From nemecek at san.rr.com Mon Dec 10 20:25:07 2018 From: nemecek at san.rr.com (Nancy Nemecek) Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2018 20:25:07 -0800 Subject: [ABATE Local 6 Elist] ***SPAM*** URGENT CALL TO ACTION - MOTORCYCLE PROFILING - DEADLINE DECEMBER 15, 2018 Message-ID: <007c01d49109$81403930$83c0ab90$@san.rr.com> This is very important. We need at least 500 people to complete the profile by this Saturday. The statistics will be used as part of our California Anti-Profiling Legislation for 2019. Even if you have completed this survey in the past, do it again. Forward this to all your motorcycle groups, family, and friends. Please make sure they understand the urgency of this request. THE TIME TO DO THIS IS NOW! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email, text, or phone. Nancy Nemecek 858-229-1943 STATEWIDE CALL TO ACTION ! What can you do right now to help end Motorcycle Profiling? Please take a few minutes out of your busy day and take the 2018 National Motorcycle Profiling Survey. The NMPS is the primary tool being used to lobby federal and state legislators coast-to-coast. The NMPS is the only attempt to statistically analyze and quantify the extent of motorcycle profiling incidents in America. Your participation will help pass legislation both at the federal level and in your own state. There are only days left before the survey ends on December 15th, 2018. Act Now! The survey asks no personal information and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Go here to take the MPP's 2018 National Motorcycle Profiling Survey. http://www.motorcycleprofilingproject.com/national-motorcy./ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 89035 bytes Desc: not available URL: From nemecek at san.rr.com Wed Dec 12 17:03:14 2018 From: nemecek at san.rr.com (Nancy Nemecek) Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2018 17:03:14 -0800 Subject: [ABATE Local 6 Elist] Immediate Release - December 11, 2018 - Senate Profiling Resolution Passes Unanimously In-Reply-To: <01010167a3f7fa1c-20f6e22b-3d73-4b3a-8d0a-89fd41dccd8d-000000@us-west-2.amazonses.com> References: <01010167a3f7fa1c-20f6e22b-3d73-4b3a-8d0a-89fd41dccd8d-000000@us-west-2.amazonses.com> Message-ID: <020201d4927f$a250c050$e6f240f0$@san.rr.com> This is great news, and should help our California Anti-Profiling cause and other states, too. But we still need you to complete the 2018 Nationl Motorcycle Profiling Survey before December 15, 2018: The survey asks no personal information and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Go here to take the MPP?s 2018 National Motorcycle Profiling Survey. http://www.motorcycleprofilingproject.com/national-motorcy?/ For Immediate Release December 11, 2018 Senate Profiling Resolution Passes Unanimously The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is proud to announce that the Motorcycle Profiling Resolution (S. Res. 154) passed the U.S. Senate with unanimous consent on Tuesday evening, December 11, 2018. Over the past few weeks, the MRF had many productive meetings on Capitol Hill to further our objective of promoting awareness of unfair profiling of motorcyclists across the country. Our resolution?s co-sponsor, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), has played an integral role in ensuring that the issues of motorcyclists in this country were addressed in the U.S. Senate. MRF President Kirk ?Hardtail? Willard said upon learning of the adoption of the resolution, ?Passage of Senate Resolution 154 has been the Motorcycle Riders Foundation?s number one legislative initiative in this current Congress. This act today by the Senate is very important, as it recognizes that the profiling of motorcyclists because of our mode of transportation or choice of attire is unacceptable. The personal relationships, the tens of thousands of contacts, the visits, and the highlighting of this issue as a top priority during the MRF?s Bikers Inside the Beltway speaks highly of our passion on this issue and demonstrates our ability as grassroots lobbyists to be effective on Capitol Hill.? Willard went on to say, ?It is important to note that this cause united the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, our state motorcyclists? rights organizations (SMROs), the National Council of Clubs (NCOC), the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) and the Motorcycle Profiling Project (MPP), all of which brought even greater attention to this critical issue. