AMA News & Notes

[KTMrad 508]

April 2010

AMA News & Notes is a monthly publication compiled and edited by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Government Relations Department. Designed to inform motorcyclists of rights-related issues and events around the world, News & Notes welcomes your input. Suggestions and editorial contributions can be sent to AMA Legislative Assistant Sheila Andrews by e-mail at sandrews@ama-cycle.org.

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Washington, D.C.: USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell recently announced a series of events to provide opportunities for public discussion on the development of a new Forest Service Land and Resource Management Planning Rule (planning rule). The Forest Service will host a national science forum, three national roundtables and nine regional roundtables.

Additional information, including specific meeting locations and dates, can be found at

http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule. Webcasting may also be available for selected meetings, please check the website for full details.

Also in an effort to encourage widespread participation, the Forest Service is using new media tools in conjunction with the public meetings. Visit http://blogs.usda.gov/usdablogs/planningrule to see the Forest Service's web-based planning rule blog.

Washington, D.C.: Bipartisan condemnation was swift following the publication by the AMA and others of an internal Department of Interior (DOI) document that revealed the agency's plan to designate without public debate as many as 13 million acres of public and private land in the West as National Monument areas.

According to DOI documents obtained by the AMA, the administration is considering new National Monument designations totaling 13 million acres in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Interior Department spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff told the Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune that the documents that created the uproar were simply the result of a "brainstorming session" at the department.

"It remains incumbent upon the government to responsibly protect our lands for the people, not from the people," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "And that means proposals for land-use designations must be fairly debated. This proposal is not only an end-run around Congress, but also around the individuals and communities who would be directly impacted by this type of administrative maneuver."

Source: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1782

Washington, D.C.: The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations, is pleased to announce its 2010 achievement awards to recognize outstanding trail projects funded by the national Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The awards will be presented in Washington, D.C. during Great Outdoors Week 2010, June 7-13, as part of the Coalition's ongoing effort to build awareness and appreciation of this highly successful program, which has greatly enhanced the quantity and quality of trail experiences available to the public. The awards ceremony will be held on Capitol Hill, and members of Congress will be encouraged to join the ceremonies to honor the outstanding achievements of their constituents.

Award winners will be selected from projects nominated by public agencies, trail administrators or other project sponsors. Projects must be completed in order to receive an award. In addition, projects completed before 1998 are ineligible. Project award categories include: construction and design; maintenance and rehabilitation; education and communication initiatives; accessibility enhancement; multiple-use management or "corridor sharing;" environment/wildlife compatibility; and use of youth conservation/service corps. For additional information and a nomination form visit: http://www.americantrails.org/rtp/crtawards.html

Hollister, Calif: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) extends comment period on Clear Creek Draft Plan. The public comment period for the draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement has been extended by 45 days by the BLM. The Clear Creek Management Area in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties has a long history of public recreational use.

The draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement was released in December 2009 with a 90 day comment period. Three public meetings were also held in Coalinga, Hollister and Santa Clara, CA in January 2010 to gather comments. The initial 90-day comment period ended on March 5, 2010. With the new extension comments must be postmarked or received by April 19, 2010.

Source: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister.html

Grass Valley, Calif.: BUB Enterprises has received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), allowing the sale in California of their catalytic converter equipped exhaust for Harley Davidson motorcycles. This allows replacement of OEM exhaust with BUB True Dual or TDX headers and BUB catalyst equipped mufflers. These exhaust systems carry up to a full five-year emissions warranty when installed on new or qualifying mileage motorcycles.

This represents a new milestone in the aftermarket exhaust business as the executive order process for motorcycle critical emission components was only approved in October 2009 and BUB Enterprises is the first aftermarket motorcycle exhaust company to produce compliant exhaust.

Source: http://www.bubent.com/

Utah: Senate Bill 106, which would have required all motorcycle exhaust systems meet the federal labeling requirement (40 CRF part 205) has been removed from consideration for the remainder of the 2010 legislative session.

Originally introduced by Senator Patricia Jones and passed by the transportation committee, it would have required all vehicles to be equipped with an exhaust system that is "installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle and is not modified; or meets specifications equivalent to the muffler installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle and is not modified."

Opponents of the bill pointed out it would force many older vehicles off the road either due to a lack of parts or prohibitive costs for original OEM equipment. Likewise the bill did not provide law enforcement or riders with a clear standard, and would have forced them to make subjective judgments on whether or not an exhaust system was in fact compliant.

