Gypsy MC Legislative Updates

Meeting Of The Minds 2023

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2023-06-23T05:13:01-05:00

Texas Abate State Rally 2023

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2023-06-23T05:11:26-05:00

GYPSY NATION! PLEASE SEE THE LIST OF WHAT WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON FOR THE 2022 YEAR. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED CONTACT YOUR AREA ALO

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2021-11-21T15:21:22-06:00

Profiling: Continue pursuit of the House anti-profiling resolution mirroring the Senate version that passed unanimously. Build momentum for inclusion of anti-profiling language in other legislation.
Renewable Fuels: Advocate for targeted changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Autonomous Vehicles: Advocate and monitor any legislation or regulations related to motorcycles concerning connected and autonomous vehicles.
Emission Regulations: Engage the EPA & Congress on any activity related to motorcycle emission regulations.
Definition of a Motorcycle: Educate policymakers and advocate for change to current definition, that better reflects the current two- and three-wheel motorcycle landscape.
Crash Avoidance: Continue to promote the theme of crash avoidance versus safer crashing urging NHTSA and the DOT to focus on crash prevention and rider education.
Helmet Laws: Oppose any mandatory federal helmet, apparel or conspicuity standards.
Black Box: Pursue legislative language that any collected or available vehicle data is the property of the consumer and in which the consumer has the choice to opt-out of having their personal data communicated to interested parties.
Surface Transportation Reauthorization (Highway Bill): Advocate and pursue legislative efforts that impact motorcyclists in the Highway Bill, now set to expire in 2021.

E15 Fuel

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2016-04-17T20:05:07-05:00

They are trying to slip E15 in the backdoor yet again. Our motorcycles, ATVs, lawnmowers, etc, will NOT run on E15. H.R. 4673 was introduced on March 22 by US Rep David Loebsack (D-Iowa.) Please take action by going to the AMA website and click "take action." An email will be sent from the website to your U.S. Representative. If you prefer, you can email your representative directly. Find your Texas U.S. Representative here. . . http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Zip.aspx

Bill promotes wider availability of unsafe E15 fuel

cqrcengage.com

AMA Newsletter February 2016

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2016-02-02T07:10:07-06:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Bi-Partisan Sportsmen’s Act would establish an “open-unless-closed” policy for public lands nationwide. Sponsored by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), two bills (S. 556 and S. 659), when combined, would create the Bi-Partisan Sportsmen’s Act to end the federal government’s current practice of “closed until opened or closed by bureaucratic inertia,” Murkowski says. “It doesn’t get any simpler than this: Americans should be able to access and enjoy their public lands.”

AMA Newsletter January 2016

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2016-01-11T10:43:34-06:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress passed a five-year, $305 billion highway bill that includes some big wins for AMA members and motorcyclists everywhere. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act includes:

Continued funding for the Recreational Trails Program, which provides funding to states for maintaining, improving and expanding off-highway recreational opportunities;
A prohibition against using federal funds for discriminatory motorcycle-only checkpoints;
Reestablishing a Motorcyclist Advisory Council to coordinate with and counsel the U.S. Department of Transportation administrator on specific infrastructure concerns to motorcyclists;
Funding of highway safety grants that include programs to reduce distracted driving, including language that make it easier for states to successfully qualify for and receive the money; and
Measures to ensure privacy and security in vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology.

AIM & NCOM News - September 2015

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2015-09-23T11:02:32-05:00

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON PAYS $20,000 TO MOTORCYCLISTS FOR COUNTY FAIR DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS

SEPTEMBER 2015
Two members of Portland area motorcycle clubs were refused entry to the 2013 Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo, SOLELY because their clothes displayed their club affiliations. After traveling miles to the fair, they were turned away at the gate.

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - June 2014 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2014-07-27T09:57:16-05:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - March 2014 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2014-03-27T05:25:27-05:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - February 2014 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2014-03-06T07:26:56-06:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - January 2014 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2014-01-20T18:00:40-06:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - December 2013 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-12-01T12:58:43-06:00

TMRA2 UPDATE FROM THE CAPITOL - END OF SESSION

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-06-10T14:06:32-05:00

TMRA2 Summary of the 83rd Legislative Session: Well the regular session has ended and now we go into special session over the redistricting issue.

The only way to describe this session is, slow as a turtle. Many bills were introduced way too late. Many good bills, (including all the gun bills) were killed due to the House of Representatives and senate arguing over the same issues as last session. And many bills that get introduced every session, like the DUI road block bill, never even made it into committee hearings. We were happy about that because killing bills can be just as hard as passing them.

Introduction to Legislative Updates

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2014-12-31T15:43:10-06:00

Motorcycle Rights Organizations (MRO’s) are an important and necessary part of our motorcycle community. We have several MRO’s in Texas that serve our interests. These include ABATE (originally A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments but later changed to Alliance of Bikers Aimed Towards Education), AMA (American Motorcycle Association), COC (Confederation of Clubs - note that there is another organization sometimes referred to as COC that is the Coalition of Clubs. The Confederation has a purely legislative mission) and TMRA2 (Texas Motorcycle Rights Association). An umbrella organization NCOM/AIM (the National Coalition of Motorcyclists and Attorneys for Injured Motorcyclists) who's mission is to unify motorcycle rights organizations.

The Gypsy Motorcycle Club has chosen to focus our support through the COC and TMRA2. All the MRO’s have a single mission and that is to protect our right to live the MC (Motorcycle Club) lifestyle. The strength of the COC is it’s ability to muster rapid support for defined causes through a group called “Defenders”. A “call to action” (CTA) is made to the MC Defenders and they, in turn, communicate the CTA request to their members. The members respond to the CTA by phone, email or letter to their representative or congressman, thus demonstrating either support or opposition to the proposed legislation.

TMRA2 UPDATE FROM THE CAPITOL

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-05-13T11:35:00-05:00

BILLS THAT TMRA2 IS TRACKING/WORKING

SB763, Senator Watson: Relating to motorcycle training and the license requirements for a three-wheeled motorcycle; creating an offense. Bill language

TMRA2 Update: Still waiting for the bill to go through local and consent.

HB2279 Rep. Phillips: Companion to SB763–he may be amending the bill to include his passenger bill. Relating to motorcycle training and the license requirements for a three-wheeled motorcycle; creating an offense. Bill language

TMRA2 update: The bill has been left pending in committee on the house side and may be amended by Rep. Phillips office to include the language in his passenger bill.

HB3838 Rep. Phillips: Motorcycle passenger bill: Relating to the regulation of motorcycles and motorcycle operators. Bill language

TMRA2 Update: Referred to transportation

SB1515 Senator Ellis: Bicycle bill: Relating to the operation of a motor vehicle in the vicinity of an unprotected road user; providing penalties. Bill language

TMRA2 Update: As of 5-13-13 this bill is dragging. We spoke to Tina in Senator Ellis office and told her we support this bill and will be testifying on it as soon as the senate sets a hearing. She was very happy we are on board. The bill provides for an increase in penalty to anyone who injures or kills an “Unprotected Road User”. The definition of “who” is an unprotected road user was amended this session from last session to include everyone using the road. This makes the bill much more likely to pass since it doesn’t just cover a “protected class of citizens” which we all know Rick Perry will not sign bills for protected classes of citizens.

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - April 2013 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-05-03T08:43:20-05:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - March 2013 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-03-20T09:22:30-05:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - January 2013 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-01-20T10:12:00-06:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - February 2013 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-02-20T10:04:04-06:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - December 2012 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-01-03T12:13:36-06:00

