To prevent violence, the
Sheriff’s Office has taken a proactive approach and shifted the focus of its
motorcycle theft task force that operated during the event for years. The team
now monitors local, national and international motorcycle clubs.
“I would say that it seemed when I first got here in 2006,
it was high, and then we hit a period where there was a lull, there was a
period where we knocked their club house out of Daytona Beach,” Chitwood said.
In August 2007, Daytona Beach police and FBI raided and
busted up the Outlaws motorcycle club’s clubhouse on Beach Street. The Outlaws
MC tried making a comeback but Daytona Beach police and code enforcement has
made it difficult for them to set up house in other locations in the city.
“Daytona is a national run for most motorcycle clubs during
Bike Week,” Capri said. “Meaning that most motorcycle clubs require their
members to be here.”
Daytona Beach police detectives have met with several of the
motorcycle clubs and laid down the rules of the city to them, Capri said.
“Our number one goal is public safety,” Capri said. “We’ve
met with them and told them they can have their fun but we’ve let them know
that if they cause problems, we’ll be on them. They’ve been receptive to our
rules.”
SOURCE: The Daytona Beach Journal
Source: Biker Trash Network