NATIONAL COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS

It seems like I have been doing meetings after meetings for the past month. In reality, I have been doing my share. It is getting to that time of year here in Arizona that we must prepare for the legislative session that will be starting in January. Stay tuned right here for anything that is new coming down the pike.

I just got back from a bi-annual NATIONAL COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS board meeting. What is happening across the country is kind of mind boggling. In a nut shell, we are lucky in Arizona at the current time. What I really mean by this is; We have been lucky in the motorcycle rights movement all across the U.S. That is until now. The MRO’s have been making progress through-out the country and it has been an uphill battle, and my opinion is that we are near a summit. That doesn’t mean that we couldn’t do better, but, it seems that we are running into serious opposition. Several states over the years have repealed helmet laws, handle bar limit laws and some have even repealed emissions testing laws. Well now it is looking like we are taking two steps forward and three back. Specifically I mean that one state has reinstated a helmet law and now there are four that are attempting to put the helmet law back on the books and on the heads of riders. Arizona riders that are interested in their freedom of choice need to keep vigilant for the same thing. So now if you are traveling cross country, bucket up in Louisiana. I will work hard at not spending money in that state while traveling.

Arizona has been affected recently by some serious injuries and deaths from vehicles violating right of way. Examples are; red light running, double yellow line crossing, and illegal left turns in front of riders. The fines for these violations are so low that most of you readers would not believe it. So with that said, we are planning legislation that makes it tougher on drivers that violate right of way laws. If you have any brain power, or know of one of these violations and would like to put your 2 cents into this battle, please call or email me.

Another recent meeting that I attended was with the Department of Environmental Quality. This was a meeting that was informational only in nature. So that you all know what is happening, we passed the legislation eliminating emissions testing in the Tucson area of Arizona this year. DEQ has prepared a plan to go to the EPA that they will submit in December of 2005. EPA will evaluate this, and will get back to DEQ sometime in a 6 to 18 month period. The government works very slowly as you know. I will let you know when I know more about this.

The other happening is the State Motorcycle Council. You know the council that decides what to do with the extra dollar that you pay in your motorcycle registration. You do know about that, if you are a regular reader. I am sure that you know that I am not happy with this council and their work habits. There was supposed to be a meeting at the end of November, but it was canceled. Who knows when the next meeting will be? The urgency in my mind is that it takes a lot of time to prepare and to get bids out. Time is of the essence as motorcycle awareness month is coming soon. There is also a deadline to spend the $$$. Two years ago this council did the same thing and we had to run around like fools to spend the money on billboards etc. to avoid losing the money to the general fund. If we don’t make progress by the next issue, I will issue you all phone number, email address, and street address to contact the director that oversees this council. Maybe they will listen to about a hundred of you that get in touch. You would call for me wouldn’t you?

One more thing for you to keep on riding motorcycles in the style that we have today. Learn the district that you live in, and learn who represents you at the Copper Dome. If everyone that reads this gave me 15 minutes a month just writing, calling and talking to their reps, the lobbyists would have some serious progress each legislative session. Is 15 minutes a month worth your freedom of choice? Join an MRO, and tell them I sent you. Thanks.

Learn to be a better rider and ride safe……Ray Huston