Sooner State ABATE Sentinel - Volume 3 Issue 2
OKLAHOMA Sooner State ABATE , Inc ., is the representative of the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs as a Member Organization of NCOM , and is coordinating with the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office for accountability of SAFETEA-LU grant money for varied Rider Awareness programs . We just secured the Governor ’ s Proclamation designating May 2017 as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month . Rider Education Classes at the newly-established Range in Muskogee began in March 2017 . The February 16 , 2017 M . E . A . L . ( Motorcyclists Educating and Affecting Legislation ) Breakfast at the State Capitol enjoyed a successful turnout , and the OKCOC is working with SSA for the next event , taking place on May 18 . SB496 , our second attempt at passing Anti-Profiling Legislation , was delayed due to a political scandal resulting in the resignation of its principal author . The bill will be carried over to the 2018 Session . Bills to clarify and authorize aftermarket and auxiliary / LED lighting , HB1173 and SB53 were consolidated , passed out of both houses May 3 , and will be signed by the Governor . HB1550 , authorizing affixed locking Tour-Paks as legal to store concealed firearms , also passed . SB44 , outlawing use of all hand-held communications devices while driving , unfortunately died in committee . HB1258 would ’ ve allowed Drivers Licenses for Illegal Aliens . OKCOC members worked with the bill ’ s authors to re-write the bill to allow “ legal ” vs . “ illegal ” Aliens to obtain OK Drivers Licenses , as opposed to “ Citizen ” vs . “ Non-Citizen ”. The REAL-ID Bill was signed into Law March 2 . OK Citizens can keep their old-style Drivers Licenses if concerned about privacy , or can go with the new REAL-ID Compliant licenses allowing them to pass through airports in lieu of a Passport . OKCOC programs are vibrant , including Christian Unity , OK Vets Connection , the U . S . Defenders Program , and the Coalition of Independent Riders ( C . O . I . R .) for our state . All these programs continue to identify with Sooner State ABATE . The OKOC is still negotiating through our Corporate Counsel with the OK State Fair to eliminate Anti-Biker Discrimination . We should get an updated ruling well before the State Fair ’ s start in September . The 2017 NCOM Region 2 Conference is planned for November 10-12 , at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City , and will include the NCOM Board Meeting , Conference Seminars , Veterans ’ Day Ride to the State Capitol , and Confederation of Clubs Forum . Check out the OK COC Website at : www . okcoc . net , the Central OK District Website at : www . codabate . org and the SSA State Website at : www . soonerstateabate . com for more information on Oklaho-
NCOM REGION 2 REPORT • May 2017 ma issues .
KANSAS ABATE is working more closely with the Kansas Confederation of Clubs on Biker Freedom issues . Governor Brownback again signed the MayMotorcycle Awareness Month Proclamation for 2017 . Kansas high-interest bills include : SB99 and HB2010 , prohibiting using any hand-held communications devices while driving ( still in committee ), and HB2194 , revising motorcycle licensing and fees ( pushed to 2018 ). The Red Light Bill , a bill to establish Cable Barriers and a Safety Corridor Bill are being considered in committee this 2017 Session , as are bills to allow “ Lane Filtering ” for over 10MPH . HB2174 ( Disabled License Plates ) andHB2200 ( limited alcohol sales in grocery stores ), were passed . HB2202 ( License Renewal Fee increase ), HB2188 ( Right-of-Way Bill ), and HB2104 ( Minimum Insurance increase ) died in committee . ABATE is planning its annual Labor Day Bike Rally Sept . 1-4 , 2017 at Paradise Point , Perry Lake . This event is still the oldest continuously held ABATE State Rally in the Nation . Obtain more ABATE of Kansas information at : www . abateks . org
NEBRASKA LB368 , the Freedom of Choice Bill regarding helmet wear for riders over 21 has essentially died . Unfortunately , after the bill was killed in cloture March 14--it could not be resurrected . ABATE is faced with the choice of advancing similar legislation in the 2018 Session or attempting an amendment to other legislation . Please go to www . abateofne . com for more information on ABATE ’ s activities . Law Enforcement continues to receive grant money to pull over motorcyclists at Helmet Compliance Checkpoints and check their helmets both for a DOT sticker on the outside and a DOT certification label inside , despite opposition efforts . If a helmet doesn ’ t have both , riders risk a fine , helmet confiscation , or motorcycle towing . This continues to pose a hazard for cross-state traffic headed to Sturgis .
MISSOURI ABATE for Missouri continues to function as the Legislative Liaison for the Missouri COC & I . Missouri Bikers again are attempting to get Freedom of Choice for helmet wear approved , and are making progress with HB576 , which passed out of Senate Transportation Committee April 27 to the delight of Bikers at the Capitol who lobbied the bill . The Bill ’ s language was also amended to SB8 in the House on April 25 , and these bills are waiting for the full Houses . ABATE for MO , MOCOC & I and FORR-MO are working hard on this issue . Hearings are coming up for Drivers Education Funding / School Classes ( HB354 ) and Right-Of-Way Penalty Increase ( HB539 ) Bills . ABATE and MCOC & I still engage in productive dialogue with Missouri Highway Patrol on eliminating Motorcyclist Profiling . Anti-Profiling ( SB424 ) and Lane-Filtering ( SB420 ) Bills await hearings in the Senate . Other bills include HB293 ( No Texting while Driving ) and SB222 ( Clarifying LED Lighting Specifications ). See ABATE for Missouri ’ s Facebook Page for additional Legislative Information . Governor Nixon has designated May as Motorcycle Awareness Month on a continuing basis . ABATE-MO got this passed last year as a continued statute for the future . ABATE for MO is expanding upon LED Lighting ( all colors ), and Vertical License Plates . ABATE and MOCOC & I continue to fight “ NO COLORS ” policies . Finally , “ Tiger Mike ” Revere of NCOM was elected Chairman of the Mid-South M . I . L . E . Rights Seminars Organization , begun 26 years ago in Missouri . NCOM routinely takes part along with other National Organizations such as the MRF and AMA , will present a Veterans ’ Rights and Benefits Seminar this year . Check out www . midsouthmile . org for the 2017 event planned for October 27-29 in Hot Springs , Arkansas .
IOWA No significant issues are being addressed in the 2017 Session , with ABATE continuing to foster a strong working relationship with state legislators . ABATE of Iowa continues to visit Washington , DC , particularly focusing on eliminating the possibility of Federal funding forMotorcycle-Only Checkpoints . Iowans will participate in the Bikers on the Beltway trip , which will again take place in May , 2017 . The 28th Heartland S . T . E . A . M . ( Seminar to Educate and Motivate ) Conference was held April 7-9 , 2017 in Sioux City , with Freedom Activists from seven states , including Iowa and Nebraska , in attendance . The Conference featured “ Double D ” of the NCOM LTF . ABATE of Iowa is still working with Iowa DOT as part of its ongoing role-model “ Share the Road ” program . Check out their website at : www . abateiowa . org ABATE of Iowa ’ s 2017Freedom Rally will be held June 30-July 4 in Algona , with ABATE hosting one of the largest Nationwide rally turnouts ever , and their Iowa S . T . E . A . M . was held November , 2016 in Marshalltown . A large number of Iowa Bikers continue to network with their legislators , and are keeping vigilant .
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