North Carolina Court says Billy Lane was not to be drinking and driving

As part of the provisions of the $1,000.00 bond that Billy Lane had been released on from the June DUI arrest in North Carolina, Billy Lane was not to drink and drive. This became a major issue today as Choppers Inc. Owner, Billy Lane appeared at the Rowan County Courthouse at 2 p.m. today.

A clean shaved Billy Lane appeared before the Judge today in a designer suit that covered all of his tattoos. With his dreads tucked under the suit, Billy Lane pleaded in his case for refusal to submit to a sobriety test after being pulled over by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The arresting officer had pulled Mr. Lane over originally for driving on the wrong side of the road and not wearing a helmet. No further report of the courts action today have been reported.

A story told of a tragedy in the making

The death of motorcyclist Gerald Morelock on September 4th in Melbourne Beach, Florida has been in the eye of the motorcyclist community for the past few weeks. Many have even criticized the amount of discussion on the subject siting that it was due to the celebrity involvement. I have to agree with to a certain extent when it is pointed out that most of the articles mentioned more about the celebrity involved not Gerald Morelock, the victim and his family that lost a loved one.

In all of the articles that I have read, very few had the victim, Gerald Morelock as the subject matter. Most of the media and articles called more attention to the fact that famous chopper builder Billy Lane was involved in a fatal accident. Some article headlines even led one to believe that it was Billy that was killed. While the family of Morelock and most speaking was that of Byron Morelock, Gerry's Brother made very little mention to the cause of death in relation to Billy Lane.

Billy Lane was found injured along with the passenger of the Dodge pickup that he was driving the night of the accident that left a motorcyclist dead at the scene. Witnesses to the accident claim that they saw the custom black Dodge pickup cross a double yellow line on south Hwy A1A while trying to pass two vehicles. It was Mr. Lanes negligence by using the no passing zone that caused the death of Morelock who was riding a 1983 Yamaha Motor Scooter. Billy Lane and Passenger were released from the hospital after being treated for injuries, while the sad news of Gerry Morelock's death was being reported to the members of his family.

As the news quickly spread of the chopper builder being involved in an fatal accident that he was at fault, so did the news that Billy Lane was reportedly impaired by alcohol. Questions were raised as to the reason that he was not immediately arrested, along with allegations of him receiving special treatment. However, the Florida Highway Patrol made it perfectly clear that there were procedures that had to be followed in order to process the correct charges against Mr. lane. There was little doubt that Billy Lane had made a irrational decision to attempt the pass in the area that was clearly marked. But the question still remained, had he been drinking.

The forums and blogs of the motorcycle community were alive with speculation as to what happened and what the causes were. There is no longer a speculation as to whether Billy Lane was intoxicated after yesterdays arrest and charges filed of DUI, Driving While license Suspended and Manslaughter. Billy reportedly turned himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol escorted by his attorneys. He was released on $15,000.00 bail less than two hours later. The wait was over. Gerald's brother Byron Morelock was quoted as saying that a lot of tension had been relieved after the news of Billy Lanes arrest.

Many members of the motorcycle community, including myself, where dismayed at the fact that Billy remained silent about what happened. Then, following the arrest and charges being filed, Choppers Inc. the Melbourne Florida based motorcycle shop that Billy Lane owns released a statement. A statement that many hoped would say more. Instead the statement released by Choppers Inc. on Billy's behalf was only three lines long stating that we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Gerald Morelock. That Billy was injured in the accident as well and that he would cooperate fully in the pending investigation as he recovers.

Following today's arrest more news broke and the story unfolded of how Billy Lane had allegedly been drinking all day and had visited two local drinking establishments while he and the passenger of the accident rode around on one of his motorcycles. Later in the evening the two returned to the shop to drop off the motorcycle and started off to the home of Billy Lane in Melbourne Beach in one of his custom Dodge pickups. It was on the way home and not much more than a mile from his home that the deadly tragedy happened. To add to problems, the FHP has stated that Billy refused to give in to a blood test at the scene and again later at the hospital. In fact it is alleged that troopers had to hold him down while nurses drew blood for the test. It was only after yesterday's arrest that these facts came to light. It was only after the arrest that any statement was made from Billy.

