BIKER NEWS BYTES
rolling thunder
final ride,
or
not?
C ompi l e d & E d it e d by B i l l B i s h ,
Nat io n al C oalit i o n o f
M otor cyc lis ts ( N C O M)
THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is
brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.)
and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM),
and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M.
Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident,
call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.
com.
LOUISIANA ENACTS LAW AGAINST
MOTORCYCLIST PROFILING
Louisiana has become the third state to pass
legislation to curtail the profiling of motorcyclists by
law enforcement, by unanimously approving House
Bill 141 in the state legislature (38-0 in the Senate
6/2/19 and 103-0 in the House 6/3/19), and the
biker anti-discrimination measure was signed into
law on June 11, 2019 by democrat Governor John Bel
Edwards.
Effective August 1, 2019, HB 141, “Provides
relative to motorcyclist profiling training for
peace officers,” by establishing the creation of a
“motorcyclist profiling awareness training program”
to include classroom or internet instruction “in the
current bias-recognition policing curriculum.”
Sponsored by Rep. Frankie Howard (R) at the
request of ABATE of Louisiana, with support from the
Louisiana Confederation of Clubs & Independents
as well as the National Council of Clubs and the
Motorcycle Profiling Project, the new LA law defines
“motorcyclist profiling” as “the arbitrary use of
the fact that an individual rides a motorcycle or
wears motorcycle related clothing or paraphernalia
as a factor in deciding to stop, question, take
enforcement action, arrest, or search an individual or
his motorcycle or motor vehicle.”
The Bayou State follows the states of Washington
(2011) and Maryland (2016) in passing similar
legislation, all by unanimous votes, and a bipartisan
federal anti-profiling bill currently awaits further
action in the U.S. House of Representatives (House
Resolution 255) after passing by unanimous consent
in the United States Senate (Senate Resolution 154)
late last year.
older who carry qualifying medical insurance
is currently sitting on the desk of Governor
Mike Parson (R) awaiting his signature. Parson
previously supported repeal as a member of the
state legislature.
Senate Bill 147 passed the Senate 21-12
on Thursday, May 16 and the House voted 94-
46 the following day to advance the omnibus
transportation package to the governor.
Missouri is currently in the minority among
states, as only 19 states and the District of
Columbia mandate the wearing of motorcycle
helmets by all riders. Repeal efforts have been
debated in the General Assembly for decades, and
twice before lawmakers had passed helmet law
repeal bills, in both 1999 and 2009, but couldn’t
overcome gubernatorial vetoes.
But now, with Republicans holding
hyper-majorities in both chambers and the
governorship, riders’ rights groups like ABATE for
Missouri and Freedom of Road Riders of Missouri
took advantage of the “perfect storm” to navigate
their bill through the Conservative-controlled
legislative agenda.
Gov. Parson has voted in favor of this issue in
the past, and according to the St. Joseph Post
newspaper, “nearly all stakeholders expect him
to sign it.”
NEBRASKA POLICE TARGET MOTORCYCLISTS
In a battle between bikers and cops, Nebraska
State Troopers are working with local law
enforcement this summer to put the brakes on
speeding motorcycles.
For the second year in a row, troopers will
conduct special enforcement operations to stop
speeding bikers, utilizing an $18,000 grant from
the Nebraska Department of Transportation
Highway Safety Office that will allow for aviation
support as well as more law enforcement on the
ground.
“Motorcycles have a unique ability to evade
law enforcement…(so) we’ll use resources like
helicopters to help out,” Nebraska State Patrol
Capt. Jason Scott told KMTV 3 NewsNow in
Omaha, adding that numerous citations have
been made so far and arrests have been made for
reckless driving and for flight to avoid arrest.
“We’ve been working with the county
attorney’s offices to make sure there’s a message
that’s sent here,” Capt. Scott said. “We’re not going
to tolerate the aggressive driving.”
