It’s been a difficult year in terms of getting legislation moved quickly. Actually, using the term "quickly" with the legislature is an oxymoron. Nothing moves that way unless it is an extremely high profile issue in which the leadership(Pataki, Bruno, Silver) has a personal interest. Our issues don’t fall into that category. Nevertheless, we’ve been getting very good cooperation from many leaders in the legislature on the issues we’ve put before them, as you know.

Our major bill is the "Yield the Right of Way Violations" measure, which is Assembly bill A-9703 and its companion in the Senate, S-6150. The bill will not pass this year, in its present form. Here’s what’s happened. Senator Johnson’s chief legislative rep, John DiVito, who has worked hard with us said there is an objection in the Republican conference to Yield the Right of Way Violations being singled out from all the others. Some would much prefer to see the bill apply to all violations because they view the matter as a

Policy change. This has not come up before this, but the fact is that it will not go in its present form. There is another idea, also, that was not included in the original bill. That would be a requirement for community service.

It’s not a bad idea. Let’s face it. If someone is barred from driving for a certain period, be it thirty, ninety or 180 days, the chances are they’re going to drive anyway to get to work and home, regardless. Yes, the judges have the discretion to let them do this, but let’s say the judge didn’t. Many people would do it anyway. Look at the number of uninsured and unlicensed drivers we have on the roads already. Also…with community service required, it would actually affect their lives in a substantial way. The bill will have to be re-worked, and that will be done over the summer. DiVito says he’ll work with us to get proper language. Then, we’ll have to go through the whole legislative process again. Hey, we’re used to it. We’ll also have to get DMV on board with the changes. It’s a whole new world when it comes to the bill.

On the Assembly side, the present bill is in Codes Committee, which meets next Tuesday, June 4^th. I’ll have to confer with Prospector, my compatriot on what we should do, since the Senate bill will not go through as is. Having a one house will won’t work, obviously. My thought right now is to have the bill held until we get some consensus on new language.

As for the anti-discrimination bill, the Assembly has approved it, but it has been held up in the Senate because of concerns that localities might have objections. So far, no locality group, such as town or county associations has registered any complaints, but the Senate counsel’s office is still making calls. It’s a little discouraging because it seems as though they’re looking for someone to object. I’ve been meeting with assistant Senate counsel Paul Zuber for two months, on and off, trying to get it through. We’ve still got a chance. The bill would bar communities from banning motorcycles on any road, street or highway that used state funds to either design, construct, maintain or operate that biway. As of this writing, still no word on whether it will get voted on by the Senate. It’s ready for the vote, but I’ve not been able to get in touch with Zuber today(Thursday, May 30^th), so far, to find out the latest. If there is a development, I will put out a bulletin on it.

As for the handlebar height bill; well, we’d love to get done what the New Hampshire legislature and Governor did…passed the exact same bill that there were objections to here. The bill allows handlebars to be up to shoulder level from the seat, not the 15 inches as required in New York State. Of course, it makes a lot of sense and we’ll be trying this one again, next session.

I’ve been trying to get through to the New York State Thruway Authority to see how they’re coming with their "evaluation" on tolls for motorcycles. Haven’t gotten through yet. We’ve been asking every legislator we meet with to write the Authority, urging them to lower the tolls. Many of them have written those letters, so we’re hoping there will be some effect.

On other legislative matters…neither the bill restoring the ATV Trails and Maintenance Fund nor the bill establishing motorcycle advisory councils throughout the state has made any movement. This is a tough legislature, but the one thing you learn quickly is that you cannot ever give up. Both Bob and I will be at the legislature every week till the bitter end and start up again, in September. That’s the legislative report up to this minute.

Keep the PAC money coming, PLEASE. It’s more important than you know for us to be able to get to these fund raisers for those who support motorcyclists’ issues.

I will be asking District III to approve a motion to have the AMA-PAC support, financially, whoever the Republican and Democratic candidates are for Governor this year. We need to support both candidates from a fund raising standpoint so we will have standing with whoever is the winner in November.

I was privileged to make the "Ride to the Wall" again this year for Rolling Thunder, the traditional Memorial Day weekend event when literally hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists go to Washington, D.C. to commemorate all those who died in the Viet Nam war. We left on Friday, stayed over in historic Gettysburg, toured the battlefield and then went on to Arlington, Virginia and visited the wall Saturday night. It is without a doubt the most powerful monument I’ve ever been to and I’ve been to the wall six times on this ride. It was one of the best weekends I’ve ever spent on a motorcycle and the group of people with whom I rode were the best! Aside from the solemn moments at the Wall and the other monuments in the Mall, the rest of the weekend with these people was pure fun. Laughs from Friday morning til we left each other Monday evening. And the motorcycle parade from the Pentagon parking lot on Sunday was incredible. About 80-thousand bikes were in that parade which began at noon and was still going strong when we left to return to Gettysburg Sunday afternoon at 2:30. If you haven’t been to Rolling Thunder, you should do it at least once.

