"Dear Joe,
I read the comment recently that one of your readers sent in about reporting children not in safety seats. Attached with this email is a picture taken from my car earlier today at the end of Route 376 in Berlin next to Bucks Place. If you can see, it is a motorcycle with two children on the back. I would guess the two girls were around 7 years old. Now when riding in a car we are expected to have our children buckled up in properly installed safety seats. Not only was there one child that in a car would most likely have to be in a seat, but two children. Both girls did have helmets on, but as I got closer when stopping at the stop sign I could tell they were only bike cycle helmets. I had followed this motorcycle for several miles and observed the girls. A few times they lifted their arms out as if they were flying and the girl in the very back seemed to lose balance and had to grab on to the back of the seat. I did call the Worcester County Sheriffs office at (410) 632-1111 adn the nice lady who answered the phone did tell me that riding a child on the back of a motorcycle was legal as long as they had a helmet on. She did not know if it was legal to have two children and said she would patch me through to dispactch. Well I waited on hold and before they could come on to answer the question I pulled up at work and to hang up. Do you have an in at the Worcester County Sheriffs office and can find out the answer? Plus if you do the license plate number was Maryland 012M33. As a mother of a 6 year old and 9 month old I find it absolutely crazy that a parent would do this. I also can't believe that Maryland law permits a child that should be in a safety seat to ride on the back of a motorcyle. I know this may offend some motorcycle riders out there, but I'm only thinking of the safety of those two children. I don't believe children should be on motorcycles if they would have to be in a safety se at in a vehicle.
MaryAnn
Berlin, MD"
29 comments:
Children are over protected these days. What ever happened to mud pies and riding in the back of the pick-up truck. All the things we did as children are thought to be crazy these days.
Hello- I am who you spoke with when you called the Worcester County Sheriff's Office. I am sorry that you had to hang up before we were able to get back with you. It is not legal unless the motorcycle has enough foot rests, which most only have two sets. I have shown your posts to my Supervisor and they are looking in to this matter. Thank you for your concern!
you got them all running scared,(or maybe its just doing what their paid to do?).
MaryAnn - I know who you are.
You are the same person that lets your son, Zachary ride his ATV with his PopPop WITHOUT A HELMET!
Worry about your own children.
come on now, mary ann simply did her job to inform the public what the law is concerning this. no cat fight needed lady.
This is really none of your business! The children neither belong to you or the state. If the state gave a darn about "the children", they would protect us from socialists and illegal aliens. You can't legislate common sense.
MaryAnn, what are you the designated Nanny? The Safety Police?
Geez.
common sense can legislate the people. hell thats what were missing.
woman heart to mouth, annoying isnt it.
"The children neither belong to you or the state"
And what happens when the children fly off that motorcycle and get a head injury because of improper safety equipment? Who do you think is gonna pay those hospital bills? You really think a parent who thinks it's ok to use a bike helmet on a motorcycle is gonna have health insurance that'll cover $500,000 in injuries per child? That is if they would even survive a crash.
Anon 10:20 am: If you know me all that well, you would know my Son wheres his helmet when I am home. When I'm not home I can not control it. His ATV is only 50cc turned down as low as it will go. He's not on a highway doing 50+ MPH with other vehicles around. He's also not holding out his arms pretending to fly, losing his balance and almost falling either. Plus I don't appreciate having my Sons name broadcasted on this board. By the way next time you want to sling mud at me put your name on your comment.
Shirley, Thanks for at least putting your name on the comment. You didn't see the child on the very back of that motorcycle slide to one side and have to grab on to the seat to keep her balance. If you did, you might concerned as well.
MaryAnn
Maryann - your vehicles have been home when your son has been outside riding with his Poppop. Yes, I personally know him too, and his daily trips to Uncle Willie's begging for his daily dose of illegal drugs. I have also seen your son on the back of his poppop's ATV, WITHOUT A HELMET, riding on private property at the sand pit.
His ATV may be turned down, but it's still dangerous, especially with other people on ATV's that can easily run into your son.
Furthermore, I am not "slinging mud," I am simply stating that you should be more cautious when throwing stones, since you don't know who reads this blog.
And, no, I am not posting my name because I have to protect my family. I'm not sure that my family would be safe because of the lifestyles that some of your family members lead (not you). I believe in protecting my family, just as you protect your children.
I am not saying you are a bad parent. I have seen you with your children. You are great with them. You are a very involved parent and your mother is a very involved grandparent.
This is a blog, Maryann, not everyone will agree with you, Joe, or any other contributors. I am glad that you are trying to good good for the world and it's children, but please start at your own home.
enough bickering, i can that here.
This has gone a little past what I was trying to accomplish by posting this. I just wanted to find out what the laws were concerning this. A very nice Deputy Sheriff has called me and explained the laws. Maryland law permits a child to ride on a Motorcycle with proper equipment (helmet) and the bike must be equipped with seating and foot pegs for the number of riders on the bike. My concern was that those children were riding on a motorcycle doing 50+ mph and the child on the very back seemed to lose her balance and have to grab the seat pad behind her. There is nothing to protect that child should she had fallen off that motorcycle. All that was there is the pavement and cars coming in both directions. If I'm wrong for being concerned then so be it. I wanted to know what the laws were since I wasn't able to find out in the way I originally tried to. I was not expecting that Joe would post this to his main page and everyone that reads SBYNews see it. Now I'm being attacked for being concerned and wanting an answer to my question. I am a single Mother working my ass off in order to provide for my 2 kids. This is why people don't speak up any more when they see things going on. Because you get attacked for it. I know i personally will think twice.
