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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.

Protect your right to ride! Volunteering is easier than you think. To learn how you can help, visit us at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Get Involved.

Sign up and stay informed: AMA's electronic Action Alerts and News & Notes keep you up-to-date on hot topics, news affecting the motorcycling community and opportunities to communicate with your elected officials. By signing up to receive AMA Action Alerts, you will be notified by e-mail when and how you can make a difference on important issues. Click here to see the most recent AMA Action Alerts, and click here to sign up.

In addition to signing up for AMA Action Alerts, you can sign up to receive the monthly electronic edition of AMA News & Notes. AMA News & Notes keeps motorcyclists apprised of rights-related issues and events around the world. Click here and check the "Sign me up for AMA's Government Relations News & Notes" box at the bottom of the page.

Annual Motorcyclist Advisory Council survey launched. The Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) to the Federal Highway Administration has made recommendations to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and his predecessors on various topics, including items for the federal highway appropriations bill and encouraging the use of motorcycles as a form of congestion relief. Of special significance was the creation and approval of the yearly Motorcyclist Road Conditions Survey.

The purpose of the survey is to better communicate to the MAC, road construction engineers, and transportation safety officials the specific needs of motorcyclists that should be considered when developing new roadways or altering existing routes.

You can access the survey at http://tinyurl.com/ykbqsr6

The AMA is reminding riders that they may be eligible for a federal tax deduction on their 2009 taxes if they bought a new motorcycle last year. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- a landmark $787 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed into law in February 2009 -- provides a deduction for state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of qualified new vehicles from Feb. 17 through Dec. 31, 2009. Qualified new vehicles include street and dual-sport motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, cars, light trucks and motor homes.

To read the Internal Revenue Service "Questions and Answers" about the deduction, go to www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211310,00.htmlfor more info.

Alabama: Senate Joint Resolution 120, offered by Sen. Larry Dixon (R-Montgomery), urges the Alabama Department of Transportation to direct that all available roadside traffic advisory signage display the legend "Watch for Motorcycles" throughout the month of May 2010, unless needed for other advisories or urgent messages.

Phoenix, Ariz.: The sanitation truck driver who ran into a group of motorcyclists stopped at a stoplight in Phoenix on March 25-killing four of them and injuring five others-has been arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the crash, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

Police arrested truck driver Michael Jakscht, 46, on April 6 and booked him on four counts of manslaughter, five counts of aggravated assault, and seven counts of endangerment.

Initial toxicology tests on blood drawn from Jakscht on the day of the crash show he had the illegal drug methamphetamine in his system, according to police. He could face an additional charge of impaired driving, police said.

"We again express our condolences on behalf of the AMA and its members to the families of those killed, and hope for a full recovery for those injured," Moreland said. "We will continue to watch this case closely."

Full story and details can be found at: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1878

Bakersfield, Calif.: The Forest Service will host an informational event to educate and inform riders on Saturday April 17th from 10 a.m. until 12 noon and again from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Valley Cycle and Motorsports, located at 3917 Buck Owens Blvd. There will be a voluntary sound check as well as Tread Lightly!® information and displays. Riders are encouraged to bring their motorcycles and ATV's. For more information, call (661) 245-3731 EXT. 241

Colorado: The Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign was presented by an anti-access group to U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) on March 30. The proposal would designate 244,000 acres of public land in Colorado as federal Wilderness. These new designations would be in addition to 3.5 million acres already designated as Wilderness in Colorado.

Because Polis is expected to introduce related legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, the AMA is asking all motorcyclists and off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts to share their concerns over latest effort to inappropriately designate your public lands as Wilderness.

The quickest and most effective way to contact your representative is to call. You can find contact information for your elected officials at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Issues & Legislation. Enter your zip code in the "Find your Officials" box. A pre-written e-mail also is also available to send to your representative by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.

Illinois: House Bill 4580, authored by Rep. William Black (R-Danville), would require the Secretary of State to immediately revoke the license, permit, or driving privileges of any vehicle operator convicted of any traffic offense that caused or contributed to a crash resulting in the death of a person.

Indiana: ABATE of Indiana requested and supported Senate Bill 31, introduced by Sen. Philip Boots (R-Crawfordsville), to change the permissible height of motorcycle handlebars from not more that fifteen inches above the level of the operator's seat or saddle to not higher than the shoulders of the operator when seated. In spite of Indiana's short session this year, the bill received strong support from legislators and was signed into law by Indiana's motorcycling governor, Mitch Daniels, on March 12. The new law becomes effective July 1, 2010.

Louisiana: Senate Bill 598, introduced by Sen. Yvonne Dorsey (D-Baton Rouge), would require every "off-road vehicle operator" to complete a safety course and carry a safety certificate with them while riding. The bill would also require riders under 12 years of age to wear helmets. The text of SB-598 is available on the Rights page of AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

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.

Montana: In March, a federal court ruled that the Lewis and Clark National Forest Travel Management Plan violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Montana Wilderness Study Act (MWSA). The ruling is a significant victory for motorized recreation, as the plan would have reduced motorized access to the forest by over 50 percent. The Russell Country Sportsmen, Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association, Great Falls Snowmobile Club, Meagher County Little Belters, Treasure State Alliance, Motorcycle Industry Council, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and Blue Ribbon Coalition filed the lawsuit. More information is available in the News section of AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

New Hampshire: House Bill 1162, which would have required all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets and House Bill 1261, which would have required all motorcycles built after December 31, 1982 to be equipped with stock exhaust systems, failed in action on the House floor. Both bills were authored by Rep. Judy Day (D-North Hampton) and were unanimously deemed "inexpedient to legislate" by the House Transportation Committee. HB-1261

was defeated 267-28 in a floor vote while HB-1162 died when the House adopted the consent calendar of February 17.

Ohio: House Bill 204, sponsored by Rep. Tom Letson (D-Warren), would clarify restrictions placed on those motorcycle operators with a valid temporary instruction permit or temporary instruction permit identification card and would authorize the angled parking of motorcycles. Current law requires all motorcycles to park within one foot of and parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway.

Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is launching a new Motorcycle Safety Media Campaign, "Live Free Ride Alive," in hopes of reducing the number of injuries and deaths as a result of motorcycle crashes. With an interactive website that offers innovative tools and information, riders are asked to share their stories, pledge to "be one less" statistic by committing to avoid risky behavior, request "Live Free Ride Alive" motorcycle license plates, opportunities to schedule a free motorcycle safety training course and more. Visit the campaign website to watch or submit your own documentary at http://www.livefreeridealive.com.

Tennessee: Senate Bill 2649, sponsored by Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville), enhances consumer protection laws by including on-highway motorcycles in the state's lemon law coverage for motor vehicles. Signed by Governor Phil Bredesen on March 17, the new law becomes effective July 1.

Utah: In March, the state house passed a resolution opposing additional national monuments in Utah. The action, sponsored by Rep. Michael Noel (R-Kanab), was in response to a leaked U.S. Interior Department list of potential monuments - two of which would be in Utah.

Similarly, U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) introduced legislation that would require congressional approval of additional monument designation. Currently, the President can unilaterally designate national monuments.

France: With bikers blocking the roads, the French authorities are apparently backing off of plans to prohibit lane filtering (splitting). A national protest on March 13, 2010 was attended by 40,000 motorcyclists, who expressed their anger at government proposals to ban filtering through traffic during high congestion on the roads. The government announced their intention to treat motorbikes and scooters like cars, i.e. prevent bikes from overtaking cars in traffic jams and stay stuck behind, like cars do. Furthermore, bikers were advised to take the public transport if they were not happy, which is precisely what they did in a few cities and towns all over France, bringing the network to a complete stop.

Source: http://ukfrancebikers.com/2010/03/14/frenc...ngry-than-ever/

You could win a trip to the Yamaha Champions School -- and write about your experience in the pages of American Motorcyclist magazine.

In partnership with Yamaha and the Yamaha Champions School, American Motorcyclist magazine, the official magazine of the AMA, is giving away a free trip to the school, based at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, and the opportunity to write a story detailing what you learned and what you thought of the experience. In addition, you'll have a chance to star in your own Internet video in your quest to go viral.

Interested? You must be an AMA member and have a valid motorcycle license. The entry deadline is May 20. For more information go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com. For info on the Yamaha Champions School, see MillerMotorsportsPark.com/learn/motorcycle-school.

Full story and details can be found at: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1834

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