Virginia is for motorcycle lovers motorcycleva.com

The Commonwealth of Virginia wants you to ride your motorcycle there, and they're offering incentives that go beyond great scenery and interesting food.

From now through October, riders and passengers travelling in Virginia can collect prize points by having a special passport stamped at participating "Motorcycle Grand Tour" locations.

Anyone who finishes their tour of the state with 164 points will get a special jacket and will be entered in a draw for prizes that include season passes for the VIR race track, a California Sidecar Factory gift certificate, $500 from Dr Pepper, and more. Riders who collect more than 100 points will be entered in other draws.

To take part, you have to ride your motorcycle in Virginia, but you also have to log on at motorcycleva.com and download a registration form. Registration is $25 U.S., but for that you'll get a t-shirt, a ride pin, and the special passport.

Nice to see a local government that actually welcomes riders. Posted by Mr R 2009-04-15 08:43 No doubt to that...are you listening Helena? Posted by Joel Andrew Zylstra 2009-04-15 10:55 I'd ride that state if I had to give them a T-shirt. Posted by M. McGarvey 2009-04-15 12:30 true that   i have a bunch of old Harley shirts they acould have Posted by johnniephatt 2009-04-15 14:10 I wonder how many newly trained speed enforcement officers they have hired with their government stimulus package. Posted by Dean Macaskill 2009-04-15 16:43 Virginia like Ontario has brutal speeding penalties consider its the only state that outlaws radar detectors to get an idea of the enforcement mentality... stay clear of it Posted by Alan 2009-04-15 18:02   ... and to think I wanted to take Blue Ridge Parkway to Smokey Mountains this summer. Oh well, I guess I'll stick to interstate then Posted by Mr R 2009-04-15 21:39 I've been going to Virginia for about ten years or more with a bunch of not so well-behaved riders; rare is the ticket. I can recall one only, it was a whack (about $500.00), but it was for about 50 mph over and could have resulted in arrest, etc.    I would not let fear of police deter you.    Blue Ridge Parkway is heavily patrolled, but is a small piece of a big, great riding state. Hwys 220 and 219 will persuade you. One of them might be in W. Va. Posted by M. McGarvey 2009-04-15 21:49 219 is WVA and a much easier going state... how about this     Virginia Introduces $3550 Speeding Ticket  Virginia legislator introduces new speeding ticket tax that boosts penalties beyond $3550, driving business to his traffic law firm.    Virginia motorists convicted of minor traffic violations will face a new, multi-year tax beginning July 1. Led by state Delegate David B. Albo (R-Springfield), lawmakers slipped a driver responsibility tax into a larger transportation funding bill signed by Governor Tim Kaine (D) in April. Albo, a senior partner in the Albo & Oblon, LLP traffic law firm, Posted by Alan 2009-04-16 20:27 Perhaps the answer is to stick to the roads that are so twisty you can't speed. Believe me, they exist down there.    Otherwise, don't get caught. Posted by M. McGarvey 2009-04-16 20:52 Way to go Virginia!!! I don't have a radar detector, have had a few tickets over the years, deserved many more, ha ha!! The police have always been fair with me and I figure if I get caught it's usually my own fault. Looking forward to Virginia....Yahooo!!!! Posted by Craig Kirkpatrick 2009-04-19 19:44