MaryAnn said: "Plus I don't appreciate having my Sons name broadcasted on this board."
And yet you're perfectly ok with publishing the license plate number of someone you don't even know. Do you even see how hypocritical that is? It goes both ways, MaryAnn.
How is a tag number the same as a Child's name? Her child has nothing to do with this.
I'll tell you how, 1:14: Based on the information provided in this comment thread and the original post, we don't know who MaryAnn actually is-- she's just a person who sent an e-mail voicing her concern, and who happens to have a son named Zach. However, someone could take that tag information, and find out exactly who that bike is registered to, where they live, etc.-- and once you have that information, you have the basic tools to get your hands on Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account info...
And I never said that her child had anything to do with this. My point was that people who wish to point the finger need to not be surprised when fingers are pointed back at them. Now, I have to say that I posted that comment as Joe was approving MaryAnn's comment where she states that she didn't expect her mail to be published. If that is truly the case, and she never meant to make that tag number public, then I apologize for starting a moot argument.
Geez! Mary Ann didn't publish the message to the blog, Joe did. I'm assuming that Joe saw the merit in posting the message, to increase awareness in that kind of situation and chose to publish it. So its really not fair to say that she's being a hypocrite about her son's name being put in here.
Anyway, the real reason I'm commenting... I wonder how all of you would feel about Mary Ann's decision to notify someone of this biker if one of those little girl's fell off and landed under your tires? I know that that is an absolutely horrible thing to ask, but I feel like this has nothing to do with the dollar value to the hospital bill, or the stupidity of the biker for putting two children on the back of that bike. If I were in a car following that bike, I would do everything in my power to GET AWAY so that if one of those girls did fall, it wouldn't be in my heart forever that my car striking them was how they died. Then, I think I'd do exactly what Mary Ann did and call the police.
I can see why it would seem annoying that Mary Ann is being the "tattle tale" but think of it from the point of view of the people who might witness that girl's death, or the girl who could possibly have died, just because the driver of the bike was an idiot.
1:33 if you could get all that information from a tag # none of us would have tag #'s on the back of our cars and all of our identities would be stolen. Come on that statement doesn't make sense.
Maryann asked Joe to publish it. I verified it with Joe.
Anon 3:07 that is one out and out lie. My email to Joe was posted as is typos and all.
Angela, Thank You! At least one person out there understands where I was coming from.
I'm sure Joe gets hundred if not thousands of emails a day. How was I to know he would post mine. Like I said before this has gone way past my intentions. I wanted an answer to question and I got it when the Sheriffs office called. I presently wish I could take back my email to Joe. If I had know it would cause this much commotion I would have never sent it.
MaryAnn
MaryAnn,
I am an avid Biker and have been for most of my life. I am also a responsible Bike Rider.
That being said, I personally saw your photo and story and I agree 100% with your cause, as do the Police.
It saddens me that you wished you hadn't sent this information to me because I don't care what any of the commenters here think, this person was breaking the law and putting children at risk.
Also keep in mind that many of the nay sayers on here are pansies using the anonymous title and could very well be ONE person.
So don't let them bother you one single second. If they want to accurately comment and use their real name, so be it. However, in the mean time there are plenty of JR's out there that talk sh!t all day on the Blogs just to attempt to discredit others and get an arguement started. As I do reject by moderation many of those stupid and off topic statements, some do get through and they're all so proud. It just shows how childish they are.
I personally thank you and support you for what you sent in. Joe
way to go joe!
Mary Ann -- way to go!!!!!!!!!
joe - you know why i cannot sign my name. and i know what you told me.
yes, i feel what maryann did was courageous and respectable by getting this guy caught by taking the pic and getting it to the right post that will get attention. my only beef with maryann is that she should practice what she preaches. her son rides his own atv and rides with his poppop without a helmet, even when around other atv riders.
i apologize if you feel i was saying you weren't doing something active for the community. i commend you. pics don't lie and i hope this guy gets caught.
Okay, folks. MaryAnn, thank you for wanting to get info and for caring about these children. I am sorry you are being blasted. Riding an off-road ATV, at what I'm guessing is well below 50 mph and is a 4-wheeler, is far different from riding a 2-wheeler on a city strret or highway at a speed over 50!
1:33 pm-Unless you have someone at DMV who is willing to break the law, or a source with the PD or another state agency AUTHORIZED to get that info from a tag #, you must be a computer hacker. Unless things have changed that much over the years and this is now info open to the public, but I doubt it. I used to work for DMV and other state agencies in another state, and you could go to jail for releasing such info.
Anon 6:11 pm: The guy didn't getting caught. The Worcester County Sheriff who called me told me they would be keeping an eye out for something like this more, but never said anything would be done against this particular driver.
As far as my Son on his ATV and you know me so well then contact me personally to discuss your issues. If you know me well enough, you know I'd have no problem discussing it. He has a helmet (matter of fact he has 2) and he's been told NOT to ride without it.
MaryAnn
the next time you two gals have a cat fight let me know, ill bring the pool and the jello.
No, Susan, it doesn't take a hacker to find that kind of information. Anyone can pay a registration fee at a handful of records websites, and get access to all of the information I listed above. I know someone personally who uses one of those sites to do informal background checks on potential employees.
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