Billy Lane involved in bike fatallity

**cbrburns** · 09-05-06, 09:10 PM

Anyone else see this? Apparently he was passing on a double yellow and hit a motorcycle, killing the rider. WTF was he thinking? RIP to the fallen rider.

http://www.wftv.com/news/9792681/detail.html

**Cue Ball** · 09-05-06, 10:52 PM

He is a piece of shit. I hated him before because his bikes were shit, and if you watched him on TV, he was either drunk, getting drunk, or coming into work from being drunk, nope, there is NO WAY he was drinking and driving...horse shit. Throw the book at him and I hope the rider's family sues him for every stinkin' penny he has.

And by the way, Florida has some of the most stringent drunk driving penalties, they allow you to seek punitive damages which come straight out of the guy's pocket and are not covered under insurance, which are over and above the normal pain/suffering/wrongful death penalties.

Money will never make up for the rider's family's pain, but at least that fucker will think twice next time.

**Little John** · 09-06-06, 07:13 AM

He passed on a double-yellow and caused someone's death: vehicular manslaughter. If it was under the influence, doesn't it become 3rd-degree murder? Throw his ass in the slammer, either way - I wonder if he had one of those "Motorcycles are Everywhere" stickers on the truck. What a scumbag.

I still like his bikes, tho. A lot closer to a chopper than most of these cookie-cutter OCC wannabes.

**The Snowman** · 09-06-06, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by Cue Ball
He is a piece of shit.

+!

And so are his bikes. You ever watch how he makes them? He practically glues them together. On one of those Biker Build-off shows, the bike he built kept breaking down.

And Drunk?? The guy is the posterboy for partying.

**bigred875** · 09-06-06, 07:44 AM

**Tricky Mike** · 09-06-06, 08:43 AM

A little off-topic, but I hate the media...

"On his Choppers, Inc. web site, Lane is shown relaxing with a beer. Troopers suspect he was driving under the influence late Monday night."

What the fuck does one thing have to do with the other? Holy shit! A BEER?!? What about the children? Think about the children. Classic, weak-ass predictable, small market fear-mongering.

I think the guy's a douche and his bikes are duct tape deathtraps, but don't believe everything you read on WFTV.com.

If he was over a double yellow and suspected of being drunk why was he not placed in custody? He kills someone, was suspected of being under the influence at the scene and they just let him leave pending blood test results?

**benVFR** · 09-06-06, 09:04 AM

Yah cause he was a celebrity.

He got the Ted Kennedy treatment.

You can't even say he in particular was all about partying.. choppers/cruisers are all about partying period. Not everyone, I won't generalize, but a significant portion of the people devoted to that culture think drinking and riding go together like nails & a hammer. Someone like Billy Lane probably can't get to the top without getting that reputation as a party-hard type of person.

BTW the article wasn't really reading between the lines... did you miss the direct quote from the police that he was suspected of being under the influence based on THEIR evaluation?

**Tricky Mike** · 09-06-06, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by benVFR

BTW the article wasn't really reading between the lines... did you miss the direct quote from the police that he was suspected of being under the influence based on THEIR evaluation?

Didn't miss it.
That was my point... If he was suspected of being drunk by police at the scene, why were no charges pressed? Maybe he's enough of a celebrity down in FL to get Ted Kennedy treatment, but I'm not so sure. I mean, he killed a guy... with several witnesses according to the story. Just seems hard to believe that they'd let a tattoo covered bad-boy slide... maybe for a fender-bender... I dunno... I suppose anything's possible.

**MissTwisties** · 09-06-06, 09:50 AM

"Lane has not been charged with anything. He's free to go where he wants and he's free to drive. Troopers are still waiting to get the blood work."

Hmm...

RIP to the fallen rider...

**bigred875** · 09-06-06, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by trickphoto
Didn't miss it.
That was my point... If he was suspected of being drunk by police at the scene, why were no charges pressed? Maybe he's enough of a celebrity down in FL to get Ted Kennedy treatment, but I'm not so sure. I mean, he killed a guy... with several witnesses according to the story. Just seems hard to believe that they'd let a tattoo covered bad-boy slide... maybe for a fender-bender... I dunno... I suppose anything's possible.

they are waiting to see what the blood test results are then they will charge him...he didnt get off...sounds like the cops are getting their ducks in a row so he doesnt get off on some BS techicallity...i am sure mr lane has a good lawyer

**Little John** · 09-06-06, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by bigred875
they are waiting to see what the blood test results are then they will charge him...he didnt get off...sounds like the cops are getting their ducks in a row so he doesnt get off on some BS techicallity...i am sure mr lane has a good lawyer

As I said in another forum regarding this: Why is there a multi-week leadtime on BAT results when breathalyzers are everywhere? I'm assuming they're not as accurate, but they seem to be good enough to arrest non-celebrities...

