Legislative Information
Contact Your Legislator
Below is an easy way to contact your specific Legislator
to let them know our position on the current
Helmet Bills and Red Light Bills
Go to http://www.leg.wa.gov/.
Open the LEGISLATOR INFORMATION tab.
Find your Legislator's telephone number in the Rosters link.
Find your Legislator's email address in the Legislator E-mail Services links.
Helmet Bills:
SB5143: Received Sponsorship Signatures from the following 11 Senators: Benton, Braun, Carrell, Delvin, Hargrove, Hatfield, Holmquist, Newbry, Rivers, Roach, Sheldon, Smith
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5143&year=2013
HB1246: Received Sponsorship Signatures from the following 23 Representatives: Blake, Condotta, Crouse, Dahlquist, Fagan, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Holy, Kirby, Kretz, MacEwen, Magendanz, Orcutt, Ross, Warnick, Schmick, Shea, Short, Taylor, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Vick http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1246&year=2013
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Red Light Bills:
SB5141: Received Sponsorship signatures from the following 16 Senators: Carrell, Delvin, Eide, Ericksen, Harper, Hatfield, Holmquist, Keiser, King, Kline, Newbry, Padden, Rivers, Roach, Rolfes, Sheldon, Shin
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5141&year=2013
HB1238: Received Sponsorship signatures from the following 25 Representatives: Angel, Bergquist, Haigh, Haler,Hargrove, Hunt, Kagi, Kirby, Magendanz, Moeller, Morrell, Moscoso, Orcutt, Parker, Reykdal, Riccelli, Roberts, Schmick, Sells, Shea, Short, Springer, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Vick
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1238&year=2013
What is "A.B.A.T.E." ?
A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments
ABATE's PURPOSE is to protect the rights of motorcycle riders and promote motorcycle safety. Social and political grass roots participation is key to continued success. There are many ABATE groups around the country, each having a state governing body with chapters based in cities and counties. There isn't a national governing body and it is a non-profit corporation.
NO MATTER WHAT MOTORCYCLE YOU RIDE, trike or vehicle you drive, or even if you don't ride yet or ever, ABATE does not discriminate against you participating in our activities. Non-members are welcome as guests at all meetings, although they don't have the same privileges as active members.
MEMBERSHIP IN ABATE includes a monthly newsletter from the ABATE of Washington state organization and discounts on admission to events statewide as well as voting privileges on ABATE issues and elections.
Parade Bill Signing
About Tacoma Chapter
TACOMA CHAPTER was chartered January 20, 1979. It's one of ABATE of Washington's oldest and largest chapters.
ALL WORK is done by involved chapter members utilizing their own time, talents, telephones, e-mail, computers and more for the benefit of the organization. There is no "chapter office location" and official business may only be conducted at the monthly
chapter business meeting.
This Years' Focus is: HB1984- Repeal of the Helmet Law, removing certain requirements for motorcycle helmet use. HB1984 – Repealing the helmet Statute.In 1991, the legislature of Washington passed the Mandatory Helmet Law. At the time, the Bill was touted as the ‘Head Injury Prevention Act’. Contrary to media and public sentiment, the Helmet law has not performed as intended. Helmeted States experience the same injury and fatality numbers as non-helmeted States.
More importantly is the fact that the helmet law operates contrary to the Constitution. There have been 2 significant Washington State Court rulings (State v. Maxwell and Sanaski; City of Spokane v. Pinnell). The courts ruled that the use of FMVSS 218 against the citizen is vague and unconstitutional. On the Federal level, EASYRIDER v. Hannigan prohibits helmets stops when probable cause cannot be found through lists of helmets that have failed testing, helmets that have been recalled, or helmets that have been decertified. Washington Law Enforcement (nor any other government entity) has these lists. ALL HELMET STOPS ARE ABSENT THE REQUIREMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE. Motorcyclist need to be contacting their legislators and telling them to vote YES on these bill. They need to be telling their legislators that we are prepared to testify in favor of passing these bills and we need their support to push the Chair of the Transportation Committee to schedule a hearing on these bills.
HB1527- The Red Light Bill, Allowing motorcycles to stop and proceed through traffic control signals under certain conditions. HB1527 – Addressing Malfunctioning Red lightsIn 2009 legislation was passed that laid out how Municipalities were required to address fixing the problem. To date there has been no significant change.One of the requirements was for a reporting system to be established and maintained. Again, there is no significant change to the reporting system. Our statement is simple: As part of the traveling public, motorcyclists should not be hindered in our movements by the failure of the detection loops to recognize our presence at a traffic signal. The Legislature has been asked to address and immediate remedy within the law when the signal fails to respond to our vehicle. What we are asking for is a Remedy to be placed in the law that allows us to proceed as if we were at a stop sign. This bill is prime sponsored by Katrina Asay (R) 30th District.ABATE is very strongly in favor of the passage of this bll so that we may travel as unencumbered as all other motor vehicles using the public roadways of Washington.
To find your Legislator, go to: leg.wa.org and click 'Find Your Legislator'
MOTORCYCLE RESOURCE WEBSITES
Finding your legislator: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
Tacoma Chapter Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com
Washington Road Riders Association (WRRA): http://roadriders.org/
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF): http://nm.msf-usa.org/msf/ridercourses.aspx
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM): http://www.aimncom.com/ncom/ncom.htm
American Motorcyclist Association (AMA): http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights
Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF): http://www.mrf.org/
ABATE of Oregon: http://abateoforegon.net/