It’s my understanding from Prospector that AM-JAM went fine and there was no trouble as some had been predicting, although the police, FBI and ATF presence was heavy.

The ABATE Freedom Rally held a couple of weeks ago at the Capitol Steps was what I would call a moderate success. Unfortunately, the weather worked against us. It was cold, cold that morning and may have kept some riders from attending. However, the rally on the steps was enthusiastic and many did go inside afterwards and lobby legislators. Strictly from my personal standpoint, I think it was a mistake to have had Paul Wein, a splinter candidate for Governor, invited to speak while Senator Owen Johnson, our strongest supporter in the State Senate, stood by. Johnson strongly supports Governor Pataki and from that point of view, it was politically embarrassing. On the other hand, there is freedom of speech. From the most practical point of view, Wein has no chance of winning anything and the motorcycling community should know what’s going on before inviting speakers.

Again, that is a personal point of view. You have every right in the world to disagree.

HERE IS A WARNING AGAIN! Check your health insurance company to make sure they will pay your BENEFITS if you are hurt while riding. Mike Stanley of Columbus, Ohio was hurt. His company paid his bills and Mike had paid his health premiums dutifully. Then the company( I don’t know which one) demanded the money back, using the loophole in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(HIPAA) to do so. Remember, I’ve told you about this problem before several times. The Act and congressional intent was that if you paid your premiums you were covered. You are. They cannot deny you COVERAGE. But……under regulations as now written, they CAN DENY YOU THE BENEFITS BEING PAID IF YOU’RE HURT!!! I know there are examples of this very same thing in New York State. I need everyone who knows of one to send me the details!!!! It’s an outrage and all motorcyclists have to be mailing their congressmen and US Senators to redress this stupidity and the abrogation of congressional intent by the regulators.

The AMA is opposing a one million dollar health insurance requirement stapled to California legislation that would allow motorcyclists to ride without helmets. As AMA V-P Ed Moreland put it: " when motorcyclists agree to accept higher insurance requirements in exchange for being able to ride without a helmet, they explicitly support a position that has no basis in fact…(That motorcylists use more taxpayer dollars than other members of society to pay their medical bills)…and that’s bad for riders, nationwide." WE ARE NOT A SOCIAL BURDEN!!!!

As you all probably already know, the Governor declared May as Motorcycle Awareness and You Month.

Incidentally, if you haven’t taken the Motorcycle Defensive Driver Course yet that is available at over 20 sites throughout the state, please think about it. I’ll be doing the Advanced Rider Course for the third time come June 22^nd at Columbia-Green Community College in Hudson. Believe me, your life is worth the expense!

Speaking of that, the national AMA Website has a new section for new riders called "The Art of Riding a Motorcycle". You can find it two ways. One—go to www.AMADirectlink.com and click on "New Rider?" or the new area’s available at http://www.ama-cycle.org/index.asp?ad=roadride/NewRider/index.asp . Well, which one do you think would be easier to get to?

Here’s something new in safety from SmarTire Company which you’ll be seeing later in the year. Ordinarily I don’t do commercials in this column. However, this is really interesting:

With this innovative motorcycle safety system, each tire is equipped with a lightweight SmarTire sensor that constantly monitors tire pressure and temperature. The sensors transmit signals to a concealed receiver connected to an ultra-bright LED display in easy view of the rider. If there is a change in tire pressure, the rider will immediately be alerted by a warning light on the display. If tire pressure continues to decrease, the light will begin to flash, indicating that the pressure loss is at a serious level and the rider should take corrective measures. By identifying problems early, riders can take precautions to avoid accidents and the risk of being stranded on the roadside. The system can be fitted to all standard motorcycles and is scheduled for commercial release by year-end, 2002.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has announced 12 new inductees for 2002. All were racers of one sort or another except for one; Walt Mahony who was a racing photographer for 39-years and took more than 435,000 photos

Well, that’s it for now. One more reminder that I hope you won’t find offensive in any way. Remember, it’s an election year. We need MOTORCYCLE SUPPORTERS in the legislature. That means we need to support the AMA-PAC of New York State more this year than ever. Please, if you haven’t done it, begin a PASS THE PAC HAT program at your regular club meetings. Again, just take the money collected, have the club treasurer make out a check in that amount to the AMA-PAC and send it on to me at 15 Dawn Drive, Scotia, New York 12302. Anything will be appreciated very much!

If you’re going to be at Americade this year, look me up at the AMA booth at Tour Expo.

Until the next time, ride free, but most importantly, ride SAFE!