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| Loud Pipes ~ from NC-Bikers email list |
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 9:25 AM
Subject: [NC-bikers] LOUD PIPES
ASHEVILLE – Max Kerlin says he moved from Florida to Fairview for
peace, quiet and anything but the roar of motorcycles easily heard
from his mountainside home.
Law enforcement has a duty, in Kerlin's view, to crack down on the
noise, which sets him in conflict with motorcyclists who increasingly
see themselves as being unfairly targeted.
"I don't think anybody wants to control reasonable behavior, but
these people are really functioning in the unreasonable territory,
and I think law enforcement has a responsibility," Kerlin said. "It's
an assault on the environment, and one that we could easily do
something about."
Acting on complaints from residents like Kerlin, cities nationwide
have taken steps to address motorcycle noise, with ordinances that
come in many forms.
Some are against certain types of products — like mufflers that would
rattle the apples off trees — while others are aimed more on the
intent of the rider, who may want to turn some heads or rile up the
neighbors on a Sunday afternoon.
Some rider groups and motorcyclists say such laws unfairly punish
many for the acts of a few.
"From our perspective, this creates enormous problems for us because
people notice the one motorcycle that makes a lot of noise," said
Bill Wood, spokesman for the American Motorcyclist Association. "They
don't notice the 50 that pass that don't. So there's a perception
that motorcycles are noisy."
Laws vary
Asheville, Buncombe County and the state all have noise laws. For
example, the state requires vehicles to have a muffler or exhaust
system "of the type installed at the time of manufacture" that
prevents "excessive or unusual noise."
Examples of laws targeting motorcycle noise include:
• As of July 1, riders in New York City are subject to a minimum $440
fine for having a muffler or exhaust system that can be heard within
200 feet.
• In Lancaster, Pa., starting last month, riders — and all motor
vehicle drivers — could be ticketed for drawing attention to
themselves, whether by creating too much noise by revving their
engines or doing hard accelerations. Tickets start at $150.
• As of July 1, motorcyclists in Denver could be ticketed $500 for
putting mufflers on their bikes made by someone other than the
original manufacturer, if the bike is 25 years old or less. These so-
called after-market products can be louder than their manufacturer-
made counterparts.
Denver's plan is unique because it targets the after-market
equipment. Wood said it limits riders' freedom to choose what
products to use. Many motorcyclists who need to replace parts use
these products, rather than go to a dealer, which can be more
expensive, Wood said.
Enforcement a challenge
But some say enforcement is difficult. In Asheville, for example,
only one citation has been issued this year for a noise ordinance
infraction, which involved a motor vehicle, not a motorcycle.
Part of the problem is staffing and catching people in the act, said
John Garrison, chief ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A motorist violates the law if their vehicle exceeds 60 decibels at
50 feet, Garrison said. More citations are issued for noise law
violations on lakes under the National Park Service's control than
the parkway, Garrison said.
"It is a very common complaint that noise interferes with people's
enjoyment of the parkway," Garrison said. "We're going to have to
craft something that has wide exposure and gets acceptance from all
participants, whether we're talking about a motorcycle, motor home,
truck or car."
Chuck Zimmerman's outlook is simple: "Loud pipes save lives." The
Waynesville resident and his wife both have "straight pipe," or
nonbaffled exhaust systems on their bikes, he said.
"They let people know you're around," Zimmerman said. "The real quiet
motorcycles are hard to detect. A lot of times, if you don't hear
them, you can back into them."
It's more about safety than trying to impress people, Zimmerman said,
adding that riders with loud mufflers need to ride with respect to
their surroundings.
James Buckner recalled a time when his loud mufflers might have saved
his life. While riding, Bucker said he saw a deer coming across a
field toward the road in front of him.
"I didn't have a horn on the motorcycle, so I just pulled the clutch
in, revved the motor and the deer went off the pavement back into the
cornfield," Buckner said. "That's one time it saved a deer from
running into me."
Buckner, who also is the western district coordinator for the
Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of N.C., said his group tries to
stress discipline to riders when it comes to noise.
"It's the simplest fix to a problem, but nobody wants to learn
discipline," Buckner said. "I just wish it would be looked at instead
of taking freedoms away from people."
Asheville plumber Duncan Grosboll says he gets an earful of
motorcycle noise in driving around between jobs and wants to see a
noise ordinance that is better enforced by police.
Grosboll said he doesn't buy the "loud pipes save lives," argument,
saying that loud mufflers are more about boosting egos than promoting
safety.
"Actually, I'm thinking about getting a bumper sticker for my car
that says, `Loud pipes are … Loud,'" he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story. |
| |
Yo All Y'all:
Last year when we were discussing the North American Union, and the International Highway and Corridor between Mexico and Canada that will run through the USA, one of our members asked his/her representative in Washington, DC about the North American Union, and the trade agreements/treaties that will obliterate our national sovereignty. The representative responded that she/he had no idea what the constituent was talking about.
The NC DMV decision to issue a North Carolina Drivers' License with the North American Union Logo, appears to be associated with these activities. I'd be interested if that member would write to the representative and ask about it again.
Sure looks like the bureaucrats are running the government now... how do you unseat someone who you didn't vote for?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North American Union Driver’s License Createdposted by Lee
Logo intended to standardize documentation across continent New security logo on the reverse of North Carolina’s driver’s licenses By Jerome R. Corsi The first “North American Union” driver’s license, complete with a hologram of the North American continent on the reverse, has been created in the state of North Carolina. “The North Carolina driver’s license is ‘North American Union’ ready,” charges William Gheen, who serves as president of Americans for Legal Immigration. Gheen provided WND with a photo of an actual North Carolina license which clearly shows the hologram of the North American continent embedded on the reverse. “The hologram looks exactly [like] the map of North America that is used as the background for the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America logo on the SPP website,” Gheen told WND. “I object to the loss of sovereignty that is proceeding under the agreements being made by these unelected government bureaucrats who think we should be North American instead of the United States of America.” “To protest, I don’t plan on applying for a North Carolina driver’s license,” Gheen told WND, “even though I am a resident of the state. I don’t see how a Division of Motor Vehicles authorized in a Department of Transportation of a state of the United States can force me to have a license place that is designed with a North American Union insignia printed on the backside.” “My decision not to get a North Carolina driver’s license could have very difficult consequences for me,” Gheen told WND. “Without a valid driver’s license, I may not be able to drive a car, fly on an airplane, or enter a government building.” In 2005, WND reported North Carolina was the state where illegal immigrants go to get a driver’s license, with busloads of aliens traveling south on I-95 to get an easy ID. The Tar Heel State’s requirements to obtain a license are weaker than those of many surrounding states. Marge Howell, spokeswoman for the North Carolina DMV, affirmed to WND the state was embedding a hologram of North America on the back of its new driver’s licenses. “It’s a security element that eventually will be on the back of every driver’s license in North America,” Howell told WND. Howell explained the hologram of the North American continent was the creation of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that, according to the group’s website, “develops model programs in motor vehicle administration, law enforcement and highway safety.” Founded in 1933, AAMVA represents state and provincial officials in the United States and Canada who administer and enforce motor vehicle laws. The government of Mexico is also a member, though the individual Mexican states have yet to join. According to the group’s website, AAMVA’s programs are designed “to encourage uniformity and reciprocity among the states and provinces.” “The goal of the North American hologram,” Howell explained, “is to get one common element that law enforcement throughout the continent can look at on all driver’s licenses and tell that the driver’s license is an official document.” Jason King, spokesman for AAMVA, affirmed the North American hologram was created by AAMVA’s Uniform Identification Subcommittee, a working group of AAMVA members. He explained the goal is to create a continental security device that could be used by state and provincial motor vehicles agencies throughout North America, including the United States, Canada and Mexico. King referenced a document on the AAMVA website that describes guidelines for using the North America continent hologram as an Optical Variable Device (OVD) that AAMVA has now licensed with private manufacturers to produce. AAMVA supplies member motor vehicle agencies with a quantity of North American continent hologram OVD foils to use on their driver’s licenses and ID cards as needed. As the guidelines document on the AAMVA explains, each North American continental hologram OVD foil is embedded with a unique set of control numbers that permit law enforcement electronic scanners to identify the exact jurisdiction and precise individual authorized to hold a driver’s license or ID card with that particular OVD foil embedded. “AAMVA understands its unique positioning and the continuing role identification security will play in helping the general public realize a safer North America,” King explained to WND in an e-mail. “The association believes ID security will help increase national security, increase highway safety, reduce fraud and system abuse, increase efficiency and effectiveness, and achieve uniformity of processes and practices.” Jim Palmer, press director for ALIPAC, told WND that ALIPAC first became aware of the hologram when Missouri State Rep. Jim Guest held a seminar in North Carolina to protest the Real ID law. “The surprise came at a meeting on the Real ID that Palmer held in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, July 28,” Palmer told WND. “When Rep. Guest asked participants to take out their driver’s license and see what was on it,” Palmer explained, “one gentleman was a state employee and on his license there was this hologram with the North American continent on the back. We were all surprised to see that on a North Carolina driver’s license. Right there, that stopped the show.” Guest has formed a coalition called Legislators Against Real ID Act, or LARI. “I was astonished when I saw that North American hologram on the North Carolina driver’s license,” Guest told WND. “I thought to myself that the state DMV has already included this North American symbol on the back of the driver’s license without telling the people of North Carolina they were going to do this.” “I thought right then that this was going to be the prototype for the driver’s license of the North American Union,” Guest told WND. “When we called the North Carolina DMV, they hedged at first,” Guest said, “but finally they admitted that, yes, there was a North American continent hologram on the back of the license.” “This is part of a plan by bureaucrats and trade groups that act like bureaucrats to little by little transform us into a North American Union without any vote being taken and without explaining to the U.S. public what they are doing,” Guest argued. King explained AAMVA’s Uniform Identification Subcommittee created a number of task forces, including the Card Design Specification that developed the North America continent hologram OVD. “The Task Group surveyed and met with many stakeholders during the development effort,” King wrote to WND. “The Task Force gathered information from government and non-government users of the driver’s License/ID card to determine their uses for the DL/ID card and how they believe the card should function. In addition, the Task Group surveyed and met with industry experts in the area of card production and security to gather their advice, especially about the physical security of the card.” King told WND the Task Group work was repeatedly reviewed by the UID Subcommittee as a whole, with final approval coming from the AAMVA Board.
