If you have been to the ABATE meetings of late you have heard me nag about the Omaha Police Department and the poor use of taxpayer funds to check us for helmet compliance. Roger Ites and I will be visiting with KFAB’s Tom Becka tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 to pre record a segment for his show on the issue. I am not sure when it will air but my guess is it will be sometime between 4 and 7 tomorrow afternoon. It would be a great help for some of you to call in the studio after it airs and voice opposition to the effort and how it discriminates against bikers and deters out of state folks from traveling through the city. Not because they want to break the law but don’t what to be hassled when they are compliant. Also that there has been a huge misrepresentation in the effort since they crank in non motorcycle related infractions into the total citations issued during the effort like the 100’s of seatbelt violations as well as the child restraint citations. I am sure you folks can come up with some more as well

We do know that this issues is still in the hands of the state auditor to look into but as you can see below that effort is either not important enough or not far along enough to curtail the effort this year. Michelle Hart just sent me the notification below from the Omaha World Herald that the press release is out and enforcement efforts start again this weekend.

Folks we need to make some noise and get this bull stopped.

Please call me if you have any questions or comments .

Scott Lucey

PS I am not sure how up to date my email address’s are so please send notification to your lists if they are different from ABATE. At the least we need to alert folks to the check points. By the way, OPD is offended by the use of the term “check points”, they prefer “enforcement effort”. I prefer “BS”

Oh…. One last thing. If you really want to boil your blood, please note that the grant has increased 10,000.00 over last year. I just can’t take it………….

10NR27 - MRF News Release - Congress Expresses Concern with Federal Motorcycle Roadside Checkpoint Grant Program

Below is a summary of the call to action put out by the MRF yesterday regarding motorcycle check points. This action is huge for us in and around the Omaha area and anyone that rides through it since we have been subject to these check points for the last several years. I would encourage you to read the letter linked below in the article so you can get the true flavor of what is taking place.

Immediately below I have attached a link that will take you to Congressman Terry’s comment email. Lee Terry is the United States Congressman representing legislative district 2 which includes the 5 counties in and around Omaha. I think it would be time well spent to drop the Congressman a thank you for taking a stand and looking into this matter for us.

Please read on.

Scott Lucey

https://leeterryforms.house.gov/Contact_Form.shtml

US Representatives call for the suspension of Federally funded motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints. US Representative James Sensenbrenner (WI) took the lead on a letter to Ray LaHood, Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, asking him to address the benefits of motorcycle only checkpoints. As previously announced by the MRF, LaHood’s DOT recently asked for applications from law enforcement agencies to conduct federally funded motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints.

The letter goes on to encourage Mr. LaHood to suspend funding for National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland's program until the questions are answered. Sensenbrenner was joined on the letter by Representatives; Petri (WI), Jones (NC), Schock (IL), Lanborn (IA), McCotter (MI), Ryan (WI), Rehberg (MT), Terry (NE), Paul (TX), and Wilson (SC). Of note are Shock and Wilson who have respectively key noted Motorcycle Riders Foundation Meeting of Minds and Beast of the East this year.

The MRF would like to thank all of those who heeded the call to gather support for this important matter. Should you be fortunate enough to have one of these outstanding Members of Congress that signed onto the letter, the MRF encourages you to contact them and thank them. Ralph Bell of ABATE of SC had this to say to his Member of Congress, Joe Wilson: "I not only appreciate your signing on this letter but applaud your no nonsense understanding of what Freedom is. This grant is definitely against all of our Freedoms and discriminates against us because of what we ride. Thanks again for your support."

The letter asks that Ray LaHood, Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, address the benefits of motorcycle-only checkpoints by October 13th. The letter goes on to encourage Mr. LaHood to suspend funding for National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Strickland;s program.

Read the letter here.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation will keep you updated on this issue.

On March 25, Administrator David Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made comments about helmet use to U.S. Representative John Olver (D-Mass.). These comments were made at a Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations hearing regarding the fiscal year 2010 Budget Request for the NHTSA.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) sent Administrator Strickland a letter, dated April 2, 2010, seeking clarification on his comments. It is the AMA's understanding that Strickland stated the following: (1) safety grants are important and need to be continued; (2) the "core" of motorcycle safety programs is to instill helmet use; (3) helmet use has a direct correlation to motorcycle fatalities; and (4) anything congress can do to get folks to wear helmets is welcomed, including possible penalties.

In our letter, the AMA asked, "What is meant by your reference to the "core" of a motorcycle safety program is to instill helmet use? Additionally, you advocated the use of possible penalties if adult riders choose not to wear protective gear. Does this mean administrative and/or legislative action towards states and/or individual riders if adults choose not to wear protective equipment?"

The AMA needs your help to seek clarification of Administrator Strickland's comments. The fastest way to reach Strickland is to send a pre-written e-mail to him immediately by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.

For more information about how to protect your right to ride, please visit the "Get Involved" section of the AMA web site.

We urge you to write Administrator Strickland today and ask him to clarify his comments made at the March 25 hearing. Please forward this alert to friends and family to help spread the message.