A History Of Bikers Rights In America – As Seen By Bill Bish - NCOM

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2013-01-01T11:13:57-06:00

About 30 years ago, bikers across America got sick and tired of being told by a bunch of Washington bureaucrats and local politicians who'd never thrown a leg over a motorcycle what they Had to Wear, how they Had to Ride, and what our Bikes had to be Built Like!! And over the years, motorcyclists have organized themselves into a viable political force. We are one of the few True grass roots movements in the country. Others may share an avocation, profession or recreation, but they don't share the passion. Bikers have succeeded in taking their passion and turning it into a movement...a "Freedom Movement," because we have the passion for freedom. Freedom is something we believe in, and that motorcycling is just one very enjoyable way to experience it. Well folks, that passion will always be inside you, each of you, the Harley, Honda, Yamaha, BMW or Triumph rider, from the doctor to the construction worker. And that motorcycle will remain an outlet for that passion...as long as we continue to bypass the barriers of appearance or ego and work together to preserve our right to ride. And that's what our movement is all about...a diverse bunch of people, most of us staunch individualists, but with one common denominator and a common goal...Freedom Of The Road. The kind of camaraderie that brought the first two motorcycle riders together to share a ride down a country lane is the same kind of camaraderie that formed our early motorcycle clubs and associations and, eventually, our motorcycle rights organizations. Motorcycle Rights Organizations (MRO's) as we now know them started developing in the early 70's, after the first national helmet effort caused almost every state to pass mandatory lid laws. Since then motorcyclists have never been strangers to political activism. In fact, early motorcycle riders were among the first special interest groups to lobby for better roads. At the turn of the 20th Century as Indian footpaths and trails became rough and rutted dirt roads, motorcycles served as a primary form of transportation, and motorcyclists became vocal about improving the road conditions. Later, riders were among the first groups to push for an interstate highway system. You have to know where you've been to know where you're going! My name is Bill Bish, and I'm the former Executive Coordinator of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists and Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM & NCOM), and have been active in bikers rights for over fifteen years. I have served in various state positions with ABATE of California, including two terms as Chairman of the Board and two terms as State Director. Sooo, for you history buffs, I'll try to piece together some of our early beginnings, with apologies to those who were there from the start. I wasn't, so this is only from my early conversations with people like Deacon Dave Phillips, Ron Roloff, Keith Ball, Sherm Packard and others who were there, as well as my own research and admittedly spotty memory. But, to help validate this version of Biker History, I ran the article by most of the people mentioned herein. Through NCOM and ABATE of California, I have traveled across the United States to preach unity and spread information, and I will always treasure my memories of the places that bikers' rights has taken me and the friendly faces that have greeted me. Because our issue is so emotional and deeply personal, I have developed close relationships with many Freedom Fighters throughout the country who I am proud to call Brothers and Sisters. It was this deep sense of "family" within the motorcycle rights community that inspired me to trace our Family Tree. Much has been said of the coming new millennium, and of the opportunities and pitfalls our future holds in store, but one thing is certain...You can't know where you're going unless you know where you've been! With that thought in mind, I'd like to take you on a brief trip down memory lane, as we open up our Family Album and retrace our History as a bikers' rights movement here in the United States. Don't worry, there won't be a test, and hopefully this brief history lesson will be at least as interesting as your High School History classes!

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - November 2012 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-11-20T12:09:48-06:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - October 2012 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-11-01T08:19:10-05:00

Texas 2013 Legislative Day - January 27-28th

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-10-13T11:06:28-05:00

Received from Area D Legislative Assistant -

The following is some of the info about the upcoming Ride to the Capitol. There will be seminars held at the VFW hall here in Austin on January 27th followed by the Ride to the Capitol on January 28th. The following is an excerpt from my notes from the last COC/COI meeting.

January 27, 2013, the doors to the VFW at 500 VFW Road, Austin, Texas (North Austin just off of IH35) will open at 9am. ABATE Texas will have a seminar on writing letters to your representatives. TMRA will have a “meet and greet” seminar at the VFW after ABATE Texas. This seminar is to help those going to the Capital to get the most out of their time meeting with their representatives. TMRA will also have computers set up to help you identify your representatives. After the TMRA seminar there will be a COC/COI meeting.
January 28, 2013 is the Ride to the Capital. Doors at the VFW open at 8am. Parking for the ride has not yet been determined. Parking will be determined prior to the ride. Note, parking in the Capital garage is not free. If you park there you must pay. Last ride several people parked in the garage and left without paying. They did not pursue these people but it has jeopardized the parking for the upcoming ride.

“Hoochyman”

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - September 2012 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-09-23T09:05:30-05:00

The AIM/NCOM Motorcycle E-News Service is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists & the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, & 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 http://www.on-a-bike.com/.

NCOM Biker Newsbytes: Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish…

Federal Highway Safety Grants in Jeopardy:
Despite a spike in traffic fatalities, states could lose as much as $120 million in highway safety grants if Congress doesn't change a planned bill to fund the government's operations for six months. Congress passed a new highway bill this year that streamlines the federal grant process that provides state funds for alcohol-impaired and distracted driving prevention, increased occupant protection, motorcycle safety, teen driving safety and data collection. Under the typical rules for a continuing resolution, new programs such as those authorized under the highway bill cannot be funded. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported that its estimate of all traffic deaths for the first quarter of 2012 show a 13.5% increase to the highest number since 2008. The substantial increase is the second-largest quarterly jump in traffic deaths since NHTSA began tracking deaths on a quarterly basis in 1975 -- and the biggest since 1979. NHTSA reported the rate of traffic deaths per 100 million miles of vehicle travel increased significantly to 1.1 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled during the first three months, up from 0.98 in the same period last year, with 7,630 fatalities compared to 6,720 in the first quarter of 2011. The increase would end a steady decline in U.S. road deaths over the last seven years, falling last year to their lowest number since 1949.

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - June 2012 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-06-22T08:47:00-05:00

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - May 2012 - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-05-22T09:30:16-05:00

27th NCOM in Indianapolis - by Gypsy Limey

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-05-19T10:39:09-05:00

The 27th NCOM, held in Indianapolis, was as educational as all the NCOM’s that I have had the pleasure of attending over the years. An added bonus is the opportunity to spend time with Gypsy brothers and sister amongst hundreds of other bikers. You can rest assured that the Gypsy MC stands out – in contrast to the 99% who wear black, our Gypsy Gold colors are a marked contrast. Toolman, Chi-Ching, 2Kewl, Mr PM, Oops and No-Tel had our plan to cover as many of the meetings as we could.

The main topics again this year were profiling and education. Profiling has even become a bad word for the government to use since they lost the anti-profiling suit in Washington against the State Police versus the Outsiders MC. With the support of the US Defender network the State lost big time, in fact the State was ordered to pay $90,000 to the Outsider MC member for the lost wages etc that he suffered because he was a Outsider MC Member. I have copies of the court proceedings and notes if anybody is interested. For future reference the powers that be will use the word “Trending” not “Profiling”.

MICHIGAN RIDERS WIN HELMET FREEDOM

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-04-17T10:53:12-05:00

On behalf of the NCOM Board of Directors we congratulate the State of Michigan on a job well done and to all who supported them.
James D. "Doc" Reichenbach II
Chairman of the Board
National Coalition Of Motorcyclists

April 13, 2012
Michigan Is Helmet Free At Last! Michigan gained freedom today when Gov. Snyder signed the bill (SB291) into law (PA #98) that repeals the 37 year old mandatory helmet law. The repeal is effective immediately!!! Make sure you have $20,000 medical benefits on your bike and ride safe.
Thanks to everyone who made a phone call, sent a letter or a postcard, or sent an e-mail.....your efforts made a difference.
Ride Free.
Angel
Legislative Director - Michigan Confederation of Clubs

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - by Bill Bish for February 2012

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-03-05T11:18:40-06:00

National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

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 or if you have been involved in any type of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at www.ON-A-BIKE.com. WELCOME to our thousands of new subscribers through the Aid to Injured Motorcyclists program, and THANK YOU for indicating on your AIM membership application that you’re interested in receiving motorcycle-related legal & legislative news!
The AIM/NCOM e-News now reaches nearly a million concerned motorcyclists every month, bringing current and accurate information directly to your in-box to keep you updated on important issues and current events.

CONGRESS MOVES TO ABOLISH MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTS
Motorcycle-only checkpoints have revved up concern in Congress, and wording was recently inserted into the House highway bill that would bar the U.S. Department of Transportation from providing grants to local or state governments for such discriminatory inspections.
The action arose over motorcycle-exclusive roadblocks set up in Georgia and New York under federal safety grants that single out motorcycles from four-wheeled traffic for police to check the bike and rider for proper paperwork, helmet, exhaust and equipment violations.

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who sponsored H.R. 904 to ban federal funding of motorcycle-only checkpoints, applauded the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for including his bill’s wording in their Feb. 1st mark-up of the transportation measure, saying; "It is encouraging to see that the transportation reauthorization bill will encourage more efficient use of taxpayer dollars and smart motorcycle safety policy."

U.S. Interior Department Resurrects Wild Lands Policy

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-03-05T11:12:59-06:00

Contact your senators and representative today!

The inappropriate federal "Wild Lands" policy was thought to be dead and buried -- until now.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) opposes the "Wild Lands" policy because it can restrict responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding with little or no public input whatsoever.

For the full story on this policy and what you can do, go to AMA Action Alert.

Federal Bill Raises Concerns for 15% Ethanol Fuel

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2012-02-09T11:59:53-06:00

House Committee action on bill to require EPA to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent ethanol.

Urge your Representative to support today! Take Action!

On February 7, 2012, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology will vote on H.R. 3199, introduced by Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) on October 14, 2011. This bill would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent ethanol blend (E15) gasoline.

