[FLHTbiker]

Lock him up and throw the key away. This guy is sure to give motorcyclist another black eye to over come. At least he was driving a truck and not riding a bike.

I really hope he does get jail time.

[bikerjim1]

Yes, he was driving a truck, but he's a profile person KNOWN for motorcycle building and riding, so whether he was in a truck, flying a plane, or riding a scoot, it's still a black eye for the cyclist community as a whole as far as the "common" citizen is concerned.

[ridehard95]

Originally Posted by Killer-B

Oh ya, one more thing...
>>>> It's a bad scene when bike riders don't pay anymore attention than cagers do.<<<<
Please,,, just because someone rides a bike, doesn’t automatically make them a good driver/rider. Some of the guys I’ve seen on bikes shouldn’t be allowed to walk on the sidewalk let alone operate a motor vehicle.

My .02

LOL your right about that I have sean guys that just don't have a clue . I live in florida and when you see these guys with there chaps on there vest and leather coat and sweet is running down there face because its 95 degrees out it just makes you wounder WHAT ARE THEY THINKING

[mwelych]

Thanks Killer B, I was wondering what was going on with this one. He is facing A drunk driving charge in NC and then he does this in Florida. He apparently hasn't learned his lesson the first time. I do believe that they need to lock him up for a while. Wow... That's all I can say. Thank God I never did anything like that. Could have, but thankfully didn't.

[FLHTbiker]

Originally Posted by ridehard95

LOL your right about that I have sean guys that just don't have a clue . I live in florida and when you see these guys with there chaps on there vest and leather coat and sweet is running down there face because its 95 degrees out it just makes you wounder WHAT ARE THEY THINKING

Protection! Either that or there trying to loose weight.

The ones that made me laugh was my last time in Sturgis. No place to park the bike so we hit the side street. We get off and we are pulling everything off clear down to just a T-shirt when here comes a car. They park just down from us and all these guys get out and head for the strip. I wished I had my camera out as they all had their new chaps, leather vests and riding boots on. We got a pretty good laugh. Guess they were trying to impress somebody.

[hotroadking]

Herald Today
TRAVIS REED
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. - A motorcycle shop owner who has appeared on the Discovery Channel's "Biker Build-Off" was arrested Monday and charged with drunken driving manslaughter in the traffic death of a biker.

William "Billy" Lane, 36, registered a blood alcohol level of 0.192 percent, more than twice the legal driving limit of 0.08. He was also driving with a suspended license for refusing to take an alcohol breath test after a June incident in North Carolina, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller said.

Lane, owner of Melbourne-based Choppers Inc., attempted to pass two cars Sept. 4 in his 2006 Dodge Ram pickup despite a double-yellow line, Miller said. He struck 56-year-old Gerald Morelock, of Melbourne Beach, on his Yamaha Motorcycle, killing the man at the scene, Miller said.

Investigators are still trying to determine how fast Lane was going. Miller said Lane originally refused to submit to alcohol tests this time also, but complied when officers told him the bloodwork could be forcibly taken because the crashed killed someone.

Accompanied by his attorneys, Lane turned himself in at a Florida Highway Patrol station, Miller said. He was also charged with DUI serious bodily injury and driving on a suspended license involving a death. He was booked into the Brevard County Jail on $15,000 bond.

An assistant for Lane did not immediately return a telephone message left at Choppers Inc. on Monday afternoon. Lane attorney Kepler Funk said through a receptionist he would issue a statement later Monday.

If convicted, Lane faces up to 15 years in prison each for DUI manslaughter and driving on a suspended license in conjunction with a death, both second-degree felonies.

The tattooed, dreadlocked man has grown acclaim building custom-made motorcycles, writing two books on the subject and appearing on several television shows, including the "Biker Build-Off" and "Monster Garage." Last year he was featured in a Discovery special on his "Blood Sweat and Gears" tour

[DeathWind]

Lane, victim's kin face tough days

BY J.D. GALLOP AND JOHN TORRES
FLORIDA TODAY

One day after celebrity motorcycle designer Billy Lane bonded out of the Brevard County Jail Complex on a DUI manslaughter charge, his attorney says the Melbourne Beach resident is still coping with injuries from the deadly crash that led to his arrest.