RED LIGHT CAMERAS BANNED IN TEXAS
Drivers in Texas are about to be seeing less
red, as Governor Greg Abbott (R) has announced
that he has signed legislation that bans red
light cameras across the Lone Star State. House
Bill 1361, authored by Representative Jonathan
Stickland (R-Fort Worth), would prohibit the
use of “photographic traffic signal enforcement
MISSOURI HELMET LAW A SIGNATURE AWAY
FROM REPEAL
The Show-Me State may soon grant adult
motorcycle riders the freedom to choose whether
or not to wear helmets, as legislation to repeal their
mandatory motorcycle helmet law for those 18 and
30 Thunder Roads® Magazine LA/MS Gulf Coast | July 2019 | www.thunderroadslams.com
systems.”
Stickland told FOX7 the bill was motivated by “a
lot of reason,” including privacy concerns and the
right to due process.
The new law included a grandfather clause for
cities involved in red light camera contracts that
have yet to end, except if the contract includes a
provision allowing for state law to break it.
Ever since becoming legal in 2007, Texas
lawmakers have made attempts to turn the
cameras off that were unsuccessful until now,
according to the Star-Telegram. Red light cameras
have come under fire elsewhere recently, with at
least 7 other states trying to ban them.
WASHINGTON GOVERNOR SIGNS
MOTORCYCLE LIABILITY BILL
Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D) has signed
House Bill 1014, which is a motorcycle liability
insurance bill.
Previously, motorcycle operators across the
state were not required to be insured under
a motor vehicle liability policy, but HB 1014
sponsored by Rep. Bill Jenkin (R-Prosser) changes
this by requiring all motorcycle operators to be
insured under a motor vehicle liability policy or
the allowed equivalent according to the terms
required by current law.
“People are surprised to learn that motorcycle
operators are not required to have liability
insurance. My bill simply requires those operating
a motorcycle to meet the insurance requirements,
or equivalent for registered motor vehicles under
current law,” Rep. Jenkin told KEPRTV Action
News. “When someone gets property damage,
or in an accident, with an uninsured motorcyclist,
they are stuck filing a claim and potentially paying
a higher premium. Having motorcycles insured,
just like other vehicles, makes sense.”
Jenkin’s bill goes into effect 90-days after the
adjournment of the 2019 session.
GRASS CLIPPINGS AND MOTORCYCLES A
DEADLY MIX
A number of states and localities have come
to the realization that grass clippings on the
roadway are a danger to motorcyclists, and some
are taking steps to outlaw the roughage.
In Pennsylvania, Senator Camera Bartolotta
(R-Washington County) has proposed legislation
to protect motorcyclists by making it illegal to
throw grass clippings on the roadway during
mowing season, making the violation a fineable
offense much like littering. She says grass
clippings not only cause the surface of the
roadway to become extremely slippery, creating
a hazard to motorcycle riders and other drivers,
as well as presenting an environmental concern
by clogging storm drains and can make their way
into streams and cause pollution.
When riders complain to law enforcement,
their complaints are often dismissed as the
current law is not enforceable, but the senator’s
proposal to add two words “grass clippings” to the
law that makes throwing litter and other items on
the roadway an offense would fix that.
Her bill proposes fines of up to $300 for the
first offense and up to a $1,000 for subsequent
offenses, and would require the landowner to
remove the clippings from the roadway.
In Ohio, the city of Fremont says it will begin
ticketing people for blowing grass clippings
into the street, saying they pose a danger to
motorcyclists. City officials say dumping grass
clippings in the road is illegal under a city
ordinance regarding “placing injurious material
or obstruction in street,” and the city says its code
enforcer and police department will be paying
special attention to the issue throughout the
warmer months.
“Please make every effort to keep grass out of
our streets and keep Fremont safe for our friends
on two wheels!” the city says.
Meanwhile, an Illinois rider is dead after a crash
involving grass clippings on the road and losing
control of her motorcycle. Her husband, who
also lost control of his motorcycle, told the local
newspaper; “I would like something to be done
better than a $50 fine on grass clippings; it kills
people!” He has contacted his state representative
about increasing the penalty for making an
unnecessarily dangerous mess in the road from
trimming your lawn.
