Update on Billy Lane DUI arrest

[Popeye]

I saw this on one of my Harley boards and thought I would pass it along.  I'm hoping he does his full term.

Famed Motorcycle Builder Takes Plea Deal
Posted: 11:45 am EDT June 9, 2009Updated: 12:09 pm EDT June 9, 2009

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Celebrity motorcycle builder Billy Lane took a plea deal in Brevard County Tuesday morning that could land him in prison for nine years.

Lane is accused of killing a 56-year-old Brevard County man in a head-on crash on A-1-A on Labor Day in 2006. Police said his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

Billy Lane's lawyer is hoping to keep him out of prison with the plea deal. Prosecutors dropped the DUI charge in exchange for the no contest plea to vehicular homicide.

"How do you plea, sir?" asked a judge.

"No contest. Your honor," replied Lane.

The plea agreement could keep the famed motorcycle builder off the streets.

Under the plea deal, prosecutors dropped the DUI manslaughter charge and agreed to cap the potential prison sentence at a little more than 9 years.

"You wish to waive these rights and accept this plea?" asked the judge.

"Yes, your honor," answered Lane.

Lane was accused of driving drunk down highway A-1A and crossing over a double yellow line to pass three cars then crashing head-on into 56-year-old Gerald Morelock.

Morelock, who was on his motorcycle, was no match for Lane's Dodge pick-up. The Sebastian Inlet Park Ranger was killed.

Investigators say Lane's blood-alcohol was over twice the legal limit, but his defense attorney was preparing to fight that if the case went to trial.

"We believe the blood sample as mishandled and the blood testing done in this case was not scientifically reliable," said Defense Attorney Greg Eisenmenger.

Prosecutors disagreed, but said Lane faced 15 years in prison whether they pursued the DUI charge or vehicular homicide. With the plea deal they are assured a conviction, a possible prison sentence, alcohol provisions and driving restrictions.

"I think it's a substantial punishment, yes," said prosecutor Thom Brown.

Billy Lane's sentencing is set for August 14, where his defense will fight to get Lane house arrest or probation.

 

[RDKLL]

Good! The only way to get people to understand the bikers are people too is to have serious punishments in place when one is killed or severly injured

[RTaz]

...he should get the max....I'm sick and tired of celebrities getting special treatment...In 2005 or 06 I had a bike in the Michigan custom bike show...Billy Lane was on one side of me and Kendal Johnson was on the other side...I watched Billy down half a bottle of Jack in one gulp and everyone thought it was funny he drank all weekend and was a real pain in the ass...he really thought he was something special...I know some of his bikes may look real good on tv but I have to tell you the ones at the show looked like crap..didn't even clean them up...people where going crazy over them...sorry but Billy has alot of problems but that don't excuse killing people...he knew he had a drinking problem ...he also knew he was drunk when he jumped in that truck...lawyers can make all kinds of statements like "We believe the blood sample as mishandled and the blood testing done in this case was not scientifically reliable," said Defense Attorney Greg Eisenmenger."   but anyone that has ever seen Billy knows he was drunk... 

[alph]

It’s really sad when justice, that is suppose to be blind, can only see "GREEN".

billy'll get off with maybe two years probation.

Here in Wisconsin, getting a DUI is kind of a right of passage.

[TAZ]

Hopefully he gets time in prison for killing someone, maybe that will sober him up long enough to either stop drinking or get his act together in a positive way.  Anyone that drinks the way it was described below normally has alot of personal problems and is trying to drowned them out with booze.

  Here in the Chicago area we have a rash of bikers getting killed lately and it's not from drinking, it's from people doing things while they are driving.  One lady ran right over a lady on a bike stopped at a red light because she was doing her nails, not surprising at all as I and I am sure most of you have seen people either doing the make-up, reading the paper, texting, talking on their cell phone, you name it.  This other lady recently went looking for her sunglasses and plowed into a caddy which in turn smashed into a group of bikers on a ride and killed a couple on their bike and hurt others.  In both cases they get a slap on the wrist and no jail time at all.  This in itself is a crime and the laws need to be changed and harsh on these folks as they are killing people with no violations to speak of being put before them.   It's down right scary out there now because you don't know who's doing what in their cage other than paying attention to the road and people around them.  May was Motorcycle Awareness Month and here in Illinois anyways I think that meant to people in cars/trucks to see one and smash into them, bad news.  The laws need to change to throw these people in the can and heavy fines for driving under the influence of electrical gadgets and personal beautification time among other things.

So in Billy case hopefully he gets the max and that will hopefully be a wake up call to others not to drink and drive, no matter who you are.

[Ghillie]

Ironic that a well known biker is on trial for vehicular manslaughter of another biker.