Helmet Protest, Bangkok Style

During a recent trip to Thailand, Attorney Hupy noted that childern often don't wear helmets when riding with their parents.

Abate Of Louisiana Official Press Release

HB 985 went to the House Transportation Committee on 4/18/06. This Bill in its original form would have banned children under the age of 5 from riding on a motorcycle. Abate Of Louisiana was there to oppose this Bill on the basis it took away our parental rights and was not equally applied to all forms of recreational activity comparable to motorcycling. Part of our testimony was going to be "Where will it stop? The next thing you know 5 will not be enough so lets make it 7. Then a few years later, well 7 is still too young so lets make it 10. How long before it becomes 18 or even 21?" Before our people could even get up to testify against this Bill an amendment was made and passed to increase the age to 8! So I guess the question remains, where will it all end. Will the age be increased to 10 or even 12? Then how long will it be before it becomes 18 or even 21 like the legal drinking age?

We have to stop this NOW! If we allow legislation such as this to pass how long will it be before we are legislated off the very highways we enjoy so dearly. We had previously misidentified the Representative who is sponsoring this Legislation; the Author's name is Representative Damon J. Baldone Democrat - District 53. His statement is this Bill was due to calls he received concerning a mother carrying her infant child in a papoose (ask a woman) and riding the baby on a motorcycle. There is already a law concerning that and we agree with it so this Bill is unnecessary.

Our next chance to challenge this Bill will be in the Senate Transportation Committee. In the meantime Representative M.J. "Mert" Smiley Republican- District 88, who made a valiant effort to fight this Bill in the House Transportation Committee, will attempt to get the Bill killed on the House floor.

Motorcyclists from within Louisiana and outside of Louisiana need to contact him if we don't want to face these types of restrictions; we need to act now before it's too late! Tell Representative Baldone you oppose this measure and want him to kill it! His e-mail address is:larep053@legis.state.la.us His phone number is: (985) 876-8872.
 
Remember: One voice is but a whisper, but a thousand voices are a ROAR!
 
Ride Safe, Ride Free
James "Poet" Sisco
Executive State President
A.B.A.T.E. Of Louisiana, Inc.

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