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1) East Cooper ABATE Annual Oyster Roast
2) ABATE of South Carolina Legislative Issues
3) HIPAA Loophole Fix UPDATE
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1) East Cooper ABATE Annual Oyster Roast
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East Cooper ABATE Annual Oyster Roast
Come ready to eat oysters and drink beer at Richards Bar and Grill this 1:30 PM Sunday February 10, 2008.
This event is well attend by bikers from the lowcountry and beyond so bring your bike and arrive early and parking can become a real issue!
Proceeds benefit biker rights... so dig deep to preserve your right to ride!
Photos from past East Cooper ABATE Oyster Roasts:
www.fastfreds.com/trips/eastcooperabateoysterroast2007/
www.fastfreds.com/trips/eastcooperoysterroast/
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2) ABATE of South Carolina Legislative Issues
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http://www.abatesc.com/issues.php
ABATE of South Carolina Legislative Issues
Last legislative session we succeed in passing legislation to reduce the personal property tax on motorcycles from 10.5% to 6%. We worked to pass legislation legalizing ape hangers and removing all handlebar restrictions in South Carolina. Additionally in the last session we passed legislation to providing Purple Heart motorcycle tags to veterans wounded in action.
This session we successful worked with SCORE to defeat S 348; a bill that would have unfairly restricted ATV use, property rights, and parental rights. However we still have five similar ATV bills to contend with until the session ends in June. All bikers are encouraged to become acquainted their legislators; you may easily find your legislators online.
Many traffic lights in South Carolina are controlled by inductive loops; sadly a large number of these traffic signal devices fail to detect motorcycles. We are currently pushing S 111 to address faulty traffic signal devices. When you locate a faulty traffic signal device please email the details to shealyse@scdot.org and copy your state senator. Please be careful to accurately provide the names of the roads at the intersection and the location of the defective inductive loop.
Concerned bikers are encouraged to contact their legislators in support or opposition to the following bills as appropriate:
Issues for the Upcoming Legislative Session
* Maintain South Carolina's current helmet law.
* Address accidents caused by failure to yield right of way.
* Promote motorcycle awareness.
* Correct faulty traffic signal devices at traffic lights.
* Protect motorcyclists from discrimination.
* Legalize motorcycle poker runs in South Carolina.
* Require toxicology testing after fatal accidents.
* Prevent government intrusions into citizens rights.
Current Bills of Interest to Bikers and Motorcyclists
* S 111 would allow motorcyclists to treat defective traffic signals as stop signs after waiting a reasonable number of minutes. (bikers support this legislation)
* S 122 would require alcohol breath test for drivers involved in fatal accidents. (bikers support this legislation)
* S 272 would allow signs promoting motorcycle safety in areas where motorcycle fatalities have occurred within three years. (bikers support this legislation)
* S 605 would provide for vertically mounted license plates. (bikers support this legislation)
* S 797, H 3622, H 4322, and H 4342 “Chandlers Law” would potentially restrict ATV use, property rights, and parental rights. (bikers oppose this legislation)
* H 3092 and H 3939 would allow traffic enforcement at intersections by camera. Similar legislation has increased rear-ender crashes in other states that are dangerous to motorcyclists. (bikers oppose this legislation)
* H 3201 would allow poker games for recreation. May help legalize motorcycle poke runs. (bikers support this legislation)
* H 3301 would establish the crimes of vehicular homicide and vehicular great bodily injury, and provide penalties for both crimes. (bikers support this legislation)
* H 4145 would provide specialty license plates for motorcycles. (bikers support this legislation)
* H 4157 DMV may issue “Military Veterans Motorcycle” special license plates. (bikers support this legislation)
For more information and important links visit:
http://www.abatesc.com/issues.php
FF Note: Update provided by Clifford Dalton, ABATE of SC Legislative Coordinator
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3) HIPAA Loophole Fix UPDATE
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https://mrf.org/articles/2007/07NR05_HIPAA_Loophole_Fix_UPDATE.htm
HIPAA Loophole Fix UPDATE
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that legislation to close the loophole that allows insurance providers to discriminate against motorcyclists when it comes to fully funding benefits is beginning to gain some momentum. The House bill (HR 1076) has 45 co-sponsors, while the Senate bill (S 616) has 3 co-sponsors. As a rule, Senators don’t co-sponsor legislation as frequently as their House counterparts. However, that certainly does not mean we should not ask them at every opportunity.
“The impressive part of the list of House co-sponsors is that over half of them are Representatives from states that sent SMRO grassroots lobbyists to DC this year,” said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF).
Over the past few months MI, WA, WI, NM, NY, NJ, OH, PA, CO, IA, AK, MN, and IL have all sent representatives from their respective State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organizations to Washington DC to lobby for the advancement of this issue. Those visits resulted in over 200 individual, sit-down office meetings with Senators, House Members and staff.
US Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX), the bill sponsor, had this to say, “No one should be denied health insurance benefits because they prefer to drive a motorcycle. It is essential to provide health care benefits to those who have slipped through the loophole by protecting their access to substantive health care.”
The legislation would close a loophole in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that denies health care benefits for those who participate in legal transportation and recreational activities. In January 2001, a rule was issued that was intended to ensure non-discrimination in health coverage in the group market. That rule prohibits health plans and issuers from denying coverage to individuals who engage in certain types of recreational activities such as skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling or motorcycling. However, because of the way the rule was written, it has allowed insurers to deny health benefits for an otherwise covered injury that results from participation in these activities.
“Now is the time to take this ground swell of support to the next level,” said Jeff Hennie. He adds, “Phone calls, e-mails and personal visits with your members of the US House and Senate are needed to keep the push on Washington.”
You can find contact information for your US Senators and Members of the House of Representatives at the following websites: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov or by phoning the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
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