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Moraga's Midnight Marauder Unmasked

For the past several weeks a lone rider cruising Moraga's back roads on a custom Harley has awakened more people than a dozen old fashioned Big Ben alarm clocks. Last night -- or this morning, actually -- we found out who he was.

 

Talk in our Moraga neighborhood these last few weeks has centered around our gardens and "The Midnight Marauder" -- a motorcyclist with a meaty Harley and one helluva sound system aboard.

He usually rumbles through our neck of the woods a little after midnight, the potato potato potato growl of the Harley signaling his arrival, followed seconds later by some rap or 80s groove tunes delivered at concert levels.

Those of us hoping to cadge a little sleep before the 5 a.m. buzzer goes off have been levitated out of our comfy little beds at the noise and a couple of the neighbors have set out in search of Mr. Marauder, only to come up short every time.

Until last night... or this morning, I mean. I was catapulted out of bed at 12:10 a.m. by some Peaches and Herb or something, I don't know, I was too groggy to identify it. The music was so loud I thought it was in the next room and I stomped off in the direction of the kids rooms to chew some tail when I realized it was outside, on Saint Mary's Road.

Very funny moment with me struggling into jeans and slippers and heading out in the direction of the noise, which was still strong from about 100 yards away. By the time I got there his taillights were receding in the dark. I drove onto the campus at SMC and asked if anyone there had seen or heard a guy on a big Harley with a big sound system.

Some smiles, some laughs, some shaking of heads, and then: "Oh yeah, that's (name withheld for now), he's a campus safety officer here."

Picture my mouth moving without words coming out, the illogical picture of a campus police officer being the noise violator responsible for waking an entire neighborhood causing my sleep-deprived synapses to misfire and slam into each other like some malfunctioning supercollider.

I recovered enough to file a formal complaint and drove slowly home, shaking my head. I'm hoping officer X had a pleasant ride home (disturbing how many countless other people in the process) because tomorrow, or today... whatever, I'm hoping we can have a talk.

About noise, about music... maybe about bikes. But mainly about common sense, and civil courtesy. We've caught you, Marauder!

