooper cellphones, IPODS, Whoppers and drinks are legal to hold while driving, but video cameras are not. We go to court on November 1 … we can’t wait. The stop is fully documented on two video cameras and ready for presentation to the judge.

Looks like THP doesn’t like their pictures taken. As a photo journalist covering the news on the Dragon I resent this attack on my personal freedom. IT IS JUST MORE HARASSMENT BY THP. We are looking into filing a civil rights violation against Trooper Martin, THP and the state. Ron - TOD

I also received a comment today on the other post that I felt deserved more than a spot in my comments section. Thank you Roger for sharing this with me, so I can make it viewable to everyone possible. The following is an email Roger wrote to a long list of TN officials.

 Email detailing my experience with THP - sent to long list of TN officials and TOD:

On August 27, 2007 between the hours of approximately 2-3 PM I was harassed by an on obviously undisciplined THP LEO. I was driving the speed limit on the Cherohola Pwky. from the NC side to the TN side in my Mustang GT, at the speed limit. Shortly after I entered TN I had the LEO behind me, I took pullout to look at the view and he went on, at the next pullout he was sitting there, waiting, I went by and he pulled in behind me, next pullout I stopped at he went by, and was again waiting for me to go by, and again pulled in behind me. Next pullout, same story, only this time I passed him pulled over nose in at a service road. This was about 14 miles from the end, I continued on, watching my mirror, at about 4 miles to go he suddenly came up behind me again – since I was doing the speed limit and when I checked my mirror several times (often being able to see some distance behind me) he obviously had to do some serious speeding to catch me. He followed again until I pulled in the Exxon station a few miles from the end near TN 68.
After reading the about the harassment by the THP at the Dragon, this incident struck a very sour note with me – causing the drive along the TN side of the Pkwy unduly stressful and not enjoyable.
I am sure you can find this out of control LEO, he likely checked my FL plate during this harassment.

As a result of this harassment by your rouge LEO I did and will do the following:

1. Cut my stay in TN short by 2 days and found the shortest route out of your state.
2. Cancelled my 25 year annual trip to Gatlinburg with 30-40 friends, for this year and all in the future
3. All future trips to the Smokies will be based on the NC side.
4. When I do have to travel through TN I will be sure to arrange my time such that I will not have to spend a dime in TN. ( my edit 9/2 - will never touch foot or tire in TN again)
5. I have ditched serious plans to buy a home in TN and move in the next year or to –
NC will now get my business.
6. I will tell my story to everyone I know, and some I don’t know.

This is getting ridiculous people! Hubby and I were invited to join my grandparents and mother on a family vacation to Gatlinburg for the weekend. Even before hubby’s wreck I refused to go. I will not spend another dime in Tennessee! If you agree this is ridiculous please take the time out to visit Tailofthedragon.com for information on how to email these state officials and police departments.