Legislative Update

I wanted to let all of you know that we are planning on hearing SB 1967 in Committee on Wed. April 1st. We appreciate your support of the bill and would like to ask if anyone is planning to provide oral testimony they limit the testimony to 3 minutes.

Sputnik


Current Status

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
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For Immediate Release

18 March 2009

Contact: Michael "Boz" Kerr, Vice President, MRF
Email: boz@mrf.org

Bikers Inside The Beltway Date Announcement Delayed

The MRF is aware of, and gratified by, the interest in the event we are calling Bikers inside the Beltway. We are also mindful of the fact that we said we would announce the date in early March. Well, here we are and we still don't have a firm date.

We keep hoping that we can announce the date, but with the clock ticking it is time to offer an explanation.

Since the new Congress went into session, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation has been working with United States Representative Judy Biggert (R – Il) and her staff to secure a site on the Capitol grounds for our event.

Due to unannounced changes in the rules to hold such an event (made by the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi), which went into effect this year, we have had to negotiate with officials of the Capitol. Because of the huge workload that occurs when a new Congress begins, our request was delayed.
This is something that is entirely beyond our control.

Because of the rule changes, in all likelihood there will be some adjustments to be made on our part. We just can't say exactly what at the present time.

In the last several weeks - working with the Sergeant of Arms of the House of Representatives - a spot in the Capitol complex came into consideration. While smaller than we would like, we have made a request to obtain it. That request is currently under review. We are just waiting for confirmation from that office and we will announce the date. We have every reason to believe that we will receive official confirmation soon.

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(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists' rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

Ride Safe. Ride Free. Ride Today.
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We spent the day talking to Senators about the helmet Bill including Senator Carona. The senator was very cordial and thanked us for coming up with a good Bill. He said he realizes it was tough to get started but we stayed with it and came up with a good Bill. We thanked him for allowing his staff to listen to what we had to say and he assured us he was really excited with it.
Then went to the office of Rep. Jim Pitts to catch an update on our Rider Training Fund. Todd informed us that they had been working on how to spend the Federal Funds coming down the pipe. He said they should wrap it up by Thursday and we could get together on the Training Fund.

We then went down to the office of Rep. Chavez to see how things are progressing on that end. We were given proposed rider amendments which she had already filed with the Legislative Budget Board requesting an increase in the current proposed budget of $50,000 per year for the next two years to buy motorcycles along with $ 158,932 to hire four new employees for the program. If these amendments are accepted that would bring our Budget back up almost to where it was before DPS began taking a swipe at it. I agree that amount would be acceptable. We shall both meet with Todd on Thursday.

I checked in with Terri on my way back to the office to go over all the paper work and learned she and Stephanie were on their way to the capitol to visit more Reps. with our “Equal Access Bill.” They are really taking charge while I spend my time on other issues.

While running down the final figures on the amendments from Rep. Chavez I ran across an Email from Senator Watson. He has introduced SB 736 to stop the legislators from grabbing unused portions of Dedicated Funds and placing them into the General Fund to give the appearance of having a balanced budget. If this Bill passes we will have our Rider Training Fund rededicated by 2011 and the government will have to come up with an honest budget by then. Not only that but SB 737 would require an internet site to view what the government spends and where that money comes from. Come on everybody get in touch with your Senator and let them know you strongly support Sb 736 and let’s get this thing moving. My senator Mike Jackson will vote for it.

Be sure to attend ABATE’s Bar-B-Que with the Bikers Wednesday March 18th from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Get your legislator down there and discuss issues in a friendly environment.

DFW Chapter Meeting Minutes March 11th

Fish Fry
We didn’t get as good of turnout as last year even tho it was a beautiful day. Maybe it was too good of a day to come to the event. However with donations we were still able to raise some money to be sent to the state office. Every little bit helps.
Hopefully next year we can have it on our normal date and get those people back that missed us this time around.

Need your Letters
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson has reintroduced our Equal Access Bill. It is HB 1569. Now you have something you can start talking to your state Representative about supporting. Let us hear from you when you get a yes response so we can keep up a running tally.

Bills out there right Now….

Supported

HB 759 – Scheduled for public hearing on 9th, but it didn’t happen
Subject: Relating to the creation of a hot line to report suspected incidents of impaired driving or dangerous driving

HB 1569 - Filed
Subject: Relating to equal access to places of public accommodation

SB 374 – Passed Senate committee.
Subject: Relating to the power of a county to enforce compliance with speed limits by an automated traffic control system (Prevents cities or counties from putting up automatic speed traps)

Against

HB 169 – Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Public Safety and certain local law enforcement agencies to establish a checkpoint on a highway or street to determine whether persons are driving while intoxicated

SB 298 – Public Hearing on 3/4 – no action since.
Caption: Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Public Safety and certain local law enforcement agencies to establish a checkpoint on a highway or street to determine whether persons are driving while intoxicated
(Left pending in committee) Sput

SB 369 – Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to information contained in an intelligence database used to investigate and prosecute offenses committed by criminal street gangs

Bills to keep an eye on

HB 823 – Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to the authority of a peace officer to take a blood specimen from a vehicle operator to test for alcohol concentration or other intoxicating substances (Basically an officer cannot do it, just qualified medical professionals)

HB 714 / SB 1369 - Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to the penalty for the offense of reckless driving
(Covers reckless driving penalties like we wanted for failure for yield)

SB 506 – Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles during periods of traffic congestion (Lane splitting but requires a helmet)
(Hearing set for this Wednesday) Sput

SB 730 / 1107 – Filed – in committee
Subject: Relating to an employee's transportation and storage of certain firearms or ammunition while on certain property owned or controlled by the employee's employer (Allows a person to store their weapon in their vehicle even if the employer doesn’t want it around)

Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month (From Suds and Butterfly)

It's time to start on 2009 proclamations for Motorcycle Safety & Awareness month. Texas bikers have done outstanding work through the years. Go to the link below to add a city to the board...
http://ridesafeintexas.homestead.com/Proclamations2009.html

Since 2003 this campaign has been the combined knowledge & participation of many clubs, organizations & Independents across Texas. Some may not understand why we need to do this again each year...
It gives non-riding folks the chance to see riders in person and put a face to that little taillight they see on the highway. This helps a lot when we ask them to drive more aware and share the road.
Each year rider participation increases and each year the number of newspaper articles increases... which means the number of drivers receiving our message also increases.
For those new to the proclamations campaign...

Our goal is to set up dates to attend city council meetings where the riders will be presented with a proclamation for Motorcycle Safety & Awareness. The proclamation is read during the meeting. Some cities broadcast their meetings on pbs for folks in the community to watch. The local newspaper will usually run an article showing the Mayor's support for Motorcycle Safety & Awareness month if we make sure to contact them ahead of time with this request. This media coverage is our main goal because this is what reaches the drivers in each community.
If you're unable to add a city to the board then please check the board for cities near you and attend to support. That's a big part of what we need is more support for these meetings.
If you're unable to attend a meeting then maybe you have time to make the call to your local newspaper or radio station to see about getting some messages out there on motorcycle awareness. May is nationally recognized as Motorcycle Safety & Awareness month so during the next couple months most newspapers will be happy to take your call. If everyone does a little then no one has to do more than they can handle.
It's all about looking out for the safety of the brothers & sisters we love... if we can spend all day and our last dollar for a down brother or sister's benefit, then we oughta be able to make at least one meeting to help prevent more riders down.
On the next newsletter I'll be able to introduce the TCOC&I team of Safety & Awareness Coordinators for each region. They are an outstanding team who stand ready to assist with proclamations across Texas this year.

Respect & Ride Safe ~Bttrfly
State Safety & Awareness Liaison, TCOC&I
Safety & Awareness Coordinator, TCOC&I-DFW
http://ridesafeintexas.homestead.com

BBQ with the Bikers
Here is another opportunity to speak with your legislators in a friendly environment. It will be at the Southwest Capitol grounds. Parking is available on Colorado Street. Lunch served from 11:30 am to 1 pm for you and your Legislator. If you haven’t already done so email or call them and invite them to eat lunch with you during this time.
Elmer H. McKeegan
Chapter Coordinator

I realize this is a lot to digest but we need your help to get these Bills passed. SB 1976 - SB 736 and HB 1569. Write a letter or make a phone call.

Sputnik
State Chair

This will be your Warrior until further notice.
We will attempt to keep you updated with Email as things progress at the capitol. We are simply not getting enough reports from Chapters and Advisors to fill a Warrior.

The Texas Independence Day Rally was a huge success for the association.
Thanks to all the Sponsors and volunteers who came out to help. Lee’s Wrecker service was a sponsor and also a check point on the Poker Run. At his own expense he furnished a Bar-B-Que sandwich and a Lone Star Beer to the participants. Nearly 150 riders made the ride with the winner getting $350.
Mando of El Paso designed some beautiful Rally shirts and they all sold.
State Rep. Terri Hodge had a flag flown over the capitol in honor of TMRA 2 and the Texas Independence Day Rally. Skunk of Skunk Dots Magazine bought that special item during the auction paying $600 for it. Trisha Zettler of Hubbard became the proud owner of the Custom Built Harley given away Saturday night.
Again thanks to everyone who took part in making this a success. Eight new members have signed up on Pay Pal since attending the Rally.

The Road Block Bill came up in committee and I was unable to attend. I sent written testimony and state Secretary Terri and Stephanie did a fine job of representing us for the hearing. The Bill was left pending in committee. They also testified against spending money to advertise the Trans Texas Corridor. After their testimony they passed out copies of our Equal Access Bill (HB 1569) to over 50 State Reps. My health has kept them busy at the capitol. You can contact your Representative and ask them to support the Bill.

Paul Landers and I have met with a group of interested parties on the helmet Bill Senator Carona planned to introduce this session. After four meetings we finally hammered out a Bill we could accept. (SB 1967) is a Bill I believe we can all live with. For sure it is better than we had and a lot better than the one we killed last session.
New Riders must take a Rider Training Course
No specific $$ amount is mentioned in the insurance clause
Not wearing a helmet is NOT probable cause for a traffic stop
Our Failure To Yield wording is included in the Bill
And Senator Carona will work with us to get our Rider Training Fund rededicated.
Either Bill can be read at www.capitol.state.tx.us

There are several Gang Bills introduced at the capitol this session. Many of them have come from Senator Carona. His people have been going around in the House seeking support for his Bills. I guess he doesn’t realize we have friends on that side of the aisle. While Terri and Stephanie were passing out our Equal Access Bill they stopped in one office where they received some unexpected information. They were told by a biker that Carona’s staff were pushing his gang Bill stating that it was aimed at the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Forewarned is forearmed. I will be meeting with some of our members down there Monday to put them on alert to keep us posted.

Midget is hosting a Bass Fishing Tournament at Lake Livingston Saturday March 21st. Entry fee is $25 with 60% pay back to winner. Biggest Bass gets a Rod and Reel.Sign up and weigh in will be at Patrick’s Ferry Boat Ramp. Sign in starts at 5:00am – start fishing at 6:00am. Be in line by 3:00pm for weigh in. Fishermen may put in at any ramp after sigh in.
Fish Fry at Porkchop’s Ice House after Tournament. For more info call Midget 281-743-4027 or Adam 936-662-6842. Free tent camping call 936-377-5474

Dist. 22 Report *The Heart of Texas Chapter meeting for March was well attended, although not as many as February’s. I hope to see a good crowd at the next meeting too. It’s always on the 2nd Sunday at 1pm at Jim’s Cycle Shop in Axtell. We discussed the previous District Advisor’s meeting, and the status of the Helmet bill, as well as our Equal Access bill. Some members had a report on a local establishment that did not allow colors to be worn, and were advised to provide an incident report to the State office. Members were reminded to bring their membership dues current, and several did at that time while others took applications with them.
The Lake Granbury Liberty Riders Chapter had a meeting in February, which was the 1st in awhile. There was a good turnout, and plans were discussed for a membership drive. I would like to thank Seabee and Smiley for never giving up, and for having a good meeting. If anyone needs information, their phone number is 817-573-5891. The meetings are scheduled for the 4th Wednesday of the month at the VFW in Granbury. Our bills were discussed, along with bills we will kill (like the roadblock bill).
If anyone would like to help out, anywhere in the District, or has any questions, let me know.
My email is txhdryder@att.net and my phone is 254.582.9291, so contact me with any questions or comments that you might have.

