Comments on: Rally Of Texas Helmet Warning

By: Dingo Dave

Dingo Dave — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:40:48 +0000

Let those who ride decide.
Socialist Mufu’s…

By: Rogue

Rogue — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:44:21 +0000

John
One last thing The DOT Does Not Approve Helmets.
If you will be so kind as to find me a list of helmets that are DOT Approved by any State and or the Federal Goverment please send it to me.
I have been looking for that list for many years and have yet to find it,
Of course If I am going to purchase a helmet I want it to have a DOT sticker and to be assured some cop is not going to say in his opinion it is not and pulls me over for it.
Rogue

By: Rogue

Rogue — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:38:12 +0000

Maybe i was not clear in what i said.
I was refering to event all over the country where law enforcement are stopping just motorcycles for routine checks.
After the stop it is license , registeration, proof of insurance, safety check, have you been drinking and on and on.
The fact is that law enforcement is suppose to have probable cause to stop any one going about their business. When they stop only motorcycles that is a profiling just like if they were stopping someone for color of their skin and or whatever.
I am not saying that some of them being stopped do not have altered exhaust or faulty equipment But they might not have been stopped if it was not a road block.
Look at Florida and the verticle license plate and a fine of $1,000.00 dollars.
The motorcycle may not be illegal in the state it is registered in and Federal Law allows for interstate travel so out of state mototcycles should be temporilly exempt from that statue while at Bike Week.
When one of those people are give a ticket it they know that they are not going to come back and fight it because of the expense of doing so. They would be found not guilty if they went to court but not everyone can do that. So the cop issuing the ticket knowing the case is beatable just made money for the court, his department etc. insuring him of having a job.
Far out ,I do not think so.
Rogue

By: John

John — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:35:59 +0000

Rogue stuttered: “It should be noted that because of Money being tight many law enforcement agencys are incresing their revenue by targeting motorcycle events around the country and stopping motorcyclist for what ever reason they can come up with.
Many of these stops are out right illegal while others border on it.”

ROGUE, there are way easier stops to make that would produce revenue than enforcing the helmet law. For one, if you are able to show proof at a later date then the stop, the court will dismiss the ticket, meaning no $$$.
Before spreading your conspiracy theories and getting people all worked up, do your research.
In addition, in Texas, officers currently have the right to stop a motorcycle or moped/scooter for these very basic checks:
1) if rider with no helmet, stopping to check for exemptions
2) stop to verify that the motor driven cycle meets the standards of the department
3) if helmet, stop to verify that the helmet is DOT approved.

I am a rider and yes I have days that I don’t want to wear my helmet, however, I carry my exemption proof on me. I also am very thankful that we in Texas, still have the right to have the option, whereas so many states force you to wear a helmet with no chance of exemption.
Pretty F’in easy to get the requirements and then make your choice rather than ruining it for everyone else who knows how to follow easy rules.

By: Conrad

Conrad — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:18:52 +0000

Antone,

It is not a big deal, it is just a hastle to be pulled over for no real reason because you are obeying the law and our laws state over 21 and a M license you are clear.

By: Antone

Antone — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:15:39 +0000

I think its pretty dumb to ride without a helmet,I don’t know what the big deal is?

By: Jeff Nicklus

Jeff Nicklus — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:09:37 +0000

Rogue,

I just returned from ROT and I personally saw very, very few people stopped by the PD. Needless to say most everyone rode without a lid and without a problem. FYI: The only cause a law enforcement official needs to make a traffic stop is to check your drivers license. Nothing more!

Over & Out,

Jeff

By: Roadside Marty

Roadside Marty — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:58:42 +0000

Hey Ray why don’t you let off that throttle every once in a while and you might slide thru undetected…never mind, if I had a Dyna like yours I guess I would ride that bastard fast too!!! By the way did you offer to take the Judge for a ride LOL!!!

By: Rodent

Rodent — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:39:07 +0000

The Nazi governator of Califuckinfornia ain’t much better. His Gestapo AKA CHP ain’t letting people slide.

By: Rogue

Rogue — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:24:11 +0000

It should be noted that because of Money being tight many law enforcement agencys are incresing their revenue by targeting motorcycle events around the country and stopping motorcyclist for what ever reason they can come up with.
Many of these stops are out right illegal while others border on it.
If a state has a mandatory insurance law to ride with out a helmet then a office has probable cause to stop someone and see if they in fact do have insurance.
Most times this is just a excuse for why you were pulled over. It then goes into while we are stopped let me see you license and registeration, most likely then on to what ever the office feels might be a equipment violation, warrent checks, under the infulence and so on.
When state motorcycle rights organizations agreed to having special insurance and or education for motorcyclist to make the decision for themselves to wear a helmet or not they folded to the special interest groups that would profit from this and also giving law enforcement another tool to stop motorcyclist.
The days of your tail light is not working are long gone.
Many motorcycle rights people are against having these stipulations because of these reasons.
Some of the organizations that got the laws changed with these restrictions just got tired of fighting and or did not have the balls to go all the way with massive protests to get their right to decide for themselves.
As it is now things like what is going on in Texas, New York and other places around the country is going to continue and even get worse until those who ride get involved to stop it,
Rogue

By: Rogue

Rogue — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:06:30 +0000

This just goes to show that you need to be involved in making the decision on the laws that affect you as a motorcyclist.
Those living in Texas should be very thankful they have someone like Sputnik looking out for them.
It would not be a bad idea if you do not already belong to TMRA to join.
Write Your Elected Officials on how you feel about issues that affect you.

