Don't know about Hog Heaven but many campsites use a shuttle service called Da Bus. It picks you up at your CG drops off at many locations around town and circles around for you to get a ride back.

As or the police I'll let you decide. But I would suggest against DUI.


Citations, arrests up markedly in lead up to Sturgis rally

The Highway Patrol had issued 484 citations as of Sunday, compared with 289 for the same day of the rally in 2008.

That breakdown included 88 DUI arrests this year (57 in 2008), 114 misdemeanor drug arrests (46 in '08), three felony drug arrests (11 last year), and one other felony arrest (none in '08).

The figures include incidents in areas around Sturgis, Rapid City, the Southern Hills and the Badlands.

The Patrol reported 22 injury accidents through Sunday, up from 14 for the same time last year.

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/new.../news/2009_sturgis_rally/news/article_2cb3e76b-c37a-52f7-8789-e62a319e15dd.html


Good luck.

W

 

One other piece of info you might be interested in is the cost of crime.

City Ordinances

Ordinance Code Bond Amount
Indecent Exposure #12.0802 $111.00
Open Container In Public #13.0155 $61.00
Deposit of Filth #12.0601 $86.00
Disorderly Conduct #13.0102 $111.00
Careless Driving #16.0219 $91.00
City Parking Violations #16.0507 $10.00
City Trespassing #13.0113 $111.00
Dog Running at Large #1.0209 $56.00
Parking in Handicapped Zone #16.0507 $100.00
Reckless Driving #16.0218 Custody Arrest
Truck Route Violations #16.0222 $91.00
Use of Sound Amplification Device: #13.0116 Court Appearance Req.
Driving on Bike Path / Sidewalk #14.0303/16.0216 $111.00
Exhibition Driving #16.0225 $66.00

Notice: All parking violations are subject to being towed away at owners expense.





State Laws

State SDCL Bond Amount
Driving while license cancelled #32-12-65(3) $144.00
Violation of Restricted License #32-12-74 94.00
Revoked Drivers License #32-12-65(1) Custody Arrest
Furnish Alcohol to Minor (18-21) #35-9-1.1 Court Appearance Req
Open Container in Motor Vehicle #35-1-9.1 $94.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice: The Sturgis Police Department has "zero" tolerance on all Drug Arrests no matter how small and will not relax charges on any violations of the following laws...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Possession of Controlled Substance #22-42-5 Custody Arrest
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia #22-42A-3 $244.00
Possession of Marijuana #22-42-6 Custody Arrest
Poss of Substances for High Abuse (Distribution): #22-42-2 Custody Arrest


Juvenile Laws

State SDCL Bond Amount
Underage Alcohol Possession/Consumption #35-9-2 Court Appearance Req
(Alcohol Continued) in Motor Vehicle #32-12-52.4 Court Appearance Req
Underage Purchase/Poss/Consumption of Cigarettes #34-46-2 / 34-46-5 $69.00


Motorcycle Laws

State SDCL Bond Amount
Carrying pistol or revolver without a permit #22-14-9 Custody Arrest
Cyclists Overtaking in Same Lane #32-20-9.2 $94.00
Eye Protection Required #32-20-4.1 $20.00
Helmet Required (under age 18) #32-20-4 $94.00
Illegal Handlebar Height #32-20-3 $20.00
Illegal Exhaust Motorcycle #32-20-5 $20.00
Operation W/O Motorcycle Endorsement #32-20-2 $94.00


http://www.sturgis.com/police.html



W

 

The Sturgis Cops will cut you absolutely positively no slack whatsoever. In fact, as you're traveling on Hwy 34 East of Sturgis, if the speed limit is 35 and you're driving 37, you just may get pulled over & ticketed. Of course, the cops are hoping you are drunk or even better, have some illegal drugs in which your ride will be confiscated.
To say the cops working near Sturgis/etc are vigilant is an understatement.

Of course, given the numbers, they can't arrest everyone.

They do have a shuttle bus that runs from Full Throttle into Sturgis. Not sure if they go to Hog Heaven.
I wouldn't be caught dead on a shuttle bus at a bike rally, but not everyone is like me.

You have 2 options if you plan on drinking at Full Throttle & getting back to Hog Heaven. #1 risk an OWI arrest. #2 take the shuttle bus

You may want to consider option #3. Stay sober.

 

Sturgis or any rally

Sturgis was and is a great rally. Personally I went because I had never been and to ride that area of the country. One other thing that was stressed was do not white line. The cops will ticket you for that also. There are strength in numbers when attending any rally. Hopefully all the group's behavior is not out of line at the same time and they care enough for each other to not let someone get to the point where it is drawing attention to themselves. The average first time DUI costs over $10,000 when all is said and done. Take it from someone who has been there and done that. Some of the folks I attended with did all of their consumption when they were back at the campground and didn't need to do anything except stumble to their tents and sleep it off. Most of the friends that I went with put over 1200 miles on the bikes and did not consume any adult beverages. We started every day at the Sturgis Group with breakfast and fellowship. It is beautiful country and we enjoyed every moment of the 5 days we visited. Ride Safe. -2$en#e-

 

Wife and I have done Sturgis the last 2 years and heading back for a third. We have followed the rule of thumb that first drink off bike is a bottle of water. Then no more than 3 adult drinks per stop and we do make about 4 stops during the 12 hour day. Most of the time I have 2 beers and I'm ready to go. Lets face it, the main reason to go is riding and people watching.