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation would like to thank our 2018 MRF Legislative Champion, Senator Ron Johnson, and his staff for the significant efforts they put into passing S. Res. 154.? As you know, the MRF, along with the SMROs, the motorcycle club community, and with individual riders across this country have been advocating for a national solution to address motorcycle profiling. With the help of our champions on Capitol Hill, we have been able to advance our bipartisan and bicameral resolutions concerning the profiling of motorcyclists. Russell Radke, MRF Sustaining Member Motorcycle Club Representative, said, ?We are now one step closer to ending the attacks on our civil liberties from unconstitutional motorcyclist profiling.? The MRF is encouraged that we have begun to address the concerns of the motorcycling community, but we still have more work to do on this issue. We encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to join its colleagues in the U.S. Senate and pass H. Res 318. About Motorcycle Riders Foundation The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states? motorcyclists? rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMSTP9.gif Type: image/gif Size: 46417 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 7442 bytes Desc: not available URL: From nemecek at san.rr.com Mon Dec 17 17:36:33 2018 From: nemecek at san.rr.com (Nancy Nemecek) Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:36:33 -0800 Subject: [ABATE Local 6 Elist] DMV Reminds Motorists of New 2019 Laws L 20 C O C Message-ID: <01c201d49672$1daca980$5905fc80$@san.rr.com> FYI . From: presidents at abate.org On Behalf Of gillabate3 at gmail.com Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 5:23 PM To: ABATE PAC ; ABATE PRESIDENTS ; ABATE REGIL REP ; GILL G MAIL ; AAABATE BOARD Subject: : DMV Reminds Motorists of New 2019 Laws L 20 C O C DMV Reminds Motorists of New 2019 Laws Sacramento - With the New Year just around the corner, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) wants to inform the public about several new laws or changes to existing law that, unless otherwise noted, take effect January 1, 2019. Temporary License Plate Program (AB 516, Mullin ): This law requires licensed California dealers, of new and used vehicles to attach temporary paper license plates on a vehicle at the point of sale if that vehicle does not display license plates previously issued by the DMV. The temporary license plates contain a unique number and expiration date. No vehicle can be driven off the dealership lot without the temporary license plate affixed to it unless it already has issued plates. The intent of this new law is to reduce the number of toll violators and improve safety for law enforcement. Gender Identity Female, Male, or Nonbinary (SB 179, Atkins ): This law allows individuals applying for a California driver license or identification card to self-certify their chosen gender category of male, female or nonbinary in the application. Applicants who select nonbinary will receive a card with an "X" in the gender category. Driving Under the Influence - Ignition Interlock Device (SB 1046, Hill ): From January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2026, this law mandates repeat offenders for driving under the influence (DUI) and first DUI offenders whose violations resulted in injury, to install an ignition interlock device (IID) for a period ranging from 12 to 48 months. This law also allows those who receive a suspension under the Administrative Per Se law to obtain an IID-restricted driving privilege, and receive credit toward their required IID restriction period if they are later convicted of a DUI. These provisions apply to DUI violations that involve alcohol or the combined use of alcohol and drugs. They do not apply to drug-only violations. Additionally, courts have the discretion to order a non-injury first DUI offender to install an IID for a period of up to 6 months. If the court does not order IID installation, a non-injury first offender may apply for a driver license for IID restrictions or restrictions that allow them to drive to, from, and during their employment and to and from a DUI treatment program for 12 months. Previously, an IID pilot program was only in effect in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare counties. Smog Check Changes and New Abatement Fees (AB 1274, O 'Donnell): This law expands the existing smog check exemption to vehicles that are up to eight model years old, up from the current exemption of six model years. During the additional two years of exemption, these vehicles will pay an annual $25 smog abatement fee. The current annual $20 smog abatement fee for the first six years of exemption remains unchanged. Driving Privilege for Minors (AB 2685, Lackey ): This law repeals a juvenile court's authority to suspend, restrict or delay the issuance of a driver license of a habitual truant or ward of the state for up to one year. The law clarifies that any suspensions or delays reported prior to January 1, 2019, remain in effect. Motorized Scooters, (AB 2989, Flora ): Bicycle helmets are no longer required for riders of motorized scooters who are age 18 or older. It also amends existing law to prohibit a person from operating a motorized scooter on a highway with a speed limit greater than 25 miles per hour, unless it is within a Class IV bikeway as well as a Class II bikeway . However, it permits local authorities to authorize the operation of motorized scooters on roads with speed limits up to 35 miles per hour outside of a Class II or Class IV bikeway. Unsafe, unsecured