Ride Safe & Ride Free (while U steelcan)!
Greg


Ride Free Ride Sober
Sputnik

Senator Caron's helmet bill is SB1967. You can check it out on the legislative site. A link has been provided to the text page.

Sputnik


http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB1967

I have attached the draft for the new helmet Bill to be filed today.
Thanks to Paul for his support.

Sputnik


http://www.tmra2.org/images/Helmetbill.doc

As most of you are aware Paul and I have been meeting with Senator Carona’s Staff and several other groups working on a helmet Bill that could be satisfactory to all concerned. The Bill from last session called for Rider Training AND $150,000 medical insurance to ride without a helmet. Of course we killed that without it even coming up for a vote.
The Senator came back again this session and we began all over again. All the same people with a few more added and the first three meetings brought no results that neither Paul nor I could accept. They sent us a copy of a Draft along with an estimate of the cost for the necessary insurance. It could run as high as $7600 per year. You can be certain that neither Paul nor I jump forward to approve any such nonsense as that.
I wrote a letter last night telling them what to do with the helmet Bill and took it with me when we went back for today’s meeting. We began with the same back and forth actually getting nowhere and one by one the groups began to withdraw from the table. Finally with just DPS, Texas Insurance, Carona’s Staff, Paul and I we got down to the basics. WE let it be known we had no reason to trust that anything we agreed to in committee would remain the same on the Floor. We were assured that after reading and agreeing to a draft we could all sign a guarantee it would remain the same on the Floor. OK on to the next item.’
We stated our problem with being stopped and harassed just for not wearing a helmet even though we were legal. DPS agreed with us that was a problem so it was agreed the new Bill would read an officer can not stop a rider just for not wearing a helmet. Score another one for us. That is exactly what we passed in the House in 2001 but it got killed in the Senate.
Paul and I both rejected the AND insurance but opted to leave it Training OR Insurance. Not only did we get that left in but rather than increase the amount of insurance coverage required, the amount was removed entirely. That way an officer can’t tell you "it don’t say $10,000" and give you a ticket.
They said they will have another Draft ready to file this week. Will Senator Carona accept what we put together? That remains to be seen. If he does accept it we came out very well, if not then he can just leave it alone because we can kill it if he puts it back up like it was before.It has been a real pleasure working with Paul Landers on this issue. It is always so much easier when two people agree completely and can whip saw back and forth.

Thanks so much Paul.

HIGH PRIORITY
Wednesday March 4th 8:00am
There will be a Transportation & Homeland Security Committee hearing in room E1.016. SB 298, Senator Carona’s Road Block Bill is scheduled to be heard during this meeting. If there is any way possible please plan to get by there and at least sign a card in opposition to the Bill. If necessary you may then go on about your business.
Below is a list of the committee members. Call each one of them to let them know you oppose SB298
John Carona - Kirk Watson - Wendy Davis - Rodney Ellis - Joan Huffman - Robert Nichols -Florence Shapiro - Eliot Shapleigh - Jeff Wentworth
Thanks a lot.

Hope to see all of you in Groesbeck this weekend.
Sputnik State Chair /TMRA 2

We got together at the office and discussed in depth the 2nd meeting with Carona’s group and decided we had two major problems with it even if they came up with something we could accept. One being that unless the HIPAA issue is settled there is no guarantee the insurance company would pay off if we were injured and (2) we might accept a Bill to pass in committee and then it gets changed on the Floor where we have no control over it. We have never had any real negotiation with Senator Carona personally. I will pass our concerns along to his staff tomorrow.
I spent 6 days in the hospital and today received a note from TI discussing the availability and cost of the insurance Carona wants us to have to ride without a helmet. Only one Company carries that type PIP in that amount. For anyone under 30 with a full size bike, in a high risk area could run over $10,000 per year. Sent them back another note to say this is not feasible and there is probably not much more to talk about.

PRIORITY BILL
On a lighter note State Rep. Senfronia Thompson has reintroduced our Equal Access Bill. It is HB 1569. Now you have something you can start talking to your state Representative about supporting. Let us hear from you when you get a yes response so we can keep up a running tally. This is your Priority for now. We will continue to work the Rider Training Bill and keep tabs on Senator Carona’s crew.

Sputnik