 

I am a big guy with a decent alcohol tolerance and I take it easy on the drinking whenever I am riding. My basic rule of thumb once any drinking begins is two drinks (beer) the first hour, no more than one drink every hour after that and make sure to eat three solid meals during the day to help absorb it. I NEVER reach a buzzed state when operating any vehicle, the risk to your life and others just isn't worth it. Not to mention the financial implications if you should obtain a DWI from the local law.

If you find yourself getting buzzed, eat a meal, drink some water and wait it out.. DO NOT operate any vehicle while impaired.


Be safe and enjoy..

See you there...

 

Thanks to all for the good information and the suggestions. I too learned the hard way, many years ago.. Nothing worse than spending a night in a nasty can, feeling humiliated with a herd of useless crack-heads


Looks like I'll have to do the shuttle at least one night

 

If you have a decent group of people and stay at a campground with activities you can get your buzz on plenty good when the day's riding is done anyway

I ride with about 10-12 people on most of our runs and we can get pretty obnoxious, but we are always safe out on the road.

I am looking forward to meeting some of you in Sturgis and hopefully we can share a few beers

 

Here is another option. If you're really intrigued by the Full Throttle Saloon and actually don't have a problem with their $8 a pop drinks, why not camp at Glencoe or Lamphere. Both campgrounds are only 2 blocks from Full Throttle. EZ walking distance. I've stayed at Glencoe and can tell you its a simple 2 block hike.

I've stayed at Hog Heaven, and can tell you both campgrounds are better places to stay. Both have more flat ground shaded campsites in a park like setting. Hog Heaven has horseshit everywhere. (I stayed there as well)
The downside to staying at Glencoe or Lamphere is that you'll have to navigate through the streets of Sturgis twice a day.

 

Glencoe or Lamphere. Both campgrounds are only 2 blocks from Full Throttle. EZ walking distance. .

Hey, thank you for the heads up! Are advanced reservations needed?
Thans again
Paul

 

The Sturgis Special?

I stayed at Hog Heaven in 2008. I thought it was fine. They even have a bar on site with a band if you choose. Da Bus does run there, too. I'd rather be "embarassed" on a bus than in a squad.

I did hear a guy talking about getting busted there. His tale was that he was pulled over for dui at some mild level and rounded up with a bunch of like folks in a local high school gym or conference room or something converted for the rally to handle all of the people in their system. It was a Friday or Saturday night. After the room was at capacity with 12 or 20 people someone came in and said, "If you want a lawyer, choose to fight, or cannot pay you sit until Monday when a judge is on duty. We take credit card. Anyone interested in the Sturgis Special can plead guilty to (some other charge) for a fine of $700 and you are free to go. Who wants the Sturgis Special?"

The tale goes that everyone's hand goes up because it is a bargain. It also was said they were told they got that deal offered because they were not insanely wasted, nor had they caused any property damage or injury. Any of the above and you are hosed. Not sure if the weekend sit weighed into the offer, either. Perhaps they do it because they couldn't hold them all for the weekend?

BS? No clue. Just what I heard someone say. Best bet. Ride Da Bus or stay within the law.

HAVE FUN! :woohoo:

 

here's a few links for ya.

http://www.lamphereranch.com/

http://www.glencoecamp.com/

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl use this one and just put in campground (business), city, state

 

My experience with the law at Sturgis last year…

Camped at the Broken Spoke, and after we got there on Sunday afternoon we hung out at the bar for a couple of hours, had a couple beers, then rode to that gas station across from the Full Throttle to pick up a few things. On the way back out to the Spoke I was going about 50 mph just inside the 35 zone. It was dusk. I got pulled over by a cop. I am always exptremely polite to the police, first because it’s how I was raised and second because nothing good can come of acting otherwise.

I asked the cop if he could let me off with a warning. Cop asked me to sit in his car while he looked me up. I got in the car and there was a police dog in the back seat, with the divider between us. Like a total dork, I said; “Wow, you’ve got a dog!” and start talking to the dog. In retrospect I realize the cop put me in with the dog to see if it could smell drugs on me. All this time the wife is sitting on the bike waiting.

Cop gets done looking me up in the system, and I’ve got no record, and the dog hasn’t done anything, so he tells me to keep my speed down and sends me on my way with no ticket. He didn’t give me a breathalizer either. I’m a big guy, and I’d had a couple beers but certainly wasn’t acting wasted. On the other hand I’d have thought he could have smelled it on my breath.

Anyway, I got off easy with that one and paid very close attention not to exceed the speed limit in that trap again.

About 5 days later the wife and I went on a 550 mile ride, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota. On the last leg of the trip, when we were hammering it hard riding straight south on I85 right near Buffalo (that’s about 90 miles straight North of Sturgis), I was hauling ass. It’s totally empty up there and I was going about 90 miles per hour. You could see for miles and maybe once every 15 minutes you’d pass a lone car. And one of them was a state cop.

