The GUNNY'S SACK

January 1999

1999 has started with a BANG. Many of the legislatures around the country that convene only every other year are now in session, including ours here in Oregon.

As is becoming the norm, all the different groups think their agenda is the most important and should receive the first consideration. Wrong! The way it really works is the fastest with the mostest.

In Oregon we have two bills so far and we PRE-filed them. That gives us a small head start and that's the key. This year there are more pre-filings than ever. The earlier filings get early consideration.

The first bill is, of course, our continuing helmet law battle. Last session we made it to the governor's desk and he in his infinite wisdom vetoed us. Maybe this year we will have enough of a majority that the veto can be overridden. That's the goal.

Bill number two is repeal of the handlebar height restrictions in our state.

I think we have a real shot at that because all that law really does is give police another tool for harassment of motorcyclists.

We that ride know that handlebar height has very little to do with proper control of our machines. I don't see too big a problem getting the measure passed in light of the handlebar height on the old stingray bicycles. No one thought anything about high bars when on a pedal bike. In my mind it should be the same on a motorcycle. Of course, for what it's worth, a person should to be able to reach their bars from a relaxed sitting position on the scoot.

Here in Oregon our first BIKER DAY of the year was more successful than I expected, given the sloppy weather. We had about 20 bikes and about sixty people show up. All in all it was a good day for us but we need MUCH more support on the rest of our planned biker days or we may not get far with our proposed law changes. Biker Days are organized by BikePAC, to get our people out to their reps, to talk to ‘em right in their faces. Calmly, pleasantly, politely, and persuasively. If you can make it, give me a call (503-362-3767) or an e-mail to AIMGunny@aol.com, and I'll get you the details.

Our elected officials look at the support they see in the galleries of the capitol building and many times vote accordingly. Fewer visible supporters get fewer votes. Sixty or so motorcyclists in leather showing up at these events doesn't say as much about how valid our concerns are, when there are well over a HUNDRED and SIXTY-THOUSAND registered bikers in this state! Oregon riders if you want the laws changed to better serve our needs YOU are going to have to get off your tush and help us just a little bit. I would think your personal freedom would be worth at least one day off work to get to the capitol and show your support in this battle. That's enough of me. Now we will get on to other news:

NEWS BITS'N PIECES: FLORIDA: Evel Knievel, the well-known stunt rider, got his liver transplant recently at a hospital here. Apparently he's doing well and I'm sure he's pleased about that. The man hurt himself in his stunt career far too often for me to try it. Wow! More than 34 broken bones from motorcycle crashes during his stunt life. HARD way to make a living.

PHOENIX, AZ: It appears the American heavy motorcycle industry is something like 40,000 bikes short of national needs each year, so competitive bike manufacturers are happily licking their chops anticipating greater sales than ever before. They intend to fill that gap in available machines at attractive prices and proven reliability. Some of these heavy V-twin bikes can cost upwards of $30,000.00. And yet the general public thinks of bikers as people of little worth and n'er-do-wells with a death-wish. That condition has been with me most of the fifty years I've been riding. Amazingly enough, I'm still around.

INDIA: Motorcycle sales here have for the first time in history overtaken the sales of motor scooters. Motorcycle sales stood at 870,000 units while scooter sales were ten percent less at 792,000 units. Moped sales were at a low of 517,000 units this during the time period of April through November 1998. was this item of interest to bikers of all persuasions.

WASHINGTON STATE: Picked up on mclaws@UserHome.com was this item of interest to all bikers of all persuasions. Apparently there is a biker somewhere in WASHINGTON going to truck driving school who happens to be a member of ABATE. He asked his instructor if there was any class time set aside for motorcycle awareness instruction. The reply, in so many words, was that it wasn't necessary. His opinion was expressed as: Any dumb biker should have enough sense to look out for trucks and he wasn't concerned about a bunch of damn bikers and their brain bucket issues.

Cheryl Adams from Washington ABATE is concerned about it and asked for advice as to how to handle this serious problem. A safety director from a large trucking company in Arkansas responded, saying that the State Motor Carrier Assn. in Washington should be notified and the driving school identified and it would get immediate attention. He also said that this sort of an instructor should NOT be teaching drivers anything. What else wrong might he be telling young new drivers?

SAM'S TIP'O THE MONTH: Sam Hochberg spent a real tough week in late January at the AIM Attorney Conference, this year in Jamaica. About 30 of these guys got together, and actually spent a lot of time talking about how to better protect our rights in two major areas -- in injury claims against rotten drivers and insurance companies, and against big government intrusions -- both in terms of helmet laws and other regulations, and about civil rights issues, too. Sam got to give a talk, to share our own experiences in Portland with our recent victory against the Police's "Criminal Gang" designation law, as discussed in previous editions of this here Gunny's Sack. I DID get it out of Sam that these guys spent just a little time enjoying themselves, too -- but I can't print any details. Sam, of course, is our Oregon AIM (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) Attorney, and you can always catch him at his computer at Sambikelaw@aol.com -- although he didn't take his laptop to Jamaica. Office number for legal info is 503-224-1106, or 1-800-347-1106. Sam's tip THIS month: Stay away from that overproof rum, and don't buy no ganja, mon, you go to jail.

GUNNY AGAIN: The AIM attorney in your state is as close as your telephone and it's toll free. The way it works is that you call the national number: 1-800-531-2424. All AIM attorneys will talk to you free of charge. They ride, they handle bike wrecks (or any other personal injury accidents), and most will talk to you free about civil rights matters, too. We now have AIM criminal attorneys (Aid to INCARCERATED Motorcyclists) in most areas as well. It doesn't cost a cent to get good legal advice and AIM guys really care about your welfare. That's my message -- and the other message is:
Keep the round side on the bottom.

Gunny, Oregon AIM Chief of Staff