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.
If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTESCompiled & Edited by Bill Bish,National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
NEW HAMPSHIRE PROHIBITS MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTSIn an unprecedented victory on the motorcyclists’ rights front, New Hampshire became the first state to bar motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints. HB 148, co-sponsored by longtime biker activist State Rep. Sherm Packard, prohibits the acceptance of federal funding for the discriminatory roadblocks.“No law enforcement agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state may accept federal funding the purpose of which is to establish motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints,” states the new law, which takes effect 60 days after passage.
Packard was one of the first biker-legislators in the country, and as an original member of the NCOM Legislative Task Force he literally wrote the book on “Getting Elected To Public Office”, a pamphlet that can be ordered free of charge through the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or via the internet at www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
On the flipside, however, Virginia recently joined New York, Georgia, Utah and Maine in conducting such controversial roadblocks, with the Arlington County Police Department setting up a motorcycle-only checkpoint on May 28th during the annual Rolling Thunder POW/MIA rally in Washington D.C. over Memorial Day weekend.Also, on May 16th ABATE of New York held their annual Freedom Rally/Ride to the Capitol and as participants departed in small groups to return home, law enforcement units pulled over many of the riders and issued numerous citations of dubious legitimacy, primarily for helmets and exhausts.“This ride has been held without incident for 15 years,” said Robert “Prospector” Boellner, a member of the NCOM Board of Directors representing the New England states, adding; “It is believed that this action by New York State Police was retaliation for a class-action lawsuit filed by AIM Attorney Mitch Proner against state police and DMV to stop the practice of motorcycle-only roadblocks.”
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS CONTINUES MIRACULOUS COMEBACKIn what many have dubbed a miracle recovery, Arizona State Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) continues to make amazing progress after being shot in the head at a political rally during a shooting spree that left six dead and 19 others wounded.Her doctors credit her “will to live” with keeping her alive, despite initial news reports that she had been killed, and she is now expected to leave the hospital soon to continue her outpatient therapy and treatment from home.
Giffords remains seated in Congress and among her many duties she serves as co-chair of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus along with U.S. Rep Michael Burgess (R-TX). The bipartisan caucus is comprised of motorcycle-riding reps who promote motorcycling interests in Congress.She and fellow rider Rep. Allen West (R-FL), newly-elected Congressman from Florida who also now sits on the motorcycle caucus, were selected by the NCOM Board of Directors to receive the Silver Spoke Award – Government at the National Coalition of Motorcyclists annual NCOM Convention in Albuquerque, NM this past May.
MICHIGAN POISED TO REPEAL HELMET LAWAfter decades of protesting Michigan’s 42-year old helmet law at rallies at the State Capitol, motorcyclists converged on the statehouse on Wednesday, June 8 for a “Call To Victory Rally” in anticipation of a repeal bill making it to the desk of newly elected Governor Rick Snyder.Gov. Snyder has not committed either way, but he replaced Jennifer Granholm who twice vetoed repeals that were approved by the state legislature in 2006 and 2008.
It appears that lawmakers are once again poised to approve legislation that will allow freedom of choice for many of Michigan’s 241,000 motorcyclists.The Senate Transportation Committee recently passed a repeal measure that will soon go before the full Senate, while a similar bill is pending in the House of Representatives.
The Senate bill would allow those 21 and older to ride without a helmet if they have had a motorcycle endorsement for two or more years, or have passed a safety course. The House bill would allow those 21 and older to ride without a helmet if they have a $20,000 medical policy in place.Vince Consiglio, state director of ABATE of Michigan, said there are enough votes in both chambers to change the helmet law. “We’re not opposed to helmets, but it should be a choice,” Consiglio says, adding that the issue ought to be the education of motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles to avoid collisions in the first place. ABATE pushes motorcycle training and education for riders, and awareness for those in other vehicles.
The battle over helmets has also been waged in courtrooms across the state, with A.I.M. Attorney Larry “Katman” Katkowski challenging the enforcement of the law on behalf of ABATE and the Michigan Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs.
BILL WOULD ALLOW SUNDAY MOTORCYCLE SALES IN PENNSYLVANIAIn the past, Pennsylvania “blue laws” prohibited the sale of nearly all products on Sunday because of religious reasons associated with the Sabbath, but a new bill is aiming to allow motorcycle dealers to open their doors seven days a week.Right now, you can only buy parts and accessories on Sundays. “We always joke that you can sell all the parts to build a motorcycle but that you can’t sell the motorcycle itself,” said a spokesperson for State Senator Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) who introduced legislation that unanimously passed through the Senate and now moves to the House.
Many dealers are eager for the change, especially since neighboring New Jersey recently lifted their ban on Sunday cycle sales and have posted positive sales figures. Motorcycle businesses in Indiana and Wisconsin have also been trying to overturn prohibitions on Sunday bike sales.