Billy was on a streak of bad luck and wrong doing in the past couple of months that started when the motorcycle he had built for this year's Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off caught fire only a few miles from the final destination of Laconia Bike Week. The gas tank had been leaking for miles and finally caught fire causing the custom chopper with his special hubless wheel not to make it.

It was not long after that North Carolina Police pulled Billy Lane over for driving on the wrong side of the road and without a helmet. It is illegal to ride without a helmet in North Carolina. The arresting officer sites that he detected the smell of alcohol after making the traffic stop and Mr. Lane refused to take a breathalyser. It was for this reason that Mr. lanes drivers license was suspended.

Now in early September, a mans life was ended early, taken from the family and friends that knew and loved him. Gerald Morelock, 56, of Melbourne Beach used to visit the Sebastian Inlet park as a kid with his family. He loved to play the guitar and dreamed of one day moving from his hometown in Ohio to live in Sebastian. Gerry Morelock got his wish and even worked at the Sebastian Inlet Park where he spent many of his off hours fishing at the inlet. His family and friends gathered on September 17th at the inlet park to pay their respects and tell stories about Gerry's life and love of the area. A sad and tragical ending to this article. The motorcycle community has suffered the loss of two members by this happening. My prayers and sympathy for the family and friends of Gerald Morelock, may he rest in peace. I can only hope that from this point on, Billy Lane will do the right thing and I pray for his forgiveness and healing. The fact remains that what happened was created by not thinking and not doing the right thing. Since the results of the blood tests have returned with over double that allowed by the state of Florida it shows that Mr. lanes judgement was wrong from the moment he got behind the wheel.

Sources:

Motorcycle designer Lane charged with DUI in fatality
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060926/NEWS01/60926008/1075

A sad day and a loss to the motorcycle community

Motorcycle shop owner charged with manslaughter in biker's death

Large crowd eulogizes lost friend
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060918/NEWS01/609180315

Related:

Auto Negligence claim filed against Billy Lane and Dodge

When heroes become bad guys

Billy Lane faces DUI manslaughter charges

Hearing date set for Billy Lane in Florida DUI/Manslauter case

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Does anyone know where to find the beach?

Growing up and living on the Florida east coast, I love the beaches. Many of the annual visitors of the sunshine state come here for the very same thing, the beaches. The golden sand, sun and year round tropical climate is an attraction to all.

Sadly, I am seeing less of the Atlantic Ocean as I ride on the beach highway known as A1A. Even the one that claims to be "the worlds most famous beach" is closing the dynamic view to condos. There is a choice, a plan, a alternative! But the city gives way to the call of developers and will soon be the worlds most famous condo jungle.



Walking in to the amusement center on Daytona Beach Boardwalk and watching all the kids on the bumper cars, Himalaya and carousel laughing and having a good time. I wonder if their parents explained that this would be the last time? They would not be able to visit the boardwalk rides again, for this was closing day of a 50 year family owned business. The owner of the business was giving free rides to say goodbye. He and two other boardwalk business owners fought to keep their business' open. But the city condemned them calling them and the area blighted. They will be replaced by a condo with restaurants and shops. People that came to visit the beach that day took advantage of parking in other areas of land where business' used to be but have been cleared away. Soon the wrecking ball will clear the remaining buildings and construction will begin.

I am not opposed to renovation and upgrading, but this was not an option. The thing that the citizens of Daytona Beach and all the other Florida beach communities need to understand is that this change is going to happen. But they must also realize that there is a terrible mistake that is about to happen! A error that is not reversible. Quit being blinded by all the smoke screens that the developers and real estate typhoons are putting up. There are organizations that have formed and others will follow that are using trickery in their campaigns. Many claim that they are fighting to keep from having a concrete jungle along our beaches. Hog wash! Read on to see what they are really saying. They are opposed to the height of the structure with total disregard of the land that borders the building.

