Motorcycle Rights Associationof New Jersey
Newsletter
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Pa. drops helmet requirement
and motorcycle deaths drop, too In the year after a new law permitted Pennsylvania motorcyclists to ride helmetless,
the number of deaths has decreased enough to maybe let some Big Ben critics breathe a sigh of relief. The number of
motorcyclists killed on Pennsylvania highways dropped to 157 last year from 171 in 2003, the state Department of
Transportation announced Tuesday.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger created a furor earlier this month when he acknowledged that he rides
without a helmet. Neither Roethlisberger nor his spokesman could be reached for comment.
Helmets became optional in September 2003 for riders at least 21 years old who either have been licensed for two
years or have completed a motorcycle safety course.
The numbers were welcome news for the 6,000-member Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education, which lobbied to
end the mandatory helmet law. The Pennsylvania chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration opposed the move for safety reasons.
"Our critics predicted mayhem and carnage all over the highway. Everyone said the number of fatalities would climb
dramatically," said ABATE spokesman Jeff Harris. "The number of fatalities is still too high, our goal is zero. That may
be difficult, but we are doing everything in our power to reduce it."
Rae Tyson of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said motorcycle deaths have increased in other
states -- such as Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida and Kentucky -- where new laws permitted helmetless riders.
"It's inevitable," Tyson said. "It defies common sense to say you are safer without a helmet on than you are with one."
Motorcycle fatalities nationwide increased between 1997 and 2003, according to agency statistics.
In 2003 in the U.S., 3,661 motorcyclists were killed and 67,000 were injured. That's up from 3,270 fatalities and 65,000
injuries in 2002. More recent numbers are not yet available.
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AMA members help defeat federal helmet law
The U.S. Senate has voted down a provision that would have forced states to impose mandatory helmet laws or risk
losing federal money for their highway and trail projects.
Action by American Motorcyclist Association members, many of them using AMADirectlink.com's Rapid Response
Center, helped defeat the amendment. The AMA worked alongside the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, the American
Highway Users Alliance, and many state motorcycle rights organizations to defeat this amendment.
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), along with Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), had offered the amendment to a six-year,
$294 billion transportation bill currently being debated in the Senate. The amendment was voted down 69-28 on
Wednesday, May 11.
The AMA first learned of the impending amendment when the Senate was out of session and quickly alerted AMA
members to the impending action. Based on feedback by Congressional staff, AMA Government Relations Department
staff believe that AMA members voiced their personal opinions on the issue in great numbers.
“I am pleased that AMA members and other groups and organizations worked closely together on this issue,” said
Edward Moreland, AMA vice president of government relations.
The amendment would have penalized any state without a mandatory motorcycle helmet law for all riders by denying
the state the ability to determine how their federal transportation dollars were spent.
The AMA believes that states should be able to determine their respective helmet policies free from the threat of
federal sanctions. Congress affirmed this as recently as 1995 in the National Highway System Act, when it removed
federal penalties placed on states without mandatory helmet laws.
While victory was achieved by this latest action, this is still not the end of the transportation reauthorization process.
Check AMADirectlink.com and the Rapid Response Center to watch for future “Action Alerts” related to this important
piece of federal legislation as it moves toward final passage and signing by the president.
© 2005, American Motorcyclist Association
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NJ Law revised
Starting on Friday, August 15th, the price of a ticket for 39:3-29 (Failure to show your driver's license, registration, or
insurance card at the time you are stopped) is going from $44.00 to $173.00. Please make sure your vehicles have the
proper documents in them. If you jump on your bike to run to the store and forget your wallet with your license in it and
are stopped....oh well...you just spent $173! And the fine for not having all 3 is $519!!!
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December 2, 2003 #03NR41 -
ANTI-MOTORCYCLING OUTFIT DEMANDS NO FREEDOM...AND NO SAFETY!
Advocating mandatory-use helmet laws and slamming everything from rider education to sanctions against reckless
vehicle operators who kill, an anti-motorcycling group has papered Washington, DC in opposition to the meaningful
agenda for motorcycle safety proposed by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) and State Motorcyclists' Rights
Organizations (SMROs). Infamous for its support of the 1990s provision that withheld highway funds from states
without mandatory-use helmet laws, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (AHAS) distributed a flyer the day before a
key Senate committee was poised to consider and adopt the heart and soul of the motorcycle safety agenda advanced
for over a year-and-a-half by the MRF and SMROs nationwide. Our motorcycle safety language satisfies literally dozens
of action recommendations of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety (NAMS) through education, incentive and
discussion - and AHAS is demanding that Congress reject it all! This well-funded anti-motorcycling group not only has
your rights in their sights, but your safety in its reach. You have only one choice: FIGHT BACK! 1. Read the rebuttal on
the MRF website (www.mrf.org/positionpapersphp) which contains the bulk of the outfit's criticism. 2. E-mail (or mail)
that rebuttal to BOTH your U.S. Senators AND your U.S. Representative. 3. At minimum, include this comment in your
email or letter to your Senators: "I urge you to reject the false claims of this anti-motorcycling group which threaten my
freedom and safety, and I respectfully request that you support the Motorcycle Safety Amendment being advanced by
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)." 4. To your U.S. Rep., write: "I urge you to reject the false claims of this
anti-motorcycling group which threaten my freedom and safety, and I respectfully request that you send a letter to U.S.
