Myrtle Beach police appeared to check more cars and trucks than motorcycles Tuesday during the first of four checkpoints planned for the Harley-Davidson Cruisin' the Coast spring rally. Meanwhile, outside the city's limits, businesses welcomed bikers and people voiced their opinions against the changes aimed at cracking down on bikers.

A traffic checkpoint held on Ocean Boulevard checked driver's licenses and vehicle registrations of cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and mo-peds.

Police stopped 837 vehicles on Ocean Boulevard Tuesday, issued 23 citations and arrested nine people, all between noon and 2 p.m. said Sgt. John Bertang. Of the citations issued, 16 were driver's license violations and five citations were for driving with suspended licenses.

It was the first time police have held checkpoints inside the city during the annual rally, and more checkpoints are planned for 10 a.m. to noon Thursday on Farrow Parkway at Warbird Park; 10 a.m. to noon Friday on U.S. 501 and from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 501, police said.

"It increases public awareness for traffic safety violations, Bertang said.

But for motorcyclist Becky Brennan of Baltimore, who drove through the checkpoint on her black Harley-Davidson, it sent the wrong message.

"I think it's going to take business away from here. I don't see us coming back, Brennan said.

Ocean Boulevard business owner Karon Mitchell said she has never seen such police checkpoints on the boulevard. She has owned Ocean Boulevard motels for 32 years, "All this is doing is sending a message. We are in the tourist business, and this is the wrong message to send to the tourist," Mitchell said. "People who come here during the Harley weekend and Memorial Day weekend don't want to spend money in Myrtle Beach now.

Myrtle Beach last fall passed new rules that affect motorcycle rallies, including a mandatory helmet law, a 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for those under 18 and a ban on loitering in business parking lots.

Motorcycle enthusiasts have been vocal about the city's new laws since they were approved, and several stepped up to a microphone Tuesday to talk about it.

Jamie Keats, owner of Jamin' Leather in Surfside Beach, has scheduled an open mike session outside his business at noon daily through the rally to allow motorcyclists to voice their opinions about the changes..

"I've been hearing people talk about their opinions and they need to vent. This is an opportunity for them to share," Keats said.

"They need to ease up on the vendors and the pipes," said Michelle Whitley of Martinsville, Va. The police "are really not bothering you as long as you are doing the speed limit. They're not bothering you unless you're acting stupid on your bike."

Off stage, Whitley said she regularly wears her helmet, but said the noise restrictions went too far because bikers are often heard before they're seen because of their loud pipes.

"I don't see why [residents] can't put up with it for five days, said Whitley, who was attending her ninth motorcycle rally in the area.

"We're not here that long.

Keats said he noticed fewer motorcyclists in his Surfside Beach business and he's worried for Myrtle Beach business owners and how it affects their businesses.

"This attitude affects way more than bike week. It affects the returning vacationer. It's sending the wrong message that tourism is not wanted and that only a select few groups are wanted here and that's so far from true," Keats said. "We still want them to come and partake of the activities. Bring, wear or buy a helmet to avoid any issues. I want them to do all the things they want to do."

Myrtle Beach police say enforcement will increase beginning Thursday when a one-way traffic pattern will be enforced along Ocean Boulevard beginning at 2 p.m.

City spokesman Mark Kruea said the pattern will be in place from 2 p.m. to midnight daily through Saturday and normal traffic patters will resume from midnight to 2 p.m. daily.

The southbound lanes of Ocean Boulevard, from 29th Avenue North to South Kings Highway will be one-way, and the northbound lanes will be reserved for emergency vehicles.

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