COLUMBIA, S.C. - January 10th, 2012 - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley laid out her first veto threat of the session, saying Tuesday she will reject stricter helmet rules if they reach her desk.
H 4653 General Bill, By Daning and Crosby (links to bill) A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3630, RELATING TO THE MANNER IN WHICH A MOTORCYCLE MUST BE OPERATED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TRANSPORT A PERSON WHO IS SEVEN YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER ON A MOTORCYCLE.
01/24/12 House Introduced and read first time 01/24/12 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Judiciary (Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3630, RELATING TO THE MANNER IN WHICH A MOTORCYCLE MUST BE OPERATED, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TRANSPORT A PERSON WHO IS SEVEN YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER ON A MOTORCYCLE.
(from Chad Fuller, Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to announce that, in a time when it seems that the representatives at the State House keep filing bills that we as motorcyclists need to oppose to protect our freedoms, we now have a bill to fight for. Today, Representative Todd Atwater filed the equal access bill we have been eagerly awaiting since this year's lobby day. The bill is included below and has been referred to the Committee on Education and Public Works. Please contact your representative as well as representatives on the Committee to let them know how important this bill is to us. If we are successful, motorcyclists will no longer be denied access to the very facilities our tax dollars went to build. I have included the contact information for each of the committee members below. It would also be helpful if you could contact Representative Atwater, a member of ABATE, and let him know how much we appreciate his help in getting this bill introduced. Todd's email is: ToddAtwater@schouse.gov I will forward more information as it becomes available.
Be sure to welcome Bill and thank him for his service to ABATE of South Carolina. Bill's contact info and the Rock Hill chapter meeting/location information is in the High Country area section of the Chapters and Meetings page:
This is the bill that has been pre-filed. We need to stop it in its tracks. Why? Don't helmets "save lives"? Actually no, they do not. What's worse, while cagers (car drivers) feel more and more protected in their metal cages, and pay less and less attention, when they main or kill a biker, this bill blames the victim! It is the biker's fault that some cagers are doing everything *except* paying attention while they hurtle their multi-thousand pound hunk of metal down the road.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that the US Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation will be marking up The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2011 (S. 1449). This bill governs the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations activities. This bill has the potential to greatly affect motorcyclists nationwide.
There are three provisions that specifically target motorcyclists.
Call your Senators and ask them to:
Oppose Lautenberg amendment #1. This amendment would alter the motorcycle safety grant program by forcing states to pass mandatory universal helmet laws and drive federal tax dollars to be used to promote the use of helmets. This provision would make it easier for helmet law states to obtain 2010 grant money. This amendment would provide no money for awareness or training.
Support DeMint amendments #1 and #18. These amendments protect the NHTSA lobby ban. Under the proposed legislation are provisions to lift this lobby ban.
Support DeMint amendment #2. The bill, (S 1449) would change the definition of "motor vehicle equipment" to include motorcycle helmets. This would allow States to spend federal money dedicated to "motor vehicle equipment" on motorcycle helmets. The DeMint amendment would keep helmets out of that definition.
Call Now. Time is of the essence. Call you Senators via the capitol switch board at 202 224 3121.
Of key importance are the Senators on the committee you can contact them directly:
Senator Rockefeller-WV 202 224 6472 Senator Kerry-MA 202 224 2742 Senator Lautenberg-NJ 202 224 3224 Senator McCaskill-MO 202 224 6154 Senator Udall-NM 202 224 5941 Senator Begich-AK 202 224 3004 Senator Inouye-HI 202 224 3934 Senator Boxer-CA 202 224 3553 Senator Cantwell-WA 202 224 3441 Senator Pryor-AR 202 224 2353 Senator Klobucher-MN 202 224 3244 Senator Hutchinson-TX 202 224 5922 Senator DeMint-SC 202 224 6121 Senator Wicker-MS 202 224 6253 Senator Blunt-MO 202 224 5721 Senator Toomey-PA 202 224 4254 Senator Ayotte-NH 202 224 3324 Senator Snowe-ME 202 224 5344 Senator Thune- SD 202 224 2321 Senator Isakson-GA 202 224 3643 Senator Boozman-AR 202 224 4843 Senator Marco Rubio-FL 202 224 3041 Senator Heller-NV 202 224 6244
This is of extreme importance. Please call today, Tuesday, December 13th, 2011.
Do not hesitate to contact the MRF should you have any questions. 202 546 0983
Due to the short notice it took us a minute to change the design but please check out the attachment and get it out to everyone. I have also attached an order form which has the prices.