Doc Ski
Keep The Faith. Support our Troops in the war on terror...Wear Red every Friday.
|
| New MRF State Rep for NC |
Please join me in welcoming Susan Huttman to the ranks of the MRF state
reps in North Carolina. We now have a state rep and three assistant
reps. Susan joins in with myself, Vinny Neumann, and Benita "Paradise"
McLean. Contact information for current reps can be found at
http://www.mrf.org/staterepresentatives.php?state=nc
We are very lucky here in our state in that all the assistant MRF reps
are extremely dedicated activists who, while very busy with their own
organizations and lives, are also dedicated to the Motorcycle Riders
Foundation, it's mission, and goals. For me, and I suspect for them
too, it is not so much about the organizations we belong to... it is
about doing the best and the most we can to ensure that we, our friends,
and the generations that come after us can continue to freely ride the
roads of this nation with the assurance of continued health care,
fairness in transportation issues, fairness in legislative issues, and a
more informed motoring population looking out for motorcycles.
Susan's information will be added to the MRF website as soon as the
Director of the Reps program can clear his priorities/desk and get to it
- - We are preparing for our last board meeting of the year and national
convention (http://www.mrf.org/events.php).
Susan's contact information is:
Susan Huttman
114 Cedar Road
Hickory NC 28601
Phone/Fax: 838-495-8439
cell (for now) 239-940-0966
inktyme@msn.com <mailto:inktyme@msn.com>
Susan and her husband, George, moved to North Carolina earlier this year
from Florida. While in Florida, Susan was active in her ABATE and also
served the MRF board of directors as an assistant to the Director of
Communications. She is very well versed in the MRF, its mission and
goals, and ongoing projects. She also serves on some of the MRF board
committees. Susan has become active in the oldest motorcycle rights
group in North Carolina, CBA/ABATE of NC, serving on committees and
assisting the state legislative director with projects, and the state
information director with projects. She is getting active in her new
home community and has shown herself to be interested in all avenues of
motorcycle rights and motorcycle safety both within and outside of
CBA/ABATE of NC and the MRF.
You may see Susan on her beloved Honda Shadow, with her close cropped
hair and beautiful ink work as she re-familiarizes herself with the
hills and curves of our North Carolina mountains. She will be with me
at the Charlotte CBA Bike Show and Swap Meet in November, meeting people
and helping folks learn about the MRF.
Best,
Cindy "Fre" Hodges
MRF State Rep, North Carolina
|
| FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists' Association) Press Release, Sept 3rd. |
PRESS RELEASE
from the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations
September 3rd, 2007
EU motorcyclists present their opinion on motorcycle safety to Members of the European Parliament
September 5th, Strasburg: FEMA will present its European Agenda for Motorcycle Safety at the 11th MEP Ride.
Motorcycling offers an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and effective means of transport. Hence, the number of motorcycles on European roads has more than doubled over the last two decades. However, while motorcycling presents a solution to many of todayÂ’s mobility challenges, motorcycle safety is becoming an issue of concern for an ever-increasing number of stakeholders, who overlook the positive aspects motorcycling can bring to the transport mix.
Road safety is an important issue for all motorcyclists. FEMA - representing European MotorcyclistsÂ’ Associations in Europe - wants to contribute to the motorcycle safety debate, and will be presenting the views of European motorcyclists with regards to acknowledged - and potential - motorcycle safety problems. The European Agenda for Motorcycle Safety (EAMS) offers a compilation of motorcyclistsÂ’ expertise, which takes into consideration the concerns and requirements of the end-users.
The United States and the United Kingdom have recently set up motorcycle strategies with the aim of finding the most appropriate solutions to improve motorcycle safety. These recent examples show that the best way forward is to involve all motorcycle safety stakeholders from Industry to End-users and from National Transport authorities to local road safety experts. FEMA believes that this approach should be encouraged in Europe.
FEMAÂ’s contribution to the road safety debate is a document of over 80-pages. The European Agenda for Motorcycle Safety will be presented at the MEP Ride, FEMAÂ’s annual motorcycle ride with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) which will start next Wednesday September 5th in front of the European Parliament in Strasburg.
The EAMS underlines that motorcycles and motorcyclists have different characteristics from other vehicles and their drivers, and identifies the specific needs of motorcyclists that must be addressed along with those of other road users. It is aimed at providing legislators, decision makers and all stakeholders dealing with motorcycle safety, a summary of why motorcycle accidents happen from a riderÂ’s perspective, as well as recommendations on how to improve motorcycle safety in some specific areas of concern.
More info on http://www.mep-ride.eu/
Press Pack http://www.mep-ride.eu/index.php?p=press
This Press Release in PDF format: http://www.mep-ride.eu/invite/PR-20070831-MEPRide_final.pdf
END
Notes to editor:
- Contact, registration, information: Virginie Peters Tel +32 (0)2 736 9047 - Mobile + 32 (0)484 976 170 - Email virginie.fema@chello.be <virginie.fema@chello.be> - The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) is the European federation of national road rider organisations. FEMA represents, defends and promotes motorcycling and the interests of million powered two-wheeler users across Europe. Through its 23 national organisations from 17 countries, FEMA reaches over 300,000 dedicated motorcyclists representing all social groups. http://www.fema.ridersrights.org
-----------
FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 736 9047 / Fax: +32 (0)2 736 9401
http://www.fema.ridersrights.org |
| MRF News, Aug. 22nd '07 |
Subject: [Mrfnews] 07LR11 - Leaders Report- August
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:04:29 -0400 (EDT)
From: mrfnews@mrf.org
Reply-To: mrfnews@mrf.org
To: mrfnews@mrf.org, mrfnews2@mrf.org
MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)
MEETING OF THE MINDS IS ONE MONTH AWAY
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s (MRF) annual Meeting of the Minds
(MOTM) is less than one month away. Now is the time to start thinking
about tuning the bike and your mind for the trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
from September 20-23. MOTM will cover a host of new and current
information from around the globe as it pertains to all things
motorcyclists' rights. And in addition to the MRF's overview of issues
affecting us here in the U.S., there will be representation from the
European Union (EU) and our friendly neighbors to the north in Canada.
The Canadians and Europeans will cover a wide variety of topics, some so
seemingly restrictive that you will once again be shaking your head and
thinking, "I will never let that happen in my country or state!"
This year's MOTM conference begins on Thursday evening with a "Meet the
Board" mixer and networking session where all State Motorcyclists' Rights
Organization (SMRO) spokespeople present are asked to give a quick rundown
on the states of their States. Friday and Saturday are packed with
general sessions and smaller breakout groups where the topics run the
gamut of motorcyclists' rights. Saturday evening closes the bulk of the
MOTM's motorcyclists' rights symposium with an always lively banquet and
fundraiser auction.
MOTM also offers a few lighter-hearted events and PAC fundraisers, and one
that is surely not to be missed is the tug-o-war between the bikers in bib
overalls versus the classier and arguably leaner and meaner group – bikers
in kilts. Sorry my bibbed brethren, but I've got to go with the kilted on
this one.
