For any of you that have been under a rock or in a fog from the old
days this is info for you riders straight from the hip, uncut and
hot off the press, or as warm as I can get it here from the man
himself, Biker Rogue, the original. I will try and keep this updated
as much as possible. Thanks so much to you brother Rogue for the
constant info pipeline!
Sincerely, Slave
Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters • Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
I would
suggest the White Sands members and others around
FLA
that have
similar problems with the leadership review the
laws governing lobbyists. It is highly suspect to me to have an
individual that heads an organization to also be the primary/only
person to have contact with any legislative body AND be a paid
lobbyist all the while controlling the purse strings. That is a
recipe for trouble in any organization. Muzzling the membership to
keep them from asking probing questions suggests more
scrutiny
and oversight may be necessary.
Holding
multiple
offices and/or positions of financial responsibility eventually
cause conflict with the membership due to the adversarial positions
the various parties take when either thinks the other is not
performing, has too much power, abuses the purse strings, is
interfering with the operation, is not appreciative of the efforts
made, etc.
Openness
always shines the light of truth on any situation. You may not like
what you see but at least you know the facts. Any leadership of a
nonprofit that doesn't want the membership to know where the money
is spent is suspect.
I would think as a
nonprofit organization the state/Feds would require some type of
oversight by at least some independent board members elected at
large or by region.
The board
of any organization should control the monies and be accountable to
the membership. I would also think any monies spent on behalf of
the
organiztion
would have to be accounted for in detail especially the dollars
spent on lobbyists and associated expenses.
I am not familiar
with any of the parties and am speaking in general terms but
lobbying a bunch of politicians is not something I would not care to
do. It is a frustrating job with much tongue biting and false
smiles. That said, to be an effective lobbyist a person almost has
to "go along to get along". Again it is a recipe for inaction
because of the relationships made with the various legislative
members and staff.
I assume all of the
funding of ABATE of Florida is from membership contributions.
If so, the
best way to gain the
upper hand
is to enlist the other chapters to withhold funds from the
headquarters or just withdraw completely as the White Sands group
is doing.
As a believer in and
supporter of ABATE as a concept I see a number of dedicated people
who volunteer their time and not pursue their efforts on behalf of
bikers to be paid. I also have seen a lot of well meaning but
amateur actions taken that do more
harm than good.
These are just my
personal observations and opinions and as stated I am speaking
generally since I am not up to speed on the various parties and
their agendas.
Thnx
for the heads up, Walt
Walt has some very
interesting
points that may cause others to question ABATE practices about their
accounting to the members as required under Florida Statute
617.1605. Business Corporations Corporations Not For Profit.
Rogue
July 21
On July 13, 2008 the
last formal meeting for the White Sands Chapter of ABATE of Florida,
Inc. was held.
For the past 2
months there have been no officers in place and after contact with
many of the members it was found that there are no interested
parties to accept the responsibilities of the available offices.
With 38 members in
attendance it was voted unanimously that the chapter would disband.
Many of the reasons
for disbandment are the same reasons that have been reoccurring over
the years, ABATE of Florida, Inc. has changed the true intent of the
meaning of "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactment".
We have become what
we vowed to fight against.
We now make laws,
negotiate with the safetycrats
and sell the souls of the motorcyclists for the sake of notoriety.
This year is a fine example of soul selling!
ABATE of Florida,
Inc. no longer cares what the members of the organization think and
does not allow them to voice their concerns at state meetings upon
request.
The organization has
become discriminatory in it's selection of who is heard and what is
said at meetings.
White Sands members
made the request to be placed on the April state meeting agenda to
ask about the lobbyist contract and performance agreement.
The state state
meeting was attended by myself and my husband as delegates for the
White Sands Chapter, April 13, 2008 in Tallahassee.
Upon receipt of the
agenda it was noted by myself, that we were not on the agenda. When
I stood and asked why we were not on the agenda I was, by the
president/lobbyist, told that we could not speak during the
meeting but were to meet in the back room after the meeting. In
attendance in the "backroom" were the president/lobbyist,
vice-president, and 2 sergeant at arms. Three White Sands members
were allowed in this meeting as well.
White Sands was told
by the president/lobbyist that we did not support ABATE, did not
care about motorcyclists rights because...we did not volunteer at
Daytona.
