This month some members of SoLR had the opportunity to speak at the ABATE of WV Freedom Rally, and I can proudly state we are all now members of ABATE of WV. While ABATE of WV is a smaller MRO (around 300 members) they have been a very effective bunch of warriors. There may still be a lid law in WV but no new Biker unfriendly legislation has been passed. This Rag has a good reach in WV, if you want things to change south of the Mason Dixon line then get involved. WV State Senator Jon Blair Hunter was first to speak, and spent a lot of time explaining why even though he supports helmet use personally, he will support Freedom of Choice and helmet modification bills in WV. Next up was myself and then Rock, we both hammered the point home if you don’t go after and seek out new members in any organization you will become stagnant and eventually die. If you don’t go after people and let them know and see why they need to get involved many never will. We were followed by Bill Bish from NCOM and he discussed at length many issues they are trying to impose from across the pond among other things. Following the hours of good discussion, a changing of the guard was in order. Our own Duck did not run for State President and was replaced by Marty Shaw who is also an MRF Rep for WV. Good luck Marty!!!! They also decided to start a WV ABATE discussion Email list, if anyone’s interested in getting on that Duck is running it and you can email him at duckbj@webtv.net.

The discussion of “ABATE’s Image” came up on the Bikers Email List and was debated heavily. One simple fact remains most State MRO membership is only 1% of the registered motorcycles in that State. I don’t give a shit what you ride or how you modify your bike or don’t, you need only look at 2 things. A) Are your rights worth anything to you? Or will you allow the government to herd you like a sheep. B) If a cager runs you over and kills or maims you and only gets slapped on the wrist, will you or your family be OK with that? Right of Way Bills are on most every SMRO agenda……..give em a few bucks and you as a member to help them be a greater political force.

The NHTSA lobbying? That’s right the NHTSA is forbidden by Congress to lobby for or against protective motorcycle equipment here in the US. So they decide to go global and whine to the UN. 6 of the 14 recommendations they made to the UN concern helmets. If Dr. Runge and company can’t get us to wear helmets, they will at least spend OUR tax dollars to make the world a safer place. Well the MRF called them on this, and the Washington bureaucrats demanded the release pulled. Needless to say the MRF did not comply. The MRF is our only full time street rider voice in Washington, they do a great job and could use your support also.

Now a look at the latest on TEA 21, the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century. There are 2 versions in the works right now, the Bush Administrations and Rep Don Young of Alaska’s. The Administrations bill #’s are S 1072 or HR 2088 and can be viewed at http://thomas.loc.gov/ The Young Bill is still in developmental stages, and throws a few bones at Bikers to garner support. One is to continue to prohibit the NHTSA from lobbying against us, another is a "Motorcyclist Advisory Council" in the Office of the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration made up of Bikers who are traffic design engineers, state transportation officials and motorcycle safety advocates. Both Bills promise better roads for us, the problem with that is most motorcycle related accidents don’t happen on Interstate Highways.

Both Bills will also raise taxes and possibly allow the re-indexing of the gas tax at regular intervals. By the time these bills get voted on they will be so over loaded with pork, that this pig could be a Grand National Champion at any County Fair. They are also unconstitutional, the 10th Amendment reads : The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. This is pretty simple and there’s no room for interpretation here. This is a States Rights issue and Bikers should tell the Feds to go pound salt…….we can’t be bribed. We have to start drawing a line in the sand before it’s too late. We have made handout’s on both the NHTSA’s Lobbying efforts and our position on TEA21 and they are on the site at http://www.solriders.com/issues.