Lobby Legislators

Send comments to the WebMaster

Register To Vote:  Click here to begin the process

Legal Disclaimer
 

Grass Roots Lobbying is a year round effort to get our legislator's to vote on an issue we support.  It can be an extremely effective way of getting our message to our legislators.  Most Important!!  Make sure you are registered to vote.  If you are not currently registered click here to begin the registration process on line.

Step One

Start by sending a short letter, fax or e-mail to your legislator. Introducing yourself as a constituent and a registered voter.  Let them know if you belong to any MRO.  Your letter should be one page.  Tell them you support the repeal of Florida's helmet law and that you will be calling to schedule an appointment to meet them at their home district office.

Step Two

Call your legislator and tell them that you are a constituent.  Let them know you wish to make an appointment at their home district office to discuss an issue concerning motorcycle rights.  If you have printed information available that supports our case, let them know that you will be sending this material to them to review and to discuss at the meeting.  Remember to mail this information to them.

Vicki A. Wooldridge, Senior Legislative Assistant to Representative Harry C. Goode, Jr. of District 31 offered the following suggestion.  "Remember, when making an appointment you may be asked to see the legislator's assistant due to scheduling conflicts, especially during session.  DON'T PASS THIS UP!  Take the appointment and treat the meeting as you would were you meeting with the legislator.  Our job as legislative assistants is to pass along info to the legislator in an accurate and timely manner and often, getting to know the assistant can be very beneficial in the long run!"

Step Three

Before the meeting, prepare.  Keep in mind that your legislator may not be aware of this issue.  Go to the Florida Legislature web page and look up your legislator's background.  You may find you share some things in common with them like the same school, the same birthday or the same recreational interest.  Remember the issues, personal freedom, no burden to society, no difference in motorcycle accident or fatality rates between states with mandatory helmet laws and those without helmet laws, and freedom of choice.  Get this information from this web site or follow the links provided to the other web sites to get the information.  Be ready to answer his questions with knowledgeable answers.  Prepare a concise one page fact sheet of the issues.   You will need to leave it with the legislator as a reminder of the issues and also of the visit.  Include your name, phone and address for follow-up correspondence.

Remember that the legislator may neither have read the bill nor have an understanding of it, so your main job is to educate them about its impact.

Step Four

At the meeting, be brief and personal.  Introduce yourself as a registered voter in their district.  If you happen to be registered to the same party as the legislator let them know.  If you voted for them let them know that too.  Take control and make your points first.  In three to five minutes give them the reason why they should support our cause.  Be as accurate and as candid as possible.  Know the bill numbers.  Offer copies of any information, statistics or studies you may have mailed and your fact sheet.  Don't be upset is they don't accept it or just set it aside and don't read it.  Don't interrupt them when they are talking.  Listen to them.  Hint.  If they say something that seems to enforce the helmet law, do what they do.  Say, "you know I understand what you're saying but," then go back to your original points.  Don't be afraid to repeat yourself.  Never argue with, threaten or try to pressure the legislator.  Ask their position on this issue.  If they avoid telling you their position, ask them what you can do to get their support for helmet repeal.  If they support helmet repeal, thank them and ask what you can do to help them get the message to other legislators.

Step Five

Follow up with brief "thank you" letter or email and restate your opinions.  At this point ask the question,  "How do you stand on this issue."  "Be right to the point,  "Will you vote yes on the House Bill or the Senate Bill."  Expect a reply.  Until you get a definite yes, email, write or call them often.  Each time you contact them offer some new information.  Examples are, riding without a helmet would not be a burden to the public, riding without a helmet does not lead to greater number of accidents, it is not the government's role to restrict my rights, a majority of the States do not require helmets.  Copy and print information from this site or any other site that supports helmet repeal and send it to them.  Try to keep it to a single page.

If you get an "I will support you" answer, ask the legislator to co sponsor the bill.  Again contact them often to keep them apprised of the progress of the bill.  Let your legislator know that you are looking forward to their positive vote on the bill.

Step Six

Most important!!!  Contact everyone you know, whether they are bikers or not.  Family, friend, fellow workers, and neighbors.  Ask them to make one phone call or send one letter or one email to their legislator asking them to support the bill.  Most people will be happy to do this for us.

Organize a run to the legislator's home district office.  It can be a poker run stop or just a great way to spend a day with your friends.  Call to schedule an appointment and then show up with 5 or more bikes pulling into their parking lot.

Step Seven

Write a letter or email the Sponsors and Co Sponsors of the bills in the House and the Senate.  Thank them for their continued support and let them know you look forward to their yes vote when the bill comes to their respective floor for a vote.

Remember meeting constituents is what a legislator lives for.  They want people involved.  They  are most responsive to concerns of their constituents.

If anyone has more ideas, a better way to get our message across, or something I have missed, please let me know and I will add it to this web site.

The time to start is now!

Sample Letters

Finding your State Legislators   Note:  If you need help contact me.  I will help you find your legislator.