This was not the
issue at hand. I call this a diversion. Why? The issue at hand,
which White Sands asked to be placed on the agenda pertained to the
performance agreement and the lobbyist contract. As we all know
this is and has been a very sensitive subject for the
president/lobbyist.
If you recall 2
years ago, White Sands Chapter members asked to see the contract and
review it to ensure that the members of ABATE of Florida, Inc. were
protected in case one party or the other did not perform in
accordance to the terms of the contract.
We, much to our
surprise, found that there was no contract.
There was an
agreement to pay $50,000 a year for 62 days work to the
lobbyist/president. Now, that equals out to $806.45 a day.
White Sands then
questioned the state board about the performance criteria that has
to be met by the lobbyist/president for the $806.45 a day pay?
NONE! There is no criteria other than the statement on the
agreement that said that the lobbyist would do as he has in the
past.
We found this to be
unacceptable. Especially since there are no lines of definition as
to how the lobbyist/president divides his cellular telephone use
between the (independent contractor) lobbyist use, president of
ABATE of Florida Inc. use and NCOM/AIM
use. How the travel expenses are divided, how the lobbyist pays the
BATE of Florida, Inc. office staff for using their time, paper,
machines, etc.
If you recall 2
years ago when White Sands Chapter published the agreement (which
affects all members of the organization) in their newsletter the
state board of directors came to our monthly meeting with the intent
to disband us.
After a consultation
with a contract attorney I was told that if you are part of the
business organization you have every right to publish/provide the
contract to your members and by law the contract belongs to the
members. The president/lobbyist told us differently.
Why?
The agreement
identified the lobbyist as an "independant
contractor". For those who keep up-to-date on state meeting
information, you will recall that the lobbyist/president failed to
comply with the Florida Statute "11.045 Lobbying before the
Legislature; registration and reporting; exemptions; penalties.-
This resulted in a fine to the lobbyist.
Now for $806.45 a
day, one would think that this individual would know enough to
realize if you enter into an agreement with someone and are paid to
lobby for them you are now an independent contractor and need to
follow the law. Enough of this......
White Sands
questioned....What are we as members of this organization getting
for our $50,000 a year investment? Look at the rights that we lost
last year and this year.
Here is a person
going to the legislators saying he represents the "motorcyclists of
Florida" and yet really represents .0083 percent of the
motorcyclists in Florida. (By the way the 900,000 figure of
endorsed riders is ABATE of Florida, Inc.'s number. There are only
7,500 members of ABATE of Florida, Inc. Do the math.) Back to the
point at hand.........
If we are a freedom
fighting organization, then why are we not allowed the FREEDOM to
address the delegates at a state meeting? Why are the voices of
it's members being stifled? Why are the contracts entered into by
the state board kept a secret? Why did all of the (half million
dollar) safety money spending get decided by the board and not by
the members? Of all of the chapters throughout the state of Florida
each chapter should have had a billboard promoting Motorcycle
Awareness in their respective areas. Money should have been spent
on long term items for Awareness.
We are not
educators. We are motorcyclists. Why did we not consult
professionals on how to effectively utilize a half a million dollars
to save lives?
Why were materials
on motorcycle awareness not purchased for each chapter? Why were
the members of the organization not given a vote on what to order
for their area? The state of Florida is not a one-size fits all
state. Each area is unique. Our needs are different.
White Sands Chapter
routinely, throughout the year, would reach at a minimum of 60,000
motorcyclists. I guess this doesn't count as support for ABATE of
Florida, Inc.
On the first Friday
of every month White Sands Chapter would set up a booth to
disseminate materials to the public about ABATE of Florida, Inc. and
Motorcycle Safety and Awareness.
White Sands Chapter
routinely set up their booth at local motorcycle runs and events
again to promote ABATE of Florida, Inc and Motorcycle Safety and
Awareness.
White Sands Chapter
assisted the Panama City Beach Police Department in organizing the
Cops & Kids events throughout the year so that in times of need the
children in our community would not go without. We also set up our
booth and distributed the same materials here.
White Sands Chapter
would adopt the Veterans at Clifford Sims Veterans Home and ask
others to join in thus allowing non-members exposure to what we,
White Sands Chapter of ABATE of Florida, Inc. is about.
But in the words of
the president/lobbyist, James Reichenbach
II, White Sands Chapter does not support ABATE of Florida, Inc.
