Female bikers gather at Bike Week on Tuesday to declare the day "Women's Day."

Hello everyone Thank God it's Friday. Really don't have much to talk about or information to share with you within the motorcycle community. So we decided to share with you a video on some female bikers bonding in Daytona Florida at an event sponsored by Harley Davidson. GIRL POWER:)  Enjoy your weekend and ride safe.

Motorcycle - Only Checkpoints Challenged - NYS

For all my New Yorkers it's about time somebody did something about this which was A.I.M./NCOM - ABATE of New York, I knew there was definitely some bullcrap going on whenever we rode upstate NY and this is still going on  to this day since 2007.  I will definitely keep you informed on the progress of this pending litigation.

Since 2007, the New York State Police, along with other county and local police departments, have been conducting motorcycle-only police checkpoints on the roadways of New York State, often targeting major motorcycle events. Authorities claim that the purpose of these stops, at which they issue numerous tickets for helmet and exhaust pipe violations, is to advance motorcycle safety. 

“Being a motorcycle rider myself, as well as the Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney for New York State, I was asked by ABATE of New York to contest this infringement on the rights of motorcyclists,” said Mitch Proner, who then advised the State Police and municipal authorities of his intent to file suit on behalf of ABATE and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists if the discriminatory roadblocks continued. “My letter was ignored and consequently, with the help of then-President of ABATE, Robert “Prospector” Boellner, I found class representatives to bring my action against the New York State Police as well as the other municipal agencies and elected officials participating in these stops,” explains Proner. 

In the first lawsuit of its kind in the United States, the NYC law firm of Proner and Proner is challenging the constitutionality of this unwarranted police action on First, Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment grounds in the Federal Court for Northern District of New York. “The United States Supreme Court has long recognized that when a motorist is stopped on the roadway, there is a ‘seizure’ under the Constitution,” Proner notes, adding that “Whether or not this ‘seizure’ is unconstitutional depends on whether or not objective facts indicate that society’s legitimate interests warrant the seizure and the degree to which it intrudes on the individual’s personal liberties.” 

Although the lawsuit is still in the discovery stages, internal memorandum which police have been forced to disclose as result of the lawsuit indicate that members of the NYS gang unit are assigned to work the checkpoints and Proner thinks the Court will agree that the stops are designed primarily for law enforcement purposes as opposed to public safety purposes. “Rather than promoting any legitimate public safety concern, the checkpoints are intended to harass and intimidate motorcyclists attempting to attend motorcycle events thereby depriving them of their First Amendment right to freedom of assembly as well as their Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process, equal protection and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures” he concludes. 

 

California Lawmakers Back EPA Compliant Requirement For Riders Of New Motorcycles

Well California is already ahead of the game with the EPA compliant exhaust systems for motorcycles.  The one good thing if you want to call it that is if you live in California and you purchased your motorcycle before 2011 you will be exempt from this law.  The following information comes from the American Motorcyclist Association(AMA) website:

A key California State Assembly committee has endorsed a proposal to require motorcyclists to have EPA-compliant exhaust systems on their model year 2011 and newer motorcycles.

On June 28, the Committee on Transportation voted 8-4 to approve Senate Bill 435, introduced by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Oxnard-Los Angeles), which would make it illegal to ride a motorcycle on the road built on, or after, Jan. 1, 2011, that doesn't display a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) label certifying the exhaust system meets sound emissions standards.

Riders caught riding model year 2011 or newer motorcycles without this stamp would be issued "fix it" tickets by law enforcement officers.

The measure now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

"Many EPA labels are very difficult to locate on motorcycles," said AMA Western States Representative Nick Haris. "This proposed law could lead to a flurry of tickets for motorcyclists who have legal exhaust systems on their machines with EPA labels that can't be easily seen. It's unreasonable to expect a law enforcement officer to easily locate an EPA label, and it's simply unfair to expect a motorcycle owner to partially dismantle an exhaust system alongside the road to prove the label exists.

"Requiring that a motorcycle display a readily visible EPA label isn't the correct way to address concerns about excessive motorcycle sound," he added. "The only objective way to determine whether a motorcycle complies with sound laws is for properly trained personnel to conduct sound level tests using calibrated meters and an agreed-upon testing procedure."

Haris suggested that concerned California motorcyclists contact their state lawmakers and urge them to reject Senate Bill 435. To do so, go here  and select "CA" in the drop down menu.

The AMA has long maintained a position of strong opposition to excessive motorcycle sound. In September 2009, the AMA developed model legislation for use by cities and states seeking a simple, consistent and economical way to deal with sound complaints related to on-highway motorcycles within the larger context of excessive sound from all sources. The model legislation offers an objective method to evaluate motorcycle sound based on the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) J2825 standard, "Measurement of Exhaust Sound Pressure Levels of Stationary On-Highway Motorcycles." For more information, here.

HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES LANE SPLITTING IN ARIZONA

Now here is a great idea "Lane Splitting".  I think all the states should allow this definitely during heavy traffic congestion.  There is nothing like sitting in traffic and your motorcycle over heats or a car that is not paying attention suddenly rear end you "ouch".  With more and more American's riding motorcycles this is a law that should be considered by all states  Right now most motorcyclists will and do "whiteline" during heavy congestion and risk getting tickets, bikes towed etc., for the sake of not being stuck in traffic.

A bill to allow "Lane Splitting" in Arizona has been unanimously approved by legislative committee.  Also known as white lining, or "filtering" as it is commonly referred to in Europe, motorcycles are allowed to weave between lines of cars in heavy traffic.  Such practice is legal in the United States only in California and Washington, D.C., but HB2475 would allow lane splitting through stopped traffic in Maricopa County only to begin with for a one year trial starting next year.

"The biggest factor on the bill is SAFETY and to try and reduce the number or rear end accidents," said Mick Degan, lobbyist for the Modified Motorcycle Association (MMA) of Arizona.  "DPS is behind and support of this bill along with AAA."

Also advocating for the measure is former California cop Ted Storck who wrote to the Arizona Republic newspaper; "As an ex-Los Angeles Police Officer, I support House Bill 2475, which would allow Arizona motorcyclists to split lanes.  It is allowed in California and has proven to be safe.  I never once investigated an accident where a motorcyclist had an accident due to passing other vehicles in the same lane when the freeways were slow or stopped.  However, it did result in more and more people riding motorcycles, cutting down on traffic congestion.  Even the head of the California Highway Patrol agrees that this California law should remain in effect.  He agrees it cuts traffic congestion and has not resulted in any extra risk to motorcyclists or other vehicles."

The lane splitting bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Jerry Weiers of Glendale, has already cleared two committees in the House and faces a floor vote soon before it can be considered in the Senate.