Bill 49 is bad news

[Jennifer Lenz]

Mr Acerbi posted this in the pocketbike section of the forums, but it applies here too. According to the proposed bill, riders under 12 cannot ride any motorcyle on Oregon public property AND riders between 12-15 cannot ride anything more then 90cc. That specifically effects racers like Elena Myers.

http://www.omrra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=541

Here's the links to the bill & OR's definition of ATV:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/mea...0049.intro.pdf
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/vehicle/atv.shtml

[Luke Morgan]

We need links to contact our senators regarding this issue, so we can flood them with email.

[Carly Benton]

It has not made the calendar for this session.

This gives us a little more time to have our voices heard.

[Brooks Cooper]

Of course Bill 49 is a bad idea. In my work I've had occasion to lobby the legislature a fair number of times over the years. Here are a few pointers and some background I picked up doing that. Pardon me if this is too basic.

First - make sure you know who your house and senate reps are.
http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/home.htm will help.

Second, unless and until the bill gets heard in committee it will go nowhere. Bills don't get to a floor vote until passed out of committee.

Next, this bill was introduced in the Senate. So, if you want to communicate with your legislators focus on your Senator rather than your Representative at this point. If the Bill doesn't make it to committee in the Senate then it is dead.

The bill was filed presession by Senators Devlin and Bates. That means some interest group asked them to do this. It's worth contacting their offices to find out who wanted this Bill. Senators introduce bills presession if it's a pet issue of the Senator (may be the case here - I don't know yet), if a constituent asks for it and it seems at least a little worthwhile or if an interest group or lobby asks for it.

I will contact Devlin's and Bates' offices to find out who asked them to file this. If we are up against a well funded interest group it's worth knowing that now.

Since it has not been pushed for committee consideration yet it may just be a favor to a constituent and not something either Senator wants to spend time and political capital advocating. I'll find out.

This bill will be heard, if at all, by the Business, Transportation and Workforce Development committee. The Senators on that committee are:
Ryan Deckert, Larry George, Rick Metsger, Laurie Monnes Anderson, and Bruce Starr. If you live in one of their districts your voice and effort is more important now than later. If these 5 Senators hear from even a few constituents that 49 will be opposed they may choose not to ever give it a committee hearing. That means this issue will be dead for at least the next two years.

On to communicating with yoru Senator:

Email, these days, is as good as a letter.
Make sure you:
1) Identify yourself as a constituent;
2) In the first few paragraphs state why you are writing - "I'm writing to ask you to vote no on Senate Bill 49 if it comes to the floor for a vote."
3) Explain in a few paragraphs why this matters not just to you but to Oregonians in general - "off road vehicle use with ATVs and motorcycles is a wonderful way to spend time with our children, teach them responsibility and experience the natural wonders of Oregon. Also, even at ages 12 or less many children participate in organized motorcycle or ATV competitions. These build character, teach discipline and encourage kids to work on skills and see progress over time. Senate Bill 49 would make those family activites a crime and that isn't right."

Please do not be angry or threatening. Please also understand that many Senators will have little or no knowledge of motorcycles, ATVs or our sport. By portraying it in a family friendly, non-hostile light we do good work to distance our sport and ourselves from the Hells Angels / street hooligans images so prevalent in the media.

IF Senate Bill 49 gets a committee hearing I'll post here again and will then want to organize a trip to Salem for as many as can come to attend the hearing and, if you choose, offer public testimony. If my work schedule allows I will certainly do so.

Brooks

[Brooks Cooper]

Senator Devlin appears to be interested in actually supporting this bill.
As of today it has not yet had a committee hearing. However I think it may be heading that way.

District 19 - Senator Devlin's district encompasses Lake Oswego, Wilsonville, West Linn - see - http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections...teMaps/s19.jpg

If you live in the Senator's district please write or email him now.

He needs to hear from as many of us as possible that there is opposition to this bill. Ideally, before he puts a lot of time into pushing the bill he should hear that there will be organized, vocal opposition. That will make it easier for him to choose to put his time elsewhere.

If possible when you email him please copy me on the email so I can track them for OMRRA and can contact you if we need to schedule a lobby day to go to Salem to talk about this bill.

my email to use brooks underscore cooper at comcast dot net.

Brooks

[Michael Lenz]

It would be worth sending an update to RW via edit at roadracingworld dot com and make it known where things are at.

[Brian Moe]

Sen. Ryan Deckert wrote me back. Non committal on his view but at least it shows he's reading the feedback.

[John Acerbi]

Isn't Senator Devlin's district just north of Pat's Acres?

[Jennifer Lenz]

Rally opposing this bill scheduled for next Tues:
http://www.minigpx.com/news/article/?article=24932

SAFETYride (Sensible Alternatives for Educating and Training Youth) would like to invite you to join us for a Rally on February 13th from 3:00 to 5:00 on the Capitol steps in Salem. We are in opposition of Senate Bill 49 which bans children under twelve from operating any motorcycle or ATV and restricts those twelve to sixteen to 90cc or less. Families that ride together stay together - say no to 49.....Everyone is welcome. Please bring kids, posters, and quarters for the meters!!! For more information email minten@gotsky.com

[Brooks Cooper]

First - this bill got a short mention on Morning OPB radio this am - they tried to play a sound clip but it didn't work. So it's getting some media attention.

The bill has not been set for hearing or work session so for now it appears likely to die. Please - if you haven't already written to your Senator - especially if yours is on the committee - take just a few minutes to email them like Brian Moe did.

Really, these little things - emails now - make a huge difference if this bill actually gets carried.

Brooks