Hello, Everyone--

  I hope all of you are getting ready for an enjoyable Fourth of July with family and friends.  Here's my Tiger Tales article for July, for you to check out.  Some legislative updates have taken place since I wrote it, like the Michigan Governor's unfortunate decision to veto the Freedom of Choice bill regarding helmet wear for adult riders.  If you're planning to make an
Independence Day Holiday Weekend out of it, I hope you have a very happy and safe one, with lots of fun times and healthy Road-Sharing with motorcyclists and trikers!  Remember that, as we do on Memorial Day and Veterans' Day, we also have the opportunity on Independence Day to reflect on a group of special folks who pledged their "lives, fortunes, and their Sacred Honor" to establish a Free America.  It's up to us to do our very best to help keep it that way!

  I also want to pass along an important piece of news:  the killer of David Jaggers was sentenced yesterday to the maximum allowable for his crime of Vehicular Homicide.  He'll spend one year in the Oklahoma County Jail, pay a thousand dollar fine, and pay an additional fee of five hundred dollars to a Victims Restitution Fund.  For those not aware, David Jaggers' killer had his charge bumped up to felony Vehicular Manslaughter when he tested positive for cocaine, but it was reduced to misdemeanor vehicular homicide because it could not be proven that there was enough drugs in his system to determine that they were impairing his driving (the killer was doing 90MPH in a 60MPH zone, and weaving through traffic on I-44--he clipped Jaggers' rear-end while changing lanes, sending him out of control and killing him).  Oklahoma State Law does not have a felony drug threshold for these
decisions, unlike some other states which classify ALL drug possession or drug-related influence as felonies.

  That'll probably get you shaking your head, and so will this: in the courtroom yesterday, the defense attempted to get all Bikers expelled from the courtroom (there were around 12-14 in attendance, which was pretty good, considering David's friends, including his widow, were informed at the very last-minute that sentencing was scheduled).  I guess that was part of providing a vigorous defense.  To his credit, the judge refused, citing that the bikers were well-behaved and their dress wasn't violating any laws or procedures.  This should really get your blood boiling--the killer's defense tried to state that David Jaggers contributed to his OWN death by not wearing a Helmet!  That could've caused a commotion in the courtroom, but the judge quashed that defense attempt immediately, stating that David was observing all laws while riding his bike, and that Oklahoma Law allowed him,
as an adult rider, to exercise his Freedom of Choice to not wear a helmet.  Throughout the sentencing phase, the killer expressed absolutely NO remorse, even during the Victims Impact Statements.  David's killer remains out on Appellate Bond while appealing his sentence, but when he goes to jail, he'll have to serve at least 85% under Oklahoma's Truth-In-Sentencing Law.  So, a sad chapter comes to an end--a tragic chapter drawn out to almost three years since David Jaggers was killed thanks to legal wrangling, delays and continuances.  David's killer is not an American Citizen (he's a legal alien here on a work visa), and remains a flight risk.  We're all aware that the Justice System needs a LOT of work, but at least some good came about this year as a result of David's death, with the passage of SB1929, Jaggers' Law, to increase penalties of irresponsible drivers who hurt and kill those they share the Road with.  We're still waiting for the formal signing ceremony with Governor Henry to take place, and I'll let you know when that happens.

  Well, that's it for now--many thanks to Denise Jaggers and Jan Wright for updating me with the latest information on the campaign for Justice for a Biker and a good man who didn't deserve to be taken from us so soon and so violently.  Take care of each other, Ride Free and Safely, and I'll talk with you again soon.