"The EPA's decision to allow E15 into the marketplace will impact every American who owns a car, lawnmower or boat," Sensenbrenner said. Automakers insist that using E15 will void warranties, lower fuel efficiency and cause premature engine failure. In off-road engines, the effects can even be dangerous for users.

"There are serious concerns that the EPA used only one Department of Energy test and rushed E15's introduction into the marketplace," Sensenbrenner said. "This test was limited in scope and ignored a plethora of evidence – albeit inconvenient evidence for the EPA – that shows E15 gasoline has a negative effect on engines."
The new E15 gasoline formulation may appear at a fueling station near you and you need to be careful where you use this new fuel blend. That is because the EPA, in October 2010, approved E15 for use in model year 2007 and newer light duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles). In January 2011, it added model year 2001-2006 light duty vehicles to the approved list.
Riders should pay attention to this list because no motorcycles or ATVs are currently listed.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is concerned about E15 because it burns hotter than gasoline that contains a lesser amount of ethanol. In engines not designed to dissipate that extra heat, damage in the form of premature wear can result. Although this is a concern in all motorcycles, it's particularly problematic for air-cooled engines found in many bikes. Moreover, use of E15 may even void the manufacturer warranty.

Since the approved list includes many light-duty vehicles in use today, refineries, distributors, and fueling stations may choose to offer primarily E15 gasoline because of this action by the EPA. This should concern all motorcyclists and off-highway enthusiasts since this may affect the availability of gasoline with less or no ethanol (E10 or E0).

We need your help to pass H.R. 3199. You can find contact information for your Representative at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues & Legislation, then enter your zip code in the "Find your Officials" box. A prewritten e-mail is available for you to send to your federal elected official immediately by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.

In a previous AMA alert, Representative Sensenbrenner also introduced H.R. 748. This bill would prohibit the Administrator of the EPA from authorizing the use of gasoline containing greater than 10 percent ethanol in certain vehicles. For more information on H.R. 748, click here.

Again, the AMA urges you to write your Representative today and ask them to support H.R. 748 and H.R. 3199.

For a detailed analysis of this issue, including access to related documents, please sign up to be an AMA Defender member at

AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join. Defender members who sign up to receive Action Alerts automatically receive the detailed analysis.

If you are an AMA member, thank you for your support. If you aren't a member, please consider joining. More members means more clout and your support helps the AMA fight for your rights – on the road, trail and in the halls of government.
To join, go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-12-28T09:48:00-06:00

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

FEDERAL HELMET LEGISLATION NARROWLY AVERTED
Due to the quick actions of concerned motorcyclists across the country, a major federal transportation measure narrowly avoided becoming a bill to encourage states to enact helmet laws nationwide.

On Monday, December 12 Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) filed an amendment to S.1449 the "Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011” that would call for mandatory helmet laws nationwide and could jeopardize funding for Motorcycle Safety programs across America.

By Tuesday the motorcycle community was alerted to Lautenburg’s efforts by national and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations, including the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) and numerous NCOM Member Groups, and riders were urgently urged to contact their U.S. Senators to oppose the amendment -- and time was of the essence because a Senate committee was to vote on the bill the following day!

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-11-23T10:08:28-06:00

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 NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

COURT ALLOWS RAID ON RIDER ED FUNDS
The Illinois Supreme Court may have opened the door for states to reallocate hundreds of millions of dollars from dedicated funding to balance their budgets.

In a recent 6-to-1 decision, the state’s high court upheld a prior circuit court ruling that backed the governor and Legislature's ability to take money from hundreds of special state funds to offset budgetary deficits, a practice commonly referred to as “sweeping”.

Motorcycle riders sued former Gov. Rod Blagojevich after he swept $1.2 million from the Cycle Riders Safety Training Fund (CRSTF) to pay general state bills after a 2004 law passed by lawmakers allowed him to do so. A portion of the fee for an Illinois motorcycle license goes into the CRSTF, which ABATE of Illinois argued was only to be spent on motorcycle safety education.

"Clearly, the fee charged by the state for motorcycle registration and licensing is state revenue, and therefore the portion of this state revenue which the General Assembly has allocated to the CRSTF is also public money," wrote Justice Anne Burke in the majority opinion. Burke rejected the ABATE lawyers’ argument that the special fund was tantamount to a special trust fund.

The state Supreme Court concluded that the legislature cannot create an irrevocable trust with public money because this would place an unconstitutional restraint upon the legislature’s plenary power.

Sweeping special funds was a controversial way to deal with budget deficits during the Blagojevich administration, and although the court’s ruling opens the door to more such sweeps, current Illinois Governor Pat Quinn opposes fund sweeps and has worked to end the practice.

MICHIGAN REQUESTS YOUR SUPPORT FOR HELMET FREEDOM
Michigan may be on the verge of repealing their mandatory helmet law as Senate Bill 291 appears destined for the governor’s desk, and ABATE of Michigan has issued a “Call to Action” requesting the help of all motorcyclists in their freedom of choice efforts.

SB291 passed the Michigan Senate 24-14 in late June, and is now back for a “concurrence vote” after passing the House 69-39 on Nov 2nd, so a favorable vote will put ABATE’s hopes in the hands of Governor Rick Snyder who has not indicated whether he will sign or veto the measure. Two previous repeal bills were vetoed by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

“Governor Snyder prides himself on being all about business and helping business,” said Vince Consiglio, President of ABATE of MI, adding; “A letter from a ‘FREE’ State may help him realize Michigan loses motorcycle money every day of the summer with a mandatory helmet law.”

Under the bill, motorcyclists 21 and older would have the option of riding helmet-free if they have two years of experience or have taken a safety course, and if they buy at least $20,000 in medical insurance.

“Please urge Governor Snyder to support adult choice,” requests Consiglio on behalf of ABATE, by contacting Governor Rick Snyder, State Capital, P.O. Box 30013, Lansing, MI 48909 or call (517) 373-3400 or e-mail Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov.

BIKERS RALLY TO RESCIND UN-FAIR POLICY
“The State Fair of Louisiana, for a minute, mind you, adopted a discriminatory position toward bikers by posting signs that would not allow them to attend the fair in their traditional biker gear, some of which is protective gear,” said Mary Baker in an article in the Examiner newspaper, adding that “…bikers everywhere contribute to charity in a way that not many other segments of the population do… And, they definitely make an impact on the local community, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars at local establishments including restaurants, theaters, bars, parks, and small businesses. That is why it is disheartening to hear of discrimination based solely on appearance.”

Upon being alerted of the fair’s new anti-biker policy, Facebook exploded with messages like this: "ALERT/INFO: The State Fair of La. has adopted the policy: NO COLORS… Signs are now being posted at all gates. NO BIKER COLORS of ANY KIND. Please pass this on to ALL BIKER friends and family. MC's are being Discriminated against. To Complain:::: Call State Fair of La. Let Your VOICES be heard.... Repost!!! Don't support the fair..."

You can imagine that bikers, their friends and family were livid. They began to complain about the discrimination with phone calls to the Director of the State Fair, and his offices. The result: Before the end of the day, this message by the representative for Independent Riders, Northwest Louisiana, was posted on Facebook:

"UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE... WE HAVE WON !!!!! Just received a call... And the State Fair of Louisiana has now changed their policy. THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND ALL BIKERS ARE WELCOME AT THE FAIR !!!!!! Never, never, NEVER underestimate the power of a close knit FAMILY !!! Thanks to all who made calls and helped !!!"

Louisiana State COIR (Coalition Of Independent Riders) Commander Lionel “Nite Train” Bailey reported that the US Defenders and COIR conducted a phone campaign and not only have the Louisiana State Fair officials rescinded their No Colors policy, but even offered to organize a Bike Night to a Blue Oyster Cult concert.

LAWMAKERS OVERRIDE GOVERNOR’S VETO OF RED LIGHT BILL
The Illinois House voted 94-21 and the Senate voted 45-6 to override Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of the “Dead Red” bill supported by ABATE of Illinois that would allow motorcyclists to proceed through malfunctioning red lights.

As written, House Bill 2860 sponsored by Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) and Representative Daniel Beiser (D-Alton), specifies that a motorcyclist would be permitted to legally run a red light "after a reasonable period of time," but Quinn vetoed the legislation with the request that a two minute wait time be amended to it.

The law will now go into effect on January 1, 2012, and according to Sen. Forby; “A measure I sponsored (HB 2860) will now become law after I was successful in overriding the governor’s amendatory veto. The bill allows motorcyclists to go through a red light if it fails to change to green because the switch hasn’t been tripped, or didn’t recognize the motorcycle. To alleviate a few of the concerns some of my colleagues raised, I introduced a "trailer bill" that requires motorcyclists to wait 120 seconds before proceeding through the red light. For those of us who have been stuck at a light without it ever changing to green, we know how reasonable this legislation is. This situation happens more than many people think and is a growing concern for bikers at outdated intersections. In fact, 360 rear end collisions occurred with motorcycles that were slowed or stopped in traffic in 2010. If bikers are trapped at a light, this bill gives them an opportunity to safely proceed through that signal, because otherwise they don't really have much of a choice. 11 other states already have laws like this in place, none of which have tried to rescind it.”

INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SAFETY REPORTS RELEASED
Headlight configurations that make motorcycles more noticeable, why drivers fail to give way to motorcycles at T-intersections, and how mirror use influences car-motorcycle conflicts are among the topics researched and reported on in the new January issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention (AA&P), a journal primarily focused on causes and impacts of transportation accidents.

The themed AA&P edition is titled "Safety and Mobility of Vulnerable Road Users: Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Motorcyclists" and consists of a selection of papers presented at an international conference organized by Israel's National Road Safety Authority.

In a report entitled "Recognizability of different configurations of front lights on motorcycles," the researchers say that "Results of a laboratory experiment have shown that motorcycles with a T-shaped light configuration are more quickly identified, particularly when the motorcycles are in visual competition with other motorized road users."

In "Why do car drivers fail to give way to motorcycles at t-junctions?," researchers studied differences between novice drivers, experienced drivers, and "dual drivers," i.e., drivers who also ride motorcycles. They found that dual drivers were better at recognizing motorcycles than either of the other two groups. While the results are inconclusive, the researchers state that "We argue that this is potential evidence for an oculomotor basis for Look But Fail To See errors."

The report "Attention and search conspicuity of motorcycles as a function of their visual context" says that multi-colored, reflective, and white rider outfits consistently made the riders more noticeable than a black outfit.

Cars changing lanes without recognizing that a motorcycle is in that lane is a common experience for motorcyclists, and that topic is addressed in "Attending overtaking cars and motorcycles through the mirrors before changing lanes." Not surprisingly, the researchers found that "Risky maneuvers were less likely to occur in those cases where more time was spent gazing at the mirrors."

Other reports in this issue address other motorcycle-related issues, and can be accessed on a for-pay basis, but abstracts of the reports are available on the journal's website at www.journals.elsevier.com.

MOTORCYCLISTS BEWARE: STATES WITH THE WORST DRIVERS
You might believe that your state has the worst drivers in the country, but a newly released report from Carinsurancecomparison.com ranked states according to their safety record to determine where the bad drivers live.

Five factors were considered when determining the rankings; fatalities per million miles traveled, drunken driving, the number of tickets issued, failure to obey traffic signals and carelessness, utilizing data compiled from the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (driving fatalities), the National Motorist's Association (traffic tickets), and MADD (drunk drivers).

Here is their list of the 10 states with the worst drivers:
#10) South Carolina - Ranked 48th for fatalities and 45th for obeying road signs.
#9) Alabama - 46th for tickets. 42nd for fatalities. 41st for obeying road signs.
#8) Montana - Highest ticket rate in the country. Also ranked 40th for carelessness.
#7) Kentucky - 42nd for carelessness and 48th for drunk driving.
#6) Arizona - Arizona ranked poorly across the board.
#5) Oklahoma - Lots of DUIs, fatal accidents, and traffic tickets.
#4) Florida – Not as many drunk drivers... But Florida has more tickets than any other state.
#3) Texas - Texas ranked pretty poor in all categories.
#2) Missouri - Ranked in the bottom 10 for carelessness and DUIs.
#1) Louisiana - In the bottom 10 in all categories except failure to obey signs.

The safest driving state was Rhode Island, followed by Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Hampshire.

WEIRD NEWS: SPAIN FINES OVER HELMETLESS TOM HANKS POSTER
The Spanish distributor for the movie “Larry Crowne” was fined for a poster showing stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Tripictures was given a traffic fine of 30,000 euros ($41,500) for using the film’s U.S. poster to promote the movie’s overseas premiere because the government claimed it promoted reckless driving.

The distributor initially thought the ticket was a joke, but in 1985 Spain instituted a law that banned advertisements from promoting reckless driving. Fines are also given to celebrities if they promote the image of poor driving. One example came last year, when singer Shakira drove through Barcelona on a motorcycle without a helmet in one of her music videos.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
~ George Orwell (1903-1950) author of “1984”

NCOM Biker NEWSBYTES - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-10-23T11:07:54-05:00

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 NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
Monday, October 23, 2011

CONGRESSMAN CHALLENGES THE SCIENCE OF E15 GAS
U.S. Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has introduced legislation to require the Environmental Protection Agency to “seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent blend ethanol gasoline” (E15), which the EPA recently allowed to be sold for use in 2001 or newer vehicles; though motorcycles and ATVs are not approved for its use, nor are most small air-cooled engines, and using the hotter-burning fuel could cause premature wear, engine damage and void the manufacturer’s warranty.

"The EPA's decision to allow E15 into the marketplace will impact every American who owns a car, lawnmower, or boat,” said Sensenbrenner in announcing his bill, H.R.3199. “Automakers insist that using E15 will void warranties, lower fuel efficiency, and cause premature engine failure. In off-road engines, the effects can even be dangerous for users.”

Motorcyclists should be concerned about the availability of compatible fuel supplies if gas stations primarily provide E15 gasoline that’s EPA-approved for the majority of their customers -- but no on- or off-road motorcycles or ATVs appear on the EPA’s list of vehicles approved for use of E15.

"There are serious concerns that the EPA used only one Department of Energy test and rushed E15's introduction into the market place. This test was limited in scope and ignored a plethora of evidence - albeit inconvenient evidence for the EPA - that shows E15 gasoline has a negative effect on engines,” according to Sensenbrenner. “I introduced this legislation to ensure a decision of this magnitude will be vetted by independent scientific research, rather than political expediency."

Earlier this summer, Congressman Sensenbrenner, who is the Vice Chair of the House Committee on Science, introduced H.R. 748 to prohibit the EPA from authorizing the use of gasoline containing greater than 10% ethanol (E10).

BIKERS’ RIGHTS TO HEALTH CARE
Akin to some Unions that have negotiated lower health care costs by excluding insurance coverage for so-called “risky” behavior such as horseback riding, skiing and riding motorcycles, the state of Georgia may soon exclude motorcyclists from their healthcare benefits.

The chairman of a House study committee looking at Georgia's health benefit plan said the state might require employees to disclose dangerous activities like skydiving and riding motorcycles.

State Rep. Carl Rogers (R-Gainesville) said that the panel is looking to bring down skyrocketing costs in the state health plan. Earlier this year, lawmakers were forced to scramble to fill a $300 million budget hole for the health benefits.

Rogers told the Associated Press that state employees who take part in risky activities might eventually pay higher premiums.

TRUE COLORS: COPS VS. BIKERS
“Nowadays, officers also have to worry about lawsuits when they pull over a ‘one-percenter’,” reported the Philadelphia Daily News in response to a civil rights lawsuit claiming profiling and police harassment, adding that “Biker gangs might have a well-deserved reputation, but one local attorney who represents several clubs says that ‘reputation’ isn't a valid reason for a traffic stop.”

"Some of this tension between the cops and the bikers is because the cops hassle them ALL the time," said Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Boyd Spencer, who represents the Eastern Pennsylvania Confederation of Clubs.

Spencer is representing three bikers in a civil-rights lawsuit stemming from a July 30, 2009, traffic stop involving six motorcyclists, two of the defendants are Pagan’s M/C members and a third defendant was a Tribe M/C member.

According to the complaint, the bikers were ticketed for not having approved helmets and were told to remove their "colors", the patched jackets members wear. The whole traffic stop, which lasted more than an hour, was captured by mounted cameras in the police cruisers.

"Now you're all going to take your jackets off, because on this highway, these are the only colors," one of the state troopers, referring to State Police blue and gold, told the group after nearly 50 minutes had passed.

The bikers didn't budge. None of them took off his colors. The helmets were later found to be legal, and a prosecutor dismissed the charges. Spencer, who said the demand to take off their colors was out of bounds, chalks up the traffic stop to harassment.

Spencer said he always hears about bikers getting harassed. "I've got a guy in Upper Darby who gets pulled over every time he goes out on his bike," he said.

Upper Darby police Superintendent Michael Chitwood Sr. told the newspaper that bikers get pulled over if they break traffic laws, like anyone else. Police keep tabs on them, though. "These operations have become very sophisticated. They know what their rights are and what the police can do," he said.

“NO COLORS” RULE RESCINDED AT KENTUCKY EVENT
Following failed negotiations with Beech Bend Park near Bowling Green, Kentucky upon announcing they would no longer allow club colors of any kind at their All Harley Drags, the Kentucky Motorcycle Association/KBA called for a boycott of their events until this discriminatory policy was changed.