Interested parties should register soon for the MRF's Meeting of the
Minds, the world's premier motorcyclists' rights conference. You can get
more information, print out a preliminary agenda, and register on-line
through the MRF's website at www.mrf.org. Hotel rooms are filling up
quickly so don't delay reserving your room. Be sure to mention that you
are attending the MRF's Meeting of the Minds and ask for the conference
rate when you reserve your hotel room.
MOTORCYCLIST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE EXITS RACE
Tommy Thompson recently announced his plans to drop out of the race for
the Republican endorsement for President of the United States of America.
Thompson seemed well suited to advance further with his conservative
Midwestern roots and family values approach to politics, but timing and
funding were not on his side. Thompson has served at a Presidential
cabinet-level position as Secretary for Health and Human Services. Before
that he was Governor of Wisconsin, where his trademark phrase about the
dairy state was, "Where Eagles soar, Packers score and Harleys roar."
Thompson finished sixth at the Iowa straw poll a few weeks back, and he
made it very clear from early on that if he did not secure a first or
second place finish in the Republican popularity contest, he would end his
race then and there. Thompson held a ride into Ames, Iowa as part of his
organized campaign events. A very serious rider himself, Thompson
routinely takes a couple-thousand-mile trip during the summers.
MRF Vice President of Government Relations Jeff Hennie said, "Thompson,
who has a firm grasp of the challenges and joys that every motorcycle
rider experiences, is a seasoned political veteran with a positive legacy
going strong. I don't think we have seen the last of Tommy Thompson." We
at the MRF wish Tommy good luck in his future endeavors and his return to
the private sector. We suspect he will have a little more time for riding
these days and we hope he enjoys it.
==========================================================
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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php
or call 1-202-546-0983
Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds
conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for
further details and registration information.
Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF's Young Activist
Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit
http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.
Sign up today for the MRF's new roadside assistance program by visiting
http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members
and non-MRF members.
(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC,
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted
exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.
The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the
very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading
members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and
regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public
awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights
organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.
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================================================= |
| Sturgis Discrimination Against Patch-Holders |
Patch ban at One-Eyed Jack's spurs boycott, possibly legislation
Columnist takes a new twist to a long-running Sturgis issue
By Bill Harlan, Journal staff
A beef with Hells Angels could inspire legislation to protect wearing motorcycle-club ?colors,? a state legislator told me Friday.
One Eyed Jacks saloon on Main Street in Sturgis was hopping this week, despite a call for a boycott because of a ban on motorcycle-club "colors." (Photo by Bill Harlan, Journal staff)
"If this persists, I'll consider it," said Rep. Jim Putnam, R-Armour, who sometimes wears a Sturgis motorcycle rally necktie during the legislative session.
Putnam was barred from entering the giant One-Eyed Jack's saloon on Main Street in Sturgis last week while wearing the colors of his own dangerous motorcycle club, the Lawmakers.
Now, Putnam supports a boycott of the saloon. "I'm not going in there," he said. (Putnam is taking it easy this week, anyway, after breaking his arm in a slow-speed spill during the Governor's Ride.)
One-Eyed Jack's owner Ray Gold is just as adamant about keeping his new ban on "back patches." Hells Angels, who have a Sturgis headquarters near the bar, often drink there. Gold said other customers and staff sometimes felt intimidated. "People don't like it when Hells Angels muscle in and tell you you're sitting in their seat," he said. "Besides," he said, "A lot of feuding goes on, and that's when they start shooting and killing each other."
But the ban on patches also angered Louis Nobs of Hibbing, Minn., who was barred entry wearing his Soldiers for Jesus colors. "You can't ban patches for just one group," he said. "If you ban them for motorcyclists you have to ban them for bowling teams, the Knights of Columbus -- everyone."
Nobs is on the board of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, and he's helping distribute 60,000 fliers calling for a boycott.
Gold countered that he has a right to have a dress code. "Why should I allow them run my business?" He asked. "That's just not going to happen."
One-Eyed Jack's is the only bar in Sturgis banning colors, but Gold points out other establishments do ban colors.
In fact, last week, a sign on the bar at the new Boneyard concert venue in Whitewood warned against wearing colors "Due to state regulation."
Putnam laughed. "We know there's no such regulation," he said. In fact, he wore his colors to the Boneyard.
Gold met with Nobs, Putnam and a Hells Angels representative, but as of Friday, colors were banned and the boycott was on.
That's fine with Gold. "It's helping business," he said.
"They;ve won the first round," Putnam admitted, but he added that legislation protecting motorcycle attire passed the state House in the early 1990s. It failed in the Senate, he said, but a similar Minnesota law has survived court challenges.
Beware a legislator with a Sturgis necktie.
Contact reporter at 394-8424 or at wrh2@rushmore.com. Go to http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/ and click on the Sturgis street blog for online reports.
Doc Ski
Keep The Faith. Support our Troops in the war on terror...Wear Red every Friday.
|
| Funding Secured for Nationwide Crash Study |
Subject: [NC-bikers] Research Funding Secured for Nationwide Crash Study
This information provided by the American Motorcycle Association:
Posted July 26, 2007
Motorcyclist fatalities up 5 percent in 2006
The increase in fatalities among motorcyclists reported this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscores the critical need for new research into the causes of motorcycle crashes, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
According to NHTSA data released this week, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed on the nation's highways during 2006, an increase of 5 percent over 2005. That marks the ninth year of increasing deaths after more than a decade of declining fatalities.
For several years, the AMA and the motorcycling community have been campaigning to get federal funding for a comprehensive study into the causes of traffic crashes involving motorcycles. The last such study was completed in 1980, and its conclusions have become less useful as the traffic environment has changed over the past quarter-century.
Recently, Congress appropriated funding for a motorcycle-crash study that required the motorcycling community to come up with matching funds before the research can begin. Thanks to a major contribution from the motorcycle industry, through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, along with pledges from the American Motorcyclist Association and individual riders, that funding is now assured, and the study should begin this fall at the Oklahoma Transportation Center, which is an independent and respected research center at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
"The increasing number of fatalities among motorcyclists over the past nine years have concerned us," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "And that's why we've worked so hard to get an updated study of the causes of motorcycle crashes.
"We look forward to getting this valuable research that will help save lives on the nation's highways."
Read the Original article at: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2007/06fatalities.asp
Doc Ski
Keep The Faith. Support our Troops in the war on terror...Wear Red every Friday.
docskivnv@earthlink.net
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
|
| NCOM News Bytes, Aug '07 |
NCOM NEWS BYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
BIKERS RALLY TO SAVE SAFETY FUNDING When word got out that the US House of
Representatives was considering a transportation appropriations bill in late
July, and an amendment to eliminate funding for motorcycle safety funds was
being proposed, the biker community rallied to the call and succeeded in
saving $6 million in grant money provided to 44 states for motorcycle safety
programs.
After being reminded by scores of concerned riders across the country that
saving lives is more important than saving a few dollars, the amendment by
Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling was never introduced and the Section 2010
motorcycle safety funds remained intact as the $104.4 billion dollar FY2008
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill (HR 3074)
went on to pass by a vote of 268-153.
TRAFFIC DEATHS REACH HISTORIC LOWS, WHILE MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES CLIMB
Declining traffic deaths has lead to the lowest highway fatality rate ever
recorded, announced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The
number of people who died on the nation's roads fell by 868 deaths last
year, the largest drop in total fatalities in 15 years; representing a 2%
decline that contributed to the historic low fatality rate of 1.42 per 100
million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), reported U.S. Transportation Secretary
Mary E. Peters.
But while total highway deaths fell from 43,510 in 2005 to 42,642 in 2006,
the lowest level in five years, motorcycle fatalities continued to escalate
for the ninth consecutive year following a decade of steadily declining
fatality rates. Data from NHTSA's 2006 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle
Traffic Crash Fatalities and Injuries shows that 4,810 motorcyclists were
killed on America's roadways last year, an increase of 5.1 percent over
2005. Motorcycle rider fatalities now account for 11 percent of total
fatalities, exceeding the number of pedestrian fatalities for the first time
since NHTSA began collecting fatal motor vehicle crash data in 1975.
Many blame the increase on the rise in popularity of motorcycles, with
states experiencing record numbers of registrations and dealers selling
record numbers of new bikes year after year for over a decade. Other experts
cite the aging ridership, bigger bikes, changing traffic mix, miles traveled
and other factors.
A comprehensive study into the causation of traffic accidents involving
motorcycles is expected to begin later this year at the Oklahoma
Transportation Center at Oklahoma State University, the first such
motorcycle-crash study since the Hurt Report in 1980.
