Let Those Who Ride Still Decide
Est. 1980
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Let Those Who Ride Still Decide Est. 1980
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Well we finally hit a bump in the road in Connecticut. Last week Governor Rell expressed interest in visiting a full helmet law in our state once again. This really comes as no surprise considering her position on the issue when she was a state legislator. This sudden interest follows a pretty rough spring in which nine motorcycle riders lost their lives in highway crashes. For some reason the governor and her supporters fail to acknowledge that several of the victims were already wearing the protective headgear. Although there does not appear to be much interest in visiting this issue in the legislature, the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association will be gearing up for the battle should it materialize. As individuals we are contacting our representatives and senators and sharing our thoughts on the matter with them. Be sure to know your facts before making contact. Your credibility can make or break a politician’s position one way or the other.
Every freedom loving rider should seriously consider joining or renewing their membership in the CMRA, the MRF, and the AMA so that together we can ward off this threat before it becomes serious. Ron Troia June 2008 Legislative Report The Connecticut Legislature adjourned in May with no mention of motorcycle related bills appearing on the calendar. That bodes very well for the freedom loving bikers of our state. The special session will soon be upon us and there is no reason to believe that anything will crop up at that time being that the state financial situation is at a critical stage. For those who have not heard, The Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association was the first group to come out and publicly endorse our good friend Jimmy Amman for governor at our annual Legislative Banquet back in March. We have since been joined in that effort by The United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 24, the International Association of Iron Workers Local 15, the New Haven County Marshals Association and the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 40. This is just the beginning and Jim will need our help and support over the next 29 months if he is to prevail in this very important election. Please be on the lookout for legislative alerts and updates here on the CMRA website. The year 2008 marks the twenty-eighth anniversary of the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association. The CMRA has been the sole voice for Connecticut motorcyclists’ interests in the political process. We have stood the “test of time” that so often cripples volunteer organizations which ultimately succumb to the pressures created by inadequate funding, insufficient numbers of volunteers, dissension among the leadership and apathy that ironically develops from successfully attaining the initial goals of the group. The core mission of the CMRA is protecting our right to ride when and where we choose on whatever motorcycle we wish to ride. We believe that with rights come responsibilities. We believe motorcyclists have the responsibility to respect the rights of others, obey the law in the operation of their motorcycles and treat others as they wish to be treated. The arena in which we accomplish our agenda is the Connecticut General Assembly. Although we have visited Washington DC and lobbied our Congressional delegation, we have neither the staff nor funds to operate at this level on a regular basis. During our 20 years of involvement at the State Capitol, we have been involved in many issues and have played the roles of both an advocate for change and a defender of the status quo. The list of our legislative issues includes the following, all of which were successful efforts except where noted:
In our 21-year history, we have grown and substantially expanded our agenda from focusing predominantly on the helmet law issue. The CMRA has engaged in a variety of activities aimed at improving the image and appeal of motorcycling, including sponsoring our annual Toy Run, appearing on local cable television programs to discuss our sport and lifestyle, and participating in several radio and television debates and/or call-in shows mainly to discuss the helmet law issue. Virtually every member of this organization, who has been part of its success, has understood the need and importance of being involved in the political process, whether we like it or not. The organization’s success has confirmed for us the premise that working together as a group is clearly more powerful than working alone. We hope the next 20 years are as successful as the first 23. Richard Paukner NTSB Recommends All States Implement Helmet Laws Dear Friends:
So what do we do to vent our anger with having been manipulated and played by the press and the coalition of this government/private sector advisory body? I would suggest we play the cards that have served us well in the last thirty years of winning this philosophical war: we focus on our state legislators who hold our fate. While it will disappoint some and anger others, I would urge you all to recognize that we do not need to win the "hearts and minds" of the general public on this issue. First of all, it's futile. Secondly, its irrelevant. We have neither the resources nor the manpower to convince the masses. We need only to convince those who make our laws that our collective voice should prevail. CNN may hold the power of media manipulation but we hold the power of constituent concern. If we are still committed and diligent enough to make the effort, we will win every time. The big "if" is whether the average rider still cares enough to do the legwork that only he or she can provide.
Call your State Senator, call your State Representative and tell them you saw the CNN newspiece and you are outraged as a motorcycle rider. Use CNN like they used us. Refute their biased "reporting" using your own experiences as a rider.
It is the sweetest and most effective method of beating our opponents at their own game. As a pawn in the CNN story, I say we use this assault to grow twice as strong on this issue. After thirty years, I know we can meet this challenge.
For those who want to do something beyond contacting their State Representatives and Senators after the CNN news coverage and NTSB press release, you should consider coming to the CMRA poker run this Sunday to support us financially. Sign in is at the Moose Lodge in Wallingford from 9:30 - 11:00 am (see next item below...) From our Legislative Director: Despite much apprehension on our part, the member turnout was outstanding and our presentation flawless. We stopped the bill in the Committee and with the General Assembly's adjournment, the matter has been laid to rest until next year when the process is eligible to start anew. I doubt we will see another seven year "holiday". More likely, we will see a proposal to require catastrophic health insurance as a requirement for maintaining our freedom of choice on the helmet issue.
It has been said, "the price of liberty is eternal vigilance". Nowhere is this more true than in the legislative arena where new legislators, new studies and new funding of our opponents constantly creates new efforts to regulate and restrict the rights of motorcyclists. In the same way we feel passionate in protecting our right to ride, there are other individuals who feel as passionate about making the world a safer place. Many of these individuals are paid government agency bureacrats or corporate employees who can easily rationalize the tradeoff in personal liberty for the advancement of public safety.
You, and others like you, are all that stand between who emerges the winner in these battles. We can continue to achieve victory if we are willing to work together and make the necessary sacrifices. That road to success starts and ends with you.
Richard Paukner 
Letter from the president of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation |
© 2001 - 2008 Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association All rights reserved.
The legislative session of 2003, which adjourned in June, will be remembered as the most recent attempt to resurrect the mandatory helmet law for adult motorcycle riders. While throughout the late 1970's to the mid 1990's we were continually challenged with new attempts to re-instate the helmet law every two to three years, this most recent challenge was the first one to surface since 1996, a remarkable seven year respite.