LANCASTER – The lawsuit filed by Vagos International Motorcycle Club against the City of Lancaster has been dismissed, according to a press announcement issued by the City Wednesday.
“Public safety is always our top priority,” Mayor R. Rex Parris said in the statement. “Gang activity of any kind is unacceptable in our City, and our victory in this case cements that fact.”
The Vagos International Motorcycle Club filed its lawsuit against the City of Lancaster on June 17th in federal court. The lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of City Ordinance No. 953, which was approved by the Lancaster City Council on Sept. 28, 2010. The ordinance prohibits members of a criminal street gang from attending or being physically present at any “city event” with the intent to either:
- Publicize a criminal street gang’s dominance over certain territory in order to intimidate nonmembers of the gang from entering, remaining in, or using the public place or adjacent area, or
- Conceal ongoing commerce in illegal drugs or other unlawful activity.
In its lawsuit, the Vagos International Motorcycle Club claimed the City Ordinance violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. They also claimed that Vagos members wearing patches and paraphernalia would be targeted by law enforcement for harassment.
In a statement to the press on its website in April, the Vagos International Motorcycle club said:
“We, the Vagos Motorcycle Club, have never been, nor are we now a criminal organization, or a criminal street gang. Whoever says that we are a criminal organization or criminal street gang is misinformed and mistaken.
Our club patches are not as law enforcement would like to put it, “gang colors,” our club patches are trademarked and copyrighted symbolic speech that is protected by the United States Constitution… Simply put, the Vagos Motorcycle Club is a motorcycle club whose members choose to ride together and socialize together pursuant to our Constitutional Rights… If need be, we will file as many lawsuits as necessary to protect our constitutional right to ride our motorcycles, associate with each other, and to wear our club patches.”
After the City filed a Motion to Dismiss and the Plaintiffs failed to file an Opposition to the Motion, the judge ruled in favor of the City of Lancaster, according to the City’s statement.
Hey, as long as gang members don’t come to Lancaster Events LOOKING LIKE gang members its fine right?
Like when outlaw bikers come in mass to R. Rex Parris’s special buddy Ron Emard’s Harley shop or to Ron’s (Not licensed as a charity with the CA Attorney General’s web site as required by law so that there is no public accounting of their assets or expenses..) Thunder At The Lot charity “For The children..”???
This way the sheriffs won’t know with a quick glance who is a criminal gang member by the way they dress?
BUT… What’s REALLY important is HOW THINGS LOOK, so that Mayor Parris LOOKS good to his voters?
That bikers drink beer at the Thunder deal is cool too. No need to do a DUI Road Block for them as they leave the fair grounds either, much less write them tickets for their unmuffled LOUD popes…
Or that these same losers show up for Emard’s Poker Runs as undercover outaw bikers because they wire a cute little Teddy Bear on their bikes ar have an American flag?
Nazi helmets and swastikas are VERY stylish with this same group too, along with wearing face masks of skeletons and such.
Thanks Mayor Parris for solving another serious problem.
Ha-ha-ha…
“We, the Vagos Motorcycle Club, have never been, nor are we now a criminal organization, or a criminal street gang. Whoever says that we are a criminal organization or criminal street gang is misinformed and mistaken.”
Right!…because ordinary citizens always go around selling meth and randomly beating the sh– out of people, huh?
Seems to have worked for Parris…
Yes… Renowned Cage Fighter, Mayor Parris really “Kicked Thier Butts..!”
Looked to me like the aged and impotent Vagos couldn’t afford to pay their no doubt, sterling attorney the money to have him continue the suit…
CONGRATULATIONS..! Mayor Parris.
First he beat up TOUGH GUY David Abber and now single handedly whipped a fearsome outlaw biker gang..