As current members
of ABATE of Florida, Inc. you can transfer your membership to
"AT-LARGE" status. For those of you who will expire in the next 2
months, should you want to continue your membership with ABATE of
Florida, Inc. you can do so through your Masterlink.
I personally will
take my $20 and support an organization that does not threaten its
members, does not lie to their members and is not in the business of
motorcycle rights because "Bikers are the only ones that would
accept me after I came back from Viet Nam".
I have researched
the achievements (or lack of) for the ABATE of Florida, Inc.
lobbyist. The "Red/White/Blue" license plate, not ours, look where
the money goes, not to motorcyclists.
Look at the "Handle
Bar Height"....We never had one before the lobbyist negotiated one
for us. I don't call that a success, I call that a sell out.
Look at the
mandatory training........
The icing on the
cake? Follow the trail of HB
137 introduced by Carlos Lopez-Cantera. The members of ABATE of
Florida, Inc. were given false information by the person that is
collecting $806.45 a day to be informed. He called it a dead bill
then placed blame on the "internet cowboys" for his failure to keep
up to date and hide the fact that he negotiated this bill with the
legislators.
For $806.45 a day, I
would think that the lobbyist could negotiate and influence our
legislators on the front end and not "in the back door" as we are
told.
Definition:"Lobbying"
means influencing or attempting to influence legislative action or
nonaction
through oral or written communication or an attempt to obtain the
goodwill of a member or employee of the Legislature.
When speaking with a
legislator recently about motorcycle issues I was asked if Reichenbach
represents the "Viet Nam Veterans motorcle
group". I asked why. The response was because Reichenbach
always refers having done 3 tours of Viet Nam then states he
represents the states motorcyclists. They were confused as to
Reichenbach's
position.
I am no longer
confused. After the April meeting, I was done. I tried my best to
overlook the stupidity and arrogance of the president/lobbyist
because some people cannot change.
Hopefully the
membership of ABATE of Florida, Inc. will wake up to the fact that
the membership has hovered in the same numbers too long. There is a
problem within its ranks. Until that is resolved I will not support
ABATE of Florida, Inc.
I wish you all well
in your endeavors. I will continue to fight for my rights as a
motorcyclists. I will not let someone go to the capital and pretend
to represent the motorcyclists of this state and sell us short. If
you care to join me....keep in touch.
Diana L. Woods
July 19
Justice
For All
American Motorcyclist Association
Our Goal: Justice
The AMA created Justice
for All to focus the public’s attention on the light sentences
handed to drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists, and to
push for laws with tougher penalties when traffic offenses or
criminal actions result in death or serious injury.
Injustice Is
Everywhere.
In January of 2004, a
former U.S. Congressman was convicted of felony manslaughter for a
traffic crash that killed a motorcyclist and sentenced to just 100
days in jail.
Think that’s unusual?
Think again
In another case, a driver
was fined $200 for a crash that killed a rider and seriously injured
his passenger — No jail time, no license suspension. In a
different state, the penalty for veering left of center and killing
three motorcyclists was just $70. Even more outrageous was
this sentence for rear-ending a motorcycle and killing the rider: 30
months’ probation and unspecified “acts of kindness and
generosity”
It happens in courtrooms
all over the country. And Justice for All, through the
efforts of concerned motorcyclists nationwide, aims to change it.
State by state.
Want Justice?
Get Involved.
Turn your outrage into
action. Learn about the AMA’s Justice for All program, which targets
one of the leading causes of motorcycle crashes: motorists who
violate motorcyclists’ right-of-way
Because there’s strength
in numbers, work with your local AMA Community Council — or, if
there isn’t one in your area, organize one.
And with Justice for All,
you can show the world that motorcyclists mean business.
It Starts Now.
It Starts With You.
It starts with you.
The pursuit of Justice for
All won’t end until we get tougher penalties in every state.
And with your help, we’ll
take our message to motorcyclists, legislators, and citizens from
coast to coast.
I received a message
from a Freedom Fighter Friend letting me know that she will be
running for the State Senate, District 15, in Wake County of North
Carolina.
She is the Only
Candidate that is in the race from a Freedom Fighter Background. She
has already proven herself and will continue to fight for motorcycle
rights, freedom and liberty.
