BIKER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION ADVANCES IN ARIZONA By a vote of 6-0 on February 3rd, the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved SB1475 to send Arizona's biker anti-discrimination bill on to the Senate Commerce Committee, where the legislation passed by a vote of 6-1 the following week. SB1475, the Equal Access Anti-Discrimination bill sponsored by Senator Keith Bee, who was the keynote speaker at last year's NCOM Convention in Phoenix, is expected to be heard on the Senate Floor soon.
''We used the Biker Anti-Discrimination legislative packet from NCOM to determine the exact language that we needed here in Arizona, and we've picked up a lot of support in the legislature after adequately explaining our message,'' said Roger ''Priest'' Hurm, Chairman of the Board of the Modified Motorcycle Association (MMA) of Arizona, and member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) Board of Directors.
''We're not against dress codes, and we're not trying to tell businesses how to manage themselves,'' explains Priest, ''We're just saying that you cannot refuse public services to a person just because they ride a motorcycle or look like a biker.''
Actually, the state legislature has two pro-motorcycle bills up for consideration, thanks to the hard work of an Arizona motorcyclists' Lobby Team, comprised of a registered lobbyist from each of the state's three motorcycle organizations (ABATE of Arizona, the MMA of Arizona, and the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs).
SB1074 would dedicate $1.00 per registered motorcycle to the Motorcycle Safety Fund to be used specifically for safety education. The bill, sponsored by Senator Tom Smith, has passed unanimously out of both the Senate Transportation Committee and Appropriations Committee, and it too will soon be voted on by the full Senate.
''Our goal is to add to the fund in the future to help subsidize motorcycle training and make it more affordable for all,'' said Priest. ''We're gonna bring two new Arizona laws with us to Frisco,'' he promised, in reference to the upcoming NCOM Convention in San Francisco in May. NCOM NEWS & NOTES

HANDLEBAR HEIGHT REPEAL BILL PASSES SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE A bill to repeal the existing handlebar height law in South Carolina has passed the full Senate and will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration. S456, sponsored by Senator John Land, would amend Section 56-5-3650 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina to delete Section B, which reads, ''No person shall operate any motorcycle with handlebars more than fifteen inches in height above that portion of the seat occupied by the operator.''
A similar bill in the House died last year following testimony by the highway patrol that it would be unsafe for bikers to put their handlebars at any height they wanted.
''The law is pure and simple harassment and has nothing to do with safety,'' said Cassie Mathews, Legislative Coordinator for ABATE of South Carolina. ''The time for letter writing is NOW!''
Handlebar height laws have been repealed or modified recently in four states; Iowa, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. ABATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

HELMET REPEAL BILL INTRODUCED IN GEORGIA Following the recent introduction of a bill to repeal Georgia's mandatory helmet law for riders 18 years of age or older, the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE wrote the following article on January 14th under the title; ''No Helmet Hair'':
ABATE (of Georgia) wants to keep Easy Rider out of the emergency room, but the bikers say helmet laws don't necessarily pave the way to motorcycle safety. ABATE, or American Bikers Active Towards Education, is asking members of the General Assembly to squash the state's helmet law like a possum on a lonely Georgia highway. These hog riders aren't after the pork barrel. They just want to be free, man.
''Strapping on a helmet is not a solution to motorcycle safety,'' said Robin E. ''Chief'' Smith, a US Army retiree who has long abstained from hard drinking and helmets.
ABATE advocates motorcycle safety education. ''Some people may not still want to ride a motorcycle'' after learning about the risks involved, Smith said.
The group cites outdated motorcycle helmet standards and fatalities caused by bad helmets that snap necks.
Georgia's motorcycle helmet law is also a Catch-22: State law says bikers must wear ''protective headgear'' as defined by a state list. But there is no list. So ''protective headgear'' could be defined as a helmet, baseball cap or a bandanna, Smith said. ABATE OF GEORGIA

