Up Front

UP FRONT

DON’T FORGET TO WAVE

S MOTORCYCLISTS we’ve run headlong into chasms of opposition along many fronts. A few battles have been won, many have been lost and an occasional few have turned into stalemates, with the opposing factions heading off for a time to regroup. Recently, however, we scored heavily in Washington, thanks to the AMA, a number of hard working and dedicated individuals, and maybe even. . .you.

The issue was once again helmets, and the concern was over the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposal to withhold federal highway funds to the three states remaining without mandatory helmet laws. The NHTSA assumed it could pull off the same type of financial coercion on the motorcyclists of California, Utah and Illinois that it used in the enactment of the federal 55-mph speed prohibition. It assumed wrong.

But it was really more than three states in question, because in 1975 several states had bills introduced into their legislatures that were enacted to repeal the mandatory helmet laws already in force. Bills such as those and the same type of bills to come in the future would not have been possible if the NHTSA gremlins had gotten what they were after, most of which was your individual rights.

Why didn’t they get away with it? Because we put up a decent fight for a change. We proved to many that as motorcyclists we can be effective in warding off legislation that is designed to harass rather then help our cause. Our Senators and Representatives in the House read our letters and listened to what we had to say. They, in turn, passed, as amendments to the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1975, legislation which will remove the power of the U.S. Department of Transportation to withold highway safety

funds from states that do not have mandatory helmet laws.

As this is written, a joint Senate-House Conference Committee will convene to iron out differences between the Senate and House versions of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1975. It is not expected that any change will be made by the Conference Committee in regard to the helmet law amendment. After the deliberations have been completed by the committee, the legislation will return for a final vote by both Houses. From there it goes to the President’s desk for a signature. He must accept or veto the bill in its entirety, and the chances of a veto are slim.

This is one of motorcycling’s biggest legislative victories. The effectiveness of the American Motorcycle Association’s legislative efforts in this case is overwhelming. The proof is now before us that motorcyclists as a group can be a powerful political force. The DOTies now know that in the future they will have to take steps to propose meaningful programs with merit, if they are to be accepted. Coercion can no longer be a factor. We will no longer accept legislation or regulation for its own sake.

My letters counted, so did yours. The AMA went out there and battled for our cause and many individuals gave an enormous amount of hard work and personal time in the effort. The important thing is, that it worked. And it will continue to work if we stick together and make our feelings known to those who matter, while supporting groups like the AMA, who support us.

Victories such as this shouldn’t be forgotten, and hopefully they’ll come to mind out on the open road when you’re enjoying what you fought for. And when you see that other motorcycle, don’t forget to wave. As the DOT and NHTSA now know, we’re all in this together. . . .