I am asking anyone who
can vote for her to do so.
I am also asking for
Everyone who can to send her a financial donation of what ever you
can afford. Please note on check MacKay for Senate.
Taxpayers pick up tab for ending biker events
MYRTLE BEACH — Myrtle Beach City Council hit the gas on eradicating
motorcycle rallies by passing a three-mill property-tax increase
dedicated to an anti-bike-rally campaign and beginning to enact
ordinances that will end motorcycle-related vending inside the city.
All seven council members at Tuesday's meeting voted in favor of the
tax increase, which will raise about $1 million a year. One mill
equals an additional $4 in property taxes for every $100,000 of
assessed value for all owner-occupied homes, and $6 for every
$100,000 assessed value of commercial property and second homes.
City staff members are tasked with coming up with a list of
strategies for ending the rallies, and city leaders will choose
which ones they want to try and which ones the city can afford.
It's news that will please the hundreds of anti-rally residents who
showed up at last week's council meeting; but for others, it's not
glad tidings.
"What I do in May and October is 40 percent of my business," said
Ben Brown, owner of B&M Custom Cycles in downtown Myrtle Beach.
"Without bike rallies, I don't have a business. What about all these
other businesses - the drug stores, the movie theaters, the
restaurants — that make money from the rallies? The money filters
through the local economy."
City leaders say they want to actively market May as a family
vacation month, replacing bike rally attendees.
But Brown said many of the people who come for the
Harley-Davidson-related rallies in May and October also come down
for family vacations at other times of the year, and they will not
come back if they are not welcome in the spring and fall.
"When times get tough, you cannot go back and say 'we welcome your
business,'" said Mike Shank, a partner in Festival Promotions, one
of the Grand Strand's largest promoters of bike rally events.
The millage increase is a part of final passage of the 2008-09
budget that equals, with the capital improvement plan that pays for
the boardwalk and other downtown improvements, about $151 million.
At Tuesday's meeting, council members also voted to change the
city's OZ-50 zoning so vending permits cannot be issued in May.
OZ-50 covers the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and Broadway at the
Beach, two spots that in years past have drawn motorcycle-related
vending.
That proposed ordinance must go before the city's Planning
Commission for review before it gets its second and final reading.
Council members voted to cancel all motorcycle-related facilities
permits for the month of May, as well. That ordinance also needs a
second reading before it is considered official.
And they passed a resolution to send Mayor John Rhodes to Horry
County Council to ask for the county's help in ending the bike
rallies.
Rhodes takes part in the Coastal Alliance, a group of Grand Strand
governments that meets monthly to work together on regional issues,
and he said that group supported the city's efforts.
Council members who had previously been hesitant to enact a millage
increase to dedicate a mill's worth of money to fund public
transportation through The Coast Regional Transit Authority and
additional police and recreation staff said residents clearly want
an anti-rally campaign.
At last week's meeting, people said they were willing to pay for it.
But as part of the budget's passage, council members also agreed to
fund two additional workers to assist at the city's three recreation
centers, at a cost of $86,000. That money will come from the general
fund.
The new budget is balanced with $252,000 going to The Coast RTA —
not as much as some council members wanted, because a mill is worth
about $335,000 a year. But Councilwoman Susan Grissom Means said she
would push for that increase next year.
She said the anti-rally campaign takes precedence this year.
Shank said he thinks it's interesting that the city wouldn't pass an
increase to fund transit or services "that actually benefit the
residents, but they will pass an increase that they don't even know
how they're going to spend yet."
— The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News
Rogue
June 18
The members of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal
Highway Administration recently created the 2008 Motorcyclist Road
Conditions Survey.
The purpose of the survey is to help state and federal highway
administrators better understand and plan for the needs of
motorcycle riders.
I think this is very interesting and I am
anxious to see how it affects the general motorcycle society.
Will it be another law that only Law Enforcement and Politicians are
allowed to break?
Oakland PD's Harleys have a new roar Over in Oakland they like it loud - so loud that all 45 of the
Police Department's Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been equipped
with shiny new tailpipes, at a cost of $500 apiece, to rev up their
roar.
It seems the cops just didn't feel safe on toned-down bikes.
"There's an old motorcycle adage that you are heard before you are
seen," said Deputy Chief Dave Kozicki, explaining the department's
decision to toss the bikes' muted factory-issued mufflers in favor
of the more high-volume pipes.
