Legislative

While I was kick'n back thinking about "IT", meaning what I was going to write this month, I asked myself this: "Just how many riders do, Think About "IT", that is? "IT" could be the fact that fatalities amongst motorcyclists is drastically on the rise, and yet you are hard pressed to find one email or statistical report that showed a true correlation between the rising number of riders and increased fatalities. OR MAYBE "IT" is the fact that you have yet to see a news reporter wait for the coroners report, prior to reporting that the motorcycle fatality "wasn't wearing a helmet". Could "IT" be possible that they actually died from internal injuries due to the 4 wheeled vehicle that just turned left in front of them?

OR MAYBE

"IT" is the fact that NHTSA recently performed a comprehensive motorcycle assessment in Arizona and you're not exactly sure how you feel about their recommendations. What's that you say? You don't know what they recommended! PLEASE, ALLOW ME.

- Create paid positions within the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for a 'State Motorcycle Safety Program Coordinator' and an assistant.
- Mandatory Rider Ed course or much improved MVD testing to get your MC endorsement.
- Research/Resolve all motorcycle registrations that do not have a proper motorcycle endorsement where required.
- Place a motorcycle knowledgeable person on the road engineer panel, to ensure improved road hazard signage for motorcyclists.
- Impounding of motorcycles when a rider has been stopped by law enforcement and doesn't have the proper MC endorsement.
- Legislation requiring a motorcycle passenger to also wear 'proper' eye wear.
- Shortening the drivers license expiration to possibly 4 yrs.
- Universal helmet law, along with 'proper helmet requirements', whatever that is.

OR MAYBE

"IT" is simply wondering how all of the above is going to effect you personally and Oh Yeah, who's going to pay for those new state positions? Didn't you just get done telling the GOHS and motorcycle council that you didn't think they were efficiently spending the $1 extra you pay on your motorcycle registration, on their latest billboard/radio campaign? What's That? You didn't know you paid an extra $1 ($9 vs. $8) on a yearly basis? You didn't know that it was put into a 'motorcycle safety fund' for the GOHS Director to spend after 'advisement' from a 5 person Arizona Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council, made up of your peers? Well then, maybe "THAT" should be "IT".

OR MAYBE

"IT" should be the fact that at their very next meeting on 8/6/07, the AMSAC, under the guidance of the GOHS Director, is collectively going to decide which of the NHTSA recommendations are to be part of their future goals. What's that you say? Could your $1 end up working against you? NOW YOU'VE GOT "IT" !!
GoTo www.azgohs.gov
CLICK on Motorcycle Safety on the right.
Watch for meeting times and agendas for future 'open' AMSAC meetings.
Next one currently scheduled for Monday 8/6 at 10:30am. GOHS office - 3033 N. Thomas - 15th floor of the Bank building, SouthWest corner of Catalina and Central, parking building to West and just South of Park Central Mall.
Plan to be there.

OR MAYBE

"IT" is the fact that over $100,000 of our money was spent on a billboard campaign where two-thirds of the messages were aimed at riders awareness versus motorists awareness. Why two-thirds you ask? Because a simple request to place the verbiage “LOOK OUT FOR MOTORCYCLES” on an 'already existing artwork', making it two messages each, was totally ignored by the council.

OR MAYBE

"IT" is SenateBill-1029, recently signed by the Governor, requiring an Ignition Interlock Device, at your expense, for one year, on 'any' vehicle you intend to drive, for a 1st offense of DUI with a BAC of .08. And, contrary to earlier beliefs, they do make them for motorcycles. It seems that all you have to do is sign a release for any damages it might cause to your ride.

OR MAYBE

"IT" is the warning you may have recently seen from your lobbyists, saying that if we don't start policing ourselves, when it comes to drinking and riding, the government will. I believe one of the suggestions was to start by policing yourselves and directing those 'Free' poker run stops to places other than bars. Take a close look at, and think about “IT”, before being responsible for placing those riders in just such an environment. Like the EPA says, “We all have to do our part.”

OR MAYBE

"IT" is the other of the 3 hot buttons across the country, including motorists awareness and drinking while riding, which is Rider Training. Instead of me saying, "Where Do I Start?", I'll simply say, "JUST DO IT"!!

So NOW that you know what "IT" might be - THINK ABOUT "IT" !!!

Bobbi Hartmann
ABATE Designated Lobbyist
ABATE State Safety Officer
bobbij2@earthlink.net

Remember, this is YOUR organization and it cannot survive without its members and volunteers. If you can help your fellow members and ABATE, let us know.