"Physically, he's trying to recover and mentally, it's rough. It's been horrifically stressful to go through," said criminal defense Attorney Kepler Funk said today.

Lane turned himself in to Florida Highway Patrol authorities Monday on charges of driving under the influence — manslaughter in the death of 56-year-old Gerald Vernon Morelock. Lane was also charged with driving with his license suspended and driving under the influence with serious injuries.

Byron Morelock, the crash victim's brother, said it's been a difficult few days with television reporters following him and his 16-year-old son, Sean, around while they both try and deal with their grief. Gerry Morelock was very close to Sean. The two spent many days together fishing and talking.

"It's a shame that the guy that killed my brother was inebriated," Byron Morelock said slowly this morning. "There are no winners. I lost my brother and he's losing his freedom."

Investigators said the fatal crash happened Sept. 4 as Lane — who, according to the FHP report, had been drinking throughout much of the day — crossed a double-yellow line and attempted to pass several cars on State Road A1A, just south of Melbourne Beach. His Dodge Ram pickup truck slammed head-on into Morelock, who was riding on what Florida Highway Patrol investigators said was a street-legal moped.

Investigators said Lane's blood alcohol level was .192, more than twice the state's legal limit of .08.

Funk said his law firm was reviewing the state's findings on the blood-alcohol test.

Lane, who faces up to 15 years in state prison if convicted, was released on $15,000 bond and had to turn over his passport. He is also prohibited from contacting the victim's family and cannot have alcohol or drive, Funk said.
"I haven't been given a court date yet," Funk added.

[DeathWind]

COCOA — With four attorneys by his side, nationally renowned motorcycle designer Billy Lane quietly turned himself in to authorities today on charges his blood alcohol was twice more than the legal limit during a collision that left a 56-year-old man dead.

Lane was arrested on charges of driving under the influence manslaughter, driving with his license suspended and driving under the influence with serious bodily injuries stemming from the Sept. 4 accident on State Road A1A, south of Melbourne Beach.

Gerald Vernon Morelock, a Sebastian Inlet park ranger from Melbourne Beach, was killed in the head-on collision between his moped and Lane’s pickup.

“At the time of the crash (Lane’s) license had been suspended,” said Florida Highway Patrol Spokeswoman Kim Miller of Lane, whose case has drawn attention from motorcycling enthusiasts across the country.

“He should have never been behind the wheel,” Miller said.

Lane’s blood alcohol level tested at .192, more than twice the state’s legal limit of .08, Miller said. Lane’s attorney issued a statement.

“We are currently conducting our own investigation of every aspect of this accident, including the blood alcohol level,” said Melbourne attorney Kepler Funk.

Morelock’s brother, Byron Morelock of Indialantic, praised the efforts to bring in Lane on DUI manslaughter charges. He described his brother “Jerry” as a friendly, fun-loving man who moved to Brevard from Ohio in 1984. “I’m relieved, but I had faith in the arresting patrolman, and I have faith in our legal system,” Byron Morelock said.

“(The investigator) kept in touch with me and said the investigators were crossing their t’s and dotting their i’s. I’m relieved, but it’s such a shame this had to happen. There are no winners in this thing. Relieved is the wrong word, maybe just that some of the tension is gone.”

Monday, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper led a handcuffed Lane out of the highway patrol’s Cocoa headquarters about 1:30 p.m. to a waiting patrol car.

Lane, looking disheveled and staring ahead quietly, was placed in the front seat of the patrol car then escorted to the Brevard County Jail Complex where he was photographed and booked into the jail. He was released within 90 minutes on a $15,000 bond, officials said.

