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State and Federal
legislators are still getting settled in their respective offices. When
they do get back to work they will assign new numbers to legislation held
over from last session. Prospector, our State Legislative Coordinator and
chief lobbyist, is visiting new and old state legislators and will help
keep us updated on their views of our issues.
I thought this might
be a good to time to review what ABATE of New York is all about. The
following is from the State and Oneida County web sites:
A. To review and inform our members about federal,
state, and local levels of government motorcycle legislation and to
promote favorable motorcycle legislation regarding the following:
1.
Insurance
2.
Licensing
3.
Modifications
4.
Bans
5.
Restrictions
6.
Emissions
7.
Noise levels
B.
To improve road
conditions thus making roads safer for
motorcyclists.
1.
Alerting the D.O.T. of
dangerous roadway conditions.
C.
To help prevent accidents through education.
1.
To promote motorcycle
awareness programs for all motorists.
2.
To promote rider
education course for motorcyclists.
3.
To work towards
insurance reductions though motorcycle rider education and lower the
incidence of motorcycle accidents.
D.
To promote
positive community relations.
1.
Active participation in
activities benefiting the common welfare of the community.
2.
Active participation in
events sponsored by/for charitable organizations.
E.
To promote
political involvement of motorcyclists.
1.
Informing members how
elected or appointed government representatives voted on legislation
affecting motorcyclists.
2.
Encouraging members to
register and vote.
3.
Encouraging qualified
members to run for public office.
4.
Encouraging members to
write their representatives at federal, state, and local levels, on
all issues concerning motorcycles: Favorable or unfavorable.
5.
Attending motorcycle
events and distributing information on current status of motorcycle
legislation. Report on elected officials at all levels of government
who approve or disapprove of said legislation.
6.
To act as an information
source to help discrimination against
motorcyclists.
F.
To act as a legislative liaison between
motorcyclists and government authorities, police departments,
government agencies, insurance companies, and other organizations.
G. To report and discourage biased news reporting of
motorcyclists.
H. To present and promote a better public image of
motorcyclists, by keeping ABATE of
NY, Inc. sponsored events orderly and peaceful. |
In order to accomplish these goals, we as members of ABATE of Oneida
County agree to help support the organization
by donating our time to help
raise funds to support our aims and
purposes.
I believe sometimes we tend to forget the reasons for raising money. Our
goal is
not
to keep large bank balances. Our goals are to make motorists aware of us
through education, to make legislators aware of our causes, to make riding
a bike as safe and free as possible.
In order to do this
we need to spend money on a good newsletter, on quality written materials,
attending
political
fund raising events and
educational
seminars, sponsoring public awareness campaigns etc…
With all that said
I'll get off my soap box now, and ask again for ideas about Motorcycle
Awareness Month. The idea about a booth at the mall went over well with
members present at the meeting but I would still like to hear any other
suggestions you may have, please bring them to next months meeting.
2007- 2008 Bills
Affecting Motorcyclists
(So Far)
Assembly Bill A00197
Sponsored by David Gantt
No Senate Companion Bill
Requires motorcycle
user to wear helmets that meet the federal motor vehicle safety standards
and which have been impact-tested by the U.S. department of
transportation, the commissioner of motor vehicles or by an independent
laboratory approved by the commissioner of motor vehicles. {01/03/2007
referred to transportation}
Assembly Bill A00199 Sponsored by David Gantt
No Senate Companion Bill
Increases the fine
for operating a motorcycle with a muffler that produces excessive or
unusual noise from one hundred dollars to seven hundred dollars.
{01/03/2007 referred to transportation}
Assembly Bill A01939
Sponsored by Donna Lupardo
No Senate Companion
Bill
Provides that
ownership of unidentifiable part in identifiable motorcycle, other than
stolen motorcycle shall be returned to owner after investigation.
{01/11/2007 referred to transportation}
Senate Bill S00405
Sponsored by Senator Catharine Young
No Assembly Companion Bill
Authorizes the
operator of a motorcycle to cautiously proceed through an intersection
when facing a steady red traffic-control signal, if he or she has stopped
and the signal remains red for an unreasonable period of time
such that the signal is apparently malfunctioning or is triggered by the
approach of a motor vehicle and the motor vehicle has not been detected by
the signal. {01/03/2007 referred to transportation}
Senate Bill S00796
Sponsored by Senator John Flanagan
No Assembly Companion Bill
Exempts bicycle,
motorcycle, snowmobile and equestrian helmets from sales and use tax.
{01/09/2007 referred to investigations and government operations}
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