Not just another Monday! I answered my phone on Monday only to hear "Hi, this is Joel from the Governor’s office and we would like to do the signing ceremony for S 111 on Wednesday [, July 9, 2008] at 2:00 p.m. if that will work for you guys?" Now considering we have been waiting for awhile the last thing we wanted to do was delay this another month, so I said "Sure and let me get with Reb Richardson who authored this bill and make sure he can make it."

Well that was perfect for Reb so we all started making the calls and e-mailing every place or person we could think of. The Governor’s office was so impressed with the number of ABATE members that show up for the opening of Lobby Days, they said we should do it outside if the hundreds of bikers showed up. Of course I explained we have months to prepare for Lobby Days but we will try to get everyone that can make it.

So Wednesday came. Everyone was to meet at the Flying Saucer at 1:00 p.m. and then make the trek to the statehouse. Nobody knew who or how many could make it but those that could would. I must say it was great to sit in the statehouse and see so many ABATE chapters show up. With less than 48 hours notice these guys made every effort to make it and only ABATE could pull this off.

Senator Leventis who was the sponsor of this bill, Senator Jake Knotts, who was the co sponsor, and Representative Mac Toole, who worked hard on the house floor during the final days showed up early. This gave many a chance to talk and I heard many thanking them for their help. As soon as Governor Mark Sanford came in everyone applauded. Now I won't go through what every word or what each speaker said but I will tell you the one common theme.

 That ABATE represents what our founding fathers had wanted when they created a democracy. That ABATE is an organization that works to ensure our rights and liberties are secured. That this is a common sense bill and others should learn from ABATE. That the democratic system works. You just have to work for what is important to you.

Ride free,

Ralph Bell
Midlands Area Coordinator

Photo Credits: Stephanie Bell

Congratulations SC Bikers on a Fine Legislative Session in 2008

If you are not a registered voter PLEASE register to vote TODAY

Motorcycle Tag Bill S605 is Law!

The Governor signed S605 into law June 16, 2008. This law makes it legal to mount vehicle license tags vertical on motorcycles. Additionally this law extends availability of special tags from just cars and passenger trucks to motorcycles.

Red Light Bill S111 is Law!

The Governor signed S111 into law. ABATE's legislative team and the bill's author Reb deserve thanks and appreciation for their efforts on behalf of all bikers.

This new law address faulty traffic signal devices that fail to detect motorcycles. This bill will clearly increase safety for motorcyclists by reducing the chance of being struck from behind while stranded at a malfunctioning light.

Final language of Senate Bill 111:

(5)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a driver of a motorcycle or moped, or a bicycle rider, approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic-control device, the driver may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light only if:

(a)    the traffic-control device is equipped with a vehicle sensor;

(b)    the vehicle sensor has failed to detect the motorcycle, moped, or bicycle because of the motorcycle's, moped's, or bicycle's size or weight; and

(c)    the driver or rider, as the case may be:

(i)    comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for one hundred and twenty seconds; and

(ii)    exercises due care as provided by law, otherwise treats the traffic control device as a stop sign, and it is safe to proceed."