AMA News And Notes

November 2005

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The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is hosting a Washington, D.C., seminar for motorcyclists who want to learn how to influence governmental decisions, whether in Congress or at their own local councils.
The seminar, to be held February 25-28 at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, DC, allows participants to meet and learn from the AMA's Washington staff as well as other political experts. Besides learning about state and federal issues facing motorcyclists today, participants will get tips on building relationships with government agency officials and on lobbying elected officials.
The instructors will also prepare participants to meet face-to-face with members of their own congressional delegations. But the seminar isn't all work. There will be a welcome reception as well as a luncheon and a banquet over the course of the training.
The seminar registration fee is $75. The registration deadline is February 11. AMA membership is required.
For more information, contact Sharon Smolinka at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1252 or by e-mail at ssmolinka@ama-cycle.org. You can register by printing the form on www.AMADirectlink.com (PDF format) and mailing it to the AMA, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147.

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Fairfield, UT Town Council voted against a preliminary plan for a motocross track complex submitted by a local promoter. The plans included two motorcycle tracks, overnight camping facilities and a proposed building. The council rejected the preliminary plan because of perceived noise and dust involved in motorcycle activities as well as increased liability to the town.

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For those of us who like to ride our motorcycles either north or south of the border the Bush administration announced that it is sticking with the controversial plan to require Americans to show their passports when entering the United States from neighboring Canada and Mexico.
The passport requirement is designed to protect against terrorist infiltrators. Currently, American citizens must only show drivers' licenses, birth certificates or other documents. The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department explicitly ruled out the use of those documents when the passport rule takes effect. The government is inviting public comment on the new requirements by Oct. 31 at www.regulations.gov.
A first-time U.S. passport costs $97, in addition to the costs of two passport photographs and an original copy of a birth certificate or other documentation proving U.S. citizenship.

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Honda Motor Co. has developed airbags for motorcycles that the Japanese automaker says is the world’s first for production motorcycles.
The airbag, which inflates after sensors detect an oncoming crash, will be available on the new Gold Wing motorcycle that will go on sale in spring 2006 in the United States.
Tokyo-based Honda said the airbags will reduce injuries in head-on collisions. The airbag opens in front of the riders and reduces the speed at which they get thrown off the motorcycle, lessening injuries when they hit the road or another vehicle, it said. (Associated Press)

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Pagadian City, Philippines motorcycle riders are now banned from wearing helmets. Mayor Samuel Co announced that executive order number 72 series of 2005 will be implemented as a trial move to avert crimes involving the use of motorcycles.
Referring to a local study, Co pointed out that 95 percent of the crimes involving car theft and shooting were committed by suspects aboard motorcycles complete with helmets. This order also sets the minimum speed when traveling within the city to 20 kph. Hidden cameras will be set up to capture images of the motorists and pedestrians for easy identification. (MindaNews)

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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is distributing 13 million motorcyclists’ awareness cards to Keystone State drivers. 2.5 Million of the “Drive Aware We’re Out There” and “Sharing the Road – Motorcycles and Automobiles” cards are being placed in drivers license renewals and over 10 million vehicle registration renewals next year. Additionally, the cards will be included in the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, starting on the first page.

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The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has released a Framework for Thinking - A Plan for Action: Transportation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This twenty year capital plan, meaning where to spend money, mentioned nothing concerning motorcycles. That was until motorcyclists’ representative Paul Cote was invited to attend the roundtable. As a result, motorcyclists were invited to submit a plan for motorcyclists’ safety, in road construction, repairs, travel needs, safety, education and awareness, to help reduce accidents and injuries, and make the roads more rider friendly.
Open houses and public meetings are now being held statewide. Riders need to attend these meetings and voice their feelings that motorcycling was excluded from this 20-year master plan, and how 160,000 registered motorcyclists should be included. For more information contact Cote at Claimscote@aol.com.

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The Thurston County, Washington off-highway vehicle (OHV) park formerly know as the “Thurston County ORV Sports Park” will be run by Grays Harbor County, which has obtained funding to reopen and run the Park for the 2006 & 2007 season. The Northwest Outdoor Coalition and AMA District 27 expended three years of hard work, including a rally at the capitol, to get the park re-opened. The facility is located 15 miles south of Olympia on Hwy 8 and will be re-named the Staddaline ORV Sports Park.

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Myrtle Beach, SC City Council's newfound determination to eliminate the motorcycle rallies by cracking down on motorcycle noise is meeting with little opposition from rally sponsors or participants. The council held a first reading on a tough new noise ordinance. The measure caps legal noise at 99 decibels and allows officers to arrest motorists for missing mufflers, jack-rabbit starts, loud engine revving and burnouts.
In pushing for the measure, despite the problems it could pose for the Police Department, council members are doing what they feel city residents want. City residents are aware that their desire for less noise during the motorcycle rallies could come at a price - a tax increase large enough to put more officers on the street while the riders are in town.

