ABATE is a motorcycle rights organization, concerned with the legislation which infringes on those rights, safety issues, motorcycle awareness, rider education and the public perception of ‘bikers’ as a sub-set of society in general. ABATE is a recognized lobbying force, in both N.Y. State and Washington D.C.; monitoring and interacting with the legislative process, enhancing the image of the sport, and providing educational and social opportunities for members as well as non-members. ABATE will continue to strive to become acquainted with both the issues and the people of the motorcycling community. We encourage all members to be informed registered voters. ABATE of New York, Inc. supports the Motorcycle Rider Education classes currently being offered throughout New York State. We feel that rider education is the most important first step in accident prevention, and we maintain the position that accident prevention should be the main focus of NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration), as directed by ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991) and re-affirmed by TEA21 (Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21^st Century). NHTSA instead has pursued its own agenda of injury reduction, by way of mandated safety equipment. Our focus is on shifting funding away from NHTSA toward an agency fostering safety and accident prevention. 

ABATE opposed the long overdue interpretation of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) approved by the Clinton administration in January 2001, which, while purporting to insure that no employer can deny health coverage to an employee based on participation in legal recreational activities such as motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing, horseback riding, etc., unfortunately, (in a terminology twist and in direct contradiction of Congressional intent) goes on to say that coverage can be denied for injuries sustained during those activities. While the resolution of the long awaited dictum by the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA) would seem to be unfavorable to our concerns, the shifting of enforcement to states gives us a new battleground, making room for a new battle. ABATE will be at the vanguard of that battle.

      ABATE is actively working to eliminate motorcycles from the E.P.A attempt to adopt California’s Emission Standards, the strictest in the nation, nationwide. Motorcycles are already among the most fuel-efficient and least harmful means of transport, in terms of pollution, traffic congestion, and road wear, and would create an extreme and unwarranted danger to the rider and passenger if equipped with a catalytic converter operating in excess of 800°.

      ABATE has seen some successes in the last decade on both Federal and State levels; getting Senator DeConcini to introduce superseding legislation to remove all references to motorcycles and motorcyclists in his Outlaw Street and Motorcycle Gang Control Act of 1991; dealing with the DeConcini Superbike Ban: getting provisions to designate motorcycle safety as a national priority in NHTSA Section 402 safety programs and to ensure motorcyclists had access to all HOV lanes nationally in the ISTEA legislation in 1991; lobbying to repeal the Federal Helmet Law in 1995 (The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (S.440) was the 6^th most co-sponsored bill in the 104^th Congress! Section 205, paragraph (e) of S.440 repealed the Section 153 penalties on States without helmet laws. Thank you President Clinton); and changing DOT specs and materials used for filling cracks in roads to a motorcycle friendly type.

      ABATE was successful in getting three important N.Y. State bills passed in 2001-02:

      A.5832- Motorcycle Safety Awareness in Driver Ed. (2001)

      A.4156-Accident Reporting (2001)

      A.0906- Motorcycle Discrimination (2002)

The Thruway Toll Reduction and EZ Pass Bills, after passage by the Assembly and Senate were vetoed by the Governor, who, while agreeing with our position on some level, was reluctant to abrogate the Authority’s right to set tolls. He acknowledged ‘compelling reasons’ for the Authority to address the situation on their own. (We are still working on this and will continue in our effort to implement reduced fees for State Parks and campgrounds)

ABATE in 2003 was successful in getting the Lemon Law Bill (S4500 & A5218) passed by the full Senate and the full Assembly. It now needs only to be signed by the Governor to become law (effective on the 1st of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law). Signed into Law on September 9th , 2003
 

ABATE in 2004 is lobbying for support of a Yield Right of Way Bill (S2178 & A8029) that will increase penalties and jail time for drivers who kill bikers from the current maximums of $100.00 and 15 days in jail.
 

ABATE in 2004 is lobbying for the passage of a Handlebar Height Bill (S1997 & A8237) which will change the restriction of “no more than 15 inches above the seat of the operator” to “no higher than shoulder level”
 

We will continue in our efforts to make New York State a ‘Freedom of Choice’ State with our current Helmet Law Amendment Bill (S170 & A2051).
Stay with us and stay tuned.