Kozicki cited an accident three months ago in which an Oakland
officer riding a toned-down cycle was struck by a motorist who said
he hadn't heard the officer approaching.
But some City Hall insiders, as well as motorcycle cops elsewhere,
said the safety argument is a stretch.
Even the folks at the national Motorcycle Industry Council, which
represents all the big bike manufacturers, were unaware of any
safety benefits from louder mufflers.
"We encourage all motorcycle riders to keep the original low sound
levels that meet the ... federal sound limit of 80 decibels," said
industry spokesman Mike Mount. "It would seem counterintuitive that
a law enforcement agency would go against federal standards."
Ironically, it was just a short time back that Oakland police were
called upon to crack down on noisy motorists who had modified their
auto mufflers to make a whistling screech. The "whistle tip" pipes
were eventually outlawed under state law.
Oakland's cops had a long tradition of riding their Harley-Davidsons
with the modified, louder tail pipes, earning them the nickname
"Rolling Thunder." But after an officer complained about a loss of
hearing and others around town questioned whether the police force
was violating the very noise standards it was supposed to enforce,
the department brass ordered a switch to the quieter stock mufflers.
According to Kozicki, the decibel drop sparked a chorus of
complaints from other officers, who said they felt less safe.
So last year the department launched a $1,200 study in conjunction
with the city's risk management division to determine whether A) the
louder motorcycles contributed to officers' safety, B) were
detrimental to their hearing, and C) complied with noise standards.
Kozicki acknowledged that whatever safety-related findings the study
produced were largely anecdotal. Still, after everything was taken
into consideration, the department concluded "it was in the best
interest of the officers to put more-audible pipes back on," Kozicki
said.
Hence, all 30 of the department's Harleys were sent down to the
central maintenance yard for a muffler makeover, at a cost of about
$15,000, according to City Hall insiders. Another 15 newly purchased
motorcycles were ordered with the louder pipes, though at no extra
charge.
Oakland officials acknowledge that the noisy pipes, when tested,
averaged 93 decibels - well above the federal legal noise limit,
according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
But city Finance Director Bill Nolan, who oversees the risk
management division, isn't alarmed.
"If they were riding eight straight hours, it would be a problem,"
he said. "But they aren't."
Empty holster: San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong found herself
on the media whoopee cushion the other day after a disgruntled
officer leaked news that the top cop had gone years without taking
target practice down at the range - something that's required of her
own troops.
But for all the potential embarrassment to the chief, Fong may not
be required to practice her hot shots after all.
"State law may exempt the police chief from qualifying," Police
Commission President Theresa Sparks told us Friday, just days after
she suggested the chief might face some kind of discipline for
violating department training rules.
Sparks said she's still waiting for a confirmation from legal
experts on whether the state law pre-empts the department's general
orders requiring all cops who carry guns to qualify at the range.
The Police Commission hopes to sort it all out at closed-door
session Wednesday.
Officer Andrew Cohen, who leaked the chief's slip, may be in hot
water himself.
Cohen - who was banished to the records room after producing a
series of satiric police videos back in 2005 - could find himself
facing charges for outing Fong.
"These are confidential personnel records, and I think its clear
Officer Cohen leaked this information," Sparks said.
She has asked for an investigation into how Cohen got the info on
the chief in the first place. The commission boss is also curious as
to how many other department officials have failed to take target
practice, as well as how many rank-and-file cops have been
disciplined for violating the training regulations.
For the record, Cohen tells us any leaking he did is a legally
"protected act of whistle-blowing."
Family matters: Castro Valley attorney Dennis Hayashi is headed into
a runoff for the Alameda County Superior Court bench with a pledge
to be "impartial and independent of the Legislature" if elected.
Nice pitch, but it should be noted that Hayashi got $50,000 in
contributions from a state legislator - both for the recent primary
race and to help retire campaign debts from an earlier run for the
AC Transit board.
And his Sacramento angel wasn't just any legislator - it was his
wife, Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi.
Records show the Castro Valley Democrat chipped in more than $30,000
from her campaign accounts - money raised from drug companies,
health care providers, banks and other major interests - to bolster
her husband's judicial bid.
