Dozens of bikers picketed at a South Florida restaurant Wednesday evening.
The group alleges Pembroke Pines Police are targeting motorcyclists for various traffic and equipment violations. But police have a different story.
Roaring engines outside the Hooters in Pembroke Pines sputtered to a hum. More than a decade of Wednesday "Bike Nights" was silenced as police crack down on bikers who aren't following the law.
"The tag, my plate is vertical instead of horizontal, so I guess that's illegal," said Luis Fernandez, ticketed motorcyclist.
It was a familiar scene in the parking lot as officers pulled over one motorcycle after another for violations big and small.
A motorcyclist crashed and died recently on Pines Boulevard after attending Bike Night at Hooters, and that pushed police to tighten up enforcement.
"There's a small minority, group of individuals who chose not to obey the traffic laws and those are the ones we want to educate, and make sure they comply with state law," said Capt. Al Xiques.
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Some bikers think the police are doing a good job, while others feel they're being targeted by law enforcement.
"From what I've heard, they're trying to drive away all the motorcyclists that come here and patronize Hooters. It's just a form of intimidation," one motorcyclist said.
Hooters used to bring out a DJ and vendors in the parking lot, but that's all come to a halt as they try to find a way to compromise with law enforcement and the City of Pembroke Pines.
Businesses are only allowed to have three events, like Bike Night, every year.