**katana0215** · 09-06-06, 11:13 AM

I met him at a bike expo in boston about 3 years ago. He was a total ass. He sat in the middle of his booth and wouldnt even look at the people waiting to see him. total dick.

Meanwhile Indian LArry and Dave Perowitz were out walking through the lines of people waiting to see them, signing autographs.

I think lane comes of as an asshole on his show, but it was worse in person

**benVFR** · 09-06-06, 11:13 AM

The real idiocy would be if it turned out like this:

- He was drunk
- He did cross a double yellow
- Cops file charges
- His lawyers and/or celebrity status get him off

- Chopper riders continue to support him & buy his shit bikes

**Little John** · 09-06-06, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by benVFR
The real idiocy would be if it turned out like this:

- He was drunk
- He did cross a double yellow
- Cops file charges
- His lawyers and/or celebrity status get him off

- Chopper riders continue to support him & buy his shit bikes

If that happens, we should start selling T-shirts that say "Billy Lane Kills Bikers" and donate proceeds to the guy's family or some sort of charity - maybe MADD!

**MissTwisties** · 09-06-06, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by Little John
If that happens, we should start selling T-shirts that say "Billy Lane Kills Bikers" and donate proceeds to the guy's family or some sort of charity - maybe MADD!

I'd buy one fo sure. Will there be titi shirts?

**zombie** · 09-06-06, 12:00 PM

he was transported to hospital after the accident and the cops have to go thru the doctors for the blood tests , otherwise he would have been breathalysed on the spot.
I know a lot of chopper guys having built and ridden them for years and you would be surprised at the amount of those guys that don't drink or condone this behaviour..
What really sucks about this is a guy riding home from work on his bike gets slaughtered by this guy and his bad decisions, if he was drunk they will nail him to the wall as the cops don't like Billy Lane as he is close too and rides with members of an outlaw motorcycle club in Florida. Wonder if he had a motorcycles are everywhere sticker on his truck..

**benVFR** · 09-06-06, 12:39 PM

I would hope at least that if justice closes it's eye to this that the chopper cruiser crew will make him pay in their own way by not buying his bikes and shaming him at rallies, etc..

**bigred875** · 09-06-06, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by Little John
As I said in another forum regarding this: Why is there a multi-week leadtime on BAT results when breathalyzers are everywhere? I'm assuming they're not as accurate, but they seem to be good enough to arrest non-celebrities...

they are checking for more then alcohol

**dhuze** · 09-06-06, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by Cue Ball
He is a piece of shit. I hated him before because his bikes were shit, and if you watched him on TV, he was either drunk, getting drunk, or coming into work from being drunk, nope, there is NO WAY he was drinking and driving...horse shit. Throw the book at him and I hope the rider's family sues him for every stinkin' penny he has.

And by the way, Florida has some of the most stringent drunk driving penalties, they allow you to seek punitive damages which come straight out of the guy's pocket and are not covered under insurance, which are over and above the normal pain/suffering/wrongful death penalties.

Money will never make up for the rider's family's pain, but at least that fucker will think twice next time.

Yet You see this:

"I would doubt he would hit a guy on a bike, and I would even doubt if he was drinking and driving," said customer Joe Garcia.

**odduc** · 09-06-06, 01:49 PM

I've never heard of this guy.....

It doesn't matter who he is, he killed another human being with his poor decision to pass in an illegal passing zone. That alone, to me, seems to be enough to prosecute. Am I missing something here ????????

**RSVMILLE661** · 09-06-06, 03:05 PM

It sounds like he definitely caused a death by using poor judgement. If he was not drunk he should see atleast 3 years in prison. If he was drunk or *influenced* he should see 15.

Either way its a tragedy. May the fallen rider rest in peace and may his family find peace through all of this.

**Little John** · 09-06-06, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by bigred875
they are checking for more then alcohol

Duh... of course! Where's the guy smacking his forehead emoticon...?

**bigred875** · 09-06-06, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by Little John
Duh... of course! Where's the guy smacking his forehead emoticon...?

ya i am sure charges will be brought...they'd better be...

even so I say 0 years in jail if he was sober and 3 if drunk...but will likely lose his lics. for atleast 10years

**benVFR** · 09-06-06, 03:39 PM

Billy Lane involved in bike fatallity

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