In Liberty,
Tiger Mike


                                 TIGER TALES - JULY, 2006


   Hello, everyone, and Happy Independence Day to all.  July is a time to  celebrate Freedom, and what makes us unique as Americans.  However, I can't  help reflecting on the fact that the Price of Freedom continues to be  Eternal Vigilance, especially in the light of the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision the middle of June to allow No-Knock home invasions by Law
 Enforcement.  I think the Fourth Amendment of our Constitution really took a beating on that one!   While everybody has been getting distracted by the Ben Roethlisberger no-helmet crap, the Feds have launched another nuclear weapon at our Constitutional protections! This latest decision, in my opinion, is an absolute outrage, and certainly illustrates what we can
 expect from the new Supreme Court appointees like Sam Alito (that's not Al-LIGHT-o, as in "Rights": it's Al-LEET-o, as in "Musso-LEE-ni!).  The decision's supporters echo the old John Ashcroft claim that "the good people have nothing to worry about"--I guess we "good people" have nothing to lose but our Civil Liberties. I certainly hope no innocents are hurt or killed as the result of this Supreme Court ruling, especially in the light of accidental incidents in the past which were the result of false or inaccurate information provided by informants.  However, you can almost see it coming as expected fallout from the clash of this latest Fourth Amendment interpretation with the Second Amendment--Americans defending home and hearth against midnight home invasions which turn out to be no-knock warrant-service!  On the motorcycling-specific front, our old friends at the NHTSA have once again called for a Federal-level Mandatory Helmet Law after the Roethlisberger bike wreck (you have to be living under a rock if you haven't heard about THAT incident!), so we'll need to guard our perimeter against them as well.  I'm also again reminded of our Military Oath where we swore to defend our Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and
domestic, and I fear some of those domestic enemies still reside inside Washington DC's Beltway.

   In the light of the Roethlisberger crash, it seemed as if everyone, particularly in the Oklahoma City, Muskogee, and Tulsa metro-area media, immediately started beating the drums on Helmet Wear, specifically calling for a Mandatory Helmet Law, and totally neglected addressing the Right-Of-Way Violation the 62 year-old lady in the Chrysler New Yorker
 committed.  I'd also like to investigate the witness' comments, as she didn't come off like anyone knowledgeable of motorcycling, yet she was interpreting how Roethlisberger was supposed to be riding!  The automobile driver was cited for Failure To Yield Right-Of-Way, and Roethlisberger was cited for not having a Motorcycle License, and he also received a ticket for not wearing a helmet, since you must be a LICENSED motorcyclist to not wear a helmet in Pennsylvania.  Big Ben was victimized by a classic Left-Turn cager, a wreck which occurs far too often.  In over 85 percent of Car/Bike wrecks, the automobile is at fault, as in this case--yet the media, to advance its own agenda, is attempting to make Ben Roethlisberger out as the bad guy.  The driver's claim a lot of times is "I didn't see the motorcycle", when in too many cases they DO see what's developing, and decide to push the advantage of their additional steel.  I wear an open-face cop helmet when I exercise my Freedom of Choice, and Big Ben would've experienced the same injuries even if he had that type of helmet on!  In fact, if you checked out the Daily Joke-lahoman's list of professional jock-related motorcycle wrecks over the last 6 years, ONLY ONE of them involved head injuries (and it consisted of facial injuries!) -- the rest were injuries to the trunk or extremities where a helmet would've made no difference!  Facts like these don't prevent the media from presenting Helmet Laws as the "magic bullet" that will solve all our problems, so as a Biker I appreciate when someone, unfortunately in the minority, uses some Common Sense to address the real core issues.  Life inherently is a risky business, and it's all about choices--you can get out there, enjoy life and take a few risks, or stay holed up inside your house and die from boredom!  If we're truly serious about reducing motorcycling-related deaths and injuries, in our state and nationwide, motorcyclists need to be educated to ride safely,
 sober and aware, and motorists need to be educated to drive responsibly and look out for other vehicles.  Of course, to a large extent, I'm preaching to the choir here!  Also, those drivers who just don't give a damn (and there are far too many of them) need to face increased penalties when they drive negligently and hurt or kill people--THAT's why we got David Jaggers' Law passed in the Sooner State!  We need to continue exercising the courage to speak up and address the truth.

