NCOM Coast To Coast Biker News for March 2014

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to prohibit the use of federal funds in establishing motorcycle-only checkpoints.  S.2078, the “Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act,” sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) on Wednesday, March 5th, and is similar to H.R. 1861, introduced last year in the U.S. House by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI).

The bill would prohibit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from issuing grants to states to set up checkpoints where motorcycle riders are targeted by police to check that their vehicles meet state standards for noise, tire condition and other requirements, and are also checked for safety gear during the roadside checkpoints.

Over the past few years, such roadblocks have been conducted in New York, Georgia, Virginia and Utah during large motorcycle rallies. The senators argue that these types of checkpoints are discriminatory and unnecessary since motorcycle riders are already subject to state registration, inspection, licensing and helmet laws and must stop at sobriety check points like all other drivers.

One co-sponsor, Sen. Manchin, former governor of West Virginia, says the checkpoints are a waste of taxpayer funding that can have an adverse effect on states’ economies. “Requiring bikers to drive through motorcycle-only checkpoints is not only an ineffective use of taxpayer dollars, but it also raises legitimate questions about discrimination against motorcyclists. In West Virginia, bikers travel near and far to drive on our winding roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery, which attracts tourism and helps boost both our local and state economies,” Manchin said. “As a Harley owner myself, I am pleased to work with my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation that simply would prohibit yet another senseless and unreasonable federal regulation which could harm states’ economies.”

The states of California, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia have all passed legislation to bar such checkpoints.

The Community Preventative Services Task Force, a panel operating under the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has reported its findings for improving motorcycle rider safety, recommending that states and the federal government focus on passing helmet laws.

In its first-ever findings statement on motorcycle safety, the group of mostly medical professionals emphasize that motorcyclist fatalities have nearly doubled since 2000, but ignore the fact that motorcycle registrations have likewise multiplied over the same time period.

Members of Congress have written the CDC requesting that they back off from helmet propaganda, but the federal health agency feels justified in pursuing all preventable injuries.

Following passage of the Farm Bill, which hampers the availability of E15 (gasoline containing 15% ethanol) by restricting blender pumps necessary to dispense the fuel, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent move to reduce for the first time the amount of ethanol required to be blended into U.S. gasoline supplies, two new EPA regulations are expected to further limit E15 availability.

In action taken March 3rd, the EPA decided against adopting E15 as its standard test fuel, and in other regulatory action refused to waive E15 vapor pressure limits, which will effectively reduce its distribution to gas stations during summer months.

Previously, the EPA approved E15 for use in cars and trucks built since 2001, but has not approved the fuel for use in any motorcycles or ATVs, and manufacturers have warned that E15 can damage engines and even inadvertent fueling can void warranties.

State Representative Seth Grove introduced HB 892 in this session of the Pennsylvania State Legislature in an effort to curb the practice of “serial permitting” by novice riders in the state, and the bill was just signed by the Governor and becomes effective immediately.

The new law restricts the number of times someone can reapply for a motorcycle learners permit to three times in a 5 year period.  Prior to this law, there was no restriction on the number of times an individual could reapply for a learners permit and thereby skirting the need to take the full motorcycle license written and riding test.

“We have been dealing with individuals who continually violate the restrictions of motorcycle permits because they treat permits like actual licenses,” Grove said.

ABATE of Pennsylvania also supported the bill and provides free student motorcycle safety training, with an opportunity to obtain a class “M” license upon completion of the course.

Safety rule number one for motorcycle riders is to watch out for car drivers, but a proposal in Florida could make it state law for drivers to watch out for motorcycles.

The bill covers what Senator Greg Evers (R-District 2) calls “vulnerable road users.” That includes motorcyclists, pedestrians, road workers, scooter and bicycle riders, farm equipment operators, carriage drivers and those in wheelchairs. If a driver commits a moving violation that results in bodily injury, it would become a second-degree misdemeanor. If it causes death, it would become first-degree, with the potential for license suspension.

Indiana state law bans driving off-road vehicles on public streets, but ABATE of Indiana, a motorcycle advocacy group, is asking Tippecanoe County commissioners to exercise a clause that allows county officials to allow all-terrain vehicles, gators and various other off-road machines, including snowmobiles, to use county roads in unincorporated areas. “We’re just requesting that they at least evaluate this; look at what other communities have done with this — what other counties have done with this” said Jay Jackson, executive director of ABATE of Indiana. “We’re not aware of any significant ramifications as a result, so we don’t see a downside to it.”

Jackson told commissioners that 45 Indiana counties currently allow off-road vehicles on public roads. The vehicles still must comply with state laws governing off-road vehicles.  State law requires the rider or driver be 16 years old and licensed, and also requires that the vehicle be registered, much like a boat.

An Ohio biker was granted his last wish to be buried astride his beloved Harley-Davidson, but it took one custom Plexiglas casket, three extra burial plots, five embalmers and six years of planning and preparations for 82-year old Bill Standley of Mechanicsburg, Ohio to share a grave with the ’67 Harley he bought new and rode around the country through 49 states.

It all started 18 years ago when Standley joked with his kids about who would inherit his motorcycle; “I’ve got two sons, only got one bike,” and one of his daughters off-handedly quipped, “Oh dad, just be buried with it.”

Six years ago, Standley went before the Champaign County Board of Health to get permission for the bizarre burial, and was informed that he would need a special vault and he’d have to drain all of the fluids out of the bike.

He and his two sons then custom built a see-through casket from a modified septic tank, reinforced with wood and steel, and on January 31st family and friends took him on his last ride to the cemetery, where a crane lowered him and his bike to their final resting place in full riding gear, forever in the wind.

With the 29th Annual NCOM Convention in Dallas just weeks away, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists is requesting that MROs, motorcycle clubs, and riding associations submit the names of those members and supporters who have died since May 2013, so that we may honor their memories during the traditional “Ringing of the Bell” tribute to fallen riders during the opening ceremonies. Dedications can be hand-delivered at the Convention to “Doc” Reichenbach, NCOM Chairman of the Board, or e-mailed in advance to Bill Bish at NCOMBish@aol.com.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring an item on behalf of their organization for the Freedom Fund Auction, with proceeds benefiting the motorcyclists’ rights movement nationwide through Getting Our People Elected donations, NCOM Speaker Program, lobbying activities and other pro-motorcycling projects as determined by the NCOM Board of Directors.

The 29th annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 8-11, 2014 at The Intercontinental Hotel – Dallas, located at 15201 Dallas Parkway in Addison, Texas, so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $99 by calling (877) 317-5786.

This annual gathering will draw hundreds of bikers’ rights activists from across the country to discuss topics of concern to all riders, and ALL motorcyclists are welcome and encouraged to attend. Meetings, seminars and group discussions will focus on legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.

To pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.