Deland, FL, February 17, 2011 – JUST IN FROM THE NATIONAL COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS (NCOM) & A.B.A.T.E. OF GEORGIA:
The state of Georgia has received a $70,000 federal grant to launch motorcycle-only checkpoints in early March, just as Daytona Bike Week is getting underway. For most travelers, their route will take them through Georgia and likely into awaiting roadblocks to check for such things as proper license and current registration, insurance, DOT-approved helmets, EPA-approved mufflers, working horn and lights, etc, etc.
“We were informed by unnamed sources that the Check Points would start in early March to coincide with the Daytona Bike Week event,” said Dan Forrest, State Director of ABATE of Georgia. “Most points of entry to Florida will be involved, so anyone traveling through Georgia to Daytona might want to rethink their route.”
The US Defenders have issued a Call To Action regarding the proliferation of these motorcycle-only roadblocks being funded by NHTSA grants, and are urging the motorcycle community to voice their opposition to these so-called “Safety Checks” by contacting NHTSA, the U.S. DOT and most importantly by asking your own federal legislators to support H.R. 1498 by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) to retain a ban on NHTSA's ability to lobby State Legislators using our federal dollars through the "Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstration" grant program (DTNH22-10-R-00386).
“These roadblocks or checkpoints for motorcycles ONLY are being conducted illegally and are discriminatory to say the least,” says Escondido Paul, National Lt. Commander of the US Defenders. “This is one more piece of evidence of the constant profiling attempts targeting our community at large.”
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ABATE of Florida, Inc. stands with NCOM and A.B.A.T.E. of Georgia in this highly discriminatory action. James “Doc” Reichenbach, II, the President of ABATE of Florida, Inc. and the Chairman of the Board, NCOM, stated upon hearing of these planned checkpoints; “We are totally against this taxpayer-funded profiling of motorcyclists on both the state & federal levels. The fact that they have decided to implement this potentially unconstitutional action against motorcyclists at the same time they travel through Georgia en route to the well-publicized Daytona Bike Week, simply shows that the government’s true motives are not safety, but the collection of money from a profiled segment of citizens.”
We ask that all contact their elected Representatives and Senators in Washington, D.C. and let them know that you are against this discriminatory action against motorcyclists.
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For a print copy of this release, click here: http://www.abateflorida.com/PR-docs/pressreleases/GA_Motorcycle_Checkpoints_Bikeweek2011.pdf
Dave "Lockdown" Rich
State Public Relations Trustee &
State Webmaster, ABATE of Florida, Inc.
(386) 490-4821 (386) 490-4482 fax
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