According to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, there's
no prohibition on a state officeholder contributing to someone
else's campaign - even if that someone happens to be a spouse.
As for wannabe judge Hayashi's pledge to be independent of
Sacramento political interests, he insists that relying on his
wife's contributors isn't an issue.
"As a member of the state Legislature, she raises money from all
kinds of sources," Dennis Hayashi said. "That doesn't have anything
to do with ruling from the bench."
Critics might argue that Hayashi's wife is helping him buy a job,
but he says, "We definitely don't see it that way."
Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays,
Mondays and Wednesdays. Phil can be seen on CBS 5-TV's morning and
evening news. He can also be heard weekdays on KCBS radio at 7:50
a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or e-mail
matierandross@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com
June 11
One Percenter –
The Legend Of The
Outlaw Biker
By Dave Nichols
I
have just finished reading the book One Percenter – the Legend of
the Outlaw Biker - by Dave Nichols
I will start off by saying it is not what I expected but that is
“My Bad” because I did not pay attention to the Legend part of the
title.
Having ridden for over 56 years, been the president of a large
motorcycle club and even a one percenter for a period of time there
is not much I haven’t been involved in concerning motorcycles. That
is why I can say the following.
The author did a real good job of informing the reader of the
history that lead up to the Biker Lifestyle as we know it today.
I
DID ENJOY THE BOOK!
It is informative and factual.
If you are a long time rider you will enjoy remembrances
referred to in the book.
If you are a new motorcyclist or just interested in motorcycling
the book is something you should Definitely Read.
The more you know about the lifestyle will help you fit in and
enjoy it.
May 29
Myrtle Beach officials:
No more biker rallies
MYRTLE BEACH — Furious and
frustrated after the weekend shooting death of a 20-year-old Coastal
Carolina University student, Myrtle Beach City Council members said
Tuesday that they do not want motorcycle rallies in the city any
more.
A group of local ministers and a bike-rally event promoter spoke to
the council at a morning workshop Tuesday and implored the city to
help them "do something" about the behavior they witnessed during
the past weekend.
Other groups have complained to city officials in previous years
after the Atlantic Beach
Bikefest biker rally and the
Harley-Davidson spring rally.
"I experienced something ... enough is enough," the Rev. Tim McCray
told the council on Tuesday. He said he and others had not slept for
the past four days during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest,
staying up to get a firsthand look at the parties that have for
years concerned residents and prompted complaints. "They were up
there partying, doing things they shouldn't be doing."
Grand Strand Connection is an umbrella group that is trying to help
solve "issues that threaten the harmony of Myrtle Beach," said
McCray, the group's founder.
The group is bringing together local officials, clergy, hotel
owners, restaurants and other groups that plan and hold events
geared toward bikers to make the spring and fall bike rallies more
organized.
McCray said he witnessed public sex acts and other behavior, not
among the sport bikers who traditionally have come to the area
during Memorial Day weekend, but among the 16- to 20-year-olds who
arrive by the carload to party during weekend rally.
"We know the NAACP has you locked down," McCray told the council.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has
sued the city and area businesses for what it has called racist
behavior during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest,
which is visited predominantly by African Americans and happens
around Memorial Day weekend.
Others argue that those who come to the Atlantic Beach Bikefest
— whatever their race —don't behave properly, don't respect the city
and its residents and cause more trouble than they are worth
financially.
The NAACP has monitored the
Bikefest and the Harley-Davidson
spring rally to make sure people are treated fairly at both events.
Myrtle Beach Councilman Mike Chestnut, who appeared visibly upset by
the weekend shooting of CCU
student Corey Brooks, asked McCray and the others what they expect
the city to do to make bike rallies more successful.
"Why should we invest in this event when we don't in any other?"
Chestnut asked. "Let me tell you what's going to happen. The City
Council is going to shut it down. We're not going to have a
20-year-old shot because someone is too cheap to pay for a $20
parking space."
Police have not confirmed a motive in the shooting.
Hakim
Harrell, an event promoter, said he understands the city's concern,
but hopes more organized activities scattered throughout the city
would draw people away from Ocean Boulevard.
"We don't care which rally it is, we'd just as soon stop them,"
Mayor John Rhodes told the group.
"We don't need them," Rhodes said. "We can fill all the hotel rooms
without bike weeks."