   I'd like to take this opportunity to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who were able to come out and join us during the Fourteenth Annual ABATE War Memorial Run to the State Capitol on May 29.  With 15 bikes showing up after the Parade arrived at its destination, we counted a total of 403 motorcycles and trikes, along with several four-wheelers that attended as well.  Many of the parade participants rode two-up, so I estimate well over 500 people took part.  Also, a significant number of parade participants were first-time attendees. Once again, Oklahoma's Motorcycling Community showed the rest of the state how to properly honor America's Military, especially those that have made the Supreme Sacrifice.   Remember--they gave their tomorrows, so that we might enjoy Liberty today! On the heels of another tremendously successful Sunset Chapter ABATE Rolling Thunder Hospitality Cookout May 21 where over 150 bikes escorted the cross-country riders into El Reno, I'm ready to burst with pride at how prepared Sooner State motorcyclists are to honor and rise to the defense of our Nation's Veterans.  Our helping get the law passed which protects the dignity of Military Funerals in Oklahoma against disruptive protesting is a
 perfect example.  Many thanks to the outriders for doing such a good job ensuring everyone's safety (you're worth TEN Helmet Laws!), thanks to our spiritually-oriented riding groups for the thoughts and prayers for traveling mercies, big-time gratitude to the American Legion Riders Post #1340 and to Charley's Last Stand for again hosting the cookout, and thanks again to all Veterans and those that love Veterans for your enthusiastic support of these annual opportunities to pay tribute to our Armed Services.  I deeply appreciate your continued confidence in me to speak on your behalf at the ceremonies--I'm both honored and humbled by your affording me the privilege of doing so.  Be sure to join us again on November 11, Veterans' Day, and tell your friends!

   The Oklahoma Tax Commission is sending refund checks to anyone who pre-registered for the Oklahoma Veteran Motorcycle License Plate, along with a note stating that they didn't come up with the required minimum 100 pre-registrations in advance of the May 1 deadline. So, the state is not going to put them into production. I guess most people didn't feel like coming up with the $37.00 extra for the tag, or didn't want to go through the extra legwork involved with the form and the DD Form 214. I'm going to contact the OTC to attempt to find out exactly how many applications they got, and what recourse we have--do we need to begin the process all over again, or what? I'm still not happy that the OTC didn't contact me on this issue until late February, when the law itself went into effect last Nov. 1.  Anyway, ABATE of Oklahoma did its part--we successfully lobbied for the tag upon request from members of our Motorcycling Community, and we publicized the issue numerous times. To those of you that did apply for the tag, I'm sorry they didn't materialize, but thank you very much for your response, and thank you, Veterans, especially for your honorable service and commitment to the defense of our Country. If there's any possibility we
can give this another shot (maybe after surveying Oklahoma's motorcycling Veterans to get a list of over 100 that actually would commit to buying the tags), maybe we'll try to go after them again.  We might even collect everybody's paperwork and checks to present to the OTC, but that would involve a bunch of advance coordination, and I'm not willing to commit  to that option at this time.

   Here's the latest information regarding developments relative to Helmet Wear in both Michigan and Nebraska. First, Michigan's helmet repeal bill (Senate Bill 297) landed on Governor Jennifer Granholm's desk June 16th at 9:20 am. So if she does not veto it or sign it, she can let it lie on her desk for 14 days and it will automatically become law.  PLEASE call Governor Granholm at: 517-335-7858 or 517-373-3400 and request she sign Senate Bill 297.  Also, If you're planning on heading through Nebraska on your way to Sturgis, SD, you should be aware of this information: I have recently learned from ABATE of Kansas and ABATE of Nebraska that various police agencies in Nebraska are now confiscating helmets they do not like. Any helmet that has been worn long enough to wear off the manufacturer's label INSIDE the helmet is deemed by the police to have been "illegally
modified" and they confiscate the helmet. According to Spotman, ABATE of Nebraska Webmaster and Newsletter Editor, It's mainly happening in Omaha and Kearney.
 And it appears to be the city cops - not the troopers. But they don't appear to be targeting bikers. These situations are happening at "safety checkpoints" where everyone is stopped. If a helmet does not have the DOT sticker on the back nor the patch inside - the cops are taking the helmet as evidence, writing you a ticket (I think it's around $65) and you can't
leave unless someone brings you a DOT helmet or your bike gets put on a truck/trailer. If you sit there too long, the cops "can" tow your bike.  According to ABATE of NE, "FOR SURE...everyone should write to the Nebraska Governor, the Nebraska Department of Tourism and everyone in the legislature (even letter to the editor of the Lincoln Journal and the Omaha Herald and Omaha World Times) to let them know they ride around NE on the way to Sturgis because of the restrictive helmet law, and are giving Iowa and Colorado ALL OF their tourism dollars...which is a LOT (meals, gas, lodging)".  Also, anyone writing in should send a copy (to Spotman at spotman@lisco.net ) He can build a box full to show the new legislators coming in this fall. As Spot stated, "There's the truth of it as I know it and we can use all the help we can get". If you would also like to express an opinion about this to the state tourism board, their address is: tourism@visitnebraska.org  Hope this information helps you--remember, Knowledge is Power.

