Ridin’ for Biden event popped for honking

A Ridin’ for Biden event that started in Georgetown Sept. 26 ended in Lewes after two members of the 21-car caravan were ticketed for honking their horns.

“If people honked, we honked; if we saw people out, we honked, just like you'd do at a wedding or sports event,” said Paulette Rappa, one of the event organizers.

The group left the Georgetown Democratic headquarters, in cars decorated with Biden and Harris signs and American flags, and headed down Route 9 toward Lewes, Rappa said. “It was an ambitious route, to say the least. There was a lot of traffic that day,” she said, adding the group split into three groups so they wouldn't clog up traffic.

After crossing Route 1 onto Savannah Road, Rappa said, she saw lights in her rearview mirror; they were on a vehicle driven by a Delaware State Police officer who pulled her over.

“The officer said he heard the honking and said it was unlawful to honk when unnecessary,” Rappa said. “We really weren't close to downtown Lewes.”

The cars following Rappa also pulled over – all decorated in support of Biden and Harris – while she and another driver both were given $82 traffic tickets for honking their horns.

“Even while I was detained, there were cars going by honking their horns,” Rappa said.

Rappa said she plans to fight the traffic ticket during her court appearance scheduled in October.

“It was a bit disturbing to us,” Rappa said. “I would like to see how many of these tickets were issued in 2019.”

On the day of the Ridin’ for Biden caravan, Master Cpl. Heather Pepper of the Delaware State Police said police received reports about cars driving at a low rate of speed and impeding the flow of traffic. 

“The first vehicle was stopped for impeding the flow of traffic because it was going 25 mph in a 50 mph zone, which was causing traffic to be held up,” Pepper said.

Pepper said caravans, such as the Ridin’ for Biden event, can occur as long as they follow all traffic laws, including not impeding the flow of traffic.

Damaged signs

Along the stretch of Route 1 between Milford and Lewes, campaign signs are getting the spray-paint treatment. Someone with black spray-paint has been busy defacing about a dozen Trump signs with messages that include “Thug,” “Murderer,” and “Black Lives Matter.”

Cameron Watts, communications director for the Delaware GOP, said the signs between Milford and Lewes were damaged within 72 hours of going up. Other than that, he did not have any further information on who damaged the signs. Similar vandalism has occurred in New Castle County, and the GOP released a photo Sept. 29 of a yellow pickup truck that had been photographed following an incident near routes 40 and 273.

Also damaged along Route 1 near the Route 113 interchange are a Coons sign and a Carney sign that were spray-painted red with no recognizable words. 

In Milton, a number of residents reported their Biden/Harris signs being stolen, primarily on Union Street, Chestnut Street and in Cannery Village.

Mark Polo, a resident of Union Street, said his was among those that were stolen. He said he reported the matter to the Milton Police Department, although he does not expect they can do much. 

Polo said in response to his sign being stolen he decided the only proper thing to do was get a bigger sign. His new Biden/Harris sign is almost twice as big as the old one. 

Delaware State Police spokeswoman Pepper said police are aware of the sign damage, and a detective has been assigned to investigate.

Reporter Ryan Mavity contributed to this article.