The GUNNY'S SACK
November 1998
From THE GUNNY'S SACK: This last month has been full of reminders to me to
get the word out to people to get their couch potato butts off the couch and
vote in the coming elections.
In Oregon the May election only got around 40% of the registered
voters to cast their ballots. If every registered motorcyclist in this state,
or any other state, would exercise their voting rights we could have bikers in
most every office in state legislatures and most of congress. It won't happen
unless you do it. We have the opportunity this year to have things our way in
the Oregon state house, all we have to do is vote. Nowadays, you don't even
have to start your scooter to vote. You can do it at your kitchen table,
because the powers that be will send you your ballot if you are registered for
the mail-in ballots. It just doesn't get any easier than that.
Get in touch with me, or any other BikePAC member you know, and we
will mail you a free list of the candidates that BikePAC has decided support
the needs of our motorcycle community. That's all we can do for you. You have
to make the marks on the paper and mail them in. Okay, enough bluster; here's
the news:
News bits'n pieces: Philadelphia: Ordinary citizens aren't the only
ones faced with the dilemma of illegal drugs. Two young Amish men recently
plead guilty to charges of selling cocaine to their peers in the Amish
community. Sentencing hasn't been set, but they could get as much as 40 years
and fined up to two million dollars. I don't know about you but I can't afford
that kind of time or money.
Livingston, NJ: October was the start of this state's new MOTORCYCLE
MOUNTED PARAMEDICS! Twelve of ‘em from the Saint Barnabas Health Care
System will share in the use of two BMW motorcycles set up for emergency
medical care. The idea is that ambulances don't do very well fighting congested
traffic. Scooters can cut through the traffic better, and these biker
paramedics can start lifesaving procedures a lot more quickly than an ambulance.
Many lives will be saved by this innovative idea. It's been in use in Asia for
some time now with great success. Isn't it great when Joe citizen realizes
scooters are good for something besides running over!
New Hampshire: At the Republican Party Convention here, the GOP
adopted these items as part of their platform: 1) To support the right of all
adults to freely choose the use of seat belts and helmets; 2) Oppose any
legislation to further restrict the rights of law abiding citizens to own
firearms and to justly defend themselves, their families, and their property;
and 3) Repeal any existing legislation which is inconsistent with the second
amendment rights of the constitution. Maybe there really is light at the end of
the tunnel and it's not just a figment of our imagination!
OREGON: Here's another real victory, folks. Ken Ray, a delegate to the
Oregon GOP convention, and Bob Avery (aka Bagger Bob), managed to get HELMET
language included in the Oregon GOP platform! Listen to this: "We believe
Oregon citizens are as responsible as citizens in other states in making free
choices in transportation options. Therefore we call for raising Interstate
Highway speed limits in lower density areas and removing helmet and seat belt
requirements for free citizens" Congrats to the hard work of bikers in the
Oregon Republican party. Ken is the Legislative Director for BikePAC of Oregon,
and Bob is the Vice Chairman of Lane County Republicans, and also a member of
BikePAC. If you are interested in making changes like that, contact Ken Ray,
through me or through Sam Hochberg's office.
Washington DC: Just this last week I saw a picture of research taking
place involving the AIRBAG device on a Honda Goldwing motorcycle. The picture
was in a recent newsletter from the MRF. I've been screaming about this for more
than three years, and now it's in our face. I first saw this at an NCOM
(National Coalition of Motorcyclists, for the uninitiated) convention several
years ago, when representatives from Europe showed us video tapes of testing
that was going then in "Jolly Olde England." I have a copy, if there
are any interested groups out there that would like to see it. We'd better pay
attention to what's going on across the pond.
PENNSYLVANIA: We've been reporting on these developments for several
months now. The latest: Ex-trooper Gerald Devlin's appeal was postponed until
November 25th. He then will attempt to show why his inappropriate high speed
chase was justified and why he shouldn't be fined, even though biker Ken Fowler
lost his life because of it. If this individual should prevail in this case he
could conceivably sue the state and get his job back. It wouldn't be the first
time such shenanigans have taken place in our justice system. The Pennsylvania
bikers are keeping us posted, and so will I.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Ten days in jail and 50 lashes if you're caught
speeding on your scooter here. It's part of a crackdown on road racing and
speeding, because fines don't appear to be enough of a deterrent for speeders.
It's plenty for me folks. I have a very low tolerance for the kiss of the lash.
OREGON: Big Brother strikes big time. Some weird stuff here, friends.
Seems Portland's finest are now sending out "Gang Affiliation" notices
to known patch holders; or at least to one of them, so far. If you're wearing a
3-piece patch, they pretty much just conclude you are a member of a CRIMINAL
GANG! They've set up this funky procedure where you can challenge the
designation. Turns out all you contest is whether you ARE a member. You CAN'T
challenge their assumption that your club is a criminal gang. Sam Hochberg, our
Oregon AIM Attorney, is taking the case on, along with civil rights lawyer
Spencer Neal, aka Spike. Sam and Spike are still in the early stages of looking
at this. I'll be following this story, so stay tuned.
Reminder: Our Oregon Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) attorney Sam
Hochberg can be reached for any legal questions at 503-224-1106, or
1-800-347-1106. He's also SamBikeLaw@aol.com. Sam will always talk with you, and
if he doesn't do the kind of legal work you're calling about, he will generally
find you someone he trusts who does. Through the AIM program, we also now
provide criminal representation, although Sam doesn't do that himself. Sam will
fill you in on that aspect of the AIM program. Access to Aid to Injured
Motorcyclists is always 24 hours a day, at 1-800-On-A-Bike, or 1-800-531-2424.
Sam's AIM Tip O' the month: Just a few short words this month on
traffic infractions: These little tickets won't send you to jail, but they'll
eat up your pocketbook. Know that if you are convicted in most SMALLER courts,
like a little Justice Court or Municipal Court, these are usually NOT full-blown
courts, in that any conviction is always appealable, with an appeal bond, to a
regular State Circuit Court in that county. So, if you get stuck in a podunk
court, know that you can always appeal to the chief podunk court. Check the time
limits on that with the local court clerk.
Gunny again: For those of you that missed the last issue of these
pearls of wisdom, the Gunny has moved to different digs. The address is: 359
Glen Creek Rd. NW # 85, Salem, OR 97304. The new phone is: 503 / 362-3767. The
E-mail address is the same as before: AIMGunny@aol.com. I don't know why we did
it, but it seemed to be a good idea at the time, and it does save us some time
and money for survival in these times of monetary stress some of us are facing.
Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon AIM Chief of Staff