We (Dennis, Reb, and I) are working on a scavenger hunt and place to have the prizes given out. I will post more on this later.
Ride free I do,
Ralph Bell ABATE Products Coordinator MRF State Representative
P.S. - Short Sleeve S, M, L, XL for $10.00, Long Sleeve S, M, L, XL for $15.00, XXL, XXXL and additional $5.00
One of the prefiled bills in the South Carolina Senate would require all motorcyclists in South Carolina to wear helmets. Now, only riders under 21 years old have to wear them.
LEGISLATIVE ALERT FOR ALL FREEDOM FIGHTING MOTORCYCLISTS Carol Simpson PRCommunications CMT/ABATE, Inc. 615 944 9797
Sent at the Request of Angel Richardson. NCOM Rep for CMT/ABATE, Inc. Former lobbyist for motorcyclists in Michigan Research Analyst for CMT/ABATE Legislative Team. For more information, contact Angel at mcocangel@aol.com
Michigan is on the verge of repealing their mandatory helmet law and have managed to get the $100,000 medical insurance requirement down to $20,000. The bill (SB291) is currently in the Senate (after passing the House) and the Governor has not indicated that he will veto it. This link is to a survey being hosted by a Detroit newspaper and riders are being asked to vote "NO" on the survey that asks if helmets should be mandatory. Thanks for your help.
FU Extravaganza 2011 will be held September 2nd-5thBased upon the poll results Labor Day Weekend was the strong favorite. Bad Bob and Detrich "The Mayor" are the official organizers for this year's event. I look forward to seeing yall.In honor of our departed friend, Fred "FU" Uibel, we are celebrating FU Extravaganza 2011 at GRCMMCC near Saluda, NC. Friends, BOLT, ABATE, and CBA members are encouraged to attend and enjoy the brotherhood. You may enjoy free camping along the shaded banks of the Green River with fire pit and BBQ grills on site. Several activities are also free while a few may require fees.Fun things to do during FU Extravaganza 2011: Share brotherhood with fellow bikers Ride twisty mountain roads Tubing the Lower Green - http://nctubing.com Kayak the Lower Green or take an intro to Kayak Clinic w/ FF for free Take a Ducky/Funyak trip down the Lower or Upper Green - http://greenriveradventures.com/ Hike the Green River Gamelands Visit Big Bradley Waterfall - http://www.fastfreds.com/trips/labordaywnc/pages/DSC01516_JPG.htm Asheville Brews Cruise - http://www.ashevillebrewscruise.com/ And much more... reply for detailsPlease reply for directions or additional information.FastFred Ruddock - 843-345-5926 ACA Certified Level 4 Whitewater Kayak instructor 843-345-5926
Several weeks back I noticed a motorcycle parked along the side of the road and stopped to help him out. He had ran out of gas and said he was there for awhile. The next week I was reading an e-mail from ABATE of New Mexico about a new campaign they are running where you tie a "White Handkerchief" on the handle bar so motorist know to stop.
Well we now have our own and we will be selling them for $5.00 so get your order in and thanks as always for your support.
Ride free I do,
Ralph Bell ABATE Products Coordinator MRF State Representative
Without your membership we are nothing so please go to
WWW.ABATESC.COMto sign up or e-mail me for more information.
ABATE does not advocate riding without a helmet; ABATE advocates that you have the right to decide. ABATE does not condone drinking and driving or riding. Contributions to ABATE of South Carolina, Inc., or any of its chapters are not tax deductible.
News
COLUMBIA, S.C. - January 10th, 2012 - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley laid out her first veto threat of the session, saying Tuesday she will reject stricter helmet rules if they reach her desk.
I am pleased to announce that, in a time when it seems that the representatives at the State House keep filing bills that we as motorcyclists need to oppose to protect our freedoms, we now have a bill to fight for. Today, Representative Todd Atwater filed the equal access bill we have been eagerly awaiting since this year's lobby day. The bill is included below and has been referred to the Committee on Education and Public Works. Please contact your representative as well as representatives on the Committee to let them know how important this bill is to us. If we are successful, motorcyclists will no longer be denied access to the very facilities our tax dollars went to build. I have included the contact information for each of the committee members below. It would also be helpful if you could contact Representative Atwater, a member of ABATE, and let him know how much we appreciate his help in getting this bill introduced. Todd's email is: 
Bill's contact info and the Rock Hill chapter meeting/location information is in the High Country area section of the Chapters and Meetings page:
