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 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 4/7/2009

The malfunctioning red light bill was scheduled to have been heard this
afternoon by the full Senate.  We had put the red light bill language into
HB2149 which was a bill originally sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Patrick
Anderson. Unfortunately, Sen. Anderson was not present this afternoon so we  couldn't run the bill.
 
As Brook reported yesterday, we've been busy lobbying the Senate for the
passage of the malfunctioning traffic light bill.  Suzette and Brook got to
meet with about half of the senators yesterday afternoon and Suzette and I
met with the other half this morning.  We have a few Senators who are
opposed to the bill but most are committed to voting for it.  Some were
opposed before our visits but after asking questions during our visits, they
agreed to vote in favor of it.  Meeting with everyone paid off in a big way
- we hope.  Unfortunately, some times legislators change their minds after
thinking through it so the only way we will really know where we stand is to
watch the vote tomorrow.  Failing any other complications, the bill will be
heard by the Senate tomorrow afternoon (04/08/09) sometime after 1:30 PM.
If you would like to watch and listen and can't make it to the Capitol,
there is streaming audio/video of Senate proceedings at 
 http://www.oksenate.gov/schedule/calendar.html
 
If it passes in the Senate tomorrow, there will still have to be a
Conference Committee hearing of the bill to resolve the differences between
the House and Senate versions.  We do expect that there will be some
friendly amendments placed on the bill tomorrow afternoon or at the
Conference Committee hearing.
 
Stay tuned right here and we will keep you updated on the progress of both
of our bills.
 
 John Pierce

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 3/28/2009

First, our most important bill.  HB 2264 is the bill that will fund a comprehensive safety program for Oklahoma. 
HB 2264, that will fund a half million dollar motorcycle safety program has been stripped on all non-motorcyclist language and is moving along nicely.  We'll be asking for your help with it later.
 
HB 1795, our bill that gives us a legal remedy for traffic lights that do not
recognize us...It has already passed the House.  ...Only call HOUSE members to THANK them... Thanking them is crucial.  It's the best way to assure that they will be there to help us next time.

HB1795 is now waiting to be heard in the SENATE Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.  Senator Don Barrington is the Chairman. (R-Lawton, 405-521-5563, HM 580-353-8663)  A committee chairman like Sen. Barrington can kill a bill by refusing to call it before the committee.  Suzette and I have met with every committee member, some, like Sen. Barrington, three times...

We particularly need you to call Senators Roger Ballenger, Mary Easley, and Jim Halligan along with Sen. Barrington.  These are the Senators who either oppose it or have not committed one way or the other on it.
The text of the HB 1795 is presented here:
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009-10bills/HB/hb1795_engr.rtf
PLEASE READ IT before calling. When you call, remind the Senators that motorcycles are legal vehicles in Oklahoma and that when a traffic light doesn't sense us, and doesn't change, we have no legal way to deal with it.  Also, in the six years since passage, Tennessee has had no accidents attributable to the law.  In the bill, lines drawn through is for language in the old law that will be eliminated.  CALL THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND URGE THEM TO HEAR AND PASS HB1795
Senator Don Barrington (Lawton)  405.521.5563
Senator Steve Russell (Oklahoma City)  405.521.5618
Senator Roger Ballenger (Okmulgee, Henryetta) (405) 521-5588
Senator Mary Easley (Tulsa) (405) 521-5590
Senator Jerry Ellis (Valliant) 405.521.5614
Senator Jim Halligan (Stillwater) 405.521.5572

 There are some other bills that may be of political interest to most of us but
aren't specifically related to motorcyclists.  They were never on the Legislative
Agenda finalized by the ABATE Board in January.  Suzette has been in the Capitol working for us every day [on the official "ABATE Bills."]  I'm at the Capitol one or two days a week and spend the rest of the time doing back up work for Suzette.  Suzette is determined that we will succeed. She has 30 years of experience and the energy of four or five people.

Here are some updates
I am trying to get caught up, and trying to sort through the e-mails I have received.  My mailbox has been maxed out 3 times this week with numerous 3mb+ files, so I believe my server may have dumped a few.  If you see anything I may have missed, or information that may have been lost, please let me know. 

Latest News

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT!! 
We need to get on the phones ASAP and network with our Legislators regarding voting "NO" on the HB2080 Anti-Gang Legislation proposal. Its vague wording can cause increased surveillance and harassment of groups that have nothing to do with Criminal Gang elements, and there's too high a risk of misuse and abuse by Prosecutors and Law Enforcement.
PLEASE contact your Representative right away, and tell your friends to do
the same!

Yours in Freedom,
Tiger Mike
ABATE of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Confederation Of Clubs

Landmark motorcycle crash causation study progressing slowly in America's heartland 
Full story here

KFOR redlight article
Full story here

Arkansas' Bike Blues and BBQ rally in debt
Full story here

Arkansas helmet bill crashes
Full story here

MidSouth Mile Update

NHTSA Attempting to Modify Helmet Standards
     You can view the entire report at:
          http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/Rulemaking/Rules/Associated%20Files/Helmets_Upgrade_NPRM.pdf

      You can view the comments of others by going to:
          http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=NHTSA-2008-0157

     Please make your own public comments by going to
          http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=09000064807333ad