HELMET MANIA IN PA Pennsylvania State Representative Sara Steelman (D - Indiana) wants a law to require anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet when using roller skates, roller blades or a skateboard. Other Keystone State legislators are busy revising the state's bicycle helmet law to include riders up to age 17 (current law requires them for riders 12 and under), while others proposed mandating helmets for all bicyclists, regardless of age.
Not to be outdone, Representative Jeffrey Coy (D - Franklin) is pushing for mandatory helmets for ATV operators and passengers. Coy states, ''If motorcyclists are required to wear helmets, then it only makes sense that ATV riders should wear them too.''
His proposed helmet requirement would apply to all riders, regardless of age and to ATV use on any lands, public or private.
No proposed helmet law for skiers, yet. Someone should take up this cause. What makes them so special? CHARLES UMBENHAUER, ABATE OF PENNSYLVANIA

RACING CHAMPION STOPPED BY STIFF NECK Former world champion racecar driver Michael Schumacher had to abandon testing of Ferrari's new Formula One car recently in Fiorano, Italy, because of a stiff neck after just four laps. According to a REUTERS news release dated February 10th, Schumacher was testing the F1-2000 car for the first time, and said afterwards he had been bothered by feeling gusts of wind coming in under his helmet. ''It's a real shame I had to stop because the car felt really good,'' he said. On the third lap, Schumacher was just one second off the track record and almost three seconds faster than his quickest lap on the corresponding day of testing last year. See, helmets really are a pain in the neck!

AND SPEAKING OF A PAIN IN THE NECK California motorcyclists are gearing up their political campaign machinery to oust Assemblyman Dick Floyd, the father of the California Helmet Law, who has reached term limits in the California State Assembly and is now forced into running for the state Senate. Floyd was defeated in a previous election soon after the helmet law passed, largely due to the active campaigning by bikers for Juanita McDonald (who is now serving in Congress), but he simply moved to another district and won reelection.
But Floyd will be termed out of the Assembly this year and is now running for the 25th Senate District seat. However, another elected Democrat, Assemblyman Edward Vincent (D-51st Assembly District), is running against him in the March 7th Primary. There are 210,703 registered Democrats in the District and only 38,137 registered Republicans, so whoever wins the district's Democratic Primary will surely win the General Election in November.
Vincent's campaign has been targeted for support by ABATE OF CALIFORNIA, not only to remove one of their greatest stumbling blocks to helmet freedom, but also to replace a devout enemy of motorcycling with a biker-friendly legislator. Ed Vincent voted for repealing the state's helmet law last session, and is seeking motorcyclists' support.
If you'd like to contribute some time or money toward a worthwhile effort, contact Vincent's campaign office at: Ed Vincent for State Senate, 555 South Flower Street, Suite 4510, Los Angeles, CA 90071, (310) 674-3645 or 412-6400.
TWO WHEELED TIDBITS: In a list of ''hazardous sports hobbies'' distributed by the Federal Department of Urban Safety, riding a motorcycle didn't even make the top 10. Number three on the list is lawn bowling, number two is tennis, and number one is...surfing. A CENTURY OF MOTORCYCLING/EASYRIDER MAGAZINE

ANTI-SMOG RESTRICTIONS DEVELOPING IN TEXAS The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission is pushing real hard for increased emissions testing in the Houston area. The commission is the overlord concerning getting Houston back in line and shedding their reputation as the most ''polluted city in America.'' The TNRCC recently recommended a ban on vehicle use every fourth day, a 55-mph speed limit within the city, expanded vehicle testing like California's CARB crap, and restrictions on the hours when construction equipment can operate. There is even talk about restricting the drive-thru lanes at fast food establishments! Experts from California (the previous most polluted state) advised against draconian action such as restricting driving. Time will tell (as will the voice of the people, so ya better get your butt in gear and join the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association - before they outlaw that too!) NUTZ-N-BOLTZ, SKUNK DOTS MAGAZINE

