Motorcyclists start arriving for Laughlin River Run
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. -- The first of more than 70,000 bikers expected to descend on the towns of Laughlin and nearby Arizona communities have arrived for the annual Laughlin River Run.
The five-day event began Wednesday, with motorcycle enthusiasts roaring into Laughlin and the Arizona towns of Bullhead City, Oatman and Kingman.
Law enforcement officers from Nevada, Arizona and California were ready for the arrival, wary of a repeat of violence between motorcycle gang members that erupted at a casino during the Laughlin River Run in 2002. The brawl left three bikers dead and dozens injured.
"Our theme this year is prevention," said Jose Montoya, a Las Vegas police spokesman. "If it's predictable, it's preventable."
Las Vegas police cover most of Clark County, including Laughlin, about 100 miles south of Las Vegas. The department reported 112 arrests during the 24th annual Laughlin rally in 2006, mostly for alcohol-related misdemeanors.
Authorities expect the largest number of bikers in the 25 years the event has been held, said Las Vegas police Lt. Tom Smitley, commander of the Laughlin substation.
Uniformed and undercover police officers will be assigned specific areas of Laughlin to ensure safety, Smitley said. A task force to prevent motorcycle thefts will be on the job. The number of bike heists dropped from 27 in 2004 to three during the 2006 River Run.
"Steal-me" motorcycles with GPS tracking devices will be placed to catch motorcycle thieves, Smitley said.
The Mohave County, Ariz., sheriff's office plans sobriety checkpoints Friday and Saturday nights and will increase manpower throughout the weekend.
Montoya said Las Vegas police and the Nevada Highway Patrol planned similar efforts on Nevada highways.