Reps. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Pete DeFazio (D-Oregon) to signal your support for their motorcycle safety
initiative." AHAS is arguing against a "Motorcyclist Advisory Council" that prompts mere dialogue between experts on
the issues of road hazards, claiming that hazards "are not the reasons for motorcycle highway crashes." AHAS is
assailing a provision that encourages sanctions against vehicle operators whose recklessness or negligence causes
injury or death, because they view the measure as "a means of blaming passenger vehicle drivers for motorcycle
crashes." Also, AHAS is criticizing the initiative because it "does not include State enactment of all-rider motorcycle
helmet legislation." AHAS arguments are too weak and too numerous to detail here, but the group reached a new low
by attacking education by claiming that rider education/motorist awareness "wastes federal taxpayer funds..."
"[M]otorcycle training programs," the group charged, "have not been proven to be effective in reducing motorcycle
crashes." In fact, motorcycle skill training does prevent accidents, and NAMS lists ten separate action
recommendations - all marked "Essential" - that are fulfilled by the "Motorcycle Safety Incentive Grant" contained
within the legislation. The LaTourette-DeFazio-Murkowski motorcycle safety initiative will prevent accidents, thwart
injuries and save lives. Act today - or your freedom and your safety will be history tomorrow. <<30>> If you wish to be
removed from this mailing list, reply and put "REMOVE" in subject line. For an attached file of this news release, reply
to MRF-Releases@mrf.org and request by file name: 03NR41.txt (text file) 03NR41.rtf (rich text format) 03NR41.doc
(msword) Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-800-MRF-JOIN. (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. - MRF: My Ride is Freedom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first motorcyclists' rights
organization to establish a full-time legislative advocacy presence in Washington. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is
the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to
advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom. MRF proudly
claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the very founders of the American rider rights movement among its
leading members. Motorcyclists worldwide can thumb-start their search for rider rights and safety on the web at
www.mrf.org. © All information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The
Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is an independent, membership-based national motorcyclists'
rights organization headquartered in Washington D.C. which operates in co-partnership with State Motorcyclists' Rights
Organizations nationwide. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulation, motorcycling safety
education, training, licensing and public awareness. The MRF provides individual and SMRO member-volunteers with
guidance, support and information to protect motorcyclists' rights and advance motorcycling and its associated
lifestyle. The MRF sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists' rights activists and
publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS. Voice: 202-546-0983, Fax: 202-546-0986, E-Mail: wyld@mrf.org,
website: http://www.mrf.org <
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New Hope continues motorcycle crackdown
By: Linda Seida , Staff Writer 12/17/2003
Police issued 35 citations in one day, including illegal mufflers, expired inspections, no inspections and unlicensed
drivers.
NEW HOPE — Continuing their crackdown on illegal motorcycles, New Hope police gave out 35 citations to bikers Nov.
23. The traffic detail on South Main Street came less than a week after a Borough Council meeting when residents
repeated their long-standing complaints over the excessive noise coming from the bikes. Police Chief Rick Pasqualini
said the citations were written for a combination of violations, including unbaffled motorcycles, or bikes that have had
the baffles removed from their mufflers to encourage louder noise. Citations also were written for expired inspections,
no inspections and unlicensed drivers. "I think we sent a clear message," said Mayor Lawrence Keller. "We're not
going to have illegal bikes come into town." He reported the results of the traffic detail at a meeting of the council Dec.
9. The motorcycle community is taking note. Some bikers, such as two who shot off e-mails to Chief Pasqualini last
week, said they won't come back to town. Other motorcyclists, more than 10, responded to an article in The Beacon
Nov. 27 concerning the borough's intention to closely monitor motorcycles. E-mails on the issue continued to come in
as of last week. They left comments on the paper's Web site with slightly more of them upset with New Hope's stance
on motorcycles than in agreement. "We welcome law-abiding motorcycles in town," Chief Pasqualini said last week.