Fairfield County, Ohio: Former American Motorcyclist Association Board Chairman Dal Smilie was sentenced Monday, Feb. 22, to eight months in prison and two years probation for embezzling more than $100,000 through fraudulent travel reimbursement claims submitted to the AMA over a period of years ending in 2007.

Smilie pleaded guilty to felony counts of grand theft by deception and of receiving stolen property in the Fairfield County, Ohio, courtroom of Judge Chris Martin. He was taken directly into custody to begin serving a sentence that could see him request early release after 30 days. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.

Source: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1775

Nevada: Assembly Bill 3, if approved by the senate as proposed, would allow monies from the rider training program to be raided as part of an ongoing effort to attempt to balance the state's budget. This user-funded program has served thousands of riders since its establishment by the legislature in 1991 and works closely with the state driver's license division, motorcycle clubs and groups, law enforcement, the media, the community college system, (which primarily conduct the training classes) and traffic safety professionals statewide.

These groups work cooperatively to raise awareness and reduce the incidence of motorcycle crashes and fatalities statewide. However if approved by the senate as proposed, it would allow the monies in this important program to be reallocated to other non specified purposes.

Full story: http://capwiz.com/amacycle/state/main/?sta...iew=myofficials

Florida: House Bill 875, sponsored by Rep. Greg Evers (R-Milton) and Senate Bill 1918, sponsored by Sen. Dave Aronberg (D-Fort Myers), would enhance penalties for those who commit a moving violation that causes serious bodily injury or death to a person operating or riding in/on a motor vehicle or motorcycle. For causing serious bodily injury, the bills call for a fine of not less than $500, a minimum of 30 days incarceration, a mandatory driver improvement course and revocation of the offender's driver's license for not less than 30 days. In those cases resulting in death, the bills seek a fine of not less than $1,000, a minimum of 90 days incarceration, mandatory attendance in an advanced driver improvement course and revocation of the offender's driver's license for not less than 1 year.

Iowa: House Bill 2351, introduced by Rep. Geri D. Huser (D-Altoona), would require the department of transportation to feature the message "Watch for Motorcycles" on all electronic message boards on Iowa's interstate highways for a four-day period during the month of May 2010, except when an emergency or other situation requires the use of a message board. Also introduced by Rep. Huser is House Concurrent Resolution 105, which seeks to designate the month of May 2010 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and encourage all Iowa motorists to strive to improve motorcycle safety in this state.

Hawaii: After more than four years of work the Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Association has been granted a permit to operate an off-highway vehicle park on 30 state-owned acres in Sand Island. The park will be Oahu's second legal public riding facility. At this time the park is only open to BMX riders and RC car enthusiasts but plans for dirtbike and ATV tracks are in the works. For more info see www.sandboxhawaii.com.

Illinois: House bill 5029, which would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or off-highway motorcycle (OHM), was scheduled to be heard in February in the House Elementary & Secondary Education Committee; however, the bill was reassigned to the Mandates Subcommittee.

The text and status of HB 5029 and a prewritten response are available on the "Rights" page of AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Kentucky: At the request of the Kentucky Motorcycle Association (KMA), House Resolution 215, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Robert Kerr (R-Taylor Mill) and Senate Resolution 170, sponsored by Perry B. Clark (D-Louisville) recognize May 2010 as Motorcycle Awareness Month and urge all Kentuckians to share the road and keep motorcycle safety in mind as they travel the Commonwealth's streets and highways.

Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) announced on March 2nd that four additional insurance companies have agreed to refund about $9 million in motorcycle insurance premium overcharges; this news comes less than two months after three insurance companies agreed to refund $11.1 million to motorcycle policy holders in the Bay State. Complete details are available at MMA's website at http://www.massmotorcycle.org and from the Attorney General of Massachusetts' website at http://tiny.cc/massinsure.

Maryland: House Bill 1282, authored by Del. Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore) and Senate Bill 492, authored by Sen. John C. Astle (D-Annapolis), would provide exemptions to the motorcycle helmet requirement for those operators or occupants of three-wheeled enclosed-cab motorcycles or operators of two-wheeled motorcycles who have been licensed for at least two years or completed a motorcycle rider safety course. Adult passengers on two-wheeled motorcycles would be able to choose as well if the operator is exempted.

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AMA Government Relations News & Notes is a monthly service compiled and edited by the AMA Government Relations Staff to keep motorcyclists informed of happenings around the world. We welcome your news & views. Please submit all material to Sheila Andrews, Legislative Assistant, 101 Constitution Ave., NW Suite 800W, Washington, DC 20001; fax (202) 742-4304 or e-mail to sandrews@ama-cycle.org.