— The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News
Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
www.bikerrogue.com
January 9
Discriminatory Legislation to be Heard
in Committee
Attention Florida Motorcyclists
House Bill 137, legislation that singles out motorcycle operators
for discriminatory treatment for alleged traffic violations, will be
heard in the House Committee on Infrastructure on January 10, 2008.
See the latest Action Alert in the Florida StateWatch section of the
AMA Rapid Response Center or click here for direct access to the
Action Alert.
It's important to make your voice heard before this discriminatory
legislation gains support in the Florida House of Representatives.
Actually the bill is in what is called the Infrastructure. If it
does not get out of there it DIES as it can anywhere along the
process line to becoming a law
The thing to do now is flood the Representatives of that committee
with e-mails
House Committee on Infrastructure Representatives
It should be noted also that there are already laws in place to
handle motor vehicle violations such as fines, loss of license and
jail time.
There is no justifiable reason for confiscating personal property.
Quigley's helmet law battle goes on: appellate court clarifies legal
headgear for motorcyclists Jennifer Squires Sentinel staff writer
An Aptos man's
crusade to change how the California Highway Patrol enforces the
state motorcycle helmet law may have ended Friday. However, he isn't
around to see it.
<< >> In some
ways, Richard Quigley won, but if he were still out riding, Quigley
would not be allowed to cruise California highways in a leather
skull cap or knit beanie.
The 6th District
Court of Appeals published a ruling Friday that narrows the
definition of a motorcycle helmet and forbids riders from wearing
soft-shell caps -- like a baseball hat -- as helmets.
Quigley, a
longtime CHP critic and avid motorcyclist, had brought the lawsuit
against the CHP in 2005 after receiving nine citations -- including
five from CHP officers -- for not wearing a proper helmet.
The appellate
court ruled on the case even though Quigley, 63, died in September.
"For Mr. Quigley's
memory, it might be disappointing," Quigley's attorney Wendy Lascher
said, though she noted the court did accomplish one of Quigley's
goals. "It holds that helmet tickets are correctable in general, but
not Mr. Quigley's, not if you're wearing a baseball cap."
Quigley's battle
with law enforcement -- and the CHP in particular -- entered the
court system in 2005 when he fought in Santa Cruz County Superior
Court to have his helmet citations reduced to "fix-it tickets,"
meaning he could return to the CHP office with a state-approved
helmet after receiving the citation and have his ticket voided.
Quigley won the
local case, but the CHP appealed.
The appellate
court ruling published Friday reversed the local decision. According
to the ruling, the appellate court disagreed with Quigley's argument
that not wearing a helmet does not pose an immediate safety threat
to a motorcyclist because a rider only needs the protection of a
helmet during an accident. Someone driving a motor vehicle faces an
ever-present and often unforeseen threat of injury, according to the
ruling.
However, riders
can receive fix-it tickets for helmet violations, according to
Friday's ruling, if the motorcyclist with an illegal helmet doesn't
have a clear understanding of what a street-legal helmet is.
"This means that
motorcyclists who are wearing hard helmets can't be cited unless
they have actual knowledge that the helmets aren't approved,"
Lascher said. The decision "takes some of the arbitrariness away
from law enforcement."
State Vehicle Code
states that riders must wear a state Department of
Transportation-approved helmet. However, no governmental agency
actually inspects helmets. Rather, the state publishes a list of
standards that, if helmet manufacturers adhere to them, result in
the helmet earning a "DOT" stamp of approval.
Quigley had vowed
to take his case to the state Supreme Court if necessary. Lascher
said she wasn't sure what the future of the helmet battle might hold
since Quigley's death.
But the ruling
still could have a significant impact on the future of helmet
citations in the state, according to District Attorney Bob Lee.
Because the appellate court chose to publish its decision, Friday's
ruling could be used as case law in other lawsuits statewide.
"At this point
we're still reviewing the decision to determine what effect" it will
have on future cases, Gareth Lacy, spokesman for the state Attorney
General's Office, said. "We're still evaluating it."
In fact, it may
have some bearing on Quigley's final helmet case, which is pending
in the local court system.
A Santa Cruz
County Superior Court judge will hear that suit later this month. It
could force the state to more clearly define what a legal helmet is,
according to Lascher.
"It would require
the state more specifically to say 'this helmet will comply, this
helmet won't comply,'" she said.
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