   For those not aware, I want to emphasize again that this year ABATE wrapped up one of the most successful legislative campaigns in its history--check out the final tally on our State Website: www.abateofoklahoma.org <www.abateofoklahoma.org   You can see how successful we were by observing the large, orange "Motorcyclists Use Caution" signs prominently displayed in Road Construction Zones throughout the state.  Erecting those signs was the direct result of ABATE's negotiations with the Oklahoma Transportation Department and coordination with the Legislature, where the State Senate backed the signs by a vote of 44-0.  Almost everything ABATE lobbied for this year was passed, while
most legislation identified as threatening our motorcycling Quality of Life was defeated.  Two legislative items we definitely intend to pursue in 2007 will involve laws allowing riders to proceed safely through intersections if their bikes don't trip the Red Light, and outlawing use of hand-held cell phones while driving.  ABATE also intends to vigorously guard against a
 Mandatory Helmet Law threat in our state, despite all the media trumpeting of pro-Helmet Law diatribes after Ben Roethlisberger's bike accident. It's important to emphasize that Roethlisberger's wreck was caused by a Careless Driver who turned left in front of him, and by his being an inexperienced rider without a valid Motorcycle License--a combination of contributory factors that helmet wear wouldn't have derailed. Helmets DO save lives, but Mandatory Helmet Laws are not about Safety--they're about politics, money and control. Insurance companies prioritize profit margins, and Pro-Helmet Law politicians are looking for name recognition to get themselves re-elected. To reduce motorcycling deaths and injuries, we need to make sure novice riders are educated in sound riding techniques, experienced riders ride sober and responsibly, and other motorists drive carefully, Share the Road and Look Out For Motorcyclists!

   It's time for me to ride off into the sunset, so I'll bring this to a merciful end.  Before sliding out of here, I want to express my relief about "Cooter" Burkes from Sunset Chapter being able to recover at home after being involved in a Right-Of-Way wreck which took part of his leg.  We had some fun times riding together in the past, and I hope you'll remember him
 in thought and prayer.  Also, Jan and Perry Brown of Rogers County Chapter got in a bike accident over Fathers' Day Weekend, and Perry sustained a badly broken lower leg.  Their Honda VTX was drivable, and Rogers County members took care of their bike.  Please have a good thought for both of them--ABATE wishes Jan and Perry a full recuperation.  Additionally, Mike Landers from Sunset Chapter has volunteered to step up and serve as ABATE State Secretary, pending approval by the State Board.  ABATE is deeply appreciative of any of our members who volunteer to help make this Organization better--many thanks for your continued efforts in defending Riding Freedom in our state!  Tiger's Tip O' The Month: Just as you need to check twice when you see animals in the roadway, because there may be more than one, you need to always double-check for Right-Of-Way Violators at intersections because they seem to flock together sometimes.  Take a couple of seconds to allow for all the Red-Light Runners to clear the intersection before proceeding, keep scanning constantly to watch for those drivers not honoring the Stop Signs at side streets, and always expect oncoming traffic to Left-Turn you, whether or not they have their signal on!  Enjoy the warm Summer riding opportunities, use lots of sunblock and stay hydrated so you don't suffer the effects of Driving While Fried, and I'll see you on the Road.

 Keep It On The Black Strip Between The Trees,
 Tiger Mike