The National Transportation Safety Board conducted a motorcycle safety forum
late last year to explore safety concerns in that sector of transportation.
While driving has never been safer in the U.S., internationally the United
States ranks 42nd of 48 countries measured in the number of highway
fatalities per capita. And although the fatality rate has plummeted since
1970, when the U.S. led the world in road safety with the lowest death rate
among industrialized countries reporting data, it now ranks 11th in
fatalities per distance driven.
Safety experts say the reasons are many. Bella Dinh-Zarr, the North American
director of Make Roads Safe, a nonprofit organization based in London, said
other countries have stricter laws, better enforcement, more accessible
public transportation, greater awareness, public support and more rigorous
training and licensing standards.
But expert after expert said the real problem was one of culture. With
personal freedom being a cornerstone of the United States, many states are
loath to pass legislation that curtails them, even when it comes to road
safety. So while the governments of other countries can easily pass laws to
make driving safer, like a national ban on hand-held cellphone use, those
laws here are left up to the states to impose, and that is often not so
easy. Fred Wegman, managing director of the National Institute for Road
Safety Research in the Netherlands, said attitudes were different in Europe.
There, he said, safety is not just about the individual, but is the
responsibility of society as a whole. "European countries fundamentally pay
more political attention to road safety," he said.
HELMETS DON'T SAVE LOUISIANA MOTORCYCLISTS Despite passing a mandatory
helmet law in 2004, motorcycle fatalities in Louisiana are on a record pace
and on course for one of the worst totals in the country, Highway Safety
Commission executive director James Champagne told attendees at a safety
summit in Baton Rouge.
The summit, produced by the Louisiana Motorcyclist Safety and Awareness
Committee and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission was convened to
decrease the number of motorcycle fatalities and injuries in Louisiana.
Achieving that goal is urgent.
Champagne told summit attendees that more motorcycle fatalities are
projected for this year in Louisiana than in any other year in the state's
history. If the trend continues, we will have not only the state's worst
year, but also one of the worst totals in the country.
At the Louisiana summit, safety officials pinpointed reasons for the
alarming increase in motorcycle fatalities. One is lack of professional
training. Champagne says training should be required before a cycle owner or
rider can apply for a license.
Ultimately, according to Champagne, almost all the factors that contribute
to the problem can be reduced by new legislation, enforcement of existing
laws - and mandated education.
LOUD PIPES TICKET DISMISSED The first and only ticket that police have
issued to a motorcyclist under Denver's controversial new noise ordinance
has been dismissed. Attorney Wade Eldridge, himself a biker, challenged the
law on behalf of his client, Stuart Sacks, who was pulled over in LoDo and
ticketed for having an "unlawful modified muffler," records show.
"The officer neither inspected his bike to see if it had the stamp nor did
he use a sound meter," Eldridge said. "So the most they would have had was
the officer's gut feeling that it was too loud, which is not enough."
Designed to curb motorcycle noise, the controversial new ordinance took
effect July 1st and limits noise levels to 82 decibels from a distance of 25
feet, and requires motorcyclists with bikes made after 1982 to have a
muffler with an EPA noise-certification stamp.
Eldridge, who is the Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney for
Colorado and legal counsel for the Confederation of Clubs of Colorado, also
claims the noise ordinance is unconstitutionally vague. The law "lends
itself to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement," he told the Rocky
Mountain News. "The police can stop you for whatever reason."
Eldridge said the law leaves enforcement up to the "unfettered discretion of
the individual officer," adding that his client was told he was stopped
because his pipes were too loud.
Police Capt. Eric Rubin, who used to head the Traffic Operations Bureau,
didn't know the details of that stop but said officers are using their
training and experience in the field "as reasonable suspicion to briefly
stop the rider" and check for the EPA stamp.
But the city's decision to drop the case highlighted a fundamental flaw in
the law - Denver police aren't equipped with the $1,000 noise monitors
needed to make the charge stick, said Eldridge, adding that, "In any case in
which it's properly challenged, the city has an impossible burden." The
reason Assistant City Attorney April Snook cited in her motion to dismiss
the case was the city was "unable to prove charge beyond a reasonable
doubt."
Ellen Dumm, spokeswoman for the city's Environmental Health Department, said
an "oversight" caused the case to be dismissed. "The police officer did not
inspect the pipes for the required (Environmental Protection Agency)
sticker," she said, adding that the dismissal was a "one-time" thing and
that the ordinance's enforcement will result in quieter streets.
Eldridge points out that even police bikes may be louder than Denver's
allowable limits. According to court documents, tests conducted by the city
on police motorcycles found sound levels at redline of 81.3 decibels and
81.7 decibels, and since the accuracy of the sound meters the city used is
within plus or minus .5 decibels, police motorcycles may be in violation of
the new noise law, Eldridge said.
PATCH BAN AT STURGIS BAR SPURS BOYCOTT, POSSIBLE LEGISLATION A beef with
Hells Angels could inspire legislation to protect wearing motorcycle-club
"colors," a state legislator told Rapid City Journal columnist Bill Harlan
during Sturgis Bike Week. One-Eyed Jacks saloon on Main Street was boycotted
during the rally because it is the only bar in town that bans motorcycle
club insignia, and they even barred South Dakota State Representative Jim
Putnam from entering while wearing the colors of his own dangerous
motorcycle club, the Lawmakers.
"If this persists, I'll consider it," said Rep. Putnam, R-Armour, who
sometimes wears a Sturgis motorcycle rally necktie during the legislative
session. "Putt" is not only a long-time motorcyclist himself, but is also a
long-serving member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Legislative
Task Force (NCOM-LTF), and anti-biker discrimination legislation is on their
agenda.
Putnam added that legislation protecting motorcycle attire passed the state
House in the early 1990s. It failed in the Senate, he said, but a similar
Minnesota law has survived court challenges.
Now, Putnam supports a boycott of the saloon. "I'm not going in there," he
told the Journal. But One-Eyed Jack's owner Ray Gold is just as adamant
about keeping his new ban on "back patches," which he told the newspaper is
to keep out the Hells Angels, whose Sturgis headquarters is near the bar.
But the ban on patches also angered Louis Nobs of Hibbing, Minn., who was
barred entry wearing his Soldiers for Jesus colors. "You can't ban patches
for just one group," he said. "If you ban them for motorcyclists you have to
ban them for bowling teams, the Knights of Columbus -- everyone."
Nobs is on the board of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, and he
helped distribute 60,000 fliers calling for the boycott.
ChiPS STAR NEVER GOT MOTORCYCLE LICENSE TV biker cop Erik Estrada has
revealed he never passed his motorcycle test. Estrada played California
Highway Patrol motorcycle cop Ponch in 1970s hit CHiPs, reports The Sun.
But he never actually had a motorcycle license for real. Estrada, now 58,
had to hurriedly arrange a bike test when he was assigned to the California
Highway Patrol for a new reality TV show.
And it took him three attempts to pass before he could appear on "Back To
The Grind", a show that gets actors to try their TV jobs.
WEIRD NEWS: A motorcycle was once plucked out of the Los Angeles sewer
system. It's the largest object ever found in there!
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Knowledge is power (Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est)."
Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626) English statesman and philosopher
Doc Ski
Keep The Faith. Support our Troops in the war on terror...Wear Red every
Friday.
docskivnv@earthlink.net
|
| AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS 6-05-07 |
AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS
THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
NCOM NEWS BYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish
National Coalition of Motorcyclists
UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY "Speeding Into The Future" was the theme for this year's NCOM Convention, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, over Mother's Day weekend, May 10-13, 2007 at the University Hilton. Another near-record crowd attended the National Coalition of Motorcyclists' 22nd Annual Convention, converging from virtually every state and representing most Motorcyclists' Rights Organizations and Confederations of Clubs across the country.
Hosted by the Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of North Carolina and the Confederation of Clubs of North Carolina, this annual conference draws prominent leaders in the bikers' rights movement to a different location each year to discuss topics of concern to all riders. Meetings, seminars and group discussions focus on safety issues, legal rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride.
This year's agenda was packed with informative and thought provoking meetings such as the NCOM Board of Directors Meeting, NCOM Legislative Task Force Meeting, A.I.M. Attorney Conference, A.I.M. Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Christian Unity Conference, Clean and Sober Roundtable, Women In Motorcycling, SMRO President's Meeting, Minority Outreach, and the ever popular and always inspiring Confederations of Clubs General Patch Holder Meeting.
Seminars and workshops included "Government Grants - How To Write & Obtain", "EPA Effects On Shops & Riders", "Freedom of the Road & Use of the Courts", "Loud Pipes", "Fourth Amendment - And Other Rights Under The Constitution", "National Transportation Safety Board", "5 Steps To Freedom", and "NAFTA Superhighway".
