As I mentioned last month, ABATE of Oklahoma also appreciates David Gallant becoming involved in our Organization again.  For those of you that don't know Dave, he has re-joined ABATE and is a member of our Central Oklahoma District--he even filled in to represent his Chapter at the September Board Meeting.  Dave, a Vietnam Veteran, is very active in promoting Motorcycling Freedom on a national scale with the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, one of our premier lobbying groups defending Bikers' Rights in Washington.  Dave will be assisting Charlie Williams ABATE's Communications Director, in representing the MRF in our state, and will also be serving on the MRF Board as Webmaster.  You'll be able to check out his handiwork at: www.mrf.org  I look forward to interacting with Dave and other MRF members at the MRF's annual Meeting Of The Minds in Indianapolis, and I'll give you an update of how that went in next month's issue of our newsletter.  As a heads-up, one of the issues we're addressing at that meeting will be New Jersey Sen. Lautenburg's attempt to contact all Governors of Freedom Of Choice States in the interest of promoting Mandatory Helmet Laws.  Obviously he's not forgetting being rebuffed after his attempt to enact Helmet Law legislation on a national scale, so we need to be continually vigilant against assaults on our Liberties.  We just might need to enlist the aid of our own Sen. Jim Inhofe to head him off again!  Another MRF issue which all bike customizers MUST check out on the MRF website is the EPA's Letter of Guidance for aftermarket motorcycle engine emissions certification.  It represents a compromise which, while not as liberal as Bikers would like, allows the aftermarket motorcycle industry a great deal more freedom than the original EPA proposal did.  While I'm speaking of the MRF, they, along with NCOM, the AMA and other organizations, will be putting on valuable seminars at this year's Fifteenth Annual Mid-South M.I.L.E., October 27-29 at the Clarion Hotel in Springfield, MO.  The Lakes Area Chapter should be finishing up their State basket creation in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait to see how awesome it's going to be, but we still need non-perishable Made In Oklahoma products to fill it with.  Last Call--PLEASE donate items at the October Board Meeting on the 14th, or bring them with you to Missouri.  I sincerely hope for a good turnout of Oklahomans at this year's M.I.L.E., and very much look forward to seeing you there!

 

  It's important that we start looking ahead to next year's Legislative Session early, in that we need to line up legislative authors and sponsors before the holidays, and because we don't hold a December Board Meeting due to the Holiday Season.  I mentioned last month the importance of getting Title 47 ironed out regarding how many headlights and what kind of auxiliary lighting can be run on motorcycles, and we're going to focus on that.  While we're on this, I want to mention that some municipalities are ticketing bikes for running blue neon or auxiliary lights, and that law enforcement officials are acting within their rights on this, as Title 47 prohibits blue lighting, but permits other colors, such as red or orange.  Just because someone has been running equipment for a long time without getting a ticket doesn't mean the equipment isn't illegal.  Check out the statute and be aware before you run specific items if you're not sure.  ABATE also intends to support "Dead Red" Legislation, which will allow motorcycles that don't trigger a light to turn green to proceed through an intersection after stopping and determining it to be safe to proceed.  We also want to see legislation passed next year that will prohibit use of hand-held cell phones while driving.  We've had far too many motorcyclists, in Oklahoma and elsewhere, killed and injured by inattentive motorists yakking on cell phones, including Jeff Smith, who was our ABATE NW #69 Chapter Vice President.  Personally, I'd like to see such legislation named in his honor.  I've received negative feedback from other Rights Activists about passing legislation on this, claiming that it violates Freedom of Choice.  I don't consider actions which place the lives of others on the road in jeopardy as upholding "Freedom".  I've been reminded of the time-honored ABATE slogan, "Education, Not Legislation", which I still consider valid.  However, I'm also aware of the slogan, "I'm sick and tired of my Brothers and Sisters having to die for America's "Right" to drive stupid!", and I consider that one valid as well.  Sure, there are a lot of distracting actions people perform in their cars which increase the risk of accidents, but using cell phones while driving is one of the riskiest, as well as one of the most obvious.  Maybe this pursuit is a waste of time, with Jaggers' Law coming online in November--let me know what you think.  You can also count on ABATE to continue to agitate for funding to support the State-Sponsored Rider Education Program, and to fight discrimination based on riding motorcycles or wearing motorcycling gear.  We're going to have a tremendous opportunity to discuss all these important items at the 2007 ABATE State General Membership Meeting on Saturday, January 13, and it'll be in a different location from what we're used to.  The Great Plains Of Altus Chapter of ABATE has volunteered to host this event at the Best Western Hotel in Altus, OK, so we're coordinating with Chapter President Paul "Bullboy" Cohn on this to support his Chapter and make this a productive and successful occasion for all ABATE members.  Put it on your calendar, and I'll look forward to seeing all of you there!  I'll also give you advance word on when we're hosting our 2007 ABATE Legislative Breakfast at the State Capitol Fourth Floor Rotunda in February, where we'll start lobbying these issues, when I get the date confirmed.  Also, ABATE will continue to enjoy the support of the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs, which has renewed its Diamond-Level Sustaining Membership for 2007--many thanks to the Confederation and its member groups for keeping active in the Freedom Fight!

