Legislative news at the National and State levels, and specific news from our State Lobbyist and Legislative Trustee, plus Legislative links.

PATRIOT ACT LETTER
You can help revoke the USA PATRIOT Act (H.R. 3162)
Download the Adobe Acrobat letter here: PATRIOT Act Revocation Letter
Download the Adobe Acrobat Formatted USA PATRIOT Act

CRACKDOWN ON MOTORCYCLES - ARE WE NEXT?

Police issued 35 citations in one day, including illegal mufflers,
expired inspections, no inspections and unlicensed drivers.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

     Remember NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)?  They couldn't get the States to mandate helmet and apparel use.  Now they have moved their efforts to the United Nations,Inland Transport Committee. They hope to get a" Global Technical Regulation". Which would Obligate the States to initiate Helmet and Apparel use.  This action is in Direct Defiance of Legislation, passed by the Congress of the United States. Just goes to show. Government Agency's can do whatever they feel necessary.Regardless of law, or the" will of the people". WE MUST STOP THIS POWER GRAB!

     Contact your U S Congressman and U S Senator; Explain the situation; Let them know your views,and ask for their help in pressuring NHTSA to abandon their bid to regulate AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ATTIRE through the United Nations.

     While you are talking to them, bring up the PATRIOT ACT and the "Freedom Lost" through it; .Ask them to ACT and REPEAL this DANGER TO LIBERTY!

FEDS PROPOSE NEW MOTORCYCLE EMISSIONS STANDARDS

     No more air-cooled engines? No more carburetors? Catalytic converters?  By 2010, motorcycle tailpipe emissions must be slashed by over 80%, making it necessary for manufacturers to use fuel injection on the intake and catalytic converters on the exhaust in order to comply with tough new federal regulations, as well as  altering cam timing and making other engine modifications, including liquid cooling.

     The Federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has already succeeded in curbing emissions for the first time from off-road motorcycles, ATV's, snowmobiles and diesel-powered boats to help reduce pollution, is now turning their attention to street motorcycles, and new bike buyers in future decades will likely see a big difference in design, styling and price. The EPA released its proposed rule on motorcycle emissions on July 26, 2002, and following a brief public comment period intends to implement the California-style cutbacks in a two-phase plan beginning in 2006. Stricter new limits will be established for hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides emitted by the engines, requiring motorcycles over 280cc to reduce emissions from a currently allowable 5 grams of Hydrocarbons per kilometer to 1.4 grams/km by 2006 and .8 grams by 2010, achieving more than an 80% reduction in less than a decade.  Nitrogen oxides, which are unregulated at this time, must also be reduced to 1.4 grams/km in 2006 and .8 grams/km by 2010.

     Smaller cc  motorcycles must also meet stringent new standards, ultimately reducing HC and NOx emissions to1.0 grams/km by 2010. The proposed standards for new motorcycles  will not affect their performance, says the EPA, adding that the Agency's proposal does not in any way change the existing law that makes it illegal to  modify the emission control devices causing the emission systems to exceed  applicable standards. Motorcycle owners may make cosmetic changes such as the  color and chrome. Public hearings on this proposal will be held by the EPA on September 17, in Ypsilanti, MI, with the public comment period ending November  8, 2002, after which the final regulations will be issued. For more information  on the proposed rule, how to submit comments and the public hearings, visit:

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/roadbike.htm
 http://www.epa.gov/otaq/recveh.htm

ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC. encourages all concerned riders and motorcycle rights organizations to make their feelings known to the EPA and our elected officials on this important issue, which will affect the future of motorcycling as we know it.

Reproduced from:
NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled and Edited  By Fred Bradshaw, ABATE OF FLORIDA, INC.