Andrew L. June 1, 2012 at 04:12 pm
I wonder what the benefit of speed is. A couple of days ago, I was following a car in the lane waiting to turn left from Canyon Rd. onto Camino Pablo. Instead of following the car in front of him, the driver pretended there were two left turn lanes and overtook the first car in front of JM. We both followed right behind him until he pulled in a driveway about a mile down Camino Pablo. He literally gained a second or so in time, yet put the life of another driver and child at risk. I wonder at some of the entitled jackoffs that live here and feel their "need for speed" is worth someone else's life.
Born and Raised June 1, 2012 at 04:19 pm
You're not wrong Mark. As a former Harley rider myself, I would say the majority are not only inexperienced riders but have a "look at me" attitude that overules common sense (i.e. half helmets, no gloves and a need to imitate Hells Angels). What's worse is when they say that they love the "comraderie" but in reality what they really like is the "pack" that gives them the ability to act tough without having to really stand up on their own. I went back to riding sport bikes long ago because the Harleys just aren't my kind of ride anymore. Having said that there are a minority that are good, safe riders, give respect and just want to cruise without doing harm to anyone.
Amy Chu June 1, 2012 at 04:35 pm
What if none of the suggestions you cite work? What if he continues doing what he's doing? I'm not saying it's right but I would say I understand someone addressing the matter in their own way. The established norm is peace and quiet at that hour. There are laws against what he is doing. As a law officer he should know what he is doing is wrong.
David Holden June 1, 2012 at 04:48 pm
Could the bike rider be sued in small claims court for nuisance? Maybe a financial loss would discourage his antics?
Shon Sherwood June 1, 2012 at 05:02 pm
If getting a dedicated time to use the roads means no one else can at those times, heck yeah I'd vote for that! As it stands I have to go around a lot of cars every time I go out for a ride, which is not often. I would prefer to get them out of the way.
Scott Bowhay June 1, 2012 at 05:26 pm
Harry/Shon...Nah, the Town Council would never go for temporal separation of motorcycles...spatial separation would be necesary, and in a very restricted area, like, say the "Back Forty" at the Commons...
Sandman June 1, 2012 at 05:55 pm
The second left turn lane is reserved for drivers texting, holding a cell phone, cars with malfunctioning indicators, cyclists who have no concept of any road rules, drivers wearing hats, and drivers who insist on doing U-turns in crosswalks outside many Moraga schools.
JB June 1, 2012 at 07:10 pm
As someone who only rides motorcycles as a form of transportation , I would encourage people to not generalize the many by the actions of a few. The proper action is to address the individual (who I agree is out of line). Other actions I honestly see as no different than any other form of discrimination/bigotry. God forbid a serial robber is discovered and they turn out to be a minority... or series of under 25s be found to cause a rash of driving while texting accidents.... its a slippery slope. My Beemer is quieter than many cars, and is hardly a speeder... its preferred transportation.
That said - this dude needs to have some serious fines
Greg Magill June 2, 2012 at 01:28 pm
hold on here born to run, oh I'm sorry, born and raised. Lighten up a bit. Clothes line, please !! First of all, I would hope people would get the jest of my comment and really not take to the juvenile pranks that we pursued in our youth. I just get a chuckle and am very envious of all of you who live in the little slice of heaven called Moraga. I called Moraga home for almost half my life. And the fact that one of your major concerns is loud motorcycles,just makes me all the more envious. Heck, in Fresno we would welcome the noise toting Harley beast man at midnight, because at least we know he's not coming to rob or shoot us. lol
Amy Chu June 2, 2012 at 01:47 pm
Note to self: "DO. NOT. MOVE. TO FRESNO."
JB June 3, 2012 at 12:03 pm
LOL! How true Greg... great perspective. Or even closer - our neighbors in Oakland or Richmond. :)
Sue Haas June 4, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I'm curious how this turned out? He should have been arrested you know.
Born and Raised June 4, 2012 at 05:34 pm
Most likely he won't even get a ticket since there wasn't a cop to catch him in the act. He might lose his job though.
Sandy June 5, 2012 at 09:04 pm
Apology? Don't do it any more? What he did is wrong but I hate to see anyone lose a job over it. Especially now.
49er Fan June 6, 2012 at 03:28 am
I agree!
49er Fan June 6, 2012 at 03:52 am
I agree with Sandy. Lose his job!? Wow! It seems that this "Marauder" story has been completely blown out of proportion. For heavens sake: this is an officer who protects our community against the potential damage of 5000 college students & you dare to complain about a few seconds of his loud motorcycle. Indeed the music should be at a low, but give the man a break after a hard day serving OUR community. Incidentally, statistics has shown that campus Public Safety Officers have prevented drunk driving students from leaving the campus thus rid our streets of the nuisance & aftermath that a drunk driver can cause in our neighborhood. I find the "Marauder" & his occasional ride hardly a crime, regardless of the time of day or night, just keep the duets of "Peaches and Herb" down & thanks rider for playing the innocent tunes of the 80's & opting out of the awful rap music of our youth today. Let's rethink this issue: Is he committing a crime or simply ending a day of preventing crime? My mature mind says who cares what one chooses to ride or play on their stereo, we are all adults here, right? JD are you actually "catapulting" out of bed at midnight from the roar of a motorcycle or has your imagination gone wild & drafted an entertaining article written out of complete boredom? What we need is more focus on keeping the streets safe & go back to bed. Let the man ride & hope that he doesn't get distracted by exaggerated complaints & lose focus on protecting our neighborhood!