 

  Well, that'll wrap it up for now, but before I take my leave for this month, here's a heads-up.  Apparently, a number of motorcyclists have been getting hassled in Meeker, OK for running aftermarket pipes and supposed noise violations.  I find that ironic since there have been a number of Meeker cops enjoying Biker Hospitality in the past at events like Sparks America (the Sparks Fall Event is coming up in late October, by the way--Tony Ward, the event's organizer, is a longtime supporter of Biker Freedom).  I'll remind folks that loud exhaust isn't a secondary offense, and Title 47 mentions that  motorcycle exhaust systems must be baffled.  Most people get ticketed for loud exhaust as the result of getting stopped for something else.  The major issue is: if a cop is going to address exhaust noise (as a primary offense), they have to measure the primary noise threshold (in decibels), and that can't be done without a meter.  Bottom line: if you get a noise ticket and the law enforcement official didn't use a meter, don't just knee-jerk pay it, but take it to court!  More often the cop won't show and the judge will throw it out, especially since there's no information on the ticket regarding the meter readout.  As with the lighting problem, this whole thing isn't about noise or safety anyway, it's about revenue generation (making money for the local municipality), especially with the Fiscal Year drawing to a close the beginning of October.  I also want to remind everybody that Tuesday, November 7 will be an important Election Day, and all of you need to get registered to vote if you're not yet, research the issues and vote for candidates who will defend Freedom and improve our Quality of Life, both in Oklahoma and Washington DC.  With term-limits and retirements, we'll need to make a bunch of new friends in the State Legislature.  Some of our enemies are gone as well, like the Senator who advanced the prohibition against kids riding ATVs.  You can get information on legislators' voting records by taking a look at http://www.vote_smart.org   I also want to thank in advance Holly Swinford, ABATE's Political Director, for the hard work she does every year about this time as a volunteer, laying the groundwork for us to "come out swinging" in defense of Motorcycling Freedom during the next Legislative Session.  Some of the Chapters are donating funds to help her with expenses, as is the State Organization, and believe me, it's money well spent! 

 

  Tiger's Tip O' The Month:  When you're out there, don't assume anything, and always expect everything!  I was heading east through McAlester on Hwy. 270 on my way to the Sept. Oklahoma Confederation Of Clubs meeting.  That highway is divided by a median before you get to U.S. 69, and before I got there, I saw a white van heading toward me on the wrong side of the road.  This was at 1:00PM in broad daylight!  You don't have time to attempt to rationalize the irrational--I had just enough time to check right, determine it was clear and get in the right lane.  The funniest part was (after the fact), I made eye contact with the driver, and he was completely oblivious!  It's not even worth flipping a guy like that off.  I don't focus much on the drivers much anyway--I'm just looking to avoid occupying the same space at the same time with two-ton pieces of steel!  I could only hope that he didn't get in a head-on and take out some innocent further down the road behind me.  Also, please don't forget your riding fundamentals.  Anyone who's lived in Oklahoma for any length of time knows how windy it can get around here.  If you're riding side-by-side at highway speeds on a gusty day, you're just asking for trouble, and we've had fatality wrecks because of this already this year.  Taking the Experienced Rider Course periodically can familiarize you again with these life-saving fundamentals--spend the money and take the time!  As I close, I want to honor the memory of Darryl "Rooster" Coffey, from the Satan Brothers M/C and a longtime member of ABATE.  Rooster was killed Labor Day Weekend by an inattentive driver who ran off the road and hit him while his bike was disabled and a Good Samaritan had pulled off to help him--another innocent victim of far too many irresponsible motorists out there not looking out for others.  Rooster was a righteous member of our Motorcycling Community, and will be sorely missed--Ride Free Forever!  Please remember Rooster's family in your thoughts and prayers.  Incidentally, the helpful motorist was also hit, and is in Critical Condition at the OU Trauma Center.  Thanks for listening, take care of each other, Ride Safely, Sober and Aware, and I'll see you on the Road.  Happy Halloween, all--enjoy the smell of wood smoke on the Fall evenings, and look out for the ghosts and goblins (and the scarier monsters which can hurt you), as you ride by the light of the Hunters Moon!