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About
SCVR
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Minnesota
Legislative Coordinator Jeff Bradt Contact your State Representative Legislative Update Minnesota Failure to Yield Bill
(H.F.2878/ S.F. 3039). This bill is an important piece of legislation
that will serve to protect everyone on the roads by increasing the
penalties for careless driving that results in a fatality. SCVR and
ABATE Minnesota have been actively supporting the bill. Unfortunately,
our lobbyist has told us that the bill probably won’t get a
committee hearing in the house this year because of the short session,
the press of other business, and the indifference of the committee
chair (Rep. Mullery). Without a hearing, the bill can’t be
presented to the house for passage. The good news is that we are in an
excellent position to get ‘er done next year. The bill
currently has 13 house sponsors: Bigham; Garofalo; Morrow; Winkler;
Benson; Dittrich; Brynaert; Kohls; Seifert; Heidgerken; Olin; Peterson;
and Walker. In the Senate, the bill was referred to the judiciary
committee on February 25th. It currently has three sponsors: Moua,
Higgins and Betzold. Biker Day at the capitol on February
27th. Hundreds of bikers converged on the capitol to
remind legislators that we are paying attention to what happens there
and that we remain opposed to mandatory helmet laws. SCVR was well
represented. Legislators know who we are and many went out of their way
to let us know of their support. As a first-timer to the event, I can
tell you was easy to do and very worthwhile. Office of Traffic Safety.
SCVR member Ken Albrecht and I met with Cheri Martin, the Department of
Safety’s Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. We thanked
her for the Department of Public Safety’s willingness to
partner with motorcycle rights organizations and to focus on our areas
of agreement. She seemed genuinely interested in learning about the
SCVR’s perspective on helmet law and made a point of stating
that the Traffic Safety office has no intention in pursuing a mandatory
helmet law. HIPAA Technical Correction Bill.
The U.S. Congress is considering a bill (H.R. 1076/S. 616) that aims at
ending health care discrimination against individuals participating in
legal transportation and recreational activities such as motorcycling,
snowmobiling, skiing, horseback riding, and all-terrain vehicle riding.
A current loophole in Department of Health and Human Services'
insurance rule allows insurance companies to write policies that
exclude coverage for people who are injured while participating in
these activities. All SCVR members should contact their U.S. senators
and representatives and ask that they support the bill. More
information on the bill and a preformatted email to send to your
congressional representatives can be found at HYPERLINK
"http://www.amadirectlink.com/" www.amadirectlink.com . AMA Legislative Training.
I attended the legislative training conducted by the American
Motorcycle Association from Feb 23rd in Washington, D.C.. Following the
training, I met with legislative assistants for Senator Klobuchar,
Senator Coleman and Representative McCollum regarding the HIPAA
technical correction bill. Coleman is past sponsor of the bill and
Klobuchar’s legislative assistant used to work for the
senator who is the original author so they were both supportive of the
bill. Unfortunately, Representative McCollum’s legislative
assistant said Rep McCollum “doesn’t see it as her
issue.” If you’re one of her constituents, she
needs to hear from you on it (www.mccollum.house.gov). Legislative Developments Elsewhere Biker UNFRIENDLY Developments Last, but not least, the Ontario Human Rights Commission ruled in February that Baljinder Badesha, a devout Sikh, could not be ticketed for wearing a turban rather than a motorcycle helmet. So, if a mandatory helmet law ever passes in Minnesota, we may all have the option of wearing turbans instead!! State Rep.
Karla Bigham has introduced the house bill that would make
increase the penalty for fatal accidents that are a result of careless
driving. It increases the penalty to a gross misdemeanor stipulates
that the court may not stay the driver’s license revocation.
Full text below. If you get a chance, please thank Rep. Bigham for her
sponsorship of this bill. All Minnesota riders should contact their
state senators and representatives and ask for their support of this
bill. State Rep. Karla Bigham is also sponsoring a Wheelage tax exemption bill HF 3030 Progress in Drive
Toward Zero Deaths Tempered by Nearly 500 Deaths The
current 2006 death count is the lowest number of annual traffic deaths
recorded in the state since 1945. The 2005 preliminary death total was
542 at this time last year; the final 2005 traffic death count was 559.
