you decide which pipes are too loud, which handlebars
are too high, can you install your license plate vertically,
or use auxiliary lighting? These are all issues that should
be addressed legislatively. If something is not stated as
legal, does that make it illegal?
Lastly, did you realize you’re paying an extra $4.00 every
year when you register your motorcycle? That money
goes to the Motorcycle Operators Safety Training (MOST)
program. The money was initially intended to make rider
training more affordable (as in a subsidy) and more
accessible. Since 1990, that’s what our money was being
used for. As of July 1, 2015, that subsidy has gone away
and the money is being used to “administer” the program.
Are you concerned how MOST is spending your money?
I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with all these issues that
should be of concern to all motorcycle enthusiasts. Next
time I’ll go into some National issues, such as E-15 fuel,
the National Highway Bill, The Driver Privacy Act, and
Vision Zero.
So what can you do to protect you freedoms and ride
your bike the way you want to? Obviously, the first thing I’m
going to say is, “Join ABATE”. As a non-profit, grass-roots
organization, our strength is in our membership. The more
members we have, the stronger our voice is down at the
Capitol. If this article didn’t convince you of the importance
of joining a SMRO, go to our website (abateofcolo.org) and
read more about our legislative accomplishments. You can
join ABATE at our website too!
Of course, you don’t need to belong to ABATE to have
your voice heard by your legislators. And, there are plenty
of other issues besides motorcycle concerns that affect
your everyday life, such as, health care, education issues
and taxes. There were over 600 bills introduced in the
Colorado legislature last year, many of which had a direct
bearing on your life. Don’t you think you should have a
say in the lawmaking process? Your legislators cannot be
experts on every topic introduced in all these bills. They
actually encourage their constituents to voice their opinions
and “educate” them on the effect of certain legislation on
individuals. My point is, get involved with legislation!
Now that we know there are a lot of issues affecting
our ideas of how we want to ride our motorcycles and
that there’s a SMRO fighting to keep our freedom to ride,
the next step is up to you. GET INVOLVED! Try it, you
just might have some fun!
In my next article, I’ll mention the National Issues of
concern to motorcyclists and more details on how to
become involved. The 2016 Colorado General Assembly
will be in session by the next issue, so I’ll give a brief
update on that also. I didn’t even mention ABATE’s Rider
Ed. Program or Operation-Save-A-Life. I might even
include some amusing anecdotes and pictures from a
62,000 mile road trip my wife and I took through all 48
contiguous states.
I’d like to thank Thunder Roads magazine for allowing
me to inform Colorado motorcycle enthusiasts about
legislative issues affecting our lifestyle. Remember the
old adage, “You don’t know what you don’t know”! Stump
Legislative Affairs Officer
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
January 2016
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 7