Bike Week Roaring Into Daytona Beach
For the 67th year, the late winter quiet in and around Daytona Beach will be interrupted by Bike Week.
The annual event kicks off Friday as thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from across the world begin pouring in.
Bike Week began on Jan. 24, 1937 with the first running of the Daytona 200 along the beach.
Today, the week is a 10-day festival celebrating everything about motorcycles. Locals and out-of-towners meet for rides across the region, races at Daytona International Speedway and parties.
Bike Week Deaths
Hopefully, this year will be much better than last year when it comes to deaths during Bike Week.
In 2007, eight bikers were killed on Central Florida roads during the event, but there was some controversy over the number of deaths.
Some families said their loved ones weren’t attending the events when they died.
However, state troopers said they classify any motorcycle fatality in Volusia County during the 10-day period as a bike week death.
During Bike Week, local police officers and deputies said they will be cracking down on careless drivers who are on two and four wheels.
Some of the things they’ll be looking for are people running red lights, speeding, violating the right of way laws and improper turns and lane changes.
Taps Open Extra Hour
The taps will flow an extra hour during one night of this year’s Bike Week celebrations after city leaders approved a controversial plan last week.
The issue came to light because Daylight Saving Time lands on the busiest night of this year’s event.
Some bars were worried about lost business, so under the new ordinance alcohol will be allowed to be served until 4 a.m. on Sunday March 9.
Swabbing For DNA
South Daytona Police are embarking on a new way to catch a wanted serial killer by cracking down on drunk drivers during Bike Week.
Under the Bike Week initiative, police will conduct DUI checkpoints on Friday to crack down on impaired drivers.
If arrested during the checkpoint, the driver will be asked if they want to donate their DNA. If the driver agrees, they inside of their cheeks will be swabbed.
The DNA will then be tested to see if it matches any of the DNA from a serial killer who has murdered four women in Volusia County.