The state seminar in Owego on Jan. 13 was very informative. Prospector, State Legislative Coordinator, presented a comprehensive legislative plan for the year. The plan recommends what each chapter legislative coordinator and chapter members can do to support and protect motorcyclists rights.

Every motorcycle rider should make their best effort to attend the Freedom Rally in Albany on Monday, May 21. Even if you do support the helmet law, we are not just about helmet laws anymore. We are concerned with any legislation that affects motorcycle riders.

We will continue as a group to voice our opinions on motorcycle issues through our postcard writing. I ask all of you to write, e-mail, or call your legislator on your own also.

We can all encourage our friends to join ABATE. If you sign up 5 new members you can get a free years membership.

On the federal level we are asking our members to join the MRF (Motorcycle Riders Foundation). They are our voice in Washington. They are completely supported by donations and memberships.

On the local front Prospector reports no movement on our bills to date. He has been meeting with a lot of legislators and things are positive. The Senate version of the helmet amendment is not in print and does not have a number assigned to it yet. The confiscation bill (A01939) in the Assembly sponsored by Donna Lupardo now has a Senate version, sponsored by Joe Robach (S1705).

An announcement was made at the state seminar that there will be an ABATE State Party this year. It will be held at Cedar Pines again (YEA!!!) July 20, 21, 22. Because of the great job the members who attended last year did, we have been asked if we would be interested in doing the rodeo again. Great job guys!

If you ever thought that many voices didn't make a difference, this should change your mind. The mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, wanted to enact a helmet law within the city, because of the increasing medical costs to taxpayers, caused by unhelmeted riders. Due to the great number of calls and e-mails from local and nationwide bikers, the proposal was abandoned.

The following information helps to support what we already know about government propaganda:

If we buy the government claims that unhelmeted riders cost taxpayers $853 million last year. The United States spends $1.9 trillion on healthcare, that is .00004% of the total cost.

Smoking related illnesses cost $12.9 billion, 150 times more costly. Obesity related illnesses cost $7.7 billion. Alcohol related illness $12.2 billion. Medicaid fraud $140 billion. (statistics from the BBC website Motorcycle Action Group of the United Kingdom)

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

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}


Assembly Bill A02780 Sponsored by Brian Kolb

Expedites the return of stolen vehicles and motorcycles to their rightful owners thereby reducing overcrowding of police storage pounds; provides for evidentiary photographs of their vehicles to be made available upon discovery.

Assembly Bill A03699 Sponsored by William Parment, Donna Lupardo, Bill Magee

Provides that motorcyclists under the age of 21 shall wear protective helmets of a type approved by the commissioner when operating or riding a motorcycle.

Senate Bill S01705 Sponsored by Joseph Robach
Companion bill to AO1939

Senate Bill S1662 Sponsored by Frank Padavan
Companion bill to A02780

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
Companion Bill to A5376


Exempts bicycle, motorcycle, snowmobile and equestrian helmets from sales and use tax. {01/09/2007 referred to investigations and government operations}