The roar of the engines was deafening as hundreds of motorcycle riders took to Mackay streets to protest the state government's proposed laws.

Rebels member Bill Holgate: "We don't agree with some of the stuff going on down south in the Gold Coast or Melbourne for that matter. It affects all of us and you can see that today." (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Police had a strong presence at the rally with around six marked and four unmarked vehicles forming a road block to check licences and conduct alcohol breath testing. (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Ulysses Club Secretary Ted Walters says police monitoring of ALL motorbike riders has stepped up since the state government announced its crack down on outlaw gangs. "Your bike, your license, drinking, drugs, they even had customs two days ago doing gun powder swabs on a bloke. You tell me what walk of life in this country doesn't have criminals. They're in politics, they're in the police, they're in the army, they're in everything you want to name so why have we got all these cop cars here today, and nobody's checking them." (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Superintendent Terry Borland: "There are a lot of people here at this event, it was arranged in a short period of time. We've no idea where all these people here were last night and even some of them have actually said to us they've had a few ales last night and they were hoping they went under. That in itself is a good indicator that the reasons why we do this is to ensure that our roads are safe." (ABC Mutliplatform: Laura Hegarty)

No charges were given to any motorcycle riders present at the rally. (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Rebels member Bill Holgate: " I work in the mines. I was a Telstra technician for 29 years and now in the mining industry for three years. All our guys work up here and it's expensive being in a bike club these days. We go on runs and it costs money. Most of our guys here in Mackay are family guys and they all work, everyone of them works." (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Police maintain they're just doing their job and everything is business as usual. (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Superintendent Terry Borland: "There are a lot of good people on bikes here, there's no doubt about that. There's business people, there's everyone." (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Barry Hayhoe is a pastor at a local church that feeds the homeless. He rides with the Tribe of Judah and says he's used to being stereotyped. "The stereotype thing, I've experienced it obviously; got long hair and wiskers and I ride a Harley Davidson. But that doesn't stop them people that are hungry. They're not worried that I've got whiskers or whatever when they come get a feed off me. They're not terrified of us or frightened of us or think we're public enemy number one. They're just pleased that someone cares enough to give them a feed." (ABC Mutliplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Secretary of the Pioneer Valley Ulysses Club Ted Walters: "We're a mob of silly old farts over forty years of age that ride motorcycles, that's it. That's what our club's about. We're not criminals, we're not law breakers, we just like riding motorcycles." (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Ulysses riders wear a "50%" patch to differentiate themselves from clubs like the Rebels who are the "1%". (ABC Mutliplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Around 10 different clubs were present at the rally including members from the Rebels, the Outlaws and the Odins as well as the Vietnam Veterans Australia, The Freedom Riders, Ulysses and Tribe of Judah. (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)

Superintendent Terry Borland says police don't give bikies any special treatment. "I guess if you're a motorcycle rider you could probably draw that conclusion but it's not the case. We've run a significant amount of operations here and in fact, the operation that was out at Sarina was planned three to four months ago. We've got ongoing management plans and operations running here on a consistency." (ABC Multiplatform: Laura Hegarty)