PO BOX 114
Marlton, N.J. 08053
www.gardenstateabate.org
Tom Gordon
Legislative Coordinator
Vote! On Tuesday – November 6, 2007
This is one of the most important things we must all do. The legislative committee for ABATE of the Garden State has been meeting with many of your elected officials. They all recognize the fact that motorcyclist are concerned citizens and vote. Motorcyclist votes almost 91% of the time compared to 75% of the general population. Why? We care about protecting our freedoms and rights! We will fight to regain our freedoms lost. We will make New Jersey a safer and better place for all motorcyclist and motorist.
Your legislative committee has sent out a mailing to all 265 candidates running for state office. (Thank you, Rudy Avizius our webmaster/ legislative activist on all the hard work.) Go to our website and review the results. Get to know what the candidates think about motorcycle related issues in your voting district. Call them if they have not responded. Also a make a call or send a thank you note for their response.
I recently attended a special reception on October 11, 2007 for all Democratic candidates in District 3(Senator Sweeney, Assemblyman Burzichelli, and Assemblyman Fisher). The guest speaker was the head of the Assembly, Assemblyman Roberts (D-5). I was an invited guest of Joe Smith an active member of ABATE. We had the opportunity to talk with all of them. They know about ABATE, our agenda, and will meet with us after the election to discuss getting pending bills passed by the end of this legislative session. A compliment must go out to all ABATE legislative members. I constantly hear from our legislatures that they like meeting with us and discussing issues compare to other individuals/groups. We are prepared, not demanding and cordial, with this attitude we have gain their respect.
Again thank you to Joe Smith of Peach Country Tractor for dedication and hard work for ABATE.
The day after the state election we must all get back to work to get pending bills passed. We have been in contact with the leadership of the State Senate and Assembly committees to get the following bills heard:
Bill A-3701 to establish a lane splitting task force for motorcycles.
This bill is confusing and a concern for all legislatures that we talked to. This bill is is just a committee/task force to study and make recommendations for lane splitting in New Jersey. When you explain it to them they are more agreeable to it. Remember the E in ABATE is for education. This meant for educating everyone.
Bill S-1004 establishes additional penalties for motor vehicle right away violations.
This bill is endorsed by the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) justice for all campaign.
Also a new bill that will get a number and introduced right after the election will be to increase fines for tailgating especially motorcycles. This is sponsored by Senator McCollough of Mays Landing (D-2)
On a good and bad note May is officially “Motorcycle Awareness Month in New Jersey”. Governor Corzine signed it into Law August 6, 2007 privately. Due to a communication error (by the Governor staff) it was put on his desk and we did not get the public signing that we requested. We are trying to rectify this to make sure bills that ABATE has supported get the proper public recognition.
On the Federal Level we must send members to Washington D.C. to meet with the MRF (Motorcycle Riders Foundation) and members of our Congress before November 16, 2007. I will be in Washington the first week in November. I will send updates on this weekly. Please let me know you will join me.
The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) has a program to pressure states into enacting mandatory helmet laws. Go to www.mrf.org for more detail information. We have defeated this before. We have strongly defeated a similar Senate Bill sponsored by our own New Jersey Senator Lautenberg.
We need to get members of the New Jersey congress to support federal bills S-616 and HR 2006 to close the loophole allowing union’s and health insurance providers to deny insurance coverage for accidents that stem from horseback riding, snowmobiling, snow skiing , motorcycle riding etc.
A strong motorcycle voice can make a difference. Puerto Rico recently passed a law requiring all motorcycle and scooter riders to helmets, gloves long pants, reflective vest. A day after this law went into effect the law was temporary rescinded due to the massive protest from concerned motorcyclist. Delray Beach in southern Florida wanted to ban bikers from a portion of the town. Again a strong voice delayed this ban.
If all motorcyclists would put their differences aside and work together we would have the strongest voice in the country to prevent losing our freedoms. Please join and support your State motorcycle rights organization, the MRF and AMA. We need to be proactive to keep our lifestyle alive.
Ride Safe, Ride Free!
American by Birth- Biker by Choice
Tom Gordon