Lissa Sorensen June 6, 2012 at 11:41 am
"Let the man ride. Let him make noise and disturb people. He wears a blue uniform and has saved Moraga from those deadly SMC coeds. He is a hero."
Signed, Ed's Mom (and besides, he turns the stereo down before he pulls into our driveway at night).
Nicholas June 6, 2012 at 11:46 am
Having gone there I can safely tell you that campus security is more concerned with keeping the student body safe from the neighbors than it is with keeping the neighbors safe from students!
Sue Haas June 6, 2012 at 12:00 pm
*How dare you complain about a few seconds of his loud motorcycle?*
There it is. How dare you ask us to be quiet. That's the way we roll. What they don't tell you is that after you are raised from your bed and ejected was an apt term --- you can't sleep again. These people are public NUISANCES and should be cited. I have one below my house. He starts his day and his motorcycle at 5 in the morning. And it idles for minutes while my blood pressure and heart rate go up. I don't know what I'd do if he put a stereo on that thing.
J.D. O'Connor (Editor) June 6, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Hello, Niner Fan -- Thanks for writing. I stand by every word in my account of the evening's events, though I did soften it a bit in an effort to give the man in question an even break. Your remedy for this strikes me as somewhat odd, for if he and his colleagues were really about "keeping the streets safe" this wouldn't have happened in the first place, would it? He rolled right by his colleagues and they didn't say a word, did they? I did. And while I would have been more than happy to have gotten a night's rest (for I am certainly not bored) this man made choices that took that away from me -- and others, as we see here. And he HAS serenaded us with rap at that hour, just not on this occasion, and frankly ANY music at that decibel level would have been invasive. So, sorry, can't buy your position and no, we haven't heard anything about an apology or promise not to have it happen again. There you have it. Go niners.
Chris Nicholson June 6, 2012 at 01:32 pm
Termination is a bit harsh, but probably more justified here versus the School Superintendent who was forced out for writing racy emails to her boyfriend from her work account.
My suggestion: ask the school to ask him to submit his bike to a noise test. I suspect that part of the reason why you have not gotten an apology is that it would be an admission-- and some would use it to scream for his blood. Regrettably, sometimes "doing the right thing" (apologizing) can lead to the "wrong" outcome....
SevenMary7 June 6, 2012 at 04:44 pm
Like a lot of current and former law enforcemnt types I know I ride and manage to do it without angering the neighbors. This could have been stopped in its tracks with a little common sense. We're not perfect animals but we are held to a higher standard and we make dumb mistakes, just like everyone else. Riding your hog through a sleeping neighborhood with your stereo going is just asking for trouble. And it is dumb.
SR June 6, 2012 at 05:53 pm
SMC does not have police officers. They are security guards.
John D June 6, 2012 at 08:26 pm
Here's one for all of the the complainants: What if he rolls through again during the mentioned time frame and what can you legally do to prevent this from happening? Having said this and with over 25 years of law enforcement under my belt, I don't see a crime being committed here. It would be understandable if the individual riding his bike after a shift, purposely rev's up his motor. From what I am gathering here, it sounds like one incident. I've been up late at night for the past few days and haven't heard the rider pass by. He may have gotten the message.
SevenMary7 June 6, 2012 at 10:33 pm
CVC 27007. No driver of a vehicle shall operate, or permit the
operation of, any sound amplification system which can be heard outside the vehicle from 50 or more feet when the vehicle is being operated upon a highway, unless that system is being operated to request assistance or warn of a hazardous situation. This section does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles or vehicles operated by gas, electric, communications, or water utilities. This section does not apply to the sound systems of vehicles used for advertising, or in parades, political or other special events, except that the use of sound systems on those vehicles may be prohibited by a local authority by ordinance or resolution. Sounds like this guy's setup exceeded the 50' limitation by a hundred yards or so
Born and Raised June 7, 2012 at 10:07 am
John D. It wasn't a lone incident. In fact it has been a pattern of weeknights, around midnight for weeks. Although miraculously it has stopped. With 25 years of law enforcement under your belt I would have thought that you would have seen the frequency mentioned in the article above.
Nicholas June 7, 2012 at 12:11 pm
They'll probably just switch him to day shift
bryan June 20, 2012 at 01:56 pm
So if a "Obama for President" sound truck rolls through the hood at that hour it's ok? Appreciate the info its good to know. And update on the Marauder?
Katheryn September 30, 2012 at 03:08 pm
Where is the California Attorney General, and why is she letting this happen?
Tell does this sound familiar, I have provided a link to a story on the Temecula Patch. Please read the story and watch the video in the story. Add this to all your facebook accounts, get the word out. http://temecula.patch.com/articles/citizen-reader-shares-mining-sounds
Greg H February 2, 2013 at 08:33 pm
Greg - Happy Birthday!!!!!
Greg H.

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