The GUNNY'S SACK

March 2005 I'm always telling folks to visit their elected officials and legislators. This last month I took my own advice and reestablished my presence in those hallowed halls of the Oregon legislature, in Salem. ABATE of Oregon and others are sponsoring some biker-friendly laws, and I figure I'd better let them know what I think. This is always a refreshing experience, because you realize that THIS is the way for me and everyone to affect and change the law.

The legislators are well aware that the public who put them in office can take them OUT of office, too. In some cases, they know that BIKER SUPPORT is what did it. Either way, they can't work for us if we don't let them KNOW what we want! They will, usually, sit down and listen to your concerns, especially if it's well thought-out in advance. Their jobs depend on a happy constituency.

You'll find they are mostly common people just like us. The only difference is they decided to run for office and got elected. Anyone can be in their shoes if they want to badly enough. And like I've said, we need BIKERS IN OFFICE. I'd do it, but I'm just too cranky!

NEWSBITS ‘N' PIECES

MISSISSIPPI: A biker in this state has filed suit for the helmet law to be declared null and void on the grounds it cannot be enforced. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators is the organization authorized by Mississippi law to inspect and approve helmets, and they've stopped doing that. Therefore, the argument goes, who can tell which helmets are legal? Good luck to him!

IRVINE, CA: In 2004, the California Motorcycle Safety Program trained a HUGE number of people: 49,222 students. That's an increase of 26% from 2003. Rider training is a requirement for their riders under 21. ‘Course, you KNOW my take on it: ALL of us ought to be taking rider ed refresher courses regularly!

KEIZER, OREGON: Seems like the police around here can't seem to let go of some 50's image of bikers, and they just keep ticketing groups of riders. Some months ago we reported here in the SACK that about 30-odd bikes were pulled over there, most all members of the Gypsy Joker MC. Our AIM Lawyer, Sam Hochberg, went and represented the whole pack, for free, in part as a project for the Oregon Confederation of Clubs, where he's that group's lawyer, too. Also for free. SAM, go make some MONEY, willya please? I could use a bonus!! (Sam's my boss) Anyhow, Sam spent FOUR consecutive Wednesdays down in Keizer, for all these infraction trials. Their court only meets once a week, and the judge refused Sam's request to consolidate the cases. God knows what it must have cost the good folks who LIVE in Keizer, to try all these cases. In fact, the officer who started this even said, IN OPEN COURT, that HE "knew" that the "stated plan" was to just cost their town money. I sure don't think so. How about exercising your RIGHT TO TRIAL?? Well, SAM tells me that the municipal Judge down there was a fine man to chat with in chambers, but he sure didn't agree with Sam's arguments. RESULT: 6 found NOT Guilty, but three were because THEIR cop didn't show up. The other 3 were found Not Guilty on the merits. The rest are in the process of APPEALING, and getting a new trial in a regular State Circuit Court, where they hope to get a fair shake. In our state, if you're convicted in a small muni or justice court, you can do it all over again! We'll keep ya' posted, here in The SACK.

WASHINGTON, D.C: From the Internet, a reader sent us an article about this biker group, SEMITES ON BIKES, a.k.a., The S.O.B's! They're another small Jewish riding group on the east coast, based in a little town near D.C. These guys were started up by Ken Shapiro, a.k.a. "THE KING," so-called because he proclaimed it so when he formed the club! He didn't want a president, elections, by-laws, or any other rules because, he says, that's what ruins the fun. They all have road names like the rest of us with the exception that they all start with the prefix "SIR", and I can't figure why. You don't need to be Jewish to ride with them, and women are welcome too. They are having a great time riding, and they’re NOT religious guys, at least not in the same sense as some of the people in Christian motorcycle groups. Have fun guys, and Mazel Tov on your new group! Sam says I should tell you that's just Yiddish for "Congratulations," more or less.

BIKER "SAFE SEX": This story was reported in the New York Post. In Brooklyn, a pair of bikers were caught late one night on the median of a quiet road, with their pants down, and "doing the nasty!" However, THEY HAD THEIR HELMETS ON, the Post reported. They were charged with public lewdness and nudity for this offbeat encounter. Guess they just couldn't wait.

CASA GRANDE, AZ.: Saxon Motorcycle Co. announced the start of national wholesale and retail finance programs with GE Capital, to help finance their bikes for customers. They also announced a partnership with Serviceguard Systems to offer a private-labeled extended warranty to cover their Saxon Motorcycles for up to six years. Now I don't know about that particular scoot, but I know this: It's made in the USA, so I'll go look ‘em up!

Saxon Motorcycles is starting with nine dealers. They hope to expand nationwide.

PIERRE, S.D.: The state's highest court upheld former U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow's criminal conviction for a 2003 crash that killed a biker. They rejected the former Congressman's argument that there wasn't enough evidence for a guilty verdict. It was a UNANIMOUS RULING from the court. Quit whining Mr Janklow, and get on with your life. You got off real easy in my book.

LAHORE, PAKISTAN: Another country goes down! MANDATORY HELMETS is the rule in Pakistan. A new government decision to vigorously enforce the law was announced "to prevent head injuries," starting immediately. It has been two decades since Pakistan first implemented their helmet law, but I'm guessing it's been largely ignored. People in Pakistan have bigger issues than helmets. Nevertheless, Pakistani police have launched a campaign to create "awareness" among motorcyclists about the benefits of helmets.
We aren't alone with big brother folks.

STURGIS, S.D. Pearl T. Hoel, considered by many to be the first lady of the Sturgis motorcycle rally, died recently in Sturgis. She was 99 years old. Her husband was "Pappy" Hoel. He died in 1989, and is credited with starting the annual event in 1938 as the Black Hills Motor Classic. It attracted 200 people to a tent behind the Hoels' Indian Motorcycle dealership in Sturgis. Since then, of course, this has grown to a huge deal: today, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the Black Hills each August for the legendary Sturgis biker rally.

GUNNY AGAIN: I gotta say it again folks. If it weren't for a group of allied attorneys around the country taking care of us, we would be in deep doo-doo. Call the national number for AIM, that's Aid to Injured Motorcyclists, at 1-800-531-2424, or 800-ON-A-BIKE, if you find yourself in an accident or other legal trouble. The AIM attorneys will try to help you. Our own Oregon AIM attorney Sam Hochberg is typical of most all the AIM guys around the country: he devotes huge amounts of time and effort on our behalf and doesn't charge us a dime for most of it. Do yourself a favor and call for help to the right people when you need it.