[Mrfnews] 08LR02 - MRF Leaders Report- February

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff at mrf.org (e-mail)

12 February 2008

ATTENTION MOTORCYCLE HELMET MANUFACTURERS – The Motorcycle Riders
Foundation (MRF) has learned that last week the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a request for comments from all
motorcycle helmet manufacturers. You may be thinking, "Here we go again;"
however, this time NHTSA isn't really on a witch hunt for a helmet law.
This request for comment is purely a legal obligation under – get this –
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. According to that law, any time the
federal government requires a motor vehicle industry manufacturer to
display a label of any kind, the feds are then required to inquire every
three years into any financial hardships the manufacturers may have
incurred by the requirement to include the label. What does that have to
do with motorcycle helmets? Well, you know that little oval DOT sticker on
the back of FMVSS 218 compliant helmets? That's the label required by law
and therefore falling into this odd category usually reserved for large
auto and commercial vehicle manufacturers. Essentially the request for
comment goes out to the audience of approximately 45 helmet manufacturers
in existence today. Of course, anyone can comment on the required request,
but unless you are producing helmets for sale in the United States, there
really is no need to comment on this issue. The request for comment can
found by searching the Internet for NHTSA docket number NHTSA-2008-0023.

ABATE OF OHIO – I recently had the privilege to represent the MRF by
attending ABATE of Ohio's annual winter legislative seminar. The event,
held in the Buckeye State's capitol city, was by all accounts a successful
and fun weekend. The event was widely attended by some of the most
passionate biker activists around. Speakers from all over the country
presented loads of useful info. Thanks to everyone at ABATE of Ohio for
putting up with this lobbyist for the weekend.

COMING TO DC – Now is the time to seriously consider making a trip to DC
to talk with your legislators about motorcyclists' rights issues. The busy
spring lobby season will be over before you know it if you don't act soon.
Please contact the DC office if you are even considering a trip to DC in
2008. E-mail Jeff Hennie, MRF VP of Government Relations, at jeff at mrf.org
for all scheduling information.

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS – By now it is safe to say that just about everyone
in the country is well informed about the heated presidential race this
November. This race is significant for a number of reasons, including the
fact that it's the first time a woman and a minority are in the race and
they are not the same person.  It's also the first race in over 50 years
in which neither a sitting president nor vice president is in the race. In
addition, the top three candidates are sitting senators, and we haven’t
elected a sitting senator to the oval office since John Kennedy in 1961.
Although this race is stacked with differences between the top candidates,
giving pretty much everyone out there a reason to vote and a candidate to
vote for, there is one sparkling similarity between all of the top
candidates. When the United States Senate passed the last highway bill in
2005, an attempt was made by Senator F. Lautenberg to attach a national
helmet law onto that must-pass legislation. The MRF, with the help of
state motorcyclists' rights organizations (SMROs) and motorcyclists
nationwide, was able to help stop that amendment from passing, and it’s to
the praise of Senators like McCain, Clinton, and Obama who all voted
against the national helmet law. So whatever side of the political pasture
you are sitting in, know this: all of these senators have gone on record
opposing national helmet laws and standing in defense of states' rights to
govern themselves. That's an otherwise bright spot in a presidential race
thats sure to get much more ugly before it's over.

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(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC,
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted
exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the
very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading
members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and
regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public
awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights
organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.