September 2010
Groups opposing an ethanol percentage increase
in gasoline have launched a campaign calling for more
testing. Environmental and industry groups that frequently oppose
each other on a broad range of policy issues are launching a joint
campaign calling on Congress to require thorough and objective
scientific testing before allowing an increase in the amount of
ethanol in gasoline.
Raising strong concerns about consumer safety and
environmental protection, the groups have joined forces to sponsor
an ad with the tagline "Say NO to untested E15" as part of an effort
to persuade Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency to
reject calls by some in the ethanol industry to allow the amount of
ethanol in gasoline to increase by 50 percent. The ads began running
on July 22.
Some 36 groups have also signed a letter that went to
the majority and minority leaders of the U.S. Senate urging
opposition to any amendment to the coming energy bill that would
authorize the sale of gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol.
Source and full story:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=2157
Lake Havasu City, AZ: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Lake Havasu Field Office recently
announced a public open house on August 18, 2010, from 5:00 to 8:00
pm. The open house will be held at the Lake Havasu City Parks and
Recreation Department Aquatic Center, to discuss the Havasu Travel
Management Plan. The planning area includes public lands in the Lake
Havasu Field Office south of I-40, extending to lands north of the
Bill Williams River.
The open house will also mark the start of the public scoping
period for the Havasu Travel Management Plan and Environmental
Assessment. The assessment will evaluate all of the motorized and
non-motorized routes of travel and their affected resources in the
current inventory of existing routes in the study area and will
include three transportation route network alternatives, designating
each route as open, limited or closed. Written comments for
consideration during the assessment preparation must be received by
the BLM on Friday, September 17, 2010.
Comments may also be faxed to (928) 505-1208 or emailed to
ASOWEB_AZ@blm.gov.
Copies of the maps will be available for review online at the
Lake Havasu Field Office website at
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/fo/lake_havasu_field.html or
by contacting Myron McCoy, Outdoor Recreation Planner at the BLM
Lake Havasu Field Office.
Redding, CA: your help is needed to develop a
new OHV area in northern California. Forest Service
managers on the Shasta-Trinity National Forests (STNF) want to
provide appropriate and sustainable motorized recreation
opportunities for the riding public. The goal is to develop a
conceptual route plan to provide a variety of riding difficulties,
challenges, and experiences in a well-planned and managed area,
consisting of designated roads, trails and play areas along with
supporting safety and infrastructure needs. For more information and
volunteer opportunities riders are encouraged to contact Sylvia
Milligan at
smilligan4732@sbcglobal.net or by
phone at (530) 949-6743.
Sacramento, CA: California lawmakers continue to
back EPA label requirement for riders of new motorcycles.
On August 4th, the Assembly Committee on Appropriations voted 11-5
to approve an amended version of Senate Bill 435, introduced by Sen.
Fran Pavley (D-Oxnard-Los Angeles). This bill would make it illegal
to ride a motorcycle on the road built on, or after, Jan. 1, 2013,
that doesn't display a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
label certifying the exhaust system meets sound emissions standards.
The AMA has long maintained a position of strong
opposition to excessive motorcycle sound. However, the Association
has been, and remains, opposed to this legislation. The only
objective way to determine whether a motorcycle complies with sound
laws is for properly trained personnel to conduct sound level tests
using calibrated meters and an agreed-upon testing procedure. To
that end the AMA has developed model legislation for use by cities
and states seeking a simple, consistent and economical way to deal
with sound complaints related to on-highway motorcycles within the
larger context of excessive sound from all sources. The model
legislation offers an objective method to evaluate motorcycle sound
based on the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) J2825 standard.
Lake County, IL: Lora Hunt, the
fingernail-painting driver who crashed into motorcyclist
Anita Zaffke in a Chicago suburb in 2009 and killed her was
sentenced to 18 months of nighttime-only imprisonment. Hunt ignited
outrage within the motorcycling community when she admitted to
police that she was painting her fingernails at the time of the
crash. During her jail sentence, Hunt, who is a nurse, will be
allowed to work during the day as well as go to counseling sessions.
The Morris, Ill., resident must also perform 240 hours of community
service and spend 30 months on probation.
After the fatal crash, Greg Zaffke II of Wauconda, Ill.,
the victim's son, began painting his fingernails black as a reminder
to anyone he meets of his mother's death. He also formed the Black
Nail Brigade Foundation Against Distracted Driving (www.BlackNailBrigade.org)
to publicize the dangers of distracted driving, push for legislation
to impose appropriate penalties for distracted drivers who seriously
injure or kill others and to boost awareness to share the road.