Keith Ball, former editor of Easyriders magazine and founder of Bikernet.com, was entertaining and informative with his historical perspective on the roots of the bikers rights movement as the featured dinner speaker during the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday evening.
Silver Spoke Award recipients honored during the banquet were: MEDIA: Brian & Toni Shearon of Thunder Roads Magazine; GOVERNMENT: Tommy Thompson, former Secretary of Health & Human Services/former Governor of Wisconsin and Presidential hopeful; LEGAL: Mitch Proner, A.I.M. Attorney for New York & Connecticut; MERITORIOUS: Bill "Snap" Lines of the Patriot Guard Riders; and SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Barbara Alvar of ABATE of New Mexico; Carmaletta Lara of ABATE of Oklahoma; and Patti Nasrallah of ABATE of Florida.
Receiving the Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award was Rick Nail, past President of CBA/ABATE of NC and former member of the NCOM Board of Directors.
The National Coalition of Motorcyclists was happy to welcome the following as new NCOM Member Groups:
The Patriot Guard Riders,
ABATE of the Garden State (NJ),
BikePAC of Idaho,
Freemasons Riding Club - National,
Sovereign Riders MC,
American Cruisers MC Chapters #56, #150, and #55, and
The Southern California Biker Alliance.
The 2007 Convention was dedicated to the memory of Karen Bolin of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, KC Mallady of ABATE of Florida, Marty Shultz of ABATE of Maryland and "Tank" of His Laboring Few Motorcycle Ministry.
Next year's NCOM Convention will be held May 8-11, 2008 in Houston, Texas at the Sheraton North at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Call NCOM for further details at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.On-A-Bike.com.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION LABELS MOTORCYCLE DEATHS "EPIDEMIC" The World Health Organization (WHO) recently expressed alarm over the growing number of accidents involving young people on motorcycles in Asia, warning that the situation has become a public health epidemic.
The WHO noted that young motorcyclists make up a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities among road users in many Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Malaysia. "Factors such as speed, no helmets, risk-taking behavior and drunk-driving contribute to the rising trend," according to the WHO regional office, which is based in Manila, Philippines.
It suggested "simple measures" that could be taken to help make roads safer as the WHO marked observance of the first United Nations Global Road Safety Week, April 23-29. These measures include setting and enforcing appropriate speed and blood alcohol limits, as well as introducing and enforcing mandatory seat belt, helmet and child restraint laws.
SAFETY CHIEF SAYS HELMETS & RIDER TRAINING SHOULD BE PROVIDED It's time to make helmets and training standard equipment for motorcyclists, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said during remarks to the Motorcycle Industry Council in Indianapolis on February 19th. Peters called on motorcycle manufacturers to provide free or heavily discounted DOT-certified helmets or rider safety training with the purchase of every new motorcycle sold in the United States.
"Helmets and proper training are just as important as brakes or headlights when it comes to the well-being of motorcyclists," Secretary Peters said. "We shouldn't be letting any customer take a bike out of the store without a helmet as part of the package. Safety shouldn't have to be an option when purchasing a motorcycle."
Secretary Peters also said the Department of Transportation was "attacking" the challenge of motorcycle safety on several fronts. Last September, the Department awarded over $6 million in safety grants to states to support motorcycle safety. In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has established a Motorcycle Advisory Council to focus on making roads safer for motorcyclists and will continue work begun by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on a Motorcycle Crash Causation Study to identify why motorcycle crashes occur and find ways to reduce the fatality and injury rates.
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY STUDY BEING CONDUCTED The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has launched a milestone 3-year study to determine the effectiveness of periodic involvement in a series of motorcycle rider education and training courses.
"The Longitudinal Study to Improve Crash Avoidance Skills" will study the crash-avoidance skills of motorcyclists who have taken a series of rider training courses, beginning with the MSF Basic RiderCourse, which is the learn-to-ride course, and graduates will be offered, via random sampling, three additional training opportunities at periodic intervals throughout the study.
"The MSF's rider education and training system used in this study is built upon the principle of safety training renewal," said Dean Thompson, MSF director of communications. "We believe a rider's decision-making and crash-avoidance skills can benefit from being refreshed over time. It is important for riders to regularly refresh their knowledge, skills and risk management strategies. We're strong advocates of lifelong learning."
Rider knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences will be evaluated and measured over time. The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center will provide an independent evaluation of research that will for the first time take a comprehensive, field-based look at the benefits of ongoing participation in a rider education and training system, and its subsequent effect on crash avoidance skills and real-world outcomes.
MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS -- COMING TO A STREET NEAR YOU Several cities in Massachusetts are working to keep motorcycle drivers safe on the roads in their communities. Last year, the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) requested a grant from the Auto Insurer's Bureau to help fund the erection of motorcycle awareness signs, and Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation awarded a $15,000 grant to the MMA to purchase and install 500 2-by-8-foot signs, which read "Check twice - Save a life, MOTORCYCLES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!"
Representatives of MMA are seeking permission to install at least one sign per community. Over a hundred communities are participating.
According to Wendell Davis, MMA District II Coordinator, Massachusetts is on the cutting edge of motorcycle safety programs. "This sign will help not just motorcyclists, but pedestrians, bicyclists, etc., by making people more aware overall," he said.
Davis added that Massachusetts is unique in promoting such an active awareness program and that "Massachusetts is one of the few states where (motorcycle) registrations have gone up and deaths have gone down."
SAUDIS BAN BIKES Earlier this year, Saudi Arabian officials increased security in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the annual Hajj by banning motorcycles. In an article titled "Reckless Bikers Risk Losing Rides", the Orlando Sentinel reported that Saudi officials impounded 350 motorbikes during heightened security operations, telling Arabnews.com that the motorcycle ban was a response to problems related to hit-and-run accidents as well as thefts where criminals used motorcycles to navigate crowds and escape quickly.
Motorcycles have also been banned because riders in past years have used them as unsafe, unlicensed, one-passenger taxis. Transportation services are in high demand during the Hajj, causing a problem with taxis and buses. Noise and pollution caused by motorcycles and scooters was also cited as a concern.
AFRICAN COUNTRY BANS WOMEN FROM BIKES The Nigerian state of Kano has banned women from riding commercial motorcycles, according to the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which warned that women who ride risk being arrested.
"The Sharia police, otherwise known as Hisbah committee, have concluded arrangements to commence enforcement of some aspects of the state's sharia law as passed by the state House of Assembly," the NAN said. The law bans women from riding commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada in Nigeria, and also bars Muslim Okada operators from carrying women on their motorcycles.
Other aspects of the Sharia law that would be implemented include the ban on alcohol consumption, hard drugs and prostitution, the commander said. Kano, one of 12 states in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north that adopted the strict Islamic law in 2000, is the first to introduce segregated public transport.
INDIA MAKES HELMETS COMPULSORY IN CITIES Wearing helmets is now mandatory within the city limits of six city corporation areas in the state of Bangalore, India, though one large city was exempted from the rule in view of the high daytime temperatures there.
Passengers, or so-called pillion riders, are also exempted from the helmet requirement.
The Karnataka High Court issued a directive to the Government in 2003 to make the wearing of helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders, and wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders is now mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act of the Centre.
NEWS OF THE WEIRD: WOMAN CRASHES WHILE TEACHING DOG TO DRIVE A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency announced.
The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog "was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive," according to Xinhua. "She thought she would let the dog 'have a try' while she operated the accelerator and brake," the report said. "They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car."
No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but the following explanation may help put that figure in perspective:
A billion seconds ago it was 1975, and the Vietnam War was grinding down.
A billion minutes ago was nearly 2,000 years, during the time of Christ.
A billion hours ago was over 112 thousand years, and our ancestors were still living in the Stone Age.
A billion days ago it was 2.7 million BC, and hominids were learning to walk upright.
A billion years ago earth's ecosystem became fully formed, and the first multi-cellular organisms appeared.
A billion dollars ago was only 3 hours and 53 minutes, at the rate Washington spends it.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "There is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence."
Robert G. Ingersoll, US Lawyer & Orator (1833 - 1899)
|
| MRF Leaders Report 5-14-07 |
MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)
MRF LEADERS' REPORT
Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)
NHTSA Quarterly Motorcycle Safety Network Meeting
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently held
its quarterly motorcycle safety network meeting. These meetings are an
update session held by the Feds to brief the motorcycle community at large
on what they are doing with regard to motorcycle safety. Of particular
note is the NHTSA "Share the Road with Motorcycles" planner and guide
located on their website (go to www.nhtsa.gov, then click on the "Traffic
Safety" tab at the top, then click on "Motorcycles" along the left side).
