ABATE of Florida, Just where is the money coming from Doc?

Considering the ABATE of Florida's upcoming Freedom Ride on the Florida Capital this weekend
(see here for flier) we thought it the appropriate time to ask some pertinent questions. Included at the bottom of this post are three years of ABATE of Florida Tax returns.

On 3-23-10, thanks to a tip off from lifetime ABATE member Biker Rogue we posted the following:
Did ABATE of FLorida again get $500.000?

This article was posted in the South Florida publication Wheels on the Road, March 2010, Issue #125, page 42. It can be read online here or you can download the PDF file from the Wheels on the Road link.

As readers of our site and LDRlongdistancerider/Bruce and rc's biker forum are aware, you can not take everything you read about ABATE of Florida as Gospel (Were sorry about that play on words. We could not help ourselves since Wheels on the Road bills itself as "the South Florida's Bikers Bible for 10+ years").

As readers of this site also know we consistently encourage people to ask questions and "do the research" when it comes to any media. Including us.

Following our own advice we spent some time checking with the various Florida agencies that would be the "go to" people when it comes to funding for Motorcycle Safety Issues. We spoke to people in person and by phone this week. The info we have is the most current info available.

In 2009 the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles received $500.000.00 as earmarked by the legislature to be spent on motorcycle related issues. A fair amount of this Money is spent on oversight of the Florida Rider Programs that prepare individuals for receiving their motorcycle endorsement. Monies are also allocated for Quality Assurance/Oversight programs to insure that the Florida Rider Programs are being provided as per state law.


They seemed surprised that an "ABATE attorney had to "threaten legal action" against the state to get money due them that ABATE claims"several elected tried to misappropriate for their own purposes".


I am told that ABATE of Florida "is not" receiving any grant money from them. I was then referred to the other agency that handles grant monies for motorcycle related issues.

I spoke with individuals who also stated they had not heard of the "alleged" legal action. That they had no idea what I was referring to. It is their contention that yes, a substantial sum of money has come down from the federal government. Which of course we all know.

However that money, minus $45, 000.00, is specifically earmarked for Rider Training Programs and Rider Education. Rider Education consisting of "conspicuity" issues such as the "Ride Proud, Ride Loud" campaign and Education regarding "Safer Riding Techniques" including, but not limited to "impaired rider" campaigns.

It is our understanding that none of these specific monies have been allocated to the issues we would deem important such as "Driver Distraction".


They are not aware of any money going from them to ABATE of Florida!

This is not the first time we have been faced with confusion as to just where the money comes from and where it goes.

As we have posted in the past, persons who have tried to find out where the money is going and where it is coming from have been met with threats and intimidation.

Including, but not limited to Mike, Radar, Price former legislative officer for ABATE of Florida who posted the following here:
Why did you resign? Why Resign
What did your intent letter say?
It caused the VP and Pres to resign as well. Resignation Letters
Was there an actual report given to the Board? Report
Was there an "official" emergency meeting on April 1st? Emergency Meetings
Why do board members (and members) simply leave and no longer participate in the organization? Sick and Tired
What really happened to the Stiffer Penalties Bill? 968 Shutdown
How much does Tallahassee know? Replacement Yet
Incident Report and Request for President to Resign
filed by Gulf Coast Chapter March 9th, 2010 FILE

But has removed the link to these files from the Florida Biker Home page ?

Diana Woods, Former President of Whitesands Chapter of ABATE of Florida who has video of the President/Lobbyist of ABATE of Florida verbally accosting her and threatening to sue ABATE of Florida. All as a result of her and chapters consistent efforts to find out where the money is coming from and where it is going. Whitesands Chapter has since decided to withdraw from ABATE.

Myself, who has been accosted now by either the President/Lobbyist of ABATE of Florida, The former state Sgt. of Arms, the Former state assistant Sgt. of Arms and others on at least four occasions.

Including but not limited to the recent "alleged" assault on a Gulf Coast Chapter member resulting in the Gulf Coast Chapter calling for an emergency Board meeting asking for the State President/lobbyist immediate resignation and/or termination. (see links at the end of post)

We have documented the above and more as a search of this site and/or Bruce and rc's biker Forum
will reveal.

Biker Rouge has been tirelessly working to find out where the money comes and goes. Biker Rogue is not only a life member of ABATE of Florida but as been involved with ABATE since it's inception with the help of Easy Riders Magazine and writes for numerous motorcycle publications.

So once again we are left with the conundrum, who do we believe? The President/lobbyist of ABATE of Florida and ABATE of Florida representatives whose misrepresentations of the truth are to many to be listed here. But can be found if, as we consistently admonish, one were to seek the truth. Or state agencies who, unlike some politicians, are worker bee's like most of us and have nothing to gain from misrepresenting the truth.

It would be our contention that this game has gone on to long. Any not for profit organization that receives any federal, state and/or municipal monies that is subsidized by the taxpayer should, if not by law, but moral obligation and responsibility to those they claim to represent, i.e. in this case, "the Florida Motorcyclist" be open and forth coming regarding finances. It would seem that they would wish to do everything in their power to avoid the slightest hint of impropriety.

Instead what we have is a not for profit organization that pays a lobbyist who is also their President
to lobby the state legislature not only for repeal or establishment of law, but for programs that they would hope to profit from. An organization that shrouds itself in secrecy, admonishes, attacks or attempts to intimidate those who would speak out, claims the rights to the words "Freedom rally,"and although representing less than 1% of registered Florida Motorcyclists claims Florida as their territory, refusing help from those that would offer it.

So where is the money coming from? Is the state subsidizing an organization that thinks it is an MC as opposed to an MRO? Or are we once again being led down the Yellow brick road?

And how many lives of Florida motorcyclists been lost during this dance?



As always we invite ABATE of Florida to respond to our posts and point us in a direction we may not be aware off. If ABATE can provide us with information that the state is lying or is in a situation where one hand is not aware of what the other is doing then as an activist site we would be more than happy to print it. As anyone who has followed this site knows, we have no love of bureaucracy. So if ABATE has info documenting such we will be more than happy to help them spread the word.

We will be forwarding this post to every ABATE member we can. We invite you to do the same. As our comments system remains broken, you can send them to us at