Myrtle Beach ban Black Bike Week

bike week 2008

in 2008, myrtle beach city council announced no longer host motorcycle rallies, , approved set of ordinances on september 23, 2008 placed restrictions on motorcycle rallies. fifteen laws passed, restricting muffler noise, requiring helmets within city limits, limiting parking 2 bikes per space, restricting loitering in parking lots, , more. in spite of this, black bike week 2009 s attendance reduced slightly. vendors, hotels, biker groups , promoters attempted schedule events black bike week 2010 despite myrtle beach government s ban.

in anticipation of 2010 harley bike week rally, local harley-davidson dealership said events still take place bike week event, on reduced schedule of 5 days, may 11 16, while website myrtle beach bike week, llc says full-length rally of may 7–16 take place. both sources there no vendors inside city limits of myrtle beach during harley bike week, , both encouraged attendees boycott city , patronize communities , businesses outside city did support harley bike week.

the myrtle beach convention center had ceased attempting find replacement carolina harley-davidson dealers association, had moved hard rock park. reason moving carolina harley-davidson dealers association event new bern in 2009 myrtle beach, passed these silly laws, said ruined may, talked , decided oblige them, said gene lummus, former president of association.

another proposed rally, harley owners group convention, take place may 18–22, 2010, @ north myrtle beach, 15 miles (24 km) coast myrtle beach.

helmet law struck down

on june 8, 2010 south carolina supreme court overturned myrtle beach city ordinance requiring motorcyclists wear helmets, on grounds state law, requiring helmets riders under age 21, cannot preempted city ordinance. court ruled unanimously in addition priority of state law, local ordinance created undue confusion motorists, , city had invalidated helmet ordinance , other ordinances passed suppress motorcycle rallies, in subsequent amendment. ruling took effect immediately, requiring pending citations dismissed, records of cited under ordinance expunged, , fines collected returned.

the state supreme court had heard arguments on february 3, 2010 in lawsuit 2 groups of plaintiffs seeking overturn ordinance. 1 group of plaintiffs made of 49 motorcyclists had been cited not wearing helmets in myrtle beach. second plaintiff organization business owners organized save tourism (boost) along south carolina state representative thad viers. boost s mission includes ending practice of ‘selective tourism,’ whereby government entities and/or organizations welcome individual , group tourists discourage others. viers, republican representing myrtle beach, said, there s things cities can do, , making own traffic laws not 1 of them. believe law , constitution on our side.

during hearing in february, justice don beatty said mike battle, myrtle beach s lawyer, that, realize issue narrow here, don’t pretend don’t know what’s going on. read. know why city, passed ordinances, questioning whether intent of law not promote safety rather curtail motorcycle rallies. justice costa pleicones told viers city s interest in regulating noise, lewd behavior , nuisances legitimate.

in defense of ordinance, city s court filings argued 6 key points, among them helmet law constitutional , did not contradict state traffic code. myrtle beach s attorney mike battle argued because state law silent on whether adults must wear helmets, addressing riders under 21, cities had freedom make own laws respect on 21. battle argued benefits of helmet law greater inconvenience.

the ruling prompted speculation motorcyclists return myrtle beach in greater numbers. motorcycle rally participants booked rooms next year, while others vowed never return myrtle beach, instead favoring businesses outside city limits.

myrtle beach city council relax noise ordinance

months after tom mcgrath filed suit on behalf of business owners , residents against noise ordinance enacted city push away motorcycle rallies, myrtle beach city council increased noise limit. motor vehicles limited level of 89 decibels while engine running @ idle speed, motor vehicles may operate high 99 decibels more in alignment national standards.