loads on vehicles (AB 1925, Choi ): This law requires the DMV to include at least one question addressing laws pertaining to driving with an unsafe, unsecured load in at least 20 percent of the knowledge tests administered to driver license applicants. Unsecured loads, such as ladders, buckets and loose items in the back of pickup trucks, can be dangerous for motorists when they fall onto the road. Therefore, all vehicle loads must be covered or secured. ***Reminder*** ***Green and White Clean Air Vehicle Valid Until January 1, 2019*** High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (AB 544, Bloom ): As previously announced, AB 544 created a new program to grant low-emission vehicles and transitional zero-emission vehicles access to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes for an approximate four-year period, regardless of the vehicle occupancy level. A green or white decal is valid until January 1, 2019 and vehicles displaying these decals no longer have access to HOV lanes. Vehicles that were issued a green or white decal between January 1, 2017 and March 1, 2018 are eligible to apply for a red decal that grants them access to HOV lanes until January 1, 2022. The DMV notified these customers of their eligibility by mail. The DMV will issue light purple decals in 2019 that will grant access to HOV lanes until January 1, 2023. Decals are available to applicants who have not applied for or received a consumer rebate pursuant to the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, unless they meet annual income requirements. For more information or to apply, visit DMV's Clean Air Vehicle Decals webpage. Visit the California Air Resources Board website for additional information on vehicle eligibility. # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 111382~11.GIF Type: image/gif Size: 40473 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 7783 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: attachment_102542_12.17.18 DMV Reminds Motorists of New 2019 Laws1.pdf Type: unknown/unknown Size: 386156 bytes Desc: not available URL: From nemecek at san.rr.com Wed Dec 19 09:34:25 2018 From: nemecek at san.rr.com (Nancy Nemecek) Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2018 09:34:25 -0800 Subject: [ABATE Local 6 Elist] NCOM Biker Newsbytes In-Reply-To: <167c3a2a446-779e-649@webjas-vac028.srv.aolmail.net> References: <167c3a2a446-779e-649@webjas-vac028.srv.aolmail.net> Message-ID: <001301d497c1$182383d0$486a8b70$@san.rr.com> FYI ? good information. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Nancy Subject: NCOM Biker Newsbytes THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you?ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com . NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) U.S. SENATE TAKES A STAND AGAINST POLICE PROFILING OF MOTORCYCLISTS The United States Senate has approved the Motorcycle Profiling Resolution (Senate Resolution 154) without amendment by unanimous consent on Dec 11, addressing concerns of motorcyclists across the country regarding law enforcement discriminating against bikers in traffic stops, citations and arrests. This bipartisan and bicameral resolution (H.Res. 318 companion in the House) could provide a national solution to the discriminatory profiling of motorcyclists over mode of transportation or style of dress in enforcing the law. Several states have considered bills to prohibit police from profiling motorcyclists, and Washington became the first state to pass such an anti-profiling law in 2011, followed by Maryland in 2016. The two companion measures in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, which are nonbinding and do not have the force of law, seek to curb profiling of motorcycle riders at the federal level by ?Promoting awareness of motorcycle profiling and encouraging collaboration and communication with the motorcycle community and law enforcement officials to prevent instances of profiling.? S.Res. 154 and H.Res. 318 also ?urges State law enforcement officials to include statements condemning motorcycle profiling in written policies and training materials.? U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) spearheaded the measure in the Senate, and recently tweeted; ?Pleased the Senate passed S.Res. 154 to encourage states to take steps to prevent profiling of #motorcycle riders. Hopefully this will lead to more efforts to raise awareness of and address motorcycle profiling.? As defined by the Congressional resolutions, ?motorcycle profiling? means ?the illegal use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle related apparel as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest, or search a person or vehicle with or without legal basis under the Constitution of the United States.? Concerned riders are now urged to contact their Congressional delegations in the U.S. House of Representatives and encourage them to join their Senate colleagues by likewise passing House Resolution 318. GOVERNMENT WINS FIRST ROUND IN TRIAL TO SEIZE MONGOLS PATCH For over a