While some slippery hazards like wet leaves in
fall can’t be avoided, not spraying grass clippings
onto the road is as easy as pushing or driving
your lawn mower in the opposite direction to
spray back into your yard rather than out onto the
roadway.
TARIFFS COULD DEVASTATE MOTORCYCLE
INDUSTRY, CLAIMS TRADE GROUP
Industry leaders are encouraging activism
ahead of new import taxes, and the Motorcycle
Industry Council (MIC) is asking riders to help
stop a new round of tariffs on Chinese products.
The sanctions will directly affect equipment
and apparel that riders depend on, as well as
motorcycle parts and accessories and bikes built
in China. “The proposed additional 25% duty on
Chinese goods lumps gear like boots and gloves
in with common replacement parts, like lithium-
ion batteries, and curiosities, like live manatees
and blue-veined cheeses,” says the industry trade
group. Perhaps more devastating to a business
already working with tight margins is a catchall
-- number 8714.10.00 on the list -- that includes
all “Pts. & access. for motorcycles (including
mopeds).”
The MIC makes the case that, in today’s
motorcycling economy, even the most ardent
purchasers of American apparel and machines are
going to feel a pinch to the wallet.
“The proposed China List 4 includes essentially
everything that is not currently subject to an
additional 25% tariff on Lists 1-3,” MIC Senior Vice
President Scott Schloegel says. “Tariffs are taxes
paid by companies and consumers in America and
it is critical that you make your voice heard now.”
going to end after all: “The Great Patriots of Rolling
Thunder WILL be coming back to Washington, D.C.
next year, & hopefully for many years to come,” he
wrote. “It is where they want to be, & where they
should be.”
In addition, “Wreaths Across America” has since
announced a donation of $200,000 to Rolling
Thunder to help cover costs and keep the ride
going, with executive director Karen Worcester
telling Muller on that Monday’s “Fox & Friends” that
“Remembering is too important to forget.”
Muller said during the Fox News show that he
looks forward to meeting with the president about
continuing the ride, but he also said that instead
of holding one giant demonstration the group is
planning to take the event nationwide next year and
hold rides regionally throughout the country with its
90 local chapters.
But one thing could surely bring the hordes of
patriotic bikers back to D.C. in protest, said the 74-
year old Vietnam Veteran during his speech on the
National Mall at this year’s Rolling Thunder; if House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi moves to impeach President
Donald Trump.
EASY RIDER ENCORE
July 14, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Easy
Rider -- and to celebrate, a newly-restored 4K version
will be shown again in 400 theaters nationwide for
just two nights; July 14th and 17th.
Directed by the late, great Dennis Hopper, the
film starred Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and
Jack Nicholson in a role that scored him an Oscar
nomination.
In 1998, the film was officially added to the
National Film Registry, and the American Film
Institute lists it on its 100 Greatest American Movies
of All Time.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Throughout history, it has
been the inaction of those who could have acted, the
indifference of those who should have known better,
the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered
most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”
~ Haile Selassie, regent of Ethiopia (1892-1975)
www.thunderroadslams.com | July 2019 | Thunder Roads® Magazine LA/MS Gulf Coast 31
ROLLING THUNDER FINAL RIDE, OR NOT?
For over three decades, hundreds of thousands
of motorcyclists have roared into our nation’s
capital over Memorial Day weekend for Rolling
Thunder, an annual demonstration in support of
veterans, prisoners of war and service members
who went missing in action, but due to financial
and logistical constraints, this year’s rally was
their last hurrah. Rally organizer and co-founder,
Artie Muller, has announced that the massive
rally, held every year in Washington, D.C. since
1988, has grown too costly and unwieldy and will
come to an end.
However, efforts to keep the rally going include
President Donald Trump who pledged his support
and tweeted out during the “Ride for Freedom”
on Sunday, May 26 that Rolling Thunder was not