The planner provides a sample letter to the editor, posters and
promotional materials. Also noteworthy was the update from Honda on the
airbag-equipped Goldwing. Honda reported selling 700 units in the states
and recently had the first deployment in action. Turns out some guy in
sunny Florida t-boned a minivan and the bag inflated and kept him from
going over the bars. He walked away from the event unharmed. According to
the representative from Honda, this gentleman was exercising his right to
choose when the wreck occurred.
SAE Government and Industry Conference
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) held a multi-day conference in
DC this week that included two technical presentations with motorcycling
interests. The first was a presentation by NHTSA of the FARS data from
last year. I have seen this presentation by NHTSA dozens of times, but
what interested me about this presentation is that it seems NHTSA may now
actually trying to collect some of the data that has eluded them in the
past, while not entirely preventing the collection of half-baked numbers.
You see, right now although it's mandatory for states to report crash data
for automobiles, it's optional for states to report motorcycle crash data.
That hasn't changed, but NHTSA is now urging the states to collect and
present real world numbers instead of using mathematical equations as they
can (and many of them do) right now. To oversimplify, some states
currently use a formula to determine vehicle miles traveled for
motorcycles such as taking the number of registered bikes, and suggesting
that since bikes are "X" percent of all vehicles and cars traveled this
many miles then we can assume motorcycles traveled "X" amount of miles as
well. Of course, we know that's not how it works. I am sure very little
will change when it comes to motorcycle VMT and it's likely that once
again, as it has for many years now according to NHTSA numbers, no
motorcycles will travel in the state of South Dakota this year. Yeah
right!
The second SAE session relevant to motorcyclists dealt with novelty
helmets. Call them what you want - skid lid, half helmet, beanie - but you
know what I am talking about and you probably also know that should you
need head protection, you probably won't find it in a novelty helmet. Well
the good folks at NHTSA couldn't just accept that assumption, so they
apparently did a study on novelty helmets. This study has not yet been
released to the public, but NHTSA did hint at it in the session. NHTSA
spent who knows how many millions of taxpayer dollars to determine that
non-DOT-compliant helmets don't perform as well as DOT-compliant helmets.
Seems like a waste of money to me, especially when we can fully fund a
crash causation study that is nearly 20 years overdue. Stay tuned for the
results of this groundbreaking study.
Other News
The House Judiciary Committee soundly defeated an amendment to a sweeping
ethics reform bill that would have forced more reporting on grassroots
groups like the MRF. The amendment was the same language in HR 2093 a bill
the MRF has issued its opposition to. The Committee also voted down, by
5-27, a measure that would prohibit lobbyists from sponsoring lavish
parties at presidential nominating conventions. At the same time, the
panel exempted nonprofit organizations from having to disclose funding and
membership in political coalitions that lobby Congress.
A solid defeat in committee usually rules out any floor action on the
amendment in question. However, in Washington nothing is done until it's
done. The MRF will keep you informed of this legislative matter.
MRF Open House
The MRF DC headquarters will be open this Saturday, May 26 from 11am-2pm.
Coming to Rolling Thunder this year? Stop by Saturday for some light
refreshments and see the world-famous MRF office, located at 236
Massachusetts Ave NE, Suite 510, Washington DC 20002. Use the Union
Station Metro stop if you leave the bike in the 'burbs. You can contact me
with any questions at 202-725-5471 or jeff@mrf.org
Young Activists Needed
Once again the MRF is holding a competition for all of our younger
activists out there. The Meeting of the Minds, the MRF's annual multi-day,
multi-national motorcyclists' rights conference will be held this year
will be hosted by ABATE of Iowa in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from September
20-23. Are you or do you know someone between 18 and 30ish who is involved
with your SMRO? Get them to apply! The winners get a free trip to Meeting
of the Minds! What are you waiting for?
Ride Free and Ride Often
Jeff Hennie
==========================================================
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http://www.mrf.org/subscribe.php
Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php
or call 1-202-546-0983
Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds
conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for
further details and registration information.
Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF's Young Activist
Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit
http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.
Sign up today for the MRF's new roadside assistance program by visiting
http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members
and non-MRF members.
(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC,
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted
exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.
The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the
very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading
members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and
regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public
awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights
organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.
|
| From The Gunny's Sack 5/19/07 |
From The
GUNNY'S SACK
Every month I run through my brain and my sources to bring you news about the biker community we live in, whether it's good or bad. I talk about the Aid To Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) program all the time and do the best I can to convince all my brothers and sisters to join and carry their own AIM cards in their wallets. Here's just one story that tells you why.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES:
Unfortunately, here in Portland, Oregon, there was an incident in which we lost a brother in a bike wreck.
For whatever reason, the biker had no identification on him except his AIM key tag on his keys, which comes along with your AIM card. It's possible his wallet was lost in the wreck. The coroner called AIM's 800 number on the key tag and talked to our people at the AIM office in Canoga Park, California. The Portland coroner was given information from the file under the card number, and was able to learn the deceased mans' identity.
Carrying his AIM card didn't save his life, but it DID give authorities the means to notify his people of this tragedy. Things like this happen all the time in our world, and we need to look at making things a little easier for the folks we may leave behind. It's tough enough to lose your life but it's a real sin if your people can't be notified because there are no means at the scene to figure out who you are. That AIM card makes things a little easier and doesn't cost you a dime. I know I'm preaching to the choir but if I don't keep rubbing your noses in it ya won't pay any attention to me.
You will find an AIM booth at most motorcycle events, no matter where you live. Take the few minutes and walk over and sign up. You'll get your AIM card and key tag on the spot, and the person manning the AIM booth can usually answer questions, or at least send you to the right place. Note that your info NEVER leaves the AIM office, unless you're in a wreck, and then only to your family and medical people. If you have an accident, get in touch with your nearest AIM attorney as soon as you are able and he will at least listen to your tale and give you sound advice. You can also get an AIM card by calling 24-7, at 1-800-531-2424, or at 1-800-On-A-Bike. The AIM attorneys make their living helping us, and giving BACK to the biker community, because they're long-time riders themselves. The bikers rights cases they handle are for the love of it, not for the big bucks.
NEWSBITS 'N' PIECES
THE NCOM CONVENTION: Having just returned from the 22nd Annual Convention of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) in Charlotte, North Carolina, this edition of the Sack will run a little long. There were SO MANY informative seminars that I can't recap all of them, but I'll give you a little flavor of some of it. If your organization is planning on sending someone to NCOM next year in Houston, send TWO people, so you can cover all the information coming out.
There were about fifteen-hundred attending bikers registered, and a whole lot more locally who came by for one seminar or another. About THIRTY of our motorcycling lawyers from AIM - Aid to Injured Motorcyclists - were there and participating in many of the seminars.
POLICE ABUSES: Our own Sam Hochberg from Oregon was on the panel on Friday morning's NCOM schedule, on Freedom of the Road and the Use of the Courts, part of the AIM Attorney Conference there. Sam spoke about fighting back on several fronts in discrimination, and in particular about a current lawsuit over police abuses in a recent club raid. The raid netted NOTHING illegal, but tore apart the clubhouse. No surprise, since the police attacked with National Guard tanks, tear gas rockets, and the alphabet of Fed agencies, like the FBI, ATF, and the DEA.
Even scarier, Sam said that in a very recent police action against some other club members here in Oregon, a member of HOMELAND SECURITY was part of the "strike force."As events develop, we hope Sam will be able to give us more on this little outrage for the Sack.
SUPER-POOPER: Another talk at NCOM got me riled up pretty good, about the proposed NAFTA super-highway. SPUTNIK, the incredible biker-leader and NCOM Board member from Texas, led the discussion. There's a whole lot more to it than supposed "free trade," and they mean an ACTUAL super-highway running right up and down this country, administered by people OTHER than just Americans. It's probably the scariest thing I have heard of in American politics in my lifetime. Please everybody, write your congressperson and let them know about how you feel. This whole thing could end our way of life. Look for an article about it by Ron Paul, to learn more.
BIKER DIVERSITY: Saturday afternoon's NCOM schedule included meetings for state motorcycle rights leaders and reps, a Christian Unity session for Christian bikers, and break-out sessions for Women in Motorcycling, a Clean and Sober roundtable, and Black Clubs and Minority Outreach. We heard a great presentation from Brothers Behind Bars, a group dedicated to keeping our bikers at the grey-bar hotel in touch with the rest of us. That one was part of the really amazing meeting of all the COC's - the Confederations of Clubs from all over the USA. Each COC reported on their activities.
TENNESSEE MEDICINE: Now this is something we all oughta be thinking about, and I hafta hand it to our brothers in Tennessee for this one: At the NCOM COC meeting, we learned about a new Free Biker Medical Clinic! This has gotta be a first in the nation, and long overdue. The folks there got the medicine donated by the big pharm companies, and docs come to treat bikers who can't afford a doctor. I'd sure like to see that one go nationwide. Charity runs are nice and all, but how about taking care of our OWN?!
MORE NCOM: There were SO many great meetings and seminars that I can't talk about 'em all in any one or even two or three Sacks. You just gotta get your butt to the next NCOM, next May in Houston.
THE BIKER REPUBLIC: It almost feels like bikers are a nation within a nation sometimes, but this is something else: The Sons of Liberty Riders were a news service on the Internet, just for bikers. Well, those folks folded up their shop due to some politics, but MOST of them are back, and ACTIVE again. LEARN more and subscribe to their e-news service. Just point your browser and yourself to their new website,www.BikerRepublic.org
BIG BROTHER IN OUR FACE AGAIN: Because of an increase in motorcycle deaths, state law enforcement, motorcycle safety and motorcycle industry folks have joined together to form a "task force"to address the issue.
This new hoo-hah was sparked by the death of a ten year- old who died when he got on a motorcycle with a cape tied around his neck. It got tangled in the spokes of the rear wheel. The MSF has a booklet with safety instructions, but it cannot cover everything! When are folks gonna use some COMMON SENSE in their daily lives? This was an absolutely preventable tragedy, and more laws won't prevent this sort of stupidity.
BUSH, H-D and INDIA:
Remember when President Bush visited India recently? It was in the news -- he'd said he was "looking forward to eating Indian mangoes," or words close to it. Apparently, it was a tit-for-tat trade deal: Bush agreed to lift a ban on importing mangoes from India (fear of bugs I reckon, but now they'll irradiate the mangoes first to kill the bugs), reportedly in return for India allowing Harley-Davidson motorcycles onto Indian roads. Thing is, recent reports from Indian media claim that H-D sez they won't be selling bikes there yet anyway, because the tariffs are too high! Sheesh! Could be because they manufacture more bikes in India than we do here in the USA, by far.
Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon AIM Chief of Staff
www.AIMNCOM.com
|
| Long Day at the NC Legislature ~ Docski 5-08-07 |
The long day began “last night” when nearly 50 motorcyclists from across the state gathered to show a presence in the House Gallery for the third reading of HB 563, Traffic and Personal Safety Changes. This bill was sponsored by Representative Sutton and Stiller. HB 563 if enacted will require all motorcyclists in North Carolina to wear DOT helmets (FMVSS 21 .
I had some materials for those members of the house who had voted in opposition to the bill during the second reading, so as soon as I arrived I was running around to their offices dropping off information portfolios in time for them to read the materials prior to the session starting. While I was busy delivering info, Randy Norris (State president CBA/ABATE) organized the group for action, and maintained an obvious presence on the plaza while awaiting the time to move to the Gallery. Members of the “Press” (Mark and Molly Infield) were there to take photos of the “lobby-rally” participants and gather information for an upcoming article in Full Throttle.
We were recognized as “Motorcyclists from Across the State” by the Speaker of the House (Joe Hackney) which turned out to be the high point of the night. As the session rolled along, much discussion was given to several bills that preceded HB 563. There was so much discussion on the early bills, that the session ran out of time, before the bill could be voted on. It was tabled until 3:00 pm this afternoon (Tue 08 May). I went home to prepare for a full day at the legislature.
SB 1359 (Red Light Exemption for Motorcycles) was scheduled to be heard in the Senate J-II committee at 10:00 a.m. today, so I arrived a few minutes early (for a good seat) fully prepared to witness the discussion and provide any requested input regarding the bill. The committee also had a full agenda, and ran out of time before SB 1359 could be discussed. It is rescheduled for this coming Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
This rush to get bills heard and out of committee is sparked by the “crossover” deadline. Crossover refers to a time-table for bills to be heard and sent to the opposing house in the legislature. This year, all bills (that don’t have a financial aspect) must be heard, approved, and transferred (cross-over) to the other house no later than 27 May.
As the date for crossover approaches it creates a time crunch. Everyone is anxious to get their bills on the floor and passed. Bills that don’t transition to the other house will die in their house of origination. If a bill does not make the transition to the opposing house by the deadline, it cannot be re-filed until the 2009-2010 session.
Generally, bills that have money aspects are not subject to the crossover deadline.
The House General Session met at 3:00 pm today and they discussed and voted on HB563. Representative Allred offered two amendments to the bill during discussion. The first amendment was to remove the chin strap language; the second was to remove the requirement for riders to wear safety helmets at speeds below 35 mph. Both amendments were voted down by the House.
On a positive note, we experienced a small victory, that demonstrates that some of our elected officials are listening to our concerns. Although the bill passed, there was a significant increase in the number of representatives who opposed passage. The original vote (second reading) was 99-15-2 in favor of passing the bill. Today’s vote was 92 -28-0. The bill still passed, but the number of elected officials who opposed the bill nearly doubled from the vote during the second reading.
I just read the Senate calendar for tomorrow and Senator Rand’s bill, SB 375 Motorcycle Learner's Permit Changes will be heard in the transportation committee tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. I will be there to present our concerns and to offer an alternative to the bill. I am hopeful they will form a sub-committee to look into alternative ideas, and we will be invited to participate.
Please contact the members of the Senate Transportation Committee and ask them to give the bill an unfavorable recommendation, or to establish a sub-committee to find an acceptable alternative. Members of the Transportation committee are listed below with their e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
That’s all for today folks… I’m tired and have a lot to do before I go to the transportation committee tomorrow. Hope to see some of you there.
Keep the Faith!
doc ski |
| MRF News from the Hill 4-30-07 |
07NR05 - News From The Hill
MRF E-MAIL NEWS
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)
#07NR05- News From Washington DC
The View from Capitol Hill
Federal Legislation to End Discrimination of Bikers Introduced
Washington DC
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that legislation to close the
loophole that currently exists in our nation?s health insurance
industry has been introduced in the US Senate (S 616) and House (HR
1076).
Under current law, group market insurance customers - that?s everyone
who has insurance from a job in the private sector, military or
government - can be denied benefits for a particular injury just
because it came from an motorcycle accident.
Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) in 1996 to ensure proper access to health insurance for
all American workers. Once the bureaucrats at the US Department of
Health and Human Services issued their final ruling on the law they
managed to allow a loophole that can be used to discriminate against
motorcyclists when the need health insurance the most, after an
accident.
The loophole also is used by insurance companies to deny benefits for
any accidents that stem from horseback riding, snowmobiling, and snow
skiing, just to name a few.
"This legislation will right an injustice done to America's
motorcycling community," said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of
Government Relations for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. "We are
asking the Congress to tell the insurance industry that they can no
longer get away with refusing benefits that have been bought and paid
for by motorcyclists."
The House legislation has been referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, while the Senate bill is sitting before the Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
In order to pass this legislation, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation
needs your help. Please join your fellow freedom fighters and ask your
Members of Congress and Senators to co-sponsor this important
legislation.
The legislation to close this loophole has been around for the last
few sessions of Congress, but the bills introduced in this 110th
Congress have a few new twists. First, the House Democrat lead is new.
Welcome Bart Stupak to the picture; he is a 8th term Democrat from
Upper Peninsula Michigan and the top third of the mitten state. Mr.
Stupak?s district has tens of thousands of miles of snowmobiling
trails and most of his constituents use the snow machine to commute,
run errands and socialize, making the snowmobile an integral part of
everyday life. Mr. Stupak is also close friends with the Chairman of
the House committee that has jurisdiction over the measure; and is a
subcommittee chairman on the same full committee.
The House Republican lead is the same, Michael Burgess. Burgess is
medical doctor from, Flower Mound, TX. Burgess was an OB-GYN,
delivering 3000 babies before running for Congress in 2003.
The Senate sponsors are the same returning Senators as previous
sessions of Congress, Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation thanks all of the champions of this
legislation.
Another new development is that the House has adopted the Senate
language, making passage into law slightly simpler by eliminating the
need for both bodies of Congress to form a conference committee to
iron out the legislative differences. Previously the House and Senate
had slightly different solutions to closing the loophole.
Last Congress saw no major movement on the legislation. With your
help, we can close the loophole that allows our health insurance
providers to deny benefits for an injury simply because it involved a
motorcycle.
Ask your federal Representative to support HR 1076 and your two US
Senators to support S 616. Should you receive any commitments or
denials to support the legislation, or if you have any other
legislative question or concerns, please contact the MRF.
In other news...
IS DETROIT BACK IN BUSINESS?
The new chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is going
to do everything he can to bring back the glory days of the Motor
City. Detroit is far from the powerhouse it once was, losing countless
jobs and dollars to Toyota and others. Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), a
hometown Detroit boy, is often referred to as the dean of the House,
mainly because of his career as a House member for over fifty years.
