Grass-roots lobbying in action;
ABATE of WI Lobby Day
brings over 500 to the Capitol
For Immediate Release
Dave"Chubby"Charlebois Public Relations Director ABATE of WI Inc. pubrel@abatewis.org 414-531-4685
Members and supporters of ABATE of WI Inc once again got the job done February 23rd in Madison with over 500 bikers in attendance looking for support for their 2010 legislative agenda. Bikers started to show up at the Capitol as early as 8am and didn't leave until all legislative offices had been visited. Everyone that attended should be congratulated on a job well done. Once again, ABATE of WI and its supporters showed that grassroots lobbying is the most effective way of reaching our legislators in Wisconsin.
ABATE of Wisconsin (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments) is a motorcyclists' rights organization dedicated to freedom of the road. Our 2010 legislative agenda will seek to replace state funding for the motorcycle safety program that was removed from the budget. Part of motorcycle registration fees were supposed to go toward education and awareness programs for motorcyclists and the reduction of the budget for these programs even with the increased revenue will only put more burdens on individuals and lessen the awareness impact to the general public. We will also seek to amend language in Wisconsin Act 466 that was intended to both properly punish and educate drivers that commit a right-of-way violation which causes a crash that involves serious injury or death to a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian. The original intent of this law was to increase right of way violation penalties and make an awareness class mandatory for offenders. Since this law took effect in October of 2006, to date, we have information of very few increased penalties being issued or awareness classes being taken. A great amount of interest was shown by our legislators on these issues.
ABATE members and supporters also took this opportunity to re-introduce themselves to our legislators and let them know our stance on the current helmet law in Wisconsin and the overwhelming need for crash avoidance solutions not safer crashing. Information on our Share the Road motorcycle awareness program and our anti-impaired riding program was also given to legislators to give examples of the tireless efforts of our organization and its members.
Pictures of the event will soon be available on our website www.abatewis.org and again thanks to all in attendance that made this a great event.
ABATE of Wisconsin's goal is to give the motorcyclist's of Wisconsin a strong, united voice, with regard to their future, their way of life, their safety and their legal rights as motorcyclists and citizens.
Ride Free, Ride Often
Bill C.
"When the people fear the government you have tyranny ... when the government fears the people you have liberty." President Thomas Jefferson