"We welcome them, but they must be registered and insured and inspected." The motorcycles also must have mufflers
intact and in place, he added. "It's become a quality-of-life issue," Chief Pasqualini said. The issue ballooned after a
state law went into effect Oct. 4, 2002, he said. That law said local ordinances may not limit motorcycle parking to one
bike per space and allows "as many as practicable," according to the chief. These days, borough parking spots often
can be found holding four bikes per parking space. When a group of bikers start up their bikes at the same time, the
noise can be thundering, especially if their mufflers have had the baffle removed. In May, New Hope passed a noise
ordinance to help get the problem under control. In March, the borough will have even stronger measures in place
when it comes into possession of a decibel meter, which will allow police to use more stringent federal regulations as
they monitor noise levels from motorcycles and other offenders, according to Chief Pasqualini. After the decibel meter
arrives, fines for excessive noise most likely will be set at between $150 and $200 for the first offense, according to
the chief. "We're going to take a hard line early in the season, and we're going to continue it all the way through," he
said. The motorcycle community seems to be divided over New Hope's handling of the situation. Is it harassment? Or is
it a legitimate quality of life issue? "I recently sat with Chief Pasqualini and discussed the problem for our monthly
publication, the E. Penn Biker Magazine," publisher and editor Norm Keller said in a written response to an article in
The Beacon on the paper's Web site. "I have been receiving many phone calls and e-mails since I ran the story in the
November issue of our magazine, and it seems that New Hope is taking an 'anti-motorcycle' stand on this issue. The
police don't only pull over the bikes that have an obvious noise issue, they pull over every motorcycle that comes into
town. This is segregating the entire motorcycle community from the automobile community." Mr. Keller's comments
ended with, "Many of our readers, including myself, enjoy riding into New Hope on the weekend to shop and eat, and
when we do, we usually leave a lot of money behind. Is our money only good when we come in our cars? These
residents have a 1950s attitude about 'bikers,' and it's time to put this and many other stereotype attitudes to the
side." Other motorcyclists, including a reader named Steve Taggart, defended the practice of loud pipes and termed
their use a safety precaution. "I have ridden bikes for many years but only recently have installed 'loud' pipes," he
wrote. "Since then, I have noticed that I no longer am nearly run off the road by inattentive or just plain stupid drivers. I
understand that is not very scientific, but I really do believe that the volume of my exhaust is making the roads I ride a
safer place for me. I am sorry that you have to hear my bike for the 10 to 20 seconds that it takes for me to go by, but
my life and limbs are worth that. It sounds to me that New Hope really does have an anti-motorcycle agenda. By getting
rid of the loud motorcycles, they will get rid of many more that are not loud because people want to ride with their
friends. The motorcyclists will simply go somewhere else and spend their money while the tourism-oriented businesses
will no longer be able to stay in business. It sounds like a great way to kill a town." Others call his safety defense bunk.
"I've been riding motorcycles off and on for several years and can understand the citizens' adverse reactions to
motorcyclists," wrote Truman Green. "I say stick it to the ones that show no respect by running illegal pipes/mufflers.
And to the riders who say that loud pipes save lives — hog wash!" Another reader, Mark Gibson, said, "I have owned
and ridden motorcycles continuously since I was 14 years old, and I can authoritatively state that anyone who thinks
loud pipes save lives is ignorant." He stated several reasons for his opinion, including, "People in residences and
businesses can't hear themselves think when these loud machines go by, and they have the right to do so. I think this
town is doing exactly the right thing. A decibel meter allows for objective standards to be measured, and idiots who
unbaffle their pipes should pay through the nose. I ride my bike all over this country, and I'm tired of the opinion so
many non-riders have formed of me before I've even shown up, an opinion developed due to the inconsiderate louts
who preceded me." A visitor from Vermont was outraged to read about Council President Richard Hirschfield's
suggestion last month to make the fine for loud pipes as high as $500. "It's not likely, after reading this article, that I
will ever ride my bike to New Jersey," wrote Ron Austin. "We have no noise ordinance such as yours here in Vermont.
In fact, our mayor and governor embraced the bikers who attended the first annual Killington Classic Motorcycle
Touring Rally by leading the parade from the mountain into downtown Rutland where the streets had been shut down
to all but motorcyclists for a barbecue and concert. Apparently, New Jersey has a bit to learn about promoting tourism.
I'll keep my performance pipes and dollars right here in Vermont, thank you very much. $500? You have to be out of
your minds!" ©PACKETONLINE News Classifieds Entertainment Business - Princeton and Central New Jersey 2003
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