By: Conrad

Conrad — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:41:16 +0000

In Texas we have a card we carry that shows we completed either the Regular or the Advanced Motorcycle Safety Course.

By: hoyt

hoyt — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:35:46 +0000

i would be dead or brain dead without a face if it wasn’t for my helmet just a week and a half ago…

Riding a nice, rural, sunny road and came upon 100+ feet of fine gravel that started after the curve began (i.e. i was already leaned over & looking through the corner exit when i hit the gravel).

It doesn’t take much, but to each their own.

By: raycwheeler

raycwheeler — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:54:02 +0000

JUST RODE THROUGH DONLEY COUNTY, EAST OF DALLAS . APRIL 27 , 2009

Had the pleasure of meeting ” YES SIR OFFICER “, OR ELSE #11429 C OVERTON , Judge Honorable Ann Kennedy . 806 856-5914 . Red Neck Bastards deluxe .

Give her a call and tell her Ray says ” Thanks Sweetheart ” , then she hung up abruptly .

Seems they pull motorcycles out of a line of Texas tagged autos traveling same speed ( 84 in a 70 ) and issue speeding tickets to out of state travelers .

Thanked the officer repeatedly for being concerned about my safety , still wrote the ticket
even though I assured him I would change my ways and repent —never to travel over the posted limit again .

Not very neighborly , keep an eye out—- there are ” sneaky bastards hiding in them thar hills and ditches ” across these United States .

Hauls ass today , tomorrows sooner than you think .

Ray

By: Mike Greenwald

Mike Greenwald — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:55:54 +0000

Illinois and Iowa are the only two states, currently, that other states should model their helmet laws after.

By: Kirk Perry

Kirk Perry — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:11:07 +0000

Kirk. You are wrong.

Your right, except once the trash issue was remedied, Texans moved on to the next problem which was a legislature that “thought” they ran the state. The legislature woke up one morning to find out Texans had taken their state back and figured out a way for Texas to still be able to provide body parts (eyes, and internal organs for transplant recipients), while still insulating the state of Texas from liability exposure (for allowing Texans to not wear helmets if they are properly insured).
All states need a continual supply of donor-organs. States DO NOT need the liability attached to the right to go out an kill yourself by not wearing a helmet.
It’s a beautiful partnership. Texans get all the hair, teeth, and eyeballs they need and they also get the right to ride free and die of massive head injuries. And that my friends is America at it’s best.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:28:42 +0000

Kirk. You are wrong.

The phrase Don’t Mess with Texas is part of a statewide advertising campaign, started in 1986, to reduce littering on Texas roadways. The phrase was prominently shown on road signs on major highways, as well as in television, radio and print advertisements. The campaign is credited with reducing litter on Texas highways 72% between 1986 and 1990.

By: Kirk Perry

Kirk Perry — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:21:09 +0000

Sounds good! Every state should adopt the same helmet laws.

Texans CONTROL their legislature better than Californians control their legislature.

“Don’t Mess with Texas” is a slogan that means “Don’t mess with a Texans right, to do whatever that pleases Texans most, not their state government.

By: Grayhawk

Grayhawk — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:18:53 +0000

Point to consider, once pulled over you are at the mercy of how many tickets are in the book, Yes you can show your medical card as all US medical insurance programs have the minimum $10k, your liability card will not suffice of course, different issue.

It is happening as we speak as a couple of bikes that I am aware of have been pulled over this weekend and one of the two ended up with 4 tickets when all was said and done,

Lets see 4 tickets or more or a $5 sticker from any Texas drivers license office, assuming you have medical insurance. What should I do??? Not saying it is right but it is real.

Link spells it out, rider, non rider, out of state rider.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/helmet.htm

Grayhawk

By: Mike Greenwald

Mike Greenwald — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:59:31 +0000

I meant to say $10,000 PIP on your Motorcycle Insurance Policy.

Sputnik

By: Mike Greenwald

Mike Greenwald — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:51:37 +0000

This response is on behalf of Sputnik.

When you complete the Rider Training Course you receive a card showing you
have done so. Show the card and ride on down the road.

If you have Medicare, Medicaid or $20,000 PIP on your Motorcycle Insurance
you can show either one and ride on down the road. Your Liability
Insurance Policy covers your Passenger.
If you have regular Medical insurance(Blue Cross-Blue Shield) or any such
policy that will work also. If the cop is a horses ass he may give you a
ticket stating it doesn’t say $10,000 on it.

Of course they know it covers far more than that amount and the ticket
will be thrown out when you stop by the court house and show your
insurance card. There are bad apples in every basket.

Sputnik