AIM ATTORNEY FILES SUIT FOR FORMER KANSAS GOVERNOR Kansas Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) attorney Keith Renner is pursuing a lawsuit filed on behalf of former Kansas Governor Joan Finney, her husband and son for violations of their Constitutional rights.
The former governor and her family filed their lawsuit against six members of the Topeka, Kansas, police department as a result of an alleged illegal search of the Finney home and an illegal seizure of their son, Richard Finney.
The lawsuit alleges that at least six members of the Topeka police department arrived at the Finney residence on September 27, 1997, claiming to be responding to a 911 call about a suspicious person knocking on the door at the Finney's house. When the police arrived, Richard Finney and a friend (the "suspicious" man knocking on the door) were inside the house reading magazines. When they noticed police outside, Richard went out the back door to see what the problem was. Officers immediately drew guns on Finney and placed him in handcuffs. Finney informed the officers that this was his home, that no problems were occurring, and he provided the officers with his driver's license which confirmed that he lived at the residence. The officers then searched the house over Finney's objections. Finney was held in handcuffs until the officers had completed their search and were leaving the premises.
Richard Finney seeks monetary damages for the violation of his rights. Governor and Spencer Finney seek only nominal damages for the illegal search of their home.
AIM Attorney Renner explains that, ''While this lawsuit does not involve a motorcycle or club related issue, as Governor Finney stated in a press conference, if this can happen to her family, it can happen to anyone.''
The former governor is organizing a concerned citizens group to provide support for people abused by law enforcement officers, and to make the public and elected officials aware of the seriousness and frequency of police misconduct. AID TO INJURED MOTORCYCLISTS (AIM)

IF YOU'RE HEADED FOR DAYTONA we suggest you pack a tent and spend a fun filled week with ABATE of Florida at their campground. It will end up costing about 10% of what a motel will gouge out of you, and you'll be supporting a worthy cause. Information can be found on the Internet by clicking on their link at http: www.lonebiker.com/abate and going to their ''campground'' page. ABATE OF FLORIDA

OTHER MILLENNIUM RUN DATES TO REMEMBER:
04-26 thru 30 - Laughlin River Run, Laughlin, NV
05-11 thru 13 - 15th Annual NCOM Convention, San Francisco, CA
05-14 thru 21 - SC/NC Dealers' Association Rally, Myrtle Beach, SC
05-28 - Rolling Thunder XII, Washington, DC
06-05 thru 10 - Americade, Lake George, NY
06-11 thru 18 - Laconia Bike Week, Laconia, NH
07-02 thru 06 - National Retreads Rally, Nashua, NH
08-07 thru 13 - Black Hills Motor Classic, Sturgis, SD
08-31 thru 09-03 - Four Corners Iron Horse Rally, Ignacio, CO
09-20 thru 24 - Golden Aspen Rally, Ruiodoso, NM
10-15 thru 21 - Biketoberfest, Daytona Beach, FL

CABIN FEVER I have resolved to NEVER be ''ready for winter'' again, and I strongly encourage everyone else to do the same. My theory is, if we ignore it long enough, winter will eventually go away completely.
Therefore, for the last few years, I have NOT taken the battery out of my bike in October, nor even in November. Neither have I added gas stabilizer, nor performed any of the ritualistic, sacrificial overtures to the onset of winter here in the frozen tundra. Those things, along with such concessions as caulking doors and windows, insulating water pipes and foundations, digging out the snow shovels, checking antifreeze in the car, cleaning out a spot near the stove for stacking fire wood, breaking out winter coats, taking the air conditioner out of the window, and getting the winter tires mounted after the first snow, are left for a more appropriate time! The thing is, if you do that stuff too early, old man winter will get the idea that he can come along any time he wants, and pretty soon we'll have winter in August!
For the past two years, I took my last ride here in Vermont in mid-December. Sure your fingers get a little numb! Sure you might have to stand around the tire place a little longer to get your snow tires mounted because you didn't take your car there sooner. Sure the caulking compound doesn't flow smoothly because it's too cold. The point is, if you give winter an inch, he'll take 96 inches (of snow, that is). Ya gotta put him in his place! Let him know who's boss! When he comes along blowing his cold air and sprinkling little bits of frozen stuff around, DON'T GIVE IN to him! Hop on that bike and tool down the road like it was the middle of summer! It'll confuse him! It'll fake him out! He won't know if he's coming or going! And, one of these years, he'll be so messed up that he just won't bother to show up at all! Yea!
''There, winter, take THAT!'' ''Hah!'' We need a bumper sticker that says, ''I'll give up riding when they pry my cold, frozen fingers off the throttle!'' Go ahead, TRY to wipe that smile off my face! Ya can't do it! It's frozen there! Hah! BOB POSCH, FREEDOM OF THE ROAD (FOR) - VERMONT

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: ''For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.'' ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON