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Just when you think you’ve heard it all the THP steps to even lower levels.

One of Graham County’s most respected citizens was recently ticketed while returning from Knoxville. This doctor has served Graham County’s medical needs for more than 3 decades and has made this trip to and from Knoxville hundreds of times.

A few weeks ago she had just begun the climb into the stretch of road known as the Dragon when she noticed blue lights in her rear view mirror. She glanced at her speed and noted it was just under 40 mph. Thinking that the emergency vehicle was responding to a wreck on the mountain she began looking for a place to pull off the road to allow the vehicle to pass. Not seeing an immediate pull-off she accelerated so as to find a pull-off as soon as possible.

When she finally pulled into a safe place she was startled to see the Tennessee Highway Patrol car pull in behind her. The trooper cited her for doing 46 in a 30 mph zone. He would not listen to the fact that he caused her to speed-up or that she was returning to Robbinsville to answer 6 medical calls from the local nursing home.

The trooper was mechanical and stated the speed of 46 was a more serious violation by 1 mph. He would not even reduce the infraction 1 mph because of the circumstances.

Keep it up Tennessee …. You surprise us nearly every day.
We have heard some more stories about the ILLEGAL ACTIONS of the THP. Several people have emailed us with more complaints:
  • A Louisiana police office was pulled over for crossing the white line in a corner. He was reacting to an oncoming vehicle with trailer over the double yellow. Trooper said he'd get a ticket next time.
  • THP crossed the double yellow and nearly causing riders to wreck.
  • Another incident on the Cherohala was out-and-out stalking with THP repeatedly pulling out behind a car everytime the car would stop at a pull-off and then get back on the road.
  • A prominent Graham County resident was ticketed under some very unusual circumstances (more about this later).
  • TOD was ticketed for holding a video camera that is considered by THP as a "TV related device".
  • Still between ten and fifteen LEOs on the Dragon every weekend.

We had numerous complaints from riders attending the recent HOG Rally in Knoxville. Thousands of complaints have come through our site, most vowing never to spend another penny in Tennessee.

No one has heard from the Governor since the "Dear Friend" email of early August. We think THP might be staging a coup and holding the Governor hostage. Surely a political figure in such a position would be taking steps to reign-in the abuses of his troopers, but nothing has been done that we can see. THP Lt Col Trott was even touring the Dragon on Tuesday "surveying the battle field". Of course very few tourists were there after being run-off by his troopers. TENNESSEE IS NOW A POLICE STATE !!
HASSLED BY THE LEOs ??? EMAIL US THE DETAILS
 
 
 


AN OPEN LETTER
Governor Bredesen, Public Officials, and Tennessee Business Owners:

Tail of the Dragon has recently heard from a number of Tennessee businesses that rely on tourism for a large percentage of their earnings. All have commented on how slow tourism has been so far this season. We think we know why.

The harassment of the motorcycle riders and sportscar enthusiasts by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies in 2007 has resulted in a major boycott of the state.

Now you might say that the downturn in tourism is due to the slack economy and high fuel costs. If so then why are the experts saying that regional tourism is up in most places and foreign travel is suffering? If so then why is western North Carolina having a better than average tourism year? Tail of the Dragon has received more than a thousand E-mails of complaint against your state. We think this is the cause of the loss of business in eastern Tennessee and probably even statewide.

We want to let it be known that so far in 2008 the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Blount County Sheriffs have shown a more reasonable enforcement on the Dragon. It is a shame that their heavy handed tactics last year have cost businesses millions of dollars. It is hard to recover from such unreasonable actions which get instant publicity on the Internet.

Tail of the Dragon would like riders and drivers to know that it appears the State of Tennessee has got the word and more LEOs are attempting to do things right. We hope that those considering a trip to the area will forgive state officials and return to Tennessee businesses. Be aware there are still speed traps in the area.

We will be the first to publicize any unreasonable actions that law enforcement agencies may take in the future.

Sincerely,
Ron and Nancy Johnson
Tail of the Dragon


Here are some of the Email highlights
  • Cars and motorcycles ticketed for just touching the double yellow.
  • Corvette tailgated across entire 11 miles of Dragon.
  • Rider ticketed for standing-up on pegs at 25 mph to stretch.
  • Car driver pulled over for "appearing to be traveling at high rate of speed". Car was behind a pick-up towing a boat at 25 mph. Trooper then said he had illegal tinted windshield and exhaust even though car was stock from factory and had passed emmission test in TN. Trooper then harassed driver for DRIVING WITH ONE HAND ON STEERING WHEEL. Driver asked how he was supposed to shift gears. Trooper then rudely said, "GET LOST".
  • Rider harassed and threatened with arrest for not having proof of shatterproof glasses.
  • Cars pulled over for 35 ... threatened with arrest .
  • Cycle group tailgated by THP which then passed on double-yellow with no emergency devices operating.
  • Pick-up truck tailgated by THP. Truck pulled over several times to let Trooper pass. Each time the Trooper pulled over just ahead and returned to tailgating truck when it passed.
  • Car came around blind corner only to see Trooper with car completely blocking lane. Trooper was out of car issuing tickets to bikers. Car stopped, saw it was clear ahead, and eased around. Car was then ticketed for crossing double yellow.
  • Car ticketed when wheels accidentally went a few inches off the roadway.
  • Pick-up stopped and harassed for having tailgate down.
  • Bikers ticketed for passing on the double yellow even when the car ahead pulled over and stopped. Troopers said the car had to be COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD before moving around it.
  • Ticket for bike with license plate verticlal. Custom bike was purchased from a Knoxville Police Officer.
  • Ticket for failing to have proof of insurance.
  • Ticket for no mirrors.
  • Cruiser pulled over doing 30 mph and asked for all documentation, blinkers/headlight and plate checked. Harrassed for no reason at all.
  • Trooper tailgating female motorcyclist who pulled off road she was so nervous. Her son was then tailgated until he had to pull over.
  • Trooper with stopped bike saw another bike almost crash when seeing the Trooper ..... Trooper laughed.
  • Out of state car ticketed for having temporary tag and no registration in spite of producing bill of sale. Registration had not yet been sent.
  • Trooper with car over double yellow on several occasions.
  • Troopers making u-turns in dangersous curves.

One of two riders of the Midnight Dragon Slayers who were ticketed for wearing a derogatory T-shirt. Well, actually they were written-up for 40 in a 30 even though they knew the THP were waiting and their speedos were reading 29-30 mph. Perhaps the shirt tells it all.