The alternative, high rise condos, makes more sense. It allows for two things to happen that will solve the issue of a concrete jungle. After all, how many of you are flying down A1A? You are at eye level on two or more wheels! What difference does it make how tall the building are? The fact remains that if there is no space left between them for beach access and parks, you are not going to be able to see the beach. Furthermore, unless you live in one of these condos, you are not going to be able to get to the beach! Let the builders go up not out. Pass the laws that make the developers pay for more room in the air, by giving us more space on the ground, where we live. This will also allow for more occupancy per building while allowing more area on the ground for the others in the community and visitors to enjoy. This option is being heavily discussed in the future plans for Ormond Beach, a beautiful community. The mayor of Ormond Beach is doing a fantastic job of pointing these issues out and is standing strong in his position. But again, there are those that oppose him. The CAN DO movement is one of those mentioned previous that wants to restrict how high a structure can be. They say that they are opposed to a concrete jungle. Yet, what they are asking for is what they are fighting against? It is kind of like a civil war within the movement where neither side knows what they are fighting for. For a clearer understanding as to what all this means, be sure to visit Ormond Can Be . Pay special attention to down the page about half way to the two comparison pictures Tall and slender in comparison to short and stout. Notice the picture where you can see the beach!

Daytona Beach residents were AOL'ed by the media and DBAVCB

The residents of Daytona Beach have been blinded and guided into not adopting a 'visioning plan' presented by A. Nelessen Associates like a AOL first time user. Just as thousands of AOL users have never seen a true web browser and are led by the hand in the on line activities, such was the case in the overwhelming dismissal of the proposed visioning plan. A plan that cost the city in excess of 250,000 dollars was never given a chance according to the president of A. Nelessen Associates in a statement to the Daytona News Journal here. EDIT: Hmm, it appears that the letter was somehow deleted from the online edition of the Daytona newspaper. Not a problem, you can read the letter here

After reading the statement and looking at what the vision plan actually entailed, it was clear that the residents of Daytona Beach either never were shown the vision, or it was held only in context. The statement released today from Mr. Nelessen tells how his vision plan for the city of Daytona Beach being rejected was a first. The vision it seems called for too much viewable area of the beach being left undeveloped when according to the Daytona Chamber it would be better used building hotel lobbies with restaurants and shops. If you want to see the 'worlds most famous beach" you will have to pay to drive on it or view it from a balcony. The vision also called for too many acres of unspoiled wildlife area being left untouched. The recommendations by the chamber feels that these areas would be better put to use by building housing projects on them to lessen the population density in the downtown and beach areas.
The Daytona Beach City Commission and the Chamber expressed their disappointment that Mr. Nelessen's vision plan made no mention of the area's huge resources like the Daytona International Speedway. They were also miffed that he did not include tourism and special events like Biketober and Bike Week (that they are wanting to downscale) in his vision for the city. The city felt that because these resources generate millions of dollars, they needed to be included in a vision.
The recommendation also points out that Daytona Beach has evolved from a single city into a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) encompassing New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange to the south, and Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, and Flagler Beach to the north. Really?

ZoomInfo Web Summary: Michael Odom

ZoomInfo Web Summary: Michael Odom
For more information about the writer of this blog, Mike Odom

How this blog got its name

I do a lot of driving. Many time I drive cars that need to be transported from point A to point B. Today I had to drive a car for quite some distance that had no air conditioning or radio! I love to sing in the car with the radio when I am traveling by myself. So without this luxury and many more miles ahead, I began to sing anyway. Some really old songs started coming to my head out of nowhere. Then I was suddenly stumped on lyrics and what to sing next to entertain myself during the ride. I was in the fast lane of a interstate highway doing 10 over and had a guy tailgating like I was doing 40. I looked in the passenger side rear view to check the lane before I made my way over to let the jerk by. There it was! In the mirror, the next song for me to sing. If you are a big classic rock fan, you probably already have determined the song and artist by the weblog title.


But it was long ago and it was far away, oh God it seems so very far
And if life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car
And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are

Meatloaf from the Bat out of Hell II album

Yes the very words that are in the rear view mirror prompted both the next song and the title of this blog.
of course I had to do a couple more cuts by this talented musician before I made my destination. Do I have you guessing?
OK, I tell.
Two out of three ain't bad and Paradise by the dashboard light