“After the word went out it is my understanding that several hundred phone calls went to the offices of Beech Bend Park,” said Jay Huber, President of KMA/KBA. “As a result of those calls the management at Beech Bend has reversed its decision regarding NO COLORS at its events.”

“The KMA/KBA along with the Kentucky Confederation of Clubs is committed to eliminating this type of discrimination as it hurts the entire biker community,” said Huber, adding that his organization will post listings on their website of businesses that discriminate with regard to No-Colors and urge “that ALL bikers please refrain from using the services of any business that participates in this type of action.”

SUIT CHARGES DISCRIMINATORY ENFORCEMENT OF NEVADA HELMET LAW
A dozen motorcycle riders recently filed a class action lawsuit charging arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement of Nevada’s helmet law.
The suit filed in U.S. District Court charges "defendants, through their agents, have an ongoing pattern and practice of issuing helmet tickets to the class members that are not supported by constitutionally sufficient probable cause, thereby violating the civil rights of the class members." The action blames Clark County and the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Mesquite; and Boulder City, and their police departments for the disparity in enforcement, and if certified as a class the suit could represent more than 40,000 motorcycle riders in the county.

The group is hoping to ultimately win the repeal of Nevada's helmet law, but this lawsuit is not about whether the government has the right to require motorcycle riders to wear helmets, which the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that it does, but instead the action accuses local police and prosecutors of selectively enforcing the helmet law and of using it unconstitutionally to hassle bikers.

“This violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution barring unreasonable search and seizure,” commented A.I.M. (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) Attorney Sam Hochberg in The Gunny’s Sack monthly e-column. “The suit also alleges violations of the 14th Amendment protections against arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. They are saying the fines are all over the map with no balance. The suit essentially says that law enforcement folks are using the Nevada helmet law to harass motorcyclists.”

Dubbed the Class M class action, the suit seeks to include some 40,000 Nevadans holding motorcycle endorsements on their driver's licenses.

NATIONWIDE MOTORCYCLE THEFTS DOWN
A motorcycle is stolen every 9.5 minutes in America, but according to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, motorcycle thefts last year were down 24% from their 2007 total. There were 65,678 motorcycles reported stolen in 2007 compared with 49,791 in 2010, according to data from theft reports contained in the National Crime Information Center.

The top five makes stolen last year were: (1) Honda, 12,260; (2) Yamaha, 9,853; (3) Suzuki, 7,869; (4) Kawasaki, 5,470; and (5) Harley-Davidson, 3,301. Combined, these five brands accounted for 38,753 thefts in 2010, or 77.8 percent of the total.
The top five states with the most motorcycle thefts in 2010 were: (1) California, 5,662; (2) Texas, 4,394; (3) Florida, 4,148; (4) North Carolina, 2,649; and (5) Indiana, 1,925. These five states accounted for 18,778 thefts, or 37.7% of the total.

FACT OR FICTION: MOTORCYCLES ARE ECO-FRIENDLY
In the popular belief that since motorcycles get better mileage they must be greener than cars, "People are trading in their cars and driving motorcycles instead because they believe that's the more environmentally friendly choice," said “MythBusters” television host Adam Savage in the season opener of the popular Discovery Channel show. "The logic is because motorcycles are generally more fuel-efficient than cars, they burn less gas and thus they must be better for the environment."

As the MythBusters have done with each of the show's previous seven seasons, Savage and his co-host Jamie Hyneman set out to test the theory, and the Los Angeles Times recently reported on the show’s findings.

The MythBusters duo selected three motorcycles and three cars that were common in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and put the undisclosed vehicles through a 30-minute, 20-mile real-world course, 75% of it consisting of highway driving and 25% city driving.

Savage drove all three cars while Hyneman trailed him on the bikes, each one equipped with portable emission-measuring systems that tracked exhaust gases from a probe in the tailpipe and collected engine information from the engine control unit to determine each vehicle’s fuel economy and emissions profile.

The upshot of the experiment was that the newer two-wheeler was indeed 28% more fuel efficient than the comparable car and emitted 30% less of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, however the same motorcycle emitted 416% more smog-forming hydrocarbons, 3,220% more oxides of nitrogen and 8,065% more of the toxic air pollutant carbon monoxide.

The MythBusters' conclusion: "At best, it's a wash. Motorcycles are just as bad for the environment as cars," Savage said on the show. "At worst, they're far worse."

But emissions are only one factor in the equation that measures a vehicle's true impact on the environment, and as LA Times columnist Susan Carpenter concludes; “Despite the MythBusters' findings, emissions are only part of the story of a vehicle's true greenness. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle manufacturing requires thousands fewer pounds of raw materials than automobiles. They require less fossil fuel, so they require less energy to pull that fossil fuel out of the ground. They use fewer chemicals and oils than cars. And motorcycles produced today are 90% cleaner in California than they were 30 years ago. Note to MythBusters: How about a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment for cars and motorcycles for the Season 9 opener?”

WEIRD NEWS: MOTORBIKERS TAKE BITE OUT OF APPLE
Just like in the movies, seven motorbike riders carrying passengers wearing full face helmets recently conducted an early-morning “smash-and-grab” robbery by busting a window of an Apple Store in central London and plundering thousands of dollars in Mac laptops, iPads and iPhones. “Apple is a big ticket item and a very easy sell,” deputy inspector Gregory Antonsen told the International Business Times, calling this one “primarily an Apple case”.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!” ~ Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC), Greek Statesman

NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES - by Bill Bish

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-08-31T02:42:20-05:00

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 NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
Thursday, August 18, 2011

PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS REPEAL OF KIDS’ MOTORCYCLE BAN
President Barack Obama signed a bipartisan consumer safety bill on August 12 that exempts youth-sized motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 that bans children’s products that contain lead.

H.R. 2715, introduced by U.S. Representatives Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), passed near-unanimously in the House 421-2 on Aug. 1 and was approved by unanimous consent by the Senate later that day. The measure excludes kids’ off-road vehicles from the overly-broad CPSIA lead certification rules, which previously prohibited their sale due to lead content of components such as batteries and brakes.

“This law is a win-win for American consumers and the American economy,” said Congresswoman Bono Mack, “and I thank the President for signing this critically important bill into law.”

Be sure to contact your federal legislators and thank them for rectifying the onerous “Lead Law” bike ban, and for supporting the rights of millions of off-road enthusiasts and future motorcyclists.

NHTSA (AGAIN) PUSHES HELMET LAWS
NHTSA Administrator David Strickland has testified once again before a Congressional committee urging federal action to get motorcyclists to wear helmets. On July 27, during a reauthorization hearing on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Strickland told a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation that “the most important step we can take to reduce the deaths of motorcyclists on our roads and highways is to assure that all riders wear a DOT compliant helmet.”

He further stated that, “A grant program emphasizing the use of motorcycle helmets would be effective in reducing fatalities.”

Last year, in response to Congressional testimony from Strickland that increased helmet use is the core component of NHTSA’s motorcycle safety plan, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced a resolution urging NHTSA to concentrate on motorcycle crash prevention and rider education instead of lobbying for helmet laws.

U.S. MOTORCYCLE MARKET RESEARCH
Research and Markets, a worldwide marketing research resource, has announced the addition of the "Motorcycle Dealers" report to their offering of over 718,000 global marketing research reports, which covers nearly 4,300 motorcycle-related stores in the United States with combined annual revenue of $18 billion.

According to their industry research, no major companies dominate; most companies have a single retail outlet, “The industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest companies generate just 10 percent of industry sales,” states the report.

Under the “Competitive Landscape” heading, the R&M report says: “Discretionary personal income and interest rates drive demand, since motorcycles are high-ticket purchases and often financed. The profitability of individual companies depends on volume and sales of higher-margin goods like heavyweight motorcycles. Large dealers have advantages in broad inventory selections and negotiating power with manufacturers. Small dealers can compete effectively by providing superior customer service or offering unique services, like bike customization.”

The report further observes that, “Major competitors include private market sellers, other recreational vehicle dealers, service center chains, and independent service shops.”

Other key topics include: Industry Overview, Business Challenges & Trends, Industry Forecast & Opportunities, and Products, Operations & Technology:

For those in the motorcycle industry or starting a motorcycle business, or interested in better understanding the two-wheel marketplace, check them out at www.researchandmarkets.com.

R&M has also conducted numerous other motorcycle-oriented marketing reports, including a Global Industry Guide and a Global Motorcycle Report, which examines market conditions across Western Europe, North America as well as key emerging countries such as China and India.

