www.gardenstateabate.org
Tom Gordon
Legislative Coordinator
Tom Gordon- Legislative News - April 2007
It is early on Sunday morning; the sun is just starting to shine through my office window. I have a stack of information that I want to get out to all concerned in the motorcycle community.
As always a big thank you must go out to all our hard working members. They are volunteering too much of their time and money to get things done. Please get involved to take the time to give these members some help before they burn them selves out. Remember we are all volunteering our time and money to make our organization a stronger voice for all motorcyclists.
On the State level not much is moving forward. Too much time
is being spent by our legislators trying to straighten out the financial mess
in
The bills to make May “Motorcycle Awareness Month” (SJR 64 and AJR-110) is still waiting to be heard in committees. Senator Madden and Senator Sweeney the primary sponsors of SJR64 will try to introduce in the next Senate Transportation committee hearing. Senator Madden is the vice-chairman of this committee. Senator Madden’s Aid informed us on Friday March! 6, 2007 that they get us a proclamation ASAP to make May “Motorcycle Awareness month”. They will still keep pushing to get this bill passed.
The only bill that has gained some strength is A-3701 which would establish a lane splitting task force has gained several more co-sponsors. Your letters are working. Please keep it up write, call, fax, e-mail and visit with your elected officials to help get things done. All of our “Ten Points” must be addressed before the state elections. Make sure you are registered to vote and be prepare to vote in the State primary in June. We can make a big difference in the primaries. A few extra votes can put a candidate in office that will work for motorcycle rights.
Watch out lobbyists spending in
On the federal level legislation to close a loophole in our nation’s health insurance industry has been introduced in the Us Senate (S 616) and House (HR 1076). This will fix the loophole that was allowed HIPPA act in 196 that allowed insurance companies to deny medical benefits for accidents that stem from horseback riding, snowmobiling, snow skiing , motorcycle riding just to name a few. We have always had the support from Congressman Andrews and Pallone. Letter need to go out to federal legislators to get these bills passed.
We just missed a major bullet that would have greatly
affected grassroots lobbying. The US Senate recently passed a bill to make
ethics reform in elections. The concern on this bill was provisions in section
220 of the bill that would require excessive lobbing activity reports from
every registered lobbyist in
We have an open invitation to send a delegation (SMROs) to
ABATE
/ New Jersey Motorcyclists Alliance is fighting for motorcycle rights on
several state level issues. While the helmet issue at the top of our agenda,
there are other issues also being brought to the attention of our legislators.
Most of these issues will not only help all motorcyclists, but will either
directly or indirectly help all motorists.
1.
Re-enforce
covered load laws
2.
Improved public
training programs for all motorist and motorcyclist
3.
Raising awareness
of motorcycles to reduce accidents
4.
Modification of
the mandatory helmet law
5.
Legal lane
splitting when motorcyclists are stopped in a traffic jams
6.
Go on Red with
unresponsive red lights.
7.
Make it legal to
pump your own gas
8.
Handle bar
heights, make
9.
Make it legal to
park multiple bikes per spot
10.
Is
Remember, that the NHTSA has stated that education and
training is the most effective way to reduce motorcycle accidents.