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The California Bureau of State Audits issued Report 2004-126: Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program. This audit report is the result of a joint effort by California OHV recreation organizations to investigate the state Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Trust Fund which is administered by the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
After a careful review of the audit, state recreation organizations sent a letter to Senator Morrow, who instigated the audit, citing concerns outlined in the audit and requesting additional legislative hearings be conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Joint Boards, Commissions, and Consumer Protection Committee on the conduct of the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and Commission.
Recreation groups signing the letter included; American Motorcyclist Association, AMA - Districts 36 and 37, California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, American Sand Association, BlueRibbon Coalition, California Nevada Snowmobile Association, California Off-Road Vehicle Association, Desert Vipers Motorcycle Club, Duners, Off-Road Business Association, and San Diego Off-Road Coalition.
The core issues identified in the audit involve the grants program funded by the OHV Trust Fund and land acquisition practices. Both of those issues are also noted in other audits of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
The state OHV Program and Trust Fund was established to provide user funded recreation opportunities. The audit noted that OHV Trust Funds were diverted to fund general park operations and restoration efforts where no OHV opportunity is provided.
The audit also cited potential conflict of interest and personal bias on the part of the OHMVR Commission which has fiduciary oversight responsibility of the OHMVR grant program. Grants were awarded based on personal bias without regard to their benefit to the overall OHV program and without regard to public comment. A summary of the audit with link to full audit may be viewed at: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/reports/summary.php?id=484.

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AMA's Ride Straight campaign, which educates motorcyclists on the dangers of drinking and riding, has received two awards for "extraordinary achievement in media relations," recognizing their success for two public service announcements in reaching the public through nearly 1,000 radio stations.
Media placements of the radio spots were more than double the level typically achieved by the most successful campaigns, according to the North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., which distributed the public service announcements and recognized the AMA's success with the campaign.
Learn more about the Ride Straight campaign at www.ridestraight.com, and hear the award-winning public service announcements, "Hero to Zero" and "Enjoy the Curves," at www.ridestraight.com/support/psa.asp.
The AMA launched the Ride Straight campaign in 2002 in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to address the problem of fatal motorcycle crashes involving alcohol.

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The Price Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has hired Bill Allinson of Salt Lake City as OHV Volunteer Coordinator. Allinson is the father of AMA racers Jason and Wade Allinson of the Sage Riders club. He has been active in OHV recreation most of his life and recently retired from his position at the Utah State Prison. He has OHV leadership experience and currently owns many off-highway motorcycles and is an accomplished rider.
This new position will be to solicit and utilize volunteers to help the BLM accomplish OHV related projects on public lands. If you would like to volunteer or need more information contact the Price BLM office at 435 636 3460.

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North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed into law Senate Bill 189, An Act to Prohibit the Operation of All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) by Persons Less than Eight Years Old and to Restrict the Operation of All Terrain Vehicles by Persons Eight to Fifteen Years Old. The bill was sponsored by Sen. William Purcell (D-Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly). This law sets strict guidelines for when and how children can use ATVs, and establishes fines for any violations.
Senate Bill 189 amends NCGS Chapter 20 Article 3 and establishes a new section, 10C, to regulate the sale and operation of ATVs. The bill prohibits children under age 8 from operating an ATV and requires adult supervision for operators under age 16. It also enacts graduated age requirements for operating an ATV with specified engine capacities.
The bill prohibits ATV operators from carrying passengers unless the ATV was specifically designed to do so. It also requires every ATV sold or operated in North Carolina to be equipped with a brake system, an effective muffler system and a spark arrester. People born on or after Jan. 1, 1990, must complete an ATV safety course before operating the vehicle.
ATV owners and operators will incur fines up to $200 for failing to wear eye protection and a helmet, or for operating an ATV on a public street, road or highway, except to cross. Fines also will be imposed for operating an ATV in the dark without a lighted head and tail lamp, on an interstate or limited-access highway, or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Any person using an ATV for farming or hunting, or who can provide verification of ownership prior to Dec. 1, 2005, is exempt from the law. Senate Bill 189 becomes effective Dec. 1, 2005, and applies to offenses committed on or after this date.

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A recent federal court ruling has forced the cancellation of some off-highway rides nationwide. The ruling was issued July 2, and clarified on September 16, in a case in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California and affects permits issued since July 7 for some events in national forests. The court ruled that certain special permits for activities in national forests must go through a public comment and appeal process.
The US Forest Service, meanwhile, says it is exploring options, yet all regional foresters were told to suspend all permits covered by the court ruling.
The District Court ruling stated that any event that uses a "categorical exclusion" must have a formal public notice, allow public comment, and any decision should have an appeal process. A categorical exclusion is normally used by the Forest Service to grant a special permit for something that doesn't have a significant impact on the environment and therefore doesn't require an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, like a dual-sport ride. The requirement for a public notice, public comment and possible appeals could mean that the permit process for an event could take up to four months or more. The AMA and ATVA are monitoring the situation closely to see what action the Forest Service takes.

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AMA Government Relations News & Notes is a monthly service compiled and edited by the AMA Government Relations Staff to keep motorcyclists informed of happenings around the world. We welcome your news & views. Please submit all material to Terry Lee Cook, Grassroots Manager, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147; fax 614-856-1920 or e-mail to tcook@ama-cycle.org.

Copyright 2005, American Motorcyclist Association

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