I will NOT ever attend any type of motorcycle rally in florida. if the state doesnt want motorcycles around, why be there? and more importantly WHY BRING THEM MORE REVENUE as they are attacking you??

idiotic!

Mary Peters was a motorcyclist in an important position within federal government that ran NHTSA right over motorcyclist rights.

Letters, phone calls faxes and emails all work when directed at the right people. The people in government, for the most part, will continue to ignore them from individuals. The people that are not targeted with these communication campaigns are the motorcyclists and manufacturers themselves.

Many motorcyclists are concealed carry permit holders.

Politically acceptable way? Hell NO. It has been proven that the government has effectively fragmented and divided the motorcycling community through all sorts of devious methods.

The only unification is the joy that riding brings to those that ride. The politicians have not removed that from riding as of this writing.

Biker Lady, It is evident that Florida ABATE was no where to be found on this issue. It is not surprising that under the leadership that is currently in place that this has been a non-issue for them.

Nicker, you are on target with your comments to the industry.

Possibly, the perception that the ship has already sailed on this is conveying a feeling that nothing can be done. Generally, before a bill is passed , it is difficult to nail down how any legislator is going to vote or whose money is influencing how they vote. There is a greed within government for your money and they will go after it without ethic nor moral to get it and spend it as they see fit. The lies told to acquire the money do not matter as long as they get the money.

Men and women of the legal profession have specialists within their ranks that can bring suit on this issue as a class action suit.

The difficulty that arises here for the motorcyclists across the nation is one of unity. Unifying the motorcyclists is generally like herding cats. Crafting a marketable position that an overwhelming majority of motorcyclists will ascribe to and get behind may take some thought.

Generally, I feel that most motorcyclists do not like thieves and especially do not like being ripped off. This is a rip off by deception. This is a rip off by government and I believe that in some countries they still cut off the hands of thieves. Metaphorically speaking, it is at this point that we, as motorcyclists, should cut off the hands of the thieves.

So – what to do? Answer – you have to get a motorcyclist in the legislature. How? Team up with groups of a similar mindset. Go for groups that are larger and are more uniformly passionate about their cause. Conceealed carry permit holders would be a great place to start. These folks feel more strongly about individual freedom than most motorcyclists.

Whatever it takes – join up and raise hell – in a good politically acceptable way.

One more group that comes to mind that has had the sh#@ kicked out of them is cigarette smokers.

Ya well, in general, the public has a way of influencing politicians. A good example would be
Amnesty for Illegals. But they have to be motivated. There has to be a perception that their self interest is at stake. When the $$$ it’s being paid by them, it’s in their self interest.
And “harmless”…??. Hell, most politicians are well out of our “legal” reach.

So, the issue is the Public’s perception of motorcyclists at large….. and Bikers in particular.

On it’s face, what ya have here is a very simple proposition.
The American Public loves the image of the “Rugged Individual.”
(remember all the cool cowboy shows of the 1950’s and 1960’s)
So, where TV shows like “Along Came Bronson” generated a positive biker image

What they don’t respond to is the image of “Fat, Drunk, Stupid, & Annoying.”
(where’s that put the current 3pach TV series…???)

Look, this is a very simple PR proposition.
As an industry you-all (builders & Mfg.s) have a significant interest in that Public ‘Perception.
How you present yourselves and your business goes a long way in promoting good PR.

Moreover, how you interact with your customers goes a long way in influencing how they (the customers) behave.
“… There is no greater influence on the admirer then the disdain of the admired…”

Believe this, how the public perceives your customers will have an affect on your business.
And the controversies raised over Bike Rally issues don’t help public perception at all.

Sorry, i just calls-em as i sees-em.

-nicker-

RE:
“… They are opening up this fund to be used for whatever they damned well please…”
“… wonder if these legislative and bureaucratic clowns can be held harmless …”

In general, if legislation is acceptable to the public at large, it’ll most likely stand.
And if they don’t have-ta pay…….. well, bonus!

Arguably, the fiasco over Bike Rally issues doesn’t help the public perception of “Bikers” a lick.

The point is, what we do as a group and how we do it can come back and bite us in the ass.
And just so, what the “Industry” promotes and how it’s “customers” conduct themselves with those
products and venues directly impacts public perception.

It’s a very simple proposition:
It’s your industry. You have the power to influence your customers, simply by how your present yourself and your business.
“…There’s nothing more powerful than the disdain of a mentor…”
(Don’t remember who said that. And if no one did, someone should have)

The TV show Along Came Bronson and this current 3patch TV series (can’t remember the title) are examples of “opinion making” entertainment. Guess which prompted a positive public opinion.

The American public has always liked images of the “Rugged Individual.”
What they don’t like is the image of “Annoying, Offensive Individuals.”
And no legislation was ever reversed on behalf of the “Fat, Drunk, or Stupid.”

Sorry. i just calls-em as i sees-em.

-nicker-

As a former Florida resident (grew up in Winter Haven) I could not agree more! If I lived there now I would be raising hell.

Boss Hawg

We wrote the Governor and the response received was a form letter that made it fairly apparent that our letter was either not read or given any attention.

Unfortunately this is the is case with our legislators also I received a response from Senator BIll Nelson that was so far off target I would consider it an insult to anybody’s intelligence.

They are more than happy to listen to you prior to election. After election it is the money they listen to.

The days of writing legislators are over. Rogue is right when he says “talk to them in person”
and by that I mean face to face. And slap the Blackberry out of their hands while talking. rc

HB5007A and HB5003A were “laid on the table” (dropped):

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=40111

What was passed and approved by the Governor was SB40A, with similar provisions:

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=40048&

This ship has sailed, and it’s too late for Florida bikers to stop it.

Bruce

To sum things up in brief, the state placed a fee/tax upon motorcyclists that was intended for the perceived improvement of motorcycling. They are opening up this fund to be used for whatever they damned well please to cover there asses for overspending in other areas.

I don’t like it one bit and wonder if these legislative and bureaucratic clowns can be held harmless for this.

Any thoughts?

Any other instances that this has happened in other states?

Thanks

Mike

And since we can only ride around five months of the year (unless you want to install tire chains and wear a fully heated suit) it ends up costing around $112.00/month.