Updates
July 26, 2000
As we approach the end of our first month with the new helmet law,
I have very mixed feelings. Most of us are enjoying the new law with
a “grudge” of sort, due to the age and insurance requirements. Someone
on the bulletin board accurately called it a
“bittersweet victory.” I feel the same way. Of equal if not
greater concern is the media and their reporting of this issue.
The media, in search of sensationalism and controversy has not helped
our cause. Headlines like “Biker
who died, usually wore helmet,” “Chest
injuries cause death of cyclist without helmet”, and “Biker who doffs
helmet dies in motorcycle crash” are the norm now. Whether or not
a head injury or death occurred or, no matter who caused the accident,
whether or not a helmet was used is the major focus of the story.
I’m telling you this because the opposition is reading the newspaper
and listening to the five o’clock news. They are looking for information
to go into the next legislative session and say, “see I told you so.”
We need to be very involved in the upcoming primaries and in the November
elections. We need to support those legislators who supported us
in the in the past. Also, because of term limits, a great number
of Florida House and Senate seats will be up this year. We need to
find out who is running for those seats and what their views are on the
helmet issue. We need to Register
To Vote and most important, we need to vote.
There is no threat at present, just the rumblings of the media.
In a few months the legislative process for 2001 will begin. I will
monitor it and keep you informed of what is taking place. We need
to keep those in power and elect those individuals that will help us maintain
the freedom we now enjoy and help us remove the discriminatory age and
insurance requirement.
I have not received a report of a traffic stop due to not wearing
a helmet in a couple of weeks. Maybe law enforcement and bikers are
learning to live with one an other again.
July 13, 2000
I have replaced the old Voice Your Opinion page with a newer and
faster Bulletin Board that will allow you to post or reply to a message.
You may post pictures or use HTML if you like. There are some special benefits
available to those who register but, you do not need to register to use
the BB.
The Voice Your Opinion page has been a
outstanding forum that has allowed us to share opinions, ideas and information.
I hope you will continue to use this forum in the future. I am certain
the BB will be a vital part of getting the insurance and age requirements
repealed next Spring. Please let
me know what you think of the new format.
July 10, 2000
Ten days into the new helmet law and
all is well for most bikers. While there are isolated incidents of
stops and harassment, for the most part law enforcement and motorcyclist
are getting along just fine. On a personal note, I have driven throughout
Pinellas County without a lid and have encountered local, county, and state
law enforcement with nary a glance.
If you or anyone you know does encounter
any problems without a lid, please email me the details of the traffic
stop so I may post it on the Harassment & Stops
page. You may also post your comments on the Voice
Your Opinion page. This information will be extremely useful
for future legislative action.
Last week in St. Pete, a motorcyclist
was killed in a traffic crash. As usual, a 4 wheeler caused it.
Although his death was the result of chest trauma, the St. Pete Times could
not pass up an opportunity for sensationalism and controversy. The
newspaper needed two separate reports to slant the story this time.
Read the article published
on July 3, and then read the article published
on July 5. Comparing these two stories is sort of like listening
to Clinton define sex.
July 6, 2000
I have created a new catagoty
called
Harassments and Stops. Here, I will
list the details of traffic stops sent in by the visitors to Helmet Law
101. The purpose of this is to let everyone know what is going on
in the State of Florida and to solicit the help of attorny's in Florida
who are willing to help us in our cause.
If you are stopped for not wearing a
helmet, please send
me an email with the details of the incident. If you are an attorney
in the State of Florida, and you would like to donate time to help defend
the rights of Florida’s motorcyclists, please contact
me.
Let me also offer a few tips concerning
traffics stops. First, make sure you always carry your motorcycle
endorsed drivers license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance with
you at all times.
If you do not have the proper insurance
or you are under 21, you are breaking the law and will receive a citation
if stopped.
Law enforcement is supposed to treat
the new helmet law as a secondary violation event but, there are those
individuals who will find a reason to stop you just to check your insurance.
Eventually, through the court system or internal directives, this harassment
will stop. If you are stopped, chances are you have much more knowledge
about the new law then the officer who stops you, but do not argue with
them. Show them your proof of insurance and let them know you are
complying with Florida statue 316.211. If they still want to give
you a ticket, so be it. While you may have to waste some time in
traffic court, you will win in the end if you have the proper insurance.
The majority of law enforcement and
motorcyclists are respecting and enjoying the new law and life is good.
There are a handful of law officials who, for whatever reason, are going
to push this issue past the point of harassment and issue you a citation
for everything they can. Don’t play into their hands by arguing with
them.
Enjoy your legal right to choose to
ride without a helmet with the proper age and insurance requirements.
July 3, 2000
I have received many questions concerning
the new helmet law. To help answer those questions I have put together
a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Also, Florida’s motorcyclists are expected
to encounter some problems with the enforcement of the new helmet law.
If you are an attorney in the State of Florida, and you would like to do
some pro bono work to help defend the rights of Florida’s motorcyclists,
please send me an
email.
July 1, 2000
The last day of Florida’s mandatory
helmet law was bleak in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. It rained
the entire day. But, as the sunset and the night grew longer, the
rain dwindled and the streets dried. By 10:30 PM, stars could be
seen twinkling between the clouds. That's when Vicki and I headed
over to the Wing House
for the Freedom of Choice run.
The run was awesome. The Tampa
Tribune did a front-page story on the new helmet law and, to my surprise,
gave the details of the run. Another surprise was Radical Randy,
from Born to Ride TV, was there
interviewing people for the TV show. Since the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
was the rallying point for so many helmet protest runs in the past, Randy
asked if I would mind changing the route and going over the Skyway Bridge.
Hell, I could care less where we went. I was totally blown away by
the turnout.
A few minutes before midnight, about
60 bikes and 100 people, without helmets, left the Wing House parking lot,
with my babe leading the pack. Through my rear view mirror I could
see fists being pushed in the air and pumped up and down. When we
got to the apex of the Skyway Bridge we pulled over. There was an FHP car
and a Pinellas County Sheriff waiting for us. Radical Randy took
a helmet and symbolically threw it into the Gulf of Mexico while the law
looked the other way. When we pulled out to leave, the FHP car gave
us the thumbs up sign. We finished the run in the parking lot of
the south rest area of the Skyway. After some pictures and some hooting
and hollering we all left to enjoy our new freedom. Without a doubt
it was an awesome experience. So many people came up to me and thanked
me for doing Helmet Law 101. Believe me, doing this website is my
pleasure.
If anyone has any pictures from the
run please email them
to me so I can post them here. If you have any comments about the run
post them on the Voice Your Opinion page or send
them to me and I will post it here. Thank you to all who came to celebrate
the freedom to make an adult decision.
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