AN OVERVIEW OF A.B.A.T.E. OF PENNSYLVANIA ACTIVITIES
Here is an overview of some of A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania's legislative efforts and other activities which the state organization was involved in since its reorganization in 1983.
April 17, 1985 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania met with the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Dealers Association in Reading and proposed working together on legislative issues. While no action resulted from that initial meeting, we have since become associate members of PMDA and share the same lobbyist.
May 20, 1985 - A.B.A.TE. of Pennsylvania presented a $500 check to Representative Joseph Pitts for the Capitol Preservation Committee "Save the Flags" campaign.
July 1, 1985 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania sent a letter to PennDOT and proposed a six-month moratorium on the helmet law. PennDOT rejected proposal.
October 6, 1985 - A.B.A.TE. of Pennsylvania presented $600 check to the National Park Service in Gettysburg to help restore the Pennsylvania Monument. A.B.A.T.E. received a Citation from Representative Ken Cole for the contribution.
January 21, 1986 - Press conference held at the state capitol to announce the formation of a political action committee, BIKEPAC.
February 22, 1986 - A.B.A.TE. of Pennsylvania's first Legislative Seminar held in Harrisburg.
June 12, 1986 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania testified before the Consumer Affairs Committee in opposition to the mandatory seat belt law.
June 12, 1986 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania asked members to return AAA (American Automobile Association) cards stating that the association does not support freedom of choice for its members in the use of helmets or seatbelts.
September 13, 1986 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania participates in a nationwide Ride for Liberty to raise funds for the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation. A.B.A.T.E. makes contribution totaling $3,681.00.
October, 1986 - BIKEPAC issues $4,300 in campaign checks to legislators who supported ABATE's issues.
May 21, 1987 - Legislative victory obtained with compromise reached on Penn DOT proposed motorcycle inspection sticker move. In a public meeting before the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, PennDOT issued a revised proposal to the chairman that reflected the wishes of A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania to be able to continue using a permanently attached plate to the left side of the motorcycle for the purpose of displaying inspection stickers.
May, 1988 - Representative Michael Veon presented with A.B.A.T.E.'s Freedom of Choice Award.
November, 1988 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania donates $2,000 to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and an additional $2,000 to the American Motorcyclists Association.
January, 1989 - Bruce Johnson, Fifty-First Associates assumes A.B.A.TE.'s lobbying efforts.
February, 1989 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania supports call for boycott of State Farm Insurance. State Farm blacklisted a class of motorcycles as uninsurable.
May 8, 1989 - Senator Clarence Bell receives the 1989 Freedom of Choice Award from A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania.
May, 1989 - House Bill 152 introduced by Representative Lashinger states, 11 no person shall ride upon a motorcycle unless their legs are of sufficient length to reach the foot rests installed by the manufacturer." Bill is opposed by A.B.A.TE. of Pennsylvania and later dies in committee.
May, 1989 - State Farm Insurance drops blacklist of superbikes.
July, 1989 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania publishes 60-page booklet entitled "A Case for Amending the Mandatory Helmet Law in Pennsylvania". Booklet is distributed to the legislature.
July, 1989 - Surcharge added to moving violations to pay off debt left by the Catastrophic Loss Benefits Continuation Fund (CAT Fund). Motorcyclists were forced to pay the extra charge, but were specifically excluded from receiving any benefits from the fund. A.B.A.T.E. opposes this legislation and immediately had a bill drafted to repeal the surcharge for motorcyclist.
October, 1989 - Representative Michael Veon introduces HB 2015. This bill would exempt motorcyclists from CAT Fund Surcharge.
October, 1989 - PennDOT recognizes A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania for statewide Ride Sober Campaign.
December, 1989 - Motorcycle Safety Foundation presents A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania with the 1989 Alcohol and Drug Awareness National Award.
March 1, 1990 - Vanity plates issued for motorcycles. A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania had lobbied on this issue since 1984.
September, 1990 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania hosts the Motorcycle Riders Foundation Meeting of the Minds in Carlisle, PA.
September, 1990 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania meets with Pennsylvania Insurance Department representatives to exchange views.
February, 1991 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania kicks off a new safety and awareness program called Operation Save A Life (OSAL). The program is designed for high school students to make them more aware of motorcycles on the road.
February, 1991 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania installs Legislative Hotline.
July 20, 1991 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania offers non-donor cards to all motorcyclists for the asking. The card stated "In case of death absolutely none of my body parts may be used for any medical purpose in any state with a mandatory motorcycle helmet law in effect."
January, 1992 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania investigates vehicular detectors at intersections. Some were not picking up motorcycles. A.B.A.T.E. works with PennDOT and problem corrected inmost areas.
April 16, 1992 - Major A.B.A.T.E. Legislative Victory - Governor Robert R Casey signs HB 1549 removing motorcyclists from CAT Fund Surcharges on moving violations.
June 11, 1992 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania begins campaign to reduce tolls for motorcyclist using the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
October, 1992 - Pennsylvania recognizes the role that motorcycles play in reducing traffic congestion by opening high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to motorcycle riders.
November, 1993 - Representative Anthony Melio (D- Bucks Cc) introduces HB 1983. This legislation would ban any passenger under the age of 7 from riding on a motorcycle. Bill is opposed by A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania and dies in committee.
July, 1994 - A.B.A.T.E. inducts Senator Roy Afflerbach as the first charter member of the A.B.A.T.E. Biker Hall of Fame.
November, 1994 - Robert Evans of Reading is presented with the first Handicapped Motorcycle Registration Decal. Recognition of handicapped motorcyclist had been sought by A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania for several years.
February2, 1995 - The House Transportation Committee overwhelmingly approved a bill sponsored by Representative John Wozniak which would increase speed limit on certain rural interstate highways for automobiles and motorcycles from 55 to 65 MPH. This is a bill that A.B.A.T.E. Of Pennsylvania had long supported.
February, 1995 - Sturm, Ruger and Company, Inc. adopted a policy, which discriminated against motorcyclist in their medical benefit program for employees. The plan has a provision, which refuses coverage to employees who are injured in motorcycle accidents if they are not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. At an informal meeting at the A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania Leadership and Legislative Seminar, the AMA, MRF and ABATE's of Illinois and Pennsylvania devised a program called "Riding Ruger". This problem has not been resolved as of this date, but lobbying on the issue is ongoing.
May, 1995 - Pennsylvania Legislators Cosponsor Federal Bills -Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum co-sponsored Senate Bill 388 to repeal the penalty provisions of ISTEA. Congressmen Fox, Clinger and Weldon also co-sponsored HR 899, which also would repeal ISTEA penalties.
June 13, 1995 - A.B.A.T.E. attends signing of bill by Governor Tom Ridge increasing the speed limit to 65 MPH on certain rural interstate highways.
July 12, 1995 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania entered a new era in communications with the state government in Harrisburg. Representatives of A.B.A.T.E. along with representatives of the AMA, MRF and BIKEPAC met with Governor Tom Ridge and Assistant Secretary of Transportation Ryan in the Governors office to discuss helmet repeal and other related motorcycling issues.
November, 1995 - According I to the Law Offices of Gray, Miller, Patterson and Cody of Lancaster, PA, the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County issued a precedent-setting opinion on November, 13, 1995, that in effect, prevents the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from prosecuting wearers of so-called novelty or "beanie" helmets under statute which requires motorcycle operators to wear "approved headgear."
February, 1996 - Representative Anthony Melio (D-Bucks Co.) again introduces a bill - HB 2193 which would make it illegal to carry a passenger under the age of 7 on a motorcycle. A.B.A.T.E. again opposed this legislation and the bill died in committee.
May, 1996 - Legislation was introduced by Senator Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster) to make the state's motorcycle safety program mandatory for all riders. A.B.A.T.E. opposed this legislation. The bill was defeated in the Senate Transportation Committee on May 21, 1996 by a vote of 6 nays to 5 yeas.
A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania is joined at its annual Motorcyclists Rights Rally by Governor Tom Ridge and US Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado.
June 18, 1996 - The Senate in a 27-22 vote passed a bill that would make helmet wearing voluntary for people 21 years of age or older.
February, 1997 - A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania sends representative to Washington DC to participate in the AMA Introduction to Washington - A Freedom Fighters Guide to Working the System.
April, 1997 - BIKEPAC reaches the $100,000 mark in contributions to campaigns of motorcycle friendly legislators.
May 13, 1997 - Senate Transportation Committee approves Senate Bill 516 (Senator Bell's helmet repeal initiative) on a vote of 10 yeas to 2 nays.
September 29, 1997 - Pennsylvania House of Representatives gives favorable consideration to helmet amendment by 134-63 margin.
This has been an overview of just some of the good work A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania has been involved in over the past fourteen years. It would be impossible to list everything.
Add to the above, yearly Leadership and Legislative Seminars, Motorcyclist Rights Rally, Proclamations issued by the Governor each year declaring May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, Lobby Days, having a dozen or more helmet repeal bills introduced, attending committee meetings and public hearings, produces monthly state newletters and the fact that our PAC to date has donated over $100,000 in political contributions.
At the chapter level there are charity runs for the March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy, Abuse Shelters, Make A Wish Foundation and Special Olympics to name a few, plus all of those toy runs across the state for needy children.
I would have to say you have received excellent representation in Harrisburg for your yearly membership dues.