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From: Imre Szauter, AMA Legislative Affairs Specialist [mailto:iszauter@ama-cycle.org]
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 4:54 PM
To: Bruce Arnold
Subject: Discriminatory Legislation to be Heard in Committee

Action Alert 01/08/2008 Draconian Legislation Proposed in Florida: Seizure and forfeiture of motorcycles part of legislation

HB 137, "Offenses Committed While Operating a Motorcycle", introduced by Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R-Miami)...

http://tinyurl.com/yuuu44

...proposes that any motorcyclist charged with reckless operation or riding 30 miles per hour or greater above the posted speed limit would face arrest, seizure and forfeiture of their motorcycle, and revocation of their motorcycle endorsement for ten years. The legislation applies ONLY to motorcycles and their operators; no other motorized vehicle or driver operating on a public roadway is threatened with these penalties.

Review the history and the text of this bill by clicking here:

http://tinyurl.com/37opzm

The House Committee on Infrastructure will hold a hearing on JANUARY 1O AT 9AM in room 404 HOB to consider HB-137. See the committee notice by clicking here:

http://tinyurl.com/25ral2

A related bill (SB-802) has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Rudy Garcia (R- Hialeah). Click here to review the history and text of SB-802:

http://tinyurl.com/2n9gmr

Even if you obey the law, HB-137 is discriminatory and unfair because it sends the wrong message - motorcyclists are the ONLY threat on public roadways. Car, light truck, and SUV drivers, alleged to have violated the SAME laws, do not face the same harsh penalties. That's discrimination, period.

Because time is short and this issue is important, make three phone calls TODAY to make your voice heard -

1) Contact the office of HB-137's sponsor and state that you DO NOT SUPPORT HB-137 because it is discriminatory.

Here is Representative Lopez-Cantera's contact information:

Capitol Office: 300 House Office Building, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300, Phone: (850) 488-4202

District Office: Suite 111, 2300 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33145-3511, Phone: (305) 442-6877 Legislative Assistant: Lourdes Gonzalez District Secretary: David Cruz

2) Contact the office of the Chair of the House Committee on Infrastructure, Representative Richard "Rich" Glorioso, and state that you DO NOT SUPPORT HB-137 because it is discriminatory.

Here is Representative Glorioso's contact information:

Capitol Office: 405 House Office Building, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300, Phone: (850) 488-0807

District Office: Suite 204, 110 W. Reynolds Street, Plant City, FL 33563-3379, Phone: (813) 757-9110

Legislative Assistant: Cori Cuttler District Secretary: Robyn Bryant

3) Contact your representative - use the Florida StateWatch area under the Rapid Response Center...

http://tinyurl.com/3xvxcl

...to learn who your representative is and then make the call and/or send an e-mail message OPPOSING HB-137.

HB-137 and SB-802 are discriminatory - don't let these bills go uncontested. The law and its penalties should apply to all violators, not just motorcyclists.

Make those calls NOW!

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WANT TO SAVE DAYTONA BIKE WEEK? OR HOW ABOUT JUST SAVING ***YOUR OWN BIKE***? PLEASE MAKE THOSE CALLS!

First they put away the dealers, 
keep our kids safe and off the streets. 
Then they put away the prostitutes, 
keep married men cloistered at home. 
Then they shooed away the bums, 
then they beat and bashed the queers, 
turned away asylum-seekers, 
fed us suspicions and fears. 
We didn't raise our voice, 
we didn't make a fuss. 
It's funny there was no one left to notice 
when they came for us. 

--NOFX, inspired by Pastor Martin Niemöller 

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