HELLS ANGELS' SUIT CONSIDERED FOR CLASS ACTION.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Daily News Staff Writer

A lawsuit claiming bikers at a Hells Angels charity event in Simi Valley were targeted for traffic violations to discourage their attendance is being considered for class-action status, potentially opening the case up to dozens of plaintiffs.

The attorney for the plaintiffs said Wednesday he filed a motion for class-action status earlier this week and is confident the group will qualify. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8 before U.S. District Court Judge William Keller.

``You can't enforce traffic laws selectively because you don't like (a particular group),'' said plaintiffs' attorney Vip Bhola. ``Rather than just putting up with it, they decided to go out and selectively enforce the traffic laws against these potential class members.''

Simi Valley City Attorney David Hirsch said the motion had been expected and that the city stands behind the Police Department, which issued more than 40 citations during the Sept. 7 event at the local Elks Club lodge.

``We don't believe there was anything improper about the citations,'' Hirsch said. ``That's certainly our position, and we're defending this case based on that position.''

Potential class members include from 63 and 78 bikers who were cited for traffic violations or otherwise detained during the charity event, Bhola said.

He said most of the potential members of the possible class action are not Hells Angels members, but cycle enthusiasts who participated in the event.

Simi Valley police officials and some City Council members, who were named in the suit, would not comment on the case.

The suit stems from last fall's Poker Run, a charity event sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Hells Angels, and held for the second year in a row at the local Elks Club which funds charities with money raised.

About 1,500 bikers rolled into town for the Sunday afternoon event at the lodge on Kuehner Drive and 46 traffic violations were issued. Five motorcyclists were arrested.

Police said at the time that citations were necessary because the previous year's event produced complaints from residents about traffic violations and disturbances of the peace.

But others at the time said the police were targeting the bikers who were not perceived to be welcome in the city.

Earlier that summer, seven police officers had returned their Officer of the Year awards to the Elks Club to protest the group's decision to host the Hells Angels event again.

However, Police Chief Randy Adams said there was no connection between the July protest and the citations. He said at the time that he notified the Elks Club that extra police would be on duty, as is typical when events draw large crowds.