Source and full story:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=2136
Springfield, IL: Signed into law on July 27th by
Governor Pat Quinn, House Bill 4580, sponsored by Rep.
William Black (R-Danville), requires the Secretary of State to
immediately revoke the license, permit, or driving privileges of any
driver upon receiving a report of the driver's conviction of any
offense against any provision in the Illinois Vehicle Code, or any
local ordinance, regulating the movement of traffic, when that
offense was the proximate cause of the death of any person.
Springfield, IL: On July 22, Governor Pat Quinn
signed into law House Bill 4779, sponsored by Rep. Donald
L. Moffitt (R- Oneida), which enables a court to require a person to
pay an additional criminal penalty that shall be distributed to a
public agency that provided an emergency response related to the
person's violation for reckless driving or speeding in excess of 40
mph over the posted limit. The criminal penalty may not exceed $100
per public agency for each emergency response provided for a first
violation, and may not exceed $500 per public agency for each
emergency response provided for a second or subsequent violation.
Fruitland, MD: Recently a proposal to open an
OHV park was presented to the city council. The plan would
turn thirteen acres of land into a place supporters say will benefit
the local community. The park would consist of three separate tracks
accessible to four-wheelers, dune buggies and dirt bikes.
Organizers say the property is an ideal location because
the topography of the terrain and surrounding trees will act as a
barrier that will deflect any sound away from the surrounding area.
A live demonstration for the proposed park is planned for August 26.
Source and full story:
http://www.wmdt.com/news-archive.aspx?item=8796
Aitkin, MN: A public open house to
provide information about Phase II of the Northwoods Regional ATV
Trail System will be held on August 24 at the Quadna Mountain
Resort, near Hill City. The Northwoods Regional ATV Trail System
includes the development of an extensive, first-rate ATV/OHV trail
in Aitkin and Itasca counties. The trail is designed to be
environmentally sensitive, economically beneficial, and community
supported. The complete project will include construction of at
least 70 miles of new trail.
Planning for system began in 2007 with initial Phase I
routes opening in 2010. The planning process for the Phase II routes
will include public meetings, direction from a 19-member local
oversight committee and completion of an Environmental Assessment
Worksheet.
The Phase II routes being explored include proposed ATV
trail routes connecting the North Soo Line to the Blind Lake and
Rabey Line trails and the Alborn Trail to the Rabey Line in northern
Aitkin County and southern Itasca County.
Source:
http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/080610/new_20100806014.shtml
Jackson, MS: House Bill Senate Bill 2596,
sponsored by Sen. Gray Tollison (D-Oxford), prohibits the use of any
motor vehicle or motorcycle equipped with nitrous oxide on any
street or highway unless the system is rendered inoperative by means
of disconnecting the nitrous oxide feed line from the engine or
removing the nitrous oxide canister from the motor vehicle or
motorcycle. Signed by Governor Haley Barbour, the bill became
effective July 1, 2010.
Concord, NH: House Bill 1481, sponsored
by Rep. John A. Graham (R-Bedford) and signed into law by Governor
John Lynch on July 6, requires all turnpike system tolls collected
to be used exclusively for purposes of the operating expenses,
construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of the New Hampshire
turnpike system. It also prohibits the transfer of those funds for
any other purpose.
Trenton, NJ: Signed into law June 30 by Governor
Chris Christie, Senate Bill 2090, sponsored by Sen. Andrew
R Ciesla (R-Brick), exempts motorcycles from the motor vehicle
inspection requirements currently imposed by law. The bill took
effect on July 1, 2010.
Columbus, OH: In response to a June 2 Ohio
Supreme Court ruling that permits law enforcement officers
to issue speeding citations based on an "unaided visual estimation
of a vehicle's speed," three bills have been introduced. State
senators Tim Grendell (R-Chesterland) and Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard)
have introduced Senate Bill 280, while House Bill 552, sponsored by
Reps. Robert Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Ronald Gerberry
(D-Austintown), and House Bill 553, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Sears
(D-Sylvania), have been introduced in the House. The bills would
prohibit anyone from being arrested, charged, or convicted of a
speeding violation based on a peace officer's unaided visual
estimation of the speed of a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or
streetcar.
Columbus, OH: House Bill 560, sponsored by Rep.
Deborah Newcomb (D-Conneaut), would eliminate the $20 late
fee for motor vehicle registrations, commercial driver's licenses,
driver's licenses, and motorcycle endorsements established by the
biennial transportation appropriations act of the 128th General
Assembly and establishes a refund procedure for persons who paid the
late fee.
