Freedom and Liberty Watch

An interesting topic of discussion I get asked a lot is “What else can I do besides vote?” Voting is the most important first step in letting your voice be heard, but what happens after the politician’s in office? How does he know how YOU feel on the issues? It’s real easy, tell him. A visit to their office, a phone call, a letter or an email will let them know how their constituency feels about a certain issue. Let me assure you though the first thing they do after you contact them is check your voter registration. If you’re NOT registered to vote you’re dismissed like yesterday’s rubbish. The more your in contact with them, the higher your ranking is in their eyes. They know you will tell other people what’s going on. So be a squeaky wheel and make them oil you.......our Liberty depends on it. This month I’m going to touch on PA Chapter 107 of our helmet law. Our Chapter 107 is a direct copy of FMVSS 218 the testing standards for helmets. The NHTSA has no authority to approve or dis-approve a helmet, all they can do is test them. Most lid laws use FMVSS 218 as a basis for what’s a legal helmet. Looking through it, it seems to take an engineer to understand the damn thing but you can find good points to fight them with. First off look at the picture showing the eyes and ears of the person on the same horizontal plane, then find me a human that can match that. Another good point is in the head forms, the testing was only done using head form B countering your helmet fits head form C and where are the tests for this could get you off.......at the least you’ll sure as hell get some looks. You can find the text here http://www.solrpa.com/pennlaw/index.html The EPA has decided to interfere in our lives again, new rules and regulations will all but ensure the death of the V Twin air cooled engine. The other 49 states must meet California emissions by 2006 and rules tough enough by 2010 the V Twin could be extinct. This is all very real and could happen if YOU don’t act. This will put the neighborhood bike shop and many aftermarket suppliers out of business. This endangers the economy and your ability to customize your bike. The major manufacturers of motorcycles are all for this, they’re behind this effort all in the sake of larger profits. Think about it you buy a new bike and the only thing you can do to it is chrome and paint, anything else you need you’ll have to go back to the dealer for and that will be limited. No carb work or pipes, etc. big inch ground pounders will be a memory. You can find help to get involved here http://solrpa.com/epa/ Or you can go directly to the EPA’s website for public comments and a link to find your Federal Representatives Time is somewhat limited here to make our feelings known on this important issue so respond quickly, the deadline to comment is January 7, 2003 A U.S. House committee has taken the first step’s toward updating the famous Hurt Study of motorcycle accidents by allotting $2 million for a detailed safety study into motorcycles and other motor vehicles. The Hurt Study, officially called "Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures," was completed by lead researcher Harry Hurt more than two decades ago. Yet it remains the most comprehensive study to date on the causes of motorcycle crashes. This could be money very well spent towards an end program like “Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Training” which if you get the cager’s some education on motorcycles on the road, it could save a few lives…….OURS!!! Have you checked your bike insurance lately?? Does it cover you if you are involved in a wreck (of your doing or not)?? You have hospitalization at work, it’ll cover you right?? Maybe not, HIPPA can affect you here. Quite simply you ride a dangerous motorcycle and you insurance company lobbied to exempt payments for your injuries. The McCarren-Ferguson Act as codified and amended can be seen here, You can see the act in the US Code. Go to the link below and follow the Judicial Branch link on the left side of the page. On the resulting page, follow the link to the US Code, then to Download the United States Code, then to Title 15, Chapter 20, Sec. 1011. http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html This is the Code that precludes Congress from helping us fix the HIPPA Act. It clearly says the issuance of regulation and laws concerning insurance belongs to the states. Now that we know it’s a state issue we can contact our state Representatives and request reform. At the very least you’ll check your policy find out you may not be insured and then in the event of a catastrophe you’ll be in debt to a hospital for eternity or buy additional coverage. Any questions just drop me an email hawk@solriders.com