“That does seem low, but unfortunately for us, we don’t set the bond,” Miller said. “We would like to see a higher bond, but it’s a standard bond.”

Lane will have to turn over his passport and cannot get behind the wheel as part of the requirements of his bond, Miller said.

Investigators said the accident happened after Lane, the custom chopper builder featured on Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off and Monster Garage, crossed a double yellow line to pass several other vehicles before striking Morelock’s 1983 Yamaha moped.

Lane had been drinking throughout the day, according to investigators. He was at Coconuts on the Beach Restaurant and Bar in Cocoa Beach earlier and left the popular nightclub and headed to Cheaters, another popular nightspot, where he had several other drinks, officials said.

Lane got on his motorcycle with a passenger identified as Erin Levens Derrick and rode to his business, Choppers Inc., on the 1200 block of U.S. 1 in Melbourne.

It was there at the shop that Lane and his passenger got into a black, custom-painted 2006 Dodge Ram pickup and headed toward his beachside home.

Later on State Road A1A, a two-lane highway that parallels the beach and cuts through a heavily residential area, Lane was spotted passing the double white line to speed southbound past three vehicles on the darkened road, officials said. Several of the other motorists told Florida Highway Patrol investigators that they saw a headlight in the distance belonging to the northbound moped ridden by Morelock. Investigators said Lane saw the light, then attempted to veer east when the pickup slammed head-on into the moped, killing Morelock instantly. The moped was destroyed, its mangled wreckage tossed 64-feet away.

Lane’s pickup rolled off the road, knocking over three palm trees and overturned into a power pole, reports show.

Brevard County Fire-Rescue paramedics arrived minutes later and found Lane, injured but conscious, still in the driver’s seat. Paramedics said they also smelled alcohol.

Both Lane and his passenger, Derrick, were taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne for treatment.

But at the hospital, Lane, still able to speak, refused a request from investigators to draw blood. Troopers then had to hold Lane down while a nurse took the blood sample, officials said. He went home the next day.

Investigators did not immediately file charges in the case, something that raised the ire of family members and motorcycle bloggers on the Internet. But agents — who described the crash scene as one of the worst they had seen in recent years — turned over Lane’s blood to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement laboratory in Orlando and asked that the case be given a priority.

“They actually put a rush on it and his blood alcohol actually came back twice the legal limit of .08,” Miller said. The deadly crash was also not the only run-in with traffic enforcement for the celebrity biker. In June, North Carolina Highway Patrol officers arrested Lane on drunken driving charges.

Police in that case said Lane drove on the wrong side of a two-lane road without a helmet. Lane refused a breath test and is due in court Oct. 5 for those charges, according to the Rowan County Clerk of Courts. His refusal to take the test resulted in his license being suspended for a year.

Miller said having a revoked license should have kept Lane from behind the wheel but apparently wasn’t enough to keep Lane from driving again.

Lane faces another court date, this time for the fatal Brevard crash.

“The police did the right thing and took their time,” Byron Morelock said. “It just goes to show that you cannot go around drinking and driving.”

[ridehard95]

Originally Posted by bikerjim1

Yes, he was driving a truck, but he's a profile person KNOWN for motorcycle building and riding, so whether he was in a truck, flying a plane, or riding a scoot, it's still a black eye for the cyclist community as a whole as far as the "common" citizen is concerned.

You are so right its a shame that small mined people will hold all motorcycle riders to blame . But the Harley riders will get the worst of it.There are a lot of people out there that think just because you ride a Harley and wear a black leather coat that your a low life piece of s@#t . I would love to know how much money the bikers in this country have raised for the people in need .But people never think of that do they. What happen to billy could have happen to me years ago when I was drinking but I was lucky like a lot of us.I am glad to say its been 10 years I have been sober. What he did was wrong but I bet A lot of us in this chat room could have been in his shoes one time or another in or life time of Bars Boobs and Bikes. Its just a shame for all the families it hurt

[Sleepy]

Billy Lane is seen as a TV celeb, a la Jesse James and the guys from American Chopper up this way. I'm not really concerned about Billy's crash on how it impacts society's views on the motorcycling community..we're our own worst enemy ripping around on opened piped bikes or catwalking thru downtown or on the highway on a sportbike. I feel bad for Billy..he screwed up big time. I feel bad for the family of the victim and the brother, Byron, nailed it when he said there are no winners.ridehard95, I'll bet you're correct in saying that some of us could have been in Billy's shoes..I'm one..still like the beer but I don't drink and drive or ride any more..been a bunch of years for that..and you're right about all the families that it hurt...the whole thing just sucks

[gumby321]

Lets just say that this whole thing is one big nightmare all around. For the family of the man who died. Plus Billy Lane who has worked to get to where he was for many years. The OP word is WAS and now after all that hard work for all those years, he will now be scared for life. Not only will he have to live the rest of his life knowing that doing something as stupid as crossing over a double yellow line for a piece of ass killed a man and changed his life forever.

He is going to have to climb back, if he ever will, to where he was at this time of his life. For him to be a notable figure in our world in which we are all looked at under a microscope, puts more negative thoughts into those pea brained people who peg us all as brainless, drug addicted, drug running, beer drinking biker scum.

They never remember ALL THE GOOD WE DO. They have no clue about what the LOVE RUN is about in calif. every year. All they remember is this and Laughlin a few years ago. When those who want and have a need to be looked at in a negitive way go for what their need is.
This will cost Billy more then money. This will cost him his freedom and many sleepless nights. If he has a true heart and soul and what I have seen, he does. So this will be his living hell for years to come. Lets face it, we all have a past and we all have to live with what we have done in our past.

I can speak only for myself. Yet I know by speaking of myself I know that I speak for many of us. Yes, we were what we were and we did what we did.
The differance here is that at my age now and looking back on some of those things that I must live with daily. I was a young stupid know it all. Who thought my way was the only way. Billy Lane is not a kid. He is a grown up as far as his age. Instead of going out and partying and praying on his groupies. Maybe he should have been taking stock of himself and what his next big venture will be.
This unfortunatly will not be forgotten very fast. It is an ugly incident for everyone. There are many of us here that I have run into that are friends of Bill W.
I know that you all think that Billy should do what some of us have done. You all know that it takes more then something like this to become a club member.

All that we can do now is hope that Billy Lane comes out of this as easy as possable. Pray for the loved ones that are involved.
Every body is acountable for their own actions. For every action there is always a reaction. Unfortunatly this one had a negative reaction. Being who we are today. Where most of us came from years ago. You have to think about the WHAT IF'S. GUMBY PEACE- NEVER FORGET THE WHAT IF'S

[GreyBear]

[quote=hotroadking;14397]Herald Today

Accompanied by his attorneys, Lane turned himself in at a Florida Highway Patrol station, Miller said. He was also charged with DUI serious bodily injury and driving on a suspended license involving a death. He was booked into the Brevard County Jail on $15,000 bond.



A bit off the subject in a way...but 15K bond? Hell last time I had to bail somebody out for a bar fight it was 10K and no bones were broken or weapons involved just a knuckle buster.....Who the H$%# figures out this bond crap anyway?

Ride Free....and keep a bondsman and attorney on retainer.....

[gumby321]

Those day for me are over. Needing bail money and lawyers for criminal crap I have done more than my share of spending time behind bars. Today I am just another joe schmoe who has a valid lic. and every now and then I will get a ticket for speeding. I carry all my paper work to show proof of ins. and all the good things to show joe cop.
Today I never get searched. When I didn't want to get searched I got searched. I guess they just have a six sense about those things. I played the game for many years. Some games I won and most I lost. No need to be a player in the game today. I can watch from the benches now.
GUMBY PEACE

[GreyBear]

Good you are not playing anymore gumby, it's a losing battle. Perhaps it is simply a holdover from the old days but I travel to much not to. I prefer to have an attorney on retainer for many things from contracts to tickets. To me having a personal relationship with the people you do business with always helps. Same with my Dr. It has been a long, long time since I needed to be represented in a criminal matter, but on never knows. As HRK said Sh*& Happens. And when it does I would rather have people to call that know who I am. I use the same approach with cops. When I moved here, I didn't wait for them to sniff around to find out who the new tattooed Harley rider was....I went and introduced myself. It never hurts to have people that, if you need to use thier services know you.... another reason I buy my insurance from an agent instead of online. It might cost a few bucks more but if I need to file a claim I call Ed, not an 800 number and talk to Sahid...
Congratulations on getting your life on track, gumby......

Ride Free........

[gumby321]

You Are So Right Though. I Moved Into Henderson In Vegas. The Cops Were At My Door In A Week. They Pulled Me From Taking My Garbage Out. They Were Creaping Along The Side Of My Neibors House. I Hear Frezz.....now I Have A Pair Of Shorts On An Flip Flops. Thats It So They Call Me Over And Ask Me Who Is In My House. I Tell Them My Wife Thats It. By This Time My Wife Comes Out Looking For Me. They Call Her Over And Ask Her The Same Thing.
Seems Like The Folks That Lived In The House Before Us Was In The Service. His Last Known Address Was This One.
So He Called The Va And Told Them He Had A Gun And Was Going To Shot Himself Or Somebody. So They Wanted To Go Into My House And I Was Not Moving To Let Them In. So Not Until I Heard What I Wanted To Hear From Them. I Know The Game And Played It Well For A Very Long Time. From Ny To Calif. From The Age Of 13 To Well Into My 40's. The Bad Cop Says We Are Not Going In Your House With Any Criminal Intent. I Had Nothing To Hide But I Wanted Them To Beg. Just Like They Always Made Me Do.
They Went Through The House And Found Nobody And Nothing.
Then The Bad Cop Asks Me For My Name And Ss#. Now I Am Not Stupid I Know Exactly Why He Wanted That. I Had To Play Their Game Then. He Could Have Gotten All My Info Off My Lic. Plate. So I Went With Him And Gave It To Him.
Now This Didn't Only Happen 1 Time It Happen 5 Times. After The 3rd Time I Called Down The Station And Asked For The Desk Sgt. I Told Them Who I Was And Where I Lived And Asked If They Knew What Was Happening Here Every Week. She Told Me Yes And Was Very Apologenic. That Was The End. Now I Know What They Did. They Ran Me. Now I Have To Tell You My Record Is Not So Pretty. Mostly For Drugs And Assalts. Been Out Of The Game For Many Years Now . I Am 53 And Retired. I Work In My Garage To All Hours Of The Night And They Pass By And See Me. They Used To Wave But No More. So Now We Have To Play This Game. It's Unfortunate But We Do What We Do And They Do What They Do. Take Care Gumby Peace Bro

[Killer-B]

I don’t know who is still interested in the Billy Lane thing, but for those that are…
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbc...GNEWS/61019019

[Killer-B]

Roflmao...

[chucktx]

thanks killer...........good post.
chuck

[ironhorse]

is this the biker to banker tranformer?

[gumby321]

I know we all didn't come from Saint Marys Church of God. This has got to be
killing Billy. He always talked about his fro. Which wasen't even a fro. Just long curly hair. So now the tranformation has been made. He probably will tell the judge he found God now and will be a good boy. I have seen it all before from the inside. All cons find god inside as soon as they get out. Then there is that other god calling to them.
I hope Billy gets his act together. I can't hold a grudge because it could have happened to any of us.
I have found that there are many friends here of Bill W. If you don't know who Bill W is he started AA. Then there was a spin off of N.A. and all the rest.
So lets hope that Billy finds his way back into the game in a positive way.

REMEMEBER....BY THE GRACE OF GOD THERE GO I...GUMBY PEACE