The March on Wall St. and the '99%' of us sick of getting screwed with corporate greed, regs and taxes may be a good time for all of us that build and ride MB's make our voices known in a untied country wide way.
My motivation is 50% make some changes that benefit me of course, but the other 50% is to try to get a safe operating standards we can all live with and should be doing anyway, but state by state.
Why State by State?
Because Congress is about as useful as a kick stand on a 747 airliner or a screen door on a sub, and it is up to the states anyway.
This is the FEDERAL regulations on our rides:
Federal law[/size=4]
"In the United States, federal law governing ICE (internal combustion engine) motorized bicycles is subject to interpretative rulings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Under current NHTSA rules, a "motor-driven cycle" (a definition that includes a two-wheel vehicle such as a bicycle with an add-on ICE engine of five brake horsepower or less) and a speed capability of more than 20 miles per hour, lacks both a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and standard onroad safety equipment such as mirrors, turn signal lamps, side marker lamps, and stop lamps, then the vehicle shall not be considered a "motor vehicle" as defined by DOT/NHTSA regulations, but instead is defined as an off-road vehicle (since the lack of a VIN and on-road equipment indicates that a vehicle was not manufactured primarily for use on public roads.)
Such off-road vehicles are considered to be neither motor vehicles nor motorcycles, as those terms are defined under federal law.
Under present-day NHTSA rules, the final decision as to whether such federally-defined off-road vehicles may be legally operated on public roads is determined by the laws of the state[/size=4] in which the vehicle is being operated."
--------
Please take note of the 3 main points...
Under 5HP, capable of over 20MPH, no VIN and we are an off-road vehicle that States CAN allow on the road without Fed Motor Vehicle regulation.
That said it comes down to coming up a standard we, all the riders in country, feel is fair and safe standard and then:
1. Getting one state to adopt it.
2. As many people in every other state working to adopt their states standard to match.
I know a little about getting state reps to pay attention and actually act and propose changes, Spookytooth did it a few years back here in AZ just to get us legal at 48cc and 20MPH.
My amendment to AZ RS http://kcsbikes.com/KCstatuteChange.htm is simple.
Up the cc's to 66 so we have more motor choices, speed to 30MPH but with these safety regulations for over 48cc or 20MPH operation.
----
1. A motorized bicycle as described here operated over Twenty miles per hour must have both a front wheel brake and rear wheel brake.
2. A motorized bicycle as described here operated over Twenty miles per hour must have a flashing front white light visible to motorists from a distance of Fifty Feet during any operation not on private land.
3. A motorized bicycle as described here operated over the lesser of the posted speed limit or thirty miles per hour is subject to a $50 fine.
----
Can you live with that?
I can, but sound off and lets get a collective agreement and your states rules in one place.
It's all how you look at things ©¿©¬
Things can change, it just takes effort.
In AZ the next state congress starts at the first of the year but they are already submitting bills before holiday break for next session even though many may be gone.
To back up why this is needed is going to need to be based on hard facts but a bunch of signatures sure don't hurt.
I'll take the time, do the research, and launch the first volley with my district reps. I just want to know if ANY of YOU will actually take the time to learn how your state government works and how to spread it to your state.
I am not asking you to camp out on the street and protest for months, I am simply asking you PERSONALLY give a **** and spend a couple of hours on your states web site, find out who your reps are, your current rules, and then CONTACT YOUR REPS!
You can read my latest proposed revision of the AZ Statute here.
UPDATE 11/20/1011
NEW URL http://kcsbikes.com/AZRS28-2516.htm
Worst case scenario?
You spend a few hours on-line, learn something about your State government and who is supposed to be speaking for you, and don't get any change.
My motivation is 50% make some changes that benefit me of course, but the other 50% is to try to get a safe operating standards we can all live with and should be doing anyway, but state by state.
Why State by State?
Because Congress is about as useful as a kick stand on a 747 airliner or a screen door on a sub, and it is up to the states anyway.
This is the FEDERAL regulations on our rides:
Federal law[/size=4]
"In the United States, federal law governing ICE (internal combustion engine) motorized bicycles is subject to interpretative rulings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Under current NHTSA rules, a "motor-driven cycle" (a definition that includes a two-wheel vehicle such as a bicycle with an add-on ICE engine of five brake horsepower or less) and a speed capability of more than 20 miles per hour, lacks both a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and standard onroad safety equipment such as mirrors, turn signal lamps, side marker lamps, and stop lamps, then the vehicle shall not be considered a "motor vehicle" as defined by DOT/NHTSA regulations, but instead is defined as an off-road vehicle (since the lack of a VIN and on-road equipment indicates that a vehicle was not manufactured primarily for use on public roads.)
Such off-road vehicles are considered to be neither motor vehicles nor motorcycles, as those terms are defined under federal law.
Under present-day NHTSA rules, the final decision as to whether such federally-defined off-road vehicles may be legally operated on public roads is determined by the laws of the state[/size=4] in which the vehicle is being operated."
--------
Please take note of the 3 main points...
Under 5HP, capable of over 20MPH, no VIN and we are an off-road vehicle that States CAN allow on the road without Fed Motor Vehicle regulation.
That said it comes down to coming up a standard we, all the riders in country, feel is fair and safe standard and then:
1. Getting one state to adopt it.
2. As many people in every other state working to adopt their states standard to match.
I know a little about getting state reps to pay attention and actually act and propose changes, Spookytooth did it a few years back here in AZ just to get us legal at 48cc and 20MPH.
My amendment to AZ RS http://kcsbikes.com/KCstatuteChange.htm is simple.
Up the cc's to 66 so we have more motor choices, speed to 30MPH but with these safety regulations for over 48cc or 20MPH operation.
----
1. A motorized bicycle as described here operated over Twenty miles per hour must have both a front wheel brake and rear wheel brake.
2. A motorized bicycle as described here operated over Twenty miles per hour must have a flashing front white light visible to motorists from a distance of Fifty Feet during any operation not on private land.
3. A motorized bicycle as described here operated over the lesser of the posted speed limit or thirty miles per hour is subject to a $50 fine.
----
Can you live with that?
I can, but sound off and lets get a collective agreement and your states rules in one place.
It's all how you look at things ©¿©¬
Things can change, it just takes effort.
In AZ the next state congress starts at the first of the year but they are already submitting bills before holiday break for next session even though many may be gone.
To back up why this is needed is going to need to be based on hard facts but a bunch of signatures sure don't hurt.
I'll take the time, do the research, and launch the first volley with my district reps. I just want to know if ANY of YOU will actually take the time to learn how your state government works and how to spread it to your state.
I am not asking you to camp out on the street and protest for months, I am simply asking you PERSONALLY give a **** and spend a couple of hours on your states web site, find out who your reps are, your current rules, and then CONTACT YOUR REPS!
You can read my latest proposed revision of the AZ Statute here.
UPDATE 11/20/1011
NEW URL http://kcsbikes.com/AZRS28-2516.htm
Worst case scenario?
You spend a few hours on-line, learn something about your State government and who is supposed to be speaking for you, and don't get any change.
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