ALABAMA MAY EXPAND MOTORCYCLE LICENSING REQUIREMENTSAlabama is the only state where a person can get a motorcycle license without ever sitting on a motorcycle. Would-be motorcyclists as young as 14 don’t have to take a skills test to obtain a license, just a written one.Rep. Allen Farley, R-Jefferson, and eight co-sponsors are behind the House version of a bill (HB-576) to require graduated licenses and mandate testing that includes riding. It would require future motorcycle licenses to include a written test and a skills test for ages 14-17. It also would introduce a graduated driver’s license law that would restrict motorcycle operations for ages 14-17.“Issuing a motorcycle license with a written test and no skills test is just setting people up for failure.
The lack for a mandate of training and education can be directly linked to reports of accidents,” said Richard Randolph, Alabama Motorcycle Safety program manager. “Sixty-nine percent of all motorcycle-involved accidents, the cause was the motorcycle operator. That’s steady year in, year out.”Currently, there are 47 state-legislated rider training programs in the United States and all but five US states waive motorcyclist license testing for graduates of rider training courses. Only 15 states require completion of a rider ed course to obtain a motorcycle endorsement, usually for riders aged 18-21.
VERMONT TO CREATE MILITARY LICENSE PLATE FOR MOTORCYCLESVermont will soon have a special motorcycle license plate to honor Vermont’s veteran and active duty members of the military who ride.Governor Peter Shumlin signed the bill into law on Tuesday, May 24, and it takes affect on July 1. The new law also allows members of the military to get veteran license plates before they retire. The governor’s office says in the past military personnel who have made a career of their service would have had to retire to receive the plate.Adrian “Andy” Megrath, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Rutland Chapter, told The Republic newspaper that the motorcycle plate is another way of showing “how proud we are of veterans, and how many of us there are.”
TRAFFIC FINES BOLSTER BUDGETSThe economic downturn has put loads of stress on state and municipal budgets across the country, and with strong public pressure against raising taxes lawmakers are raising traffic fines instead.Communities and state governments are looking to balance their budgets on the backs of drivers, using the boost in revenue from traffic tickets to help pay their bills.“Police are having a quick trigger finger,” says Gary Biller, executive director of the National Motorists Association. “There’s less tolerance, and tickets are being issued much quicker. We know the pressure being put on governments, but it doesn’t justify what’s going on.”
Speed limits were originally intended to conserve fuel during the energy crisis of the 70s, but have evolved into a $4.5-$6 billion industry according to NMA estimates.FoxNews.com recently reported that looming budget gaps have turned the roadways into a jungle for motorists, and cite the following examples of over-exuberant penalties across the country:* Parking in a fire lane in Pensacola, Fla., will cost you $100, up from $10.* Georgia recently added a $200 surcharge for anyone driving more than 85 miles per hour.* Colorado increased fines for speeding from $50 to $135.* Portland, Ore., increased fines for parking in a handicapped spot from $190 to $450.* Parking fines in Boston doubled to $40.* Speeding in Florida just 10 miles over the legal limit will cost you $196, up from $154.
Despite the increase in traffic citations, along with increased fines and fees, an estimated 95% of motorists simply pay up and don’t bother to fight their tickets in court.
AIM/NCOM INFORMATIONAL DVD AVAILABLEThe National Coalition of Motorcyclists and Aid to Injured Motorcyclists have a new professionally produced DVD available to bikers and biker groups free for the asking.Oregon AIM Chief of Staff Gunny Hutcheson, who was honored at the recent NCOM Convention with the Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award, wrote about the new DVD in his monthly Gunny’s Sack column: “It features information about the annual NCOM Conventions, the various groups and committees within NCOM, bike insurance and accident info and more.
Get with your AIM Rep or AIM Attorney in your home state, or contact AIM/NCOM directly at (800) ON-A-BIKE, and they will make sure you get your free copy to view with your own groups. Watch for AIM/NCOM booths at the biker runs – they should have some available there as well.
The DVD is nicely done and very informative.”Gunny further noted that “Every year we are faced with more and more losses of our right to ride our machines, and the industry has to comply with ever more restrictive directives that control the manufacture of our rides. These are the reasons national organizations like the NCOM exist. My hope is that this DVD will encourage more rider groups to send representatives to every national NCOM Convention.
They are held every year in a different city, so more can attend. It’s always over Mother’s Day weekend, and the 2012 NCOM Convention will be in Indianapolis, next May 10-13.“
QUOTABLE QUOTE: SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS(The following is quoted from the Editor’s Column of the June issue of Quick Throttle Magazine, Rocky Mountain edition, and we appreciate the shout-out):“Some More Good News — Motorcycle fatalities are down 2%- Motorcycle sales are up 7.2%- Laws are being enacted all over the United States to prevent police profiling and the singling out of motorcyclists for checkpoints and traffic stops- Someday soon it may be legal to run those pesky red lights that don’t turn green because your motorcycle isn’t heavy enough to trigger themFor more related news, be sure to check out the AIM/NCOM website (AIMNCOM.com or ON-A-BIKE.com) and sign up to receive their free monthly e-newsletter. AIM/NCOM (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists/National Coalition of Motorcyclists) is a nationwide organization founded to bring motorcycle groups together and protect the rights of motorcyclists.Although most of us think of them as just a club entity, the truth is they provide lobbying services and information that benefits all of us.”~ Deb Mountain, QT Editor