Cop pulled me over. I didn’t BS him, just said I was headed back to Sturgis from a very long days ride and let my speed get away from me. He gave me a ticket for 10 over the limit and told me to keep it down. The ticket cost a couple hundred bucks, but that was it, and I deserved it.

So my experience hasn’t been very bad all things considered. I do think the speed limit of 35 east of town is just an out and out money making speed trap, but the cops I dealt with were polite and professional and gave me a break.

Keep in mind I’m 45 years old, 250 lbs, 6’ 2”. Dirty jeans, handlebar mustache, need a shave, flat top hair cut, leather vest, do-rag. In other words I look like every other biker, no better no worse. All I’ve got going for me is I’m polite and I don’t have a record, and I am never stupid drunk nor have anything illegal on me.

 

FIRST be sure you wear glasses they are total a$$holes about that crap.
Second if you drink a cpl beers and not try to see how many you can drink in short time you should be ok.Ive gotten pulled twice in sturgis.Both times I had 4 or 5 beers but it was over hour and half or two.I had to blow but I was legal.
As for cops be strict.Well we are there gravy money.How many ticket can you write in year in town of 6600 versus two weeks with 600,000 people and most are in party mode.Plus they hire cops from all around for the rally.Im sure they tell them write as many as possible we have to cover you salary.

 

Take DaBus. They sell beer on the bus, run until 2am and hit all the major spots in-town and out-of-town. If to go online to their web site, you can get a week pass for around $20/person. From Hog Heaven to downtown in 10 minutes. You catch a transfer from there to the Chip (another 10 minutes). The drivers are "cool" and will tolerate just about anything. It's my choice when drinking in Sturgis.

 

"Da Bus" is the way to go!!! I stayed at "Hog Heaven," and Da Bus took me into town anytime I wanted, with no worry about DUI!

 

Drinking and riding in Sturgis can turn having the best time of your life to the worst time in your life in a New York second. Check out DaBus they have an all you can ride special until July 15th for $35.00.

There is a map on the website showing the routes and the stops.

Last year, more than any other year I can remember LEOs were everywhere and they were busy.

 

I hope everyone enjoys Sturgis this year. I've been there a number of times but won't be going this year.

Something else to consider. It's not only about you getting a DUI. It is also that you are a menace to all the other bikers on the road. Drunk bikers don't ride too good. Take Da Bus!

 

They are strict about having eye wear, and tinted glass at night.

I never had a problem, but I didn't over drink, and didn't speed or act stupid.

 

stripper pole bus much better then da bus. lol I personally thought da bus sucked as it was always impossible to get on most of the time.

 

Question: In 2010 we partied at the Broken Spoke Campground after our day rides for almost 2 weeks, drinking our own booze, no problem. This year we're thinking about the Buffalo Chip Campground, South 40 area, and was wondering about their policy which states "no alcoholic beverages can be brought into the Ampitheater or Campground areas". I called and talked to one of their info people and she re-iterated that it's illegal for people to bring in their own booze due to State liquor laws and BC's liquor permit. If we brought in our own booze and they inspected our RV's at check-in we could be refused admittance in. So, what is any of ya'lls experience camping at the Chip, regarding BYOB and do they patrol the camping areas looking to hassle partiers who aren't drinking BC beverages...I mean really, we're planning on being there almost two weeks and I'm not gonna be paying for their overpriced booze...we'll camp elsewhere if it's a problem...Thanks for any and all experiences/info.......

 

Glencoe is right across the street from the Full Throttle ( walking distance ) and a great place to camp. The rates are reasonable and the "entertainment" is second to none! ( The bands are great too ) As others have stated, the cops are looking to finance their paychecks for the coming year .... so ... forewarned is forearmed .... be careful, don't ride impaired and party 'til ya ain't got no more money!

 

This year will be my 12th trip to Sturgis and my 8th staying at Lamphere. I never make reservations - just show up and pay. Since I stay 5 nights, I get a cheaper rate. (I think it was around $18/night last time) It's a great campground with lots of shade (always put your tent where you'll get morning shade). Like people mentioned, its a couple of blocks from the FTS. An easy walk/stagger there and back. I've even taken Da bus when I had too many. There was a party going on the bus too!

 

moderation is key word you can have a beer or two just dont over do it

 

Like others have said there is no tolerence on drinking out there. All through the Hills it's that way. Definately go the speed limit or under. Have all your papers for insurance and registration, and have a motorcycle license. I got pulled over at 10:30 at night going 2 mph over the speed limit at the edge of town (Custer) it was cold and raining. He checked my license asked a few questions let me go. He was checking for alchohol and if I was legal. I think I got off due to the fact when I pulled over I was parked next to the speed limit sign that was posted 55mph.

 

What do you expect?? Sturgis is one of those great places to live; no property taxes, no utility charges, no other city fees. Everything is made, or used to be made, to pay all city expenses for a year during the rally. In the wind.

Pops