ABATE of the Garden State Call to Action

There is currently a bill that has passed the Assembly and is now before the Senate Transportation committee. This bill, A-3292 has a clause that would completely eliminate motorcycle inspections. The MVC’s proposal is a transition to a system of self inspections for motorcycles supplemented with random roadside safety checkpoints. Wow, that sounds great! We can actually eliminate the mandatory and generally aggravating  and annoying motorcycle inspections.

So why is ABATE against this potentially very dangerous bill and actually asking you to write to your legislators to oppose it? 

Well, there are 4 good reasons to avoid what at first glance may look like a good deal for motorcyclists:

1. Take a careful look at the implications of this. This opens up all motorcyclists to random “safety checks” every time you go for a ride. Anyone town or police officer with a grudge against motorcyclists will have a field day with this legislation. Without having the “cover” of an MVC inspection sticker on your motorcycle, you will be subject to increased and most likely arbitrarily enforced standards during any of these stops. This is already happening in New York state and AIM attorneys are getting ready to sue the state for this harassment. I personally can remember the 70’s and 80’s when it seemed every time you went for a ride, you were being pulled over just because you were riding a motorcycle. If this legislation is passed, it will most certainly increase the number of stops you will have to endure during each riding season.
2. With the elimination of regular MVC motorcycle inspections, motorcycle safety will certainly also suffer as the number of unsafe motorcycles will increase. This will most certainly cause the number of motorcycle accidents to increase with a subsequent rise in injuries and fatalities. Inspection elimination will not make motorcycles more safe, but will have the exact opposite effect. 
3. This rise in injuries and fatalities will increase the pressure on legislators to enact even more legislation to “protect” us from our own recreational activities. These new laws will certainly impact motorcyclists.
4. Motorcyclists have already paid for the cost of the state run MVC inspections with their registration fees. In fact several years ago our fees were increased to improve  motorcycle safety with the implementation of state run motorcycle safety courses. These safety courses have been recently suspended and to add insult to this injury, our motorcycle registration costs have doubled since July 1, 2009.

The bill has already passed in the Assembly and it is easier to kill it in the Senate Transportation committee than if it successfully passes there and comes up for a full Senate vote. It will never be easier to kill than it is right now.

I know that most bikers are tired of being subjected to bad legislation and the time to act on this bad bill is NOW. There is a saying: “strike when the iron is hot”. Well, the iron is hot now and this is the time to stand up and make sure that this poorly conceived legislation is defeated. This bill actually has the following descriptor:  A3292- Establishes new motorcycle safety provisions.
The arrogance of having this being described as having safety provisions is frustrating and our frustration needs to be heard. When we were fighting against the increases in motor vehicle registration costs, it was noted that most of the letters received were from motorcyclists. While we did not win this battle, it was commented that we were noticed and heard. We need to be noticed and heard from again, otherwise get ready for increased roadside checks in your future.

So what can I do about this?

Click here for the instructions if you are a member of ABATE

Click here for the instructions if you are NOT a member of ABATE