He just won his 27th term and is currently the longest-serving member
of the House. He has sworn to defend his automaker constituents, which
does seem admirable. However, one of the ways he plans to breathe new
life into the Big Three automakers is on the backs of the American
consumer and the rights of the automobile owner. Last Congress,
Dingell was one of the most outspoken opponents of the Right To Repair
Act. He routinely tried his best to torpedo it in committee and was
often persuasive enough to win the support of his Democrat allies. Now
they are running the committee with Dingell at the wheel, so don't
expect to see any movement on the Right to Repair Act this year, which
was HR
2048 in the 109th Congress, or any protection for smaller independent
repair shops that are struggling to exist alongside a massive
dealership network.
Jeff Hennie
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http://www.mrf.org/subscribe.php
Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at
http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983
Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the
Minds conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php
for further details and registration information.
Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF's Young Activist
Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit
http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.
Sign up today for the MRF's new roadside assistance program by
visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available
to MRF members and non-MRF members.
(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted.
Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders
Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national
motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC.
The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington,
DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice
devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in
the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would
champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.
The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and
the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its
leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation
and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public
awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights
organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual
regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights
activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF
REPORTS.
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|
| 10 Ways to be Safer on a Motorcycyle |
10 Ways to Be Safer on a Motorcycle
(Forwarded by C. Boone, CBA/ABATE of NC)
1.) Assume Drivers Can't See You: Ride assuming that you and your motorcycle
are totally invisible to motorists. That means you must never assume that
drivers can see you. The odds are, they can't so believe it yourself and
always have an "out" for dangerous traffic situations. Motorcycle Safety
depends on you.
2.) Maintain Safe Spacing: Leave plenty of space in front and back and to
the sides from all other vehicles. Be an island. Stay away from traffic as
much as possible. This gives you more visibility and more time to react to
situations.
3.) Anticipate Trouble: Anticipate trouble situations and know what to do
when you see them. Analyze what vehicles are doing and try to predict the
outcome. Then make sure you're ready to avoid a bad traffic situation.
4.) Beware of Oncoming Left Turners: Beware of oncoming motorists turning
left in front of you at intersections. This is the leading cause of death of
motorcycle riders. I'm deadly serious here. I have personally lost many
friends to this accident. If you only remember one tip here, let it be this
one. Slow down before you enter an intersection. Have an escape route
planned. Stay visible. Don't travel too close to cars in front of you.
Position your bike so it can be seen by the left turner. Eye contact is not
enough.
5.) Ride Your Own Ride: Don't try to keep up with your friends who may be
more experienced. Know your personal limits. Ride your own ride.
6.) Watch Out for Curves: Beware of taking curves that you can't see around.
A parked truck or a patch of sand may be awaiting you.
7.) Don't Give In to Road Rage: Do not give in to road rage and try to "get
even" with another rider or motorist. If you follow these tips, most likely
you won't fall victim to road rage. It's better to calm down, slow down, and
collect your thoughts first. Then continue on and enjoy the ride. That's
what we're all out there for in the first place.
8.) Don't allow Tailgating: If someone is tailgating you, either speed up to
open more space or pull over and let them pass. Life is too short. Remember
that a bike can stop faster than a car so you don't want a truck on your
tail when you find yourself trying to brake to avoid an accident. Also,
don't tailgate the vehicle in front of you. Oncoming drivers can't see you.
9.) Don't Be Blinded by Sunglare: Beware of riding your motorcycle into sun
glare. All it takes is turning a corner and finding the sun either directly
in your face or passing straight through your windshield. Some helmets have
shields to block the sun. Face shields help somewhat. But sometimes you just
find yourself blinded by the light. Slow down, pull over, shield your eyes
and look for a way to change direction.
10.) Avoid Riding at Night: Avoid riding at night, especially late Saturday
night and early Sunday when drunken drivers may be on the road. It goes
without saying that you shouldn't drink and ride. Going bar hopping? Leave
the bike at home and find a designated driver.
|
| The War of Attrition to Regain our Liberties: Fighting NC's Helmet Law |
http://www.bikerezine.com/articles/warofattrition.htm
The War of Attrition to Regain Our Liberties:
Fighting NC’s Helmet Law
Written by FastFred Ruddock, April 2, 2007
Sometimes it is more important to stand up and fight for your rights than if you win or lose individual battles. Old timers in the battle against North Carolina’s helmet law told me they were impressed I was able to get as far as I did in bringing my case through the court system. They also admonished me that I may never get the chance again and should savor this experience. Apparently they feel the state keeps a list of “trouble makers” in their database so when a tag number is entered in a computer the police officer knows whether or not to issue a helmet ticket. I can neither confirm nor deny this theory at this time. However when I ride in North Carolina I still decide and plenty of police officers have seen me do so yet none have made any effort
to issue me another helmet ticket.
To keep everything in perspective that it is the law rather than the device I oppose: I wore my full face DOT helmet through the full length of I-26 in South Carolina. However I removed that helmet for my 100 plus mile ride from the state line of North Carolina to Bryson City deep in the Smoky Mountains. I passed many state troopers and local police officers along my freedom ride to court. However none of these law enforcement officers made any effort to deter or stop me let alone issue another ticket for violating NC G.S. 20-140.4. I
arrived in Bryson City and settled in before dark. I was required to be present in court prior to 9 AM to oppose my helmet ticket. I rode past the Bryson City Police Department as they changed shifts on my way to court; many police officers were in the parking lot by their cars as I rode by without a helmet and they all stopped and stared hard yet none made an effort to pursue.
I arrived early to court to a nearly empty courtroom. The bailiff at the metal detector smiled and told me I looked well prepared with my huge stack of paperwork. I took a seat near the front of the courtroom for what would prove to be a long and educational day. By 9:00 AM the courtroom was packed to standing room only. When roll was called I get a sneaky suspicion the District Attorney or DA knew who I was as he looked right at me when he called my name; I confirmed I was pleading not guilty and representing myself. Most present in
the courtroom were content to merely surrender to the DA without a fight and pay fines of $100 or more dollars and court cost ranging upwards to $300 or more. The greatest majority of folks were processed in far under 5 minutes as they paid the state fines without a fight. While I did not count the number present I suggest it would be reasonable to say the number processed easily exceeded 100.
As the day wore on it became clear they intended to empty the courtroom prior to hearing my case. I suspect they were afraid of educating the masses present about their rights and ability to do more than just surrender and pay. Keep in mind putting up a fight in no way increases the fines or court costs you pay following these methods. Finally there were only four of us in the courtroom and the DA asked my companions why they where present and if they had business; FU let them know he was present in my support. I was then called
forward. When I took my seat at the defense table two opposing lawyers took their places at the prosecution’s table. This really tickled me they were so worried about this case they were willing to pay two lawyers to oppose one longhaired hillbilly biker with no lawyer. I smiled to myself confident they had already wasted far more money than the maximum fine and court costs I could be ordered to pay.
Then things really got interesting and it all seemed like a well choreographed production. The female lawyer began asking the state trooper various simple questions about who he was and what he did for a living as if we did not know based upon his uniform. The most interesting tidbit of information was he had been a trooper for six years. Then she asked him to relate what happened before and during the stop. At this point the trooper lied on the stand before changing his testimony to that he could not remember or recall if I was wearing anything upon my head. I’am relatively sure this was a planned maneuver to sucker me into taking the stand when my case was in reality based solely upon points of law. On the other hand the DA grilled the trooper about
the fact he never determined I even had a helmet that met with his approval.
One of the more interesting or rather entertaining moments was when the DA introduced into evidence an article from the Full Throttle of the Carolinas magazine. It was at this moment I both felt foolish and at the same time the desire to laugh. I wondered just how long it took these two nerdy looking lawyers to dig up that piece of evidence. Then the thought of how many hours and resources had been invested into my case before I even arrived at the courthouse. At that moment I realized regardless how the case turned out I had indeed won a moral victory. The female lawyer read from my article and it was all I could do not to laugh or smirk. I have a strong feeling I was not the only one trying to keep a straight face. At this point as my assistants taking
notes in the audience lost concentration and omitted a few items. She relished reading about how I rode away from the stop without a helmet and how many lidless miles I enjoyed that day. The final quote she read from the article seemed to really fire up the state: “The lidless rides will continue and you are invited to join in the fun.”
Another important thing to remember when going to court and taking part in civil disobedience is that psychology will be used against you. Police officers and DAs are trained to use psychology to manipulate citizens and defendants. When I attempted to enter into evidence letters and statements from NCDOT and NHSTA the DA told a lie or rather used a blanket statement in an a
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