decade, federal law enforcement authorities have been testing a unique legal tactic to take down the Mongols Motorcycle Club by seizing their trademarked logo under asset forfeiture laws, and now a federal jury in Santa Ana, California has found the Mongols guilty of racketeering and conspiracy, setting up a second phase of the trial during which the government will seek to seize control of the club?s ?intellectual property? and thereby ban members from wearing their unifying ?colors? or patches. Federal prosecutors will ask the judge to fine the Mongol Nation -- the West Covina, CA entity that legally owns the club trademark -- and order it to forfeit rights to the identifying logo worn on the bikers? vests. Since the case is focused on the Mongols organization, no specific individuals are facing jail or prison time, but the government?s attempt to defrock club members is aimed at dismantling the club by destroying their identity and thus its allure. During the five-week trial that ended Thursday, December 13, 2018 prosecutors testified that the Mongols were a violent criminal enterprise. According to the Associated Press, in finding the Mongols guilty of racketeering, jurors decided that the motorcycle club itself is a criminal organization. The Mongols have denied that they are a criminal enterprise, arguing that the organization itself isn?t responsible for crimes committed by individual members or in self-defense. Defense attorney Joseph A. Yanny argued that individual club members may have committed criminal acts but the club is blameless and kicks out members under a ?zero-tolerance? policy for such activity. ?They won the battle, but they did not win the war,? said David Santillan, the current president of the Mongols, said of the government after the jury verdict. In 2008, dozens of members were charged with racketeering based on an investigation in which agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives infiltrated the club, and a judge ruled that they should forfeit the Mongols trademark but later reversed the decision. The new case was filed in 2013, and it was thrown out two years later by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, but he was overruled on appeal. Now, the same jury will return to court Jan. 8, as the focus of the trial shifts to potential seizures from the Mongols. Judge Carter, who is presiding over the trial, will make the final ruling on exactly what will be seized. If the judge ultimately approves the seizure of the trademark, he would also determine exactly what the government could do with it, including whether they could literally take the Mongols jackets off members' backs. Motorcycle clubs across the country are watching this test case closely. ?They take our patch,? Santillan told the New York Times, ?and then they take all the clubs? patches.? NCOM CONVENTION TO ADDRESS BIKERS? RIGHTS ISSUES Topics such as Motorcycle Profiling and ?Save the Patch? will be among the many issues of concern to our nation?s motorcycle community that will be addressed during the upcoming 34th annual NCOM Convention, to be held Mother?s Day weekend, May 10-12, 2019 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Orlando, Florida. Hundreds of bikers? rights activists from the ranks of motorcycle rights organizations (MROs) and Confederations of Clubs (COCs), as well as independents and other allied riders will gather to discuss the concerns of all riders. Agenda items will cover various legal and legislative issues, with Special Meetings for Veterans Affairs, Women in Motorcycling, Clean & Sober Roundtable and World of Sport Bikes, as well as the Christian Unity Conference and Confederation of Clubs Patch Holders Meeting. Additional seminars will be conducted regarding Restoration of Rights, Leadership 101 and "Share the Road" Motorcycle Safety. All motorcyclists are welcome, and to pre-register for the 2019 NCOM Convention contact the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com . CELL PHONE BANS ARE SAVING MOTORCYCLISTS? LIVES Laws to ban or curb drivers' use of cell phones and other handheld devices have greatly reduced the rate of fatalities for motorcyclists, according to a new study by faculty at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Miami. The study's findings, recently published in Social Science & Medicine, show that states with moderate to strong bans have motorcycle fatality rates that differ by as much as 11% compared to states with no bans. The study originally intended to focus on overall traffic fatality rates involving cell phone use while driving. When it comes to car vs. car crashes, it's not clear that partial or total bans on phone use while driving has had any effect on fatalities, due largely to the high level of crash safety built into modern cars. Such is not the case when it comes to motorcycles, however. To the researchers' surprise, data from the study reflects that states that have either a partial or total ban on cell phone use while driving have a lower number of motorcycle fatalities compared to states with no ban at all. The researchers of this study argue that policymakers should consider strengthening texting and handheld cell phone bans, as well as enforcement, to improve safety and save motorcyclist lives. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, using a hand-held cell phone while driving is illegal in just sixteen states plus Washington, D.C. "In the case of motorcycles, these laws seem to be effective," said study co-author Gulcin Gumus, Ph.D., an associate professor in health administration in the Department of Management Programs at FAU's College of Business. "While it's not clear that these laws have had an impact on reducing the overall number of traffic fatalities, when we focus specifically on motorcycles, we find that these laws are having a major impact in reducing deaths among motorcycle riders." RECORD NUMBERS OF WOMEN ARE RIDING MOTORCYCLES More and more women are moving from the back seat of a motorcycle to behind the handlebars, with the number of female riders doubling over the past decade from one in ten in 2009 to one in five today. A study by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) found that women now make up 19% of motorcycle owners, with even greater ownership among younger generations. The survey found that among Millennials (Generation Y, born from 1985-2004), 26% of motorcycle owners were women. Among Gen X (those born 1965-1984), 22% were women. "As the number of Boomers and mature motorcyclists shrink and are replaced by newer riders, we could soon be looking at a solid 25% of motorcycle owners being female," said Andria Yu, MIC director of communications. The MIC polled 2,472 adults nationwide for the 2018 Motorcycle/ATV Owner Survey. For decades, the MIC says its surveys have served as the census of motorcycling, and have tracked a steady growth in the percentage of women who own bikes. The MIC says the 2018 owner survey also found that women motorcycle owners spend, on average, $574 a year on tires, routine repairs, maintenance, replacement parts, and accessories and modifying equipment, compared with $497 by men. Motorcycling has grown in popularity and acceptance in American culture in recent decades, which the MIC says is reflected in their survey. It found that 66% of women motorcycle owners say their family and friends would have a positive attitude toward motorcycles and scooters. However, total ridership is struggling according to USA Today, and overall new motorcycle sales have been stagnant in the U.S. since the Great Recession, with annual sales peaking in 2006. LONDON MOTORCYCLISTS FACE SURCHARGES In a bid to improve air quality, the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) will launch April 8, 2019, and drivers or riders of older vehicles in London?s central congestion zone will thereon face a round-the-clock charge of ?12.50 per day ($15.80 USD). ULEZ has been described as the world?s most radical crackdown on vehicle emissions, and will apply to motorcycles that fail to meet ?Euro 4? standards (those registered before 2007). The rider group We Ride London is campaigning against this unfair and counter-intuitive tax, stating that ?Motorcycles and scooters are part of the solution to reducing pollution, congestion and overcrowding but we continue to be ignored.? The charge will apply 24/7 and in October 2021 will be extended to the area inside the North and South Circular roads ? multiplying the charge zone by 28 times. MAN CLAIMS DISCRIMINATION IN CANADA?S HELMET EXEMPTION LAW Earlier this year, the province of Alberta in Canada became the third province to pass a law exempting the Sikh community from wearing motorcycle helmets -- north of the U.S. border, helmets are mandatory on a motorcycle. One Albertan, however, strongly believes the exemption is discriminatory and that if Sikhs don?t have to wear a helmet, neither should he. Troy Fandrick from Medicine Hat, Alberta, believes that the exemption granted earlier this year is discriminatory. As a non Sikh, he his forced by law to wear a helmet and his claim is that if a small percentage of the population is allowed to ride without a helmet, everyone else should be allowed as well. Fandrick explains that his issue doesn?t lie in the fact that Sikhs have been granted the exemption: his main complaint is ?why them and not me?? He points a finger at Transport Canada for imposing a rule that doesn?t apply to everyone and that in this case, he is being denied equal rights. ?The sole distinction in the law is racial and ethnic in nature. There?s no additional qualification,? Fandrick told Medicine Hat News, claiming that he has already been pulled over -- and fined -- three times because he wasn?t wearing a helmet. ?I just want equal rights,? says Fandrick, who is currently gathering funding via a GoFundMe page to enlist the services of a lawyer interested in taking on his cause. QUOTABLE QUOTE: ?Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do.? ~ Voltaire (1694-1778), French historian and philosopher -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: