Rumor has it bikers have been stopped in numbers in Denver over the past 2 weeks and ticketed for various reasons, including not having stock pipes.

The AMA has issued a statement about Denver's new ordinance:

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..."We understand the motivation for cities to pass laws controlling sound levels from traffic," said Ed Moreland, AMA Vice President for Government Relations. "But the approach being taken in Denver creates a special class of enforcement that unfairly targets motorcyclists. Loud trucks and cars are every bit as annoying as loud motorcycles, but only motorcyclists would be subject to this new provision of the labeling law."

To understand the restrictions being imposed on motorcyclists, Moreland asked car drivers to consider the impact if Denver city officials had instead required stock mufflers on cars, making it illegal for Denver drivers to buy replacement exhaust systems from companies like Midas or Meineke.

"That would force everyone who drives a Ford to return to the Ford dealer and get the exact replacement muffler every time their exhaust system wore out," he noted.

The AMA's position on the new Denver ordinance got support June 7 in an editorial in the Rocky Mountain News which stated: "As more than one critic of the ordinance ... noted, it just doesn't appear ready for prime time."

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TOO MUCH NOISE?

If you do not believe that motorcycle noise ordinances are only the beginning of stealing your rights, go to the Noise Free America website to find out what they are targeting next. To give you a hint, we use our leaf blower to dry our bikes after washing them...seems no matter what we do, someone wants to stop us.

Wonder what decibel level Denver Motorcycle Unit bikes register?

Some have suggested getting a high intensity air horn instead of loud pipes - these air horns emit at 125 decibels!

NEWS TARGETS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Motorcycle crackdown aimed at tamer streets

Thursday, June 07, 2007

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It was a case of cops going hog wild. And that was a good thing... 

Looking to prevent motorcycle accidents and sideline the renegades who are operating the two-wheelers illegally, officers from the Staten Island Highway Patrol led a targeted enforcement last night at various checkpoints along Hylan Boulevard. Cops confiscated more than five motorcycles in a little over two hours, pulling over riders at Hylan Boulevard and Holton Avenue for violations including speeding and reckless driving. A checkpoint was also established at Hylan Boulevard and Armstrong Avenue in Great Kills. 

Seized motorcycles were taken to the impound lot at the Mid-Island's 122nd Precinct stationhouse in New Dorp, police said. The vehicles will be released once their owners pay a fine and obtain a proper license, police said. Over the years, a handful of Islanders have died in cycle crashes...

 ... State Department of Motor Vehicles' statistics show that there were 168 fatal motorcycle accidents in New York in 2005. Of the 4,500 motorcycle accidents statewide, the NYPD investigated 1,097 accidents, 40 of which were fatal, reveals the agency's Web site.  

Most accidents occurred on the weekends, while the busiest time frame for accidents during the week was between noon and 9 p.m. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,008 motorcyclists died nationwide in 2004 and 76,000 were injured. A little over one-third of cyclists who died were speeding and one out of four motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had an invalid license, according to the report, which is on the agency's Web site. 

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A friend of mine had a word to say!  Karen's REBUTTAL...

Car Crash Stats: There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes.

In 2003 there were 6,328,000 car accidents in the US. There were 2.9 million injuries and 42,643 people were killed in auto accidents.

In 2002, there were an estimated 6,316,000 car accidents in the USA. There were about 2.9 million injuries and 42,815 people were killed in auto accidents in 2002.

There were an estimated 6,356,000 car accidents in the US in 2000. There were about 3.2 million injuries and 41,821 people were killed in auto accidents in 2000 based on data collected by the Federal Highway Administration.

FYI

Colorado House Representative Diane Primavera had an attorney from the Capital call today to confirm the wording and meaning of HB07-1117, the new helmet law.

The original intention of the bill was to put all minors in a helmet, even though the on-going intent of the bill is to put ALL riders in a helmet. However, the wording of the bill got bungled and it now only introduces into law: minors "operating" the motorcycle or scooter and their passengers if the passenger is also a minor, must wear a DOT approved helmet.

Not happy Colorado has a helmet law? Get involved. Join AMA, ABATE, and any other motorcycle rights organization.