The 2006 total reflects motorists (360), motorcyclists (64),
pedestrians (38), bicyclists (8), ATV operators (2), snowmobilers (2),
and motor scooter operator (1). The tally will rise as more reports are
received from police departments and county sheriffs. While
pedestrian deaths decreased slightly and bicyclist fatalities
increased, there were 64 motorcyclists’ deaths in 2006, six
more than 2005, continuing a decade-long state and national upward
trend. While motorcycles account for only 3 percent of registered
vehicles in Common
themes from previous years are expected to surface in analysis of last
year’s crash data according to The
significant decrease in traffic deaths is attributed in part to the Toward Zero Deaths program which combines
the resources of state and local agencies, county engineers and
community organizations to address traffic safety issues through the
“Four Es”: enforcement, engineering, education, and
emergency trauma care. While
acknowledging that the reduction in traffic deaths was significant,
Swanson warns against complacency. “Hundreds of families will
lose members next year by sudden, violent means — and this
should be intolerable to all Minnesotans. If we can help affect fewer
than 500 deaths in 2006, this coming year we must aim for 400 or
fewer.” Several
statewide enforcement efforts in 2006 yielded dramatic results. During
HEAT (highway enforcement of aggressive traffic), law enforcement
agencies stopped more than 88,000 vehicles and cited nearly 34,000
drivers for illegal speed. According to MnDOT data, there were fewer
vehicles traveling more than 10 miles over the posted speed limit both
in the metro and greater Seat
belt enforcement campaigns in May and October resulted in more than
19,000 seat belt citations. A three-week effort targeting impaired
drivers in August resulted in 2,500 DWI arrests. The number of DWIs
from a similar effort in December will be announced in January.
NightCAP, a federally funded program targeting the state’s 13
deadliest counties for impaired driving fatalities, netted nearly 2,800
DWIs as well as 17,000 other traffic citations. OTS officials
anticipate a record high of 40,000 DWI arrests in 2006. Relative
to vehicle occupants and their safety, 29-year-olds,
an age group disproportionately over-represented in traffic crashes and
deaths. Advertising
campaigns, public service announcements, and other outreach to the
public and motorists, including use of MnDOT’s changeable
message signs, supported the enforcement efforts. Preliminary
crash reports for December indicate 32 people died and 94 were
seriously injured. The deaths include 29 vehicle occupants and three
pedestrians. Of the crash deaths, 13 were 15- to 29-years
old. Deaths by
county include: five in Hennepin; four in Crow Wing; three in Chisago;
two in
Stay informed online at http://www.leg.state.mn.us. This will give you lot’s of general information concerning the schedule, tracking bills , finding your legislative district and representatives, and the details of the legislative process. Senate information---651-296-0504. House public information office 651-296-2146 , or 800--657-3550 for meeting schedules and publications. Recorded meeting times and daily agendas for committees call House- 651-296-9283, and Senate 651-296-8088. |
Wisconsin Legislative Coordinator Mike Deavey Contact your State Representative
Legislative Update Wisconsin July 2008
Hello my fellow Wisconsin motorcyclist. On the personal side I have been riding now for 43
years. I came from a state which carried a helmet law and I prefer
to ride without one. I joined the SCVR organization eight years ago and until
then, I thought my rights were a given. After
spending time as the SCVR Wisconsin Legislative Coordinator I see are rights are
not given to us but something we need to fight for. I also have learned that not
letting your opinion or voice be heard has just the same consequences as letting
our Legislature do it for us. We have the voice to make a difference.
If you have any questions about who your Legislative Representative are,
contact me at mdeavey@hotmail.com. Mike Deavey
With Ann Hraychuck With John Mertha With Herb Kohl |