NEW REPORT REVEALS THAT 1 IN 7 DRIVERS ARE UNINSURED
Summer is the time for road trips, long motorcycle rides and making those daily back-and-forth trips to run household errands. Chances are drivers will not be involved in a vehicle accident during these travels, but everyone likely will be involved in at least one motor vehicle accident in his or her lifetime.

Across the United States, chances are roughly one in seven that a driver is uninsured, according to estimates released in April from the Insurance Research Council. The economic downturn is thought to be a major factor in the increase of uninsured motorists, with approximately 13.8% of U.S. drivers being uninsured in 2009 despite laws in most states requiring drivers to maintain minimum coverage.

In a new study, “Uninsured Motorists, 2011 edition,” the IRC estimates the percentage of uninsured drivers countrywide and in individual states for 2008 and 2009 based on the number of uninsured motorist insurance claims versus the number of bodily injury claims.

In 2009, the five states with the highest uninsured driver estimates were Mississippi, 28%; New Mexico, 26%; Tennessee, 24%; Oklahoma, 24%; and Florida, 24%.

The five states with the lowest uninsured driver estimates were Massachusetts, 4.5%; Maine, 4.5%; New York, 5%; Pennsylvania, 7%; and Vermont, 7%.

The moral? Protect yourself by making sure you’re fully covered, with Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage included in your insurance policy!

SAFEST STATES TO RIDE
According to a statistical analysis from TheStreet.com financial website, the safest state to ride in is North Dakota, with a fatality rate nearly a third the national average, low levels of congestion and high quality road surfaces.

In an article “The Safest States for Motorcycles” in the August 1st Business Section, writer Greg Emerson points out that, “The truth is that motorcycle riding is up. Way up. Between 1996 and 2005, motorcycle registrations increased 61% while vehicle miles traveled of motorcycles grew only 8.6%, according to the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration. That means a lot of new riders, riding not very far or not very often.”

In an effort to “help keep all those weekend warriors looking to get on a bike and go riding from losing their heads, we looked at the most recent fatality data -- from 2009 -- to determine which states were the safest for the aspiring Evel Knievels among us. We ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia to see which ones had the smallest proportion of motorcycle deaths as a proportion of total traffic deaths.”

Half of the states fall below the national average of 15.4%, and half above. Here are the 10 states with the lowest ratio of rider fatalities:

Tenth-safest: Vermont - Motorcyclist fatalities: 68; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 11.8%
Eighth-safest (tie): Virginia - Motorcyclist fatalities: 671; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 11.5%
Eighth-safest (tie): Kentucky - Motorcyclist fatalities: 745; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 11.5%
Seventh-safest: Missouri - Motorcyclist fatalities: 806; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 10.8%
Sixth-safest: Wyoming - Motorcyclist fatalities: 129; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 10.1%
Fifth-safest: Alabama - Motorcyclist fatalities: 776; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 9.8%
Fourth-safest: West Virginia - Motorcyclist fatalities: 334; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 7.5%
Third-safest: Mississippi - Motorcyclist fatalities: 632; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 7.4%
Second-safest: Nebraska - Motorcyclist fatalities: 211; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 7.1%
Safest: North Dakota - Motorcyclist fatalities: 135; Proportion of total vehicle deaths: 5.2%

HELMET AND ACCOUSTICS RESEARCH COULD QUIET THE RIDE
After accelerating, most of the sound that a rider can hear isn't from the bike engine or other vehicles on the road, but from the air rushing over and around their helmet. Noise levels inside a helmet can reach rock-concert levels when traveling at highway speeds, and a group of engineers and psychologists from two U.K. universities have gathered to study how to minimize helmet noise to protect riders from hearing damage and reduce the potential distraction that noise poses to riders.

Their research paper, which has been accepted for publication by The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, says that riders experience noise from multiple sources. First is the engine noise, which is a relatively insignificant factor once riders accelerate to highway speeds. Audible wind noise can reach volumes as high as 115 decibels or more, roughly equivalent to what power saw operators without ear protection would hear. OSHA recommends limiting such exposure to 15 minutes or less per day. Turbulent air buffeting off the motorcycle windshield is another source of noise, as is air rushing around the chin bar of the helmet.

There's another type of sound experienced by riders, called body conducted sound. Aboard a motorcycle, this process transmits engine vibrations and the percussive force of the wind through the flesh and bone to the ear. Earplugs don't stop it, and it can be significant.
Another topic under investigation by the Bath group is how sound impacts attention, and one experiment measured how different volumes of sound impaired a test subject's peripheral vision.

While riders and others recognize that noise can be a serious health issue, many U.S. jurisdictions prohibit the use of earplugs or other noise-reducing devices. One long road trip could take a rider through numerous changes in local laws.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Useless laws weaken the necessary laws."
Charles de Montesquieu (1689-1755), French philosopher and political thinker

The Loss of Freedom Always Begins With Small Steps

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-08-31T02:04:51-05:00

I saw this post on Keith Ball’s BikerNet.com website tonight and thought it was worthwhile passing on through our Legislative Updates section. Mark Shubin is the source of the information and, to me, it’s a bit scary. Somehow, the border-jockies between the United States and Canada have decided that certain members of certain clubs shouldn’t be allowed to pass back and forth across the border. Read what Mark’s got to say about a situation that’s happening currently. I’ve highlighted (in red) what I think are the most critical parts of the story. - Raoul

BONNEVILLE RACING REPORT-- On August 5th, I saw a disturbing post on Facebook from Roger Goldammer. It was concerning the fact that The United States is not
allowing Canadian members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club into the country. This is preventing Rogers brother Richard, from traveling to Utah for the Bub International Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats this month.

So I called Roger in B.C. to capture a more detailed picture of this restrictive situation.

Apparently this all came to light when some Club members tried to ride from Canada to Laconia N.H. to attend to World Run. Denied! Don't know why.

Now it appears that Richards annual trip to Bonneville is not going to happen because of his membership with H.A. Clean record doesn't seem to matter, just his patches. His crime must be his love of motorcycles and wanting to ride with his Brothers.

I haven't seen additional public information yet, but I'm pretty sure some lawyers are working on clearing this up.

And although this may seem small time to some and has little to no effect on most of our day to day living, think of what has happened to others in the past.

The loss of freedom always begins with small steps of blanket decisions and judgments . Then the list continues to expand as the government feels the need to manage everyone's liberty for their own good.

At this stage this may or may not be the start of something bigger, point being, stay vigilant! And much respect to Richard and Roger, they are both "Stand Up" guy's in my book! Hope this cleared up fast!

And lets not forget about the ATF and DOJ these days!

--Mark Shubin
Utah

Take Advantage of Congress in Recess

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-08-19T09:29:30-05:00

Great opportunity for your legislators to get to know you

Each August, the U.S. Congress takes a recess from Capitol Hill and focuses their time in the district they represent. They attend local events, host town hall discussions, and meet with constituents -- you!

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) urges riders to utilize the upcoming August recess as an opportunity to meet their legislator and have them get to know you and the riding community.

This August is an excellent time to get to know your lawmakers. Please take advantage of this opportunity to meet with your legislators, discuss issues important to you, and offer yourself as a resource for motorcyclist-related issues.

Opportunities to meet with your legislator during August recess: - Attend a town hall meeting - Schedule a meeting in the district office - Invite your legislator to attend an event - Attend a public event your legislator will be at
The AMA will alert you when your federal lawmakers schedule a public meeting. You may also contact your lawmaker's local office or visit their website to inquire about their public August schedule. To look up your lawmakers' contact information, visit the AMA Issues & Legislation page and enter your zip code in the "Find Your Officials" box.

For details on how to prepare for a town hall meeting, schedule a meeting with your elected officials, and more, visit the AMA Get Involved webpage and select "Communicate with Elected Officials."

To find information on motorcyclist-related issues visit the AMA Issues & Legislation page. Federal issues will be displayed on the main page. To view state specific issues, select your state in the "Search by State" drop down menu.

Lawmakers are elected by you and work for you. They care about your concerns -- the concerns of their constituents. Take advantage of this recess to meet your lawmakers, face to face, and allow them the opportunity to get to know you, the riding community, and motorcyclist-related issues. Encourage your fellow riders to join you in your efforts.

If you speak with your legislators this August, the AMA would like to hear your story. Please take a moment to tell us about your experience here, or contact the Grassroots Team.

Thank you for getting involved.

AIM/NCOM Motorcycle E-News Service: NCOM Biker Newsbytes

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-06-24T11:35:09-05:00

English Pete sent this information along:

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 NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

NEW HAMPSHIRE PROHIBITS MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTS
In 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.

ARRA Partners Promote OHV Recreation to House Subcommittee

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-06-24T10:10:08-05:00

From Limey: “This is an update of the fight for use of public land for Off Highway Vehicles; it is something I have been involved with for sometime I think some our members would be interested in the status of this effort.”

Yesterday, June 22nd the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing titled “Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation on Public Lands.” The focus of the hearing was on access to federal lands for recreational use and the economic benefits of recreational activity on federal lands.

OHV leaders from several ARRA partners testified about the economic benefit of motorized recreation, while others focused on specific access issues. Testimony was provided on H.R. 1581, which would release all Wilderness Study Areas and Inventoried Roadless Areas that have been deemed not suitable for wilderness designation for management for multiple-use, and on the closure of the Clear Creek Management Area in California. A full witness list and the written testimony for each witness can be read here. An archived webcast of the hearing can be viewed here.

ARRA would like to thank Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and the Subcommittee for holding this important hearing, which showcased many of the positive benefits of OHV recreation on public lands, particularly the positive economic impact that motorized recreation can have on neighboring communities. Dick Lepley, who testified on behalf of the Pennsylvania Off-Highway Vehicle Association, summed up one of the major themes of the hearing when he said, “If I could deliver just one message today it would be that OHV opportunities equal jobs. Where trail systems exist, the powersports industry and dealerships thrive, and local communities flourish.”

Department of Interior Wilderness Proposal

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-06-16T10:53:51-05:00

Interior Department soliciting Wilderness proposals from lawmakers
Take Action!
Voice your opinion to your lawmakers today!

On June 10, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar announced in a letter that he will solicit recommendations from members of Congress about potential new Wilderness designations in their states and district, which will then be submitted to Congress by October 15 for consideration. This announcement comes on the heels of the Secretary's June 1 memorandum directing the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Robert Abbey to not designate any lands as "Wild Lands." This memorandum reverses Secretarial Order 3310, hereon referred to as the "Order."

Limey's Message on Political Apathy

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-06-16T10:39:10-05:00

A message for Gypsy MC Assistant Legislative Officer Limey “Apathy, this word comes to mind about Motor Cycle Rights I can parallel our struggle to this e-mail, it’s nothing new but will have the same ending for bikers. If we worry about political correctness we are in deep shit.”

Obituary-Very Interesting

In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinborough, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:

National Coalition of Bikers Convention - 2011

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-05-10T09:49:56-05:00

If you’ve never attended an NCOM Convention it may be difficult to picture a conference room with nearly a thousand bikers (all wearing their club colors) who are listening attentively to a State Senator, a City Mayor or an AIM lawyer explain the subtle nuances of a bill, a law or the strategy for a repeal. You may not be able to picture members of clubs that may have had serious differences working together to solve problems that impact not only themselves but all motorcyclists. That’s exactly what happens at the annual NCOM Convention and you can rest assured that spirit of cooperation goes home with each attendee to their local MC Chapter, their Abate Chapter, Confederation of Clubs, or State Motorcycle Rights Organizations (SMRO).

The 26th Annual National Coalition of Motorcycle Riders (NCOM) Convention was held in Albuquerque May 5-8. Richard Lester, founder of NCOM and AIM (Attorney’s for Injured Motorcyclists) dedicated this years conference to Sputnik, legendary legislative warrior who died in June 2010. Sputnik’s influence was recognized and his presence missed at every session of the conference from the Opening Ceremonies, the Ringing of the Bell in the General Session and a special remembrance during the Silver Spoke Award Banquet. Sputnik’s memory continues to inspire awareness and motivate warrior motorcyclists to continue to fight for our rights and freedoms as bikers.

God Bless Sputnik ... may he Rest in Peace!

Raoul's Spin on Q1-2011 Motorcycle Rights Activities

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-04-12T11:21:50-05:00

Raoul here ... the first three months of 2011 have passed and it’s time for an update to this section of the Gypsy MC web site. Spend a couple of minutes reading this entry and, hopefully, you’ll gain a better appreciation of what’s happening of interest to motorcyclists in Texas and the United States.

Here goes ....

So far this year the U.S. Defenders, COC&I and TMRA2 have used the grass routes Call to Action system to support two initiatives of interest to motorcyclists: Motorcycle Only Checkpoints (MOC) and Fusion Centers. After doing a bit of Internet research here’s my spin on both these topics.

Message from 2-Kewl - Assistant Legislative Officer

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-02-24T11:51:17-06:00

2-Kewl suggests writing to Georgia Governor Deal:

http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,165937316_166563415,00.html

and they could write something like:

As a motorcyclist, I understand the Georgia Department of Public Safety was awarded a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a series of motorcycle-only checkpoints (MOCs). The NHTSA Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstrations grant is in the amount of $70,000 and Georgia is the only state to receive this grant for Fiscal Year 2010. I request that Georgia suspend the motorcycle-only checkpoint program until questions raised by the motorcycling community have been addressed.

Specifically, how do MOCs increase the safety of motorcyclists? Where does Georgia draw their authority to conduct MOCs? Will "probable cause" be required to stop a motorcycle under the terms of this grant program? If so, what will constitute "probable cause?" What types of infractions will be recorded by law enforcement officials at these traffic stops? What criteria will be used to measure the success of the MOCs? And, do states have the jurisdiction to inspect vehicles registered in another state?

Again, please suspend this program until questions raised by the motorcycling community have been addressed.

New York's Motorcycle Checkpoint Program

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-02-18T08:50:00-06:00

Motorcyclists Across the Country Anxiously Await Court Decision on Constitutionality of New York 's Motorcycle Checkpoint Program

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Motorcyclists across the nation are awaiting a decision from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York which they hope will declare New York's "motorcycle only" roadway checkpoints to be unconstitutional. The case Wagner et al. v. The County of Schenectady , et al. could end up in the United States Supreme Court. The checkpoints, which target well-known motorcycle events, force motorcyclists traveling to and from those events to leave the roadway, regardless of any wrongdoing, and have their vehicles and equipment inspected for safety and non-safety equipment violations and stolen VIN numbers. Motorcyclists have been detained as long as 45 minutes in makeshift stockades while undergoing the inspections. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recently began Federal funding for motorcycle checkpoints nationwide in order to assess their effectiveness despite objections raised by members of Congress.

The New York lawsuit is the first to challenge the constitutionality of motorcycle checkpoints. The plaintiffs are being represented by Proner & Proner, a plaintiffs personal injury law firm with a long history of doing "pro bono" legal work on behalf of motorcyclists. The Proner firm commenced the lawsuit on behalf of four motorcyclists who were detained at two separate checkpoints.

The checkpoints are funded by a grant from the New York Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and the troopers who work them are paid overtime. Although the stated purpose of the checkpoints is to promote safety, the majority of the more than a thousand tickets which were issued during the first year of the checkpoints had nothing to do with safety and instead focused on non-safety violations such as loud pipes. The written guidelines for the checkpoints specifically state that one of the purposes of the checkpoints is to look for stolen and forged VINs and the police readily admit that they often have undercover members of their gang and auto theft units working the checkpoints looking for signs of criminal activity.

The Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly made it clear that any roadway checkpoint whose primary purpose is general crime control constitutes an unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment and is presumptively unconstitutional. Notwithstanding that fact, the progress reports which the police prepared on the checkpoints specifically state that the grant funds are used "for overtime for intelligence gathering and the subsequent criminal and traffic enforcement." The police admit that the checkpoints, which focus only on equipment violations and forged and stolen VINs, do not address any of the major causes of motorcycle accidents such as reckless driving, driver inattentiveness and alcohol impairment.

Lawyers for the Plaintiff Riders and Defendant State Police are both seeking summary judgment on the Fourth Amendment claims. The future of motorcyclists' rights hangs in the balance.

Riders asked to oppose George motorcycle-only checkpoints

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-02-24T08:21:33-06:00

At least two states, New York and Georgia have established motorcycle-only checkpoints. The New York law is being challenged (on the premise that it’s unconstitutional to discriminate single out motorcyclists) and may well go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read the AMA Press Release (below) and remember that you RIGHTS and your FREEDOM are being challenged with each action taken by State and Federal Governments.

Raoul

All news
Riders asked to oppose Georgia motorcycle-only checkpoints
February 23, 2011

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is urging riders nationwide to contact Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to urge him to stop the Georgia State Patrol from conducting any motorcycle-only traffic checkpoints.

Tens of thousands of motorcyclists from around the nation could be subject to Georgia motorcycle-only checkpoints if those checkpoints are in place before, during and after Daytona (Fla.) Bike Week, which runs March 4-13.

Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government affairs, suggests that riders contact the governor through the AMA website at http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/issueslegislation and ask that any motorcycle-only checkpoints be suspended until key questions are answered. Those questions, which have been posed by the AMA to Deal and other officials, include: How do motorcycle-only checkpoints increase the safety of motorcyclists? Where do states draw their authority to conduct motorcycle-only checkpoints? Is "probable cause" required to stop a motorcycle and, if so, what constitutes probable cause?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave Georgia a $70,000 grant to conduct one or more roadside motorcycle-only checkpoints. New York state has operated a similar program. The AMA has been tracking this disturbing development of motorcycle-only checkpoints since it first appeared in New York several years ago.

"The AMA believes that the primary source of motorcycle safety is in motorcycle crash prevention and not in arbitrarily pulling over riders and randomly subjecting them to roadside inspections," Moreland said.

"The NHTSA should focus on decreasing the likelihood of crashes from occurring in the first place," Moreland said. "No public money should be applied to promoting such a program without first addressing questions from the motorcycling community," he said.

In addition to letters submitted to the past and present governors of Georgia, the AMA has questioned the potential discriminatory and legal nature of this program and submitted a list of questions for clarification to the New York State Police concerning that agency's program.

The AMA also sent a letter to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland urging him to suspend the grant program that gives states money for motorcycle-only checkpoints until questions have been addressed. To view the AMA's letter, click here: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/documents/Strickland_Law_Enforcement_Grant_8-9-2010.pdf. To view Strickland's response, click here: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/documents/Strickland_11-15-2010.pdf.

James Holter

checkpoints georgia

Legislative Day 2011 Talking Points & Bills of Interest

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2011-01-24T11:43:59-06:00

Helmet Law: Last session SB1967 passed into law with the Texas helmet law included. It is the most comprehensive motorcycle safety education bill in the nation, a bill all bikers should be proud of. In the year of 2009 there was a 15% reduction in serious injuries and a 20% reduction in deaths for the first time in Texas history. The bulk of the PSA money won’t even be spent until spring of 2011 reducing motorcycle accidents even more. Please tell your representatives that you do not want this bill reopened for any reason this session because it is working.

Fusion Center Privacy Policy Bill-there will be a bill introduced-: We are asking Senator Shapiro to introduce the bill. There are approximately 60 "fusion centers" nationwide, with some focusing exclusively on criminal activity, others on both criminal and terrorist threats and some on very specific acts, such as human smuggling, gang activity, online predators or drug trafficking. Here in Texas there have been numerous reports of Law Enforcement stopping bikers, photographing their tattoos and patches and putting the information in the Fusion data base even if they are not suspected of a crime. To stop this, we want to introduce a bill which basically requires a privacy policy for all fusion centers in Texas that reads, “A project shall not collect or maintain criminal intelligence information about the political, religious or social views, associations, or activities of any individual association, corporation, business, partnership, or other organization unless such information directly relates to criminal conduct or activity and there is reasonable suspicion that the subject of the information is or may be involved in criminal conduct or activity.” We are in the process of working with Texans for Accountable Govt. (T.A.G) to make this happen so bikers will stop being harassed for no reason.

Motorcycle Rider Training Concern about dedicated funding, John Young DPS: While speaking with your Senator or Representative let them know that we want the rest of our Rider Training Fund that was dedicated to be spent by the Motorcycle Safety Division of DPS for rider training. Currently out of 2 million 200,000 that was dedicated to date only $997,775.28 has been released. We want to know why the entire amount has not been released from the state budget.

Share the Road Money: TxDot’s Traffic Safety Program is supposed to be implementing a motorcycle Share the Road campaign in the spring of 2011 (per sb1967). This will be a state effort using TV, radio, outdoor advertising, interactive media, social media and other outreach. The current planned budget for the campaign will be approximately $1.5 million consisting of about $1 million in federal funding and more than $500,000 in local match. Currently the bid for the PSA’s went to Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing http://www.sherrymatthews.com/. No other motorcycle groups or agencies were notified by TXDot that the bid was going to the Mathews Group. Nor does anyone outside of TxDot know how the money will be spent. Please ask you representatives to look into how much money has been received by TxDot for the Share the Road program. Why the bid was given to one company without allowing others to bid on the project and why was the money not spent in June of 2010 when TXDot said they would start the PSA programs. http://www.dot.state.tx.us/safety/tips/motorcycles.htm

HB 439 and SB288 Road Blocks/Check Points:
Road Blocks: We are working to keep any such Bill from passing into law during the next session. The practice of setting up barricades on roads to stop and interrogate motorists suspected of no wrongdoing has been unlawful since a 1994 state appeals court decision ruled that a "politically accountable governing body at the state level" must first approve their use. The bill would add (literally) a new chapter to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure entitled “Sobriety Checkpoints”. This bill will authorize the police to stop vehicles without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Law Enforcement will be able to stop you for any reason or for no reason at all. They will then be allowed, after the fact, to “develop” probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed. In addition, once stopped at a road block or check point the officer is at liberty to charge anyone in the vehicle with any crime they choose. A drunk passenger could be charged with public intoxication despite the driver being sober thereby nullifying the designated driver plan.

Budget: Senator Kirk Watson has plans to clean up the budget. This directly effect’s our motorcycle safety bill because we already experienced problems now and in the past with dedicated funds being allocated then taken for other uses without the biker community knowing. Senator Watson will be introducing a bill that we ask you to support that states once the funds are dedicated to be spent on a certain project, then the funds can no longer be touched for any other reasons. Tell your representatives we want dedicated funds to be spent the way they were allocated.

BILLS OF INTEREST TO BIKERS INTRODUCED IN THE SESSION 2011

AGAINST- SB288 Author Lucio-Border check points Relating to authorizing the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas to investigate the feasibility of and cooperate in the establishment of southbound checkpoints along the international border of this state. INTERNATIONAL BORDER CHECKPOINTS.

(a) To prevent the unlawful transfer of firearms and bulk currency from this state to the United Mexican States, the department shall investigate the feasibility of assisting federal authorities in establishing checkpoints along the international border of this state for the purpose of conducting inspections of vehicles leaving this state and entering the United Mexican States. If the department determines that assistance to be feasible, the department shall cooperate with appropriate federal agencies to set up the checkpoints.

h) A law enforcement agency may enter into an agreement with a corporation or other private entity to provide goods or services for the establishment and operation of a checkpoint or the S.B.ANo.288 to performance of inspections under this section.

AGAINST-HB 439 Author Smith of Tarrant Co.- Relating to the authority of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas and certain local law enforcement agencies to establish a checkpoint on a highway or street to determine whether persons are driving while intoxicated.

AGAINST-SB315 Author Carona SECTION4. Article 61.10, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by amending Subsections (b), (c) and (f) and adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: (b) The purpose of the task force is to form a strategic partnership among local, [between] state, and federal criminal justice, juvenile justice, and correctional [, and local law enforcement] agencies to better enable those [law enforcement and correctional] agencies to take a proactive stance towards tracking gang activity and the growth and spread of gangs statewide.

Under Review-SB231 Author Nelson: (i) Not withstanding any other law, if it is shown at the trial of a person convicted of an offense under Section 49.04, 49.045, 49.07, or 49.08 relating to the operating of a motor vehicle while intoxicated that the person has been previously convicted one or more times of any of those offenses, the court shall order the Department of Public Safety to permanently revoke the person ’s driver ’s license or permit or if the person does not have a license or permit, to permanently deny the issuance of a license or permit to the person. To the extent of a conflict between this subsection and Section 13, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, this subsection controls.

Under Review-HB473 Author Smith of Tarrant County: Relating to the consequences of an arrest for or conviction of certain intoxication offenses. The court shall require the defendant to obtain the device at the defendant’s own expense [cost] before the 30th day after the date of conviction unless the court finds that to do so would not be in the best interest of justice and enters its findings on record. The court shall require the defendant to provide evidence to the court Within the 30-day period that the device has been installed on the appropriate vehicle and order the device to remain installed on that vehicle for a period not less than 50 percent of the supervision period.

Under Review-SB232, Author Nelson: Relating to wearing a secure alcohol monitoring device as a required condition of community supervision for certain intoxication offenses.

Under Review-HB506, Amended bill Author Callegari: Relating to wearing a secure alcohol monitoring device as a required condition of community supervision for certain intoxication offenses.

NCOM Coast to Coast Legislative Update for December 2010

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2010-12-21T19:53:47-06:00

By Bill Bish
12/21/2010

Schwarzenegger is AMA's Motorcyclist of the Year

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2010-12-09T19:42:55-06:00

by Jeff Hennie
December 8, 2010

NCOM Regional Convention & Legislative Action Day 2011

webmaster@gypsyhouston.com — 2010-11-16T19:40:49-06:00

Please Read the Following eMail with information about the NCOM Regional Convention (see run flyer in “events” section) and “Legislative Action Day 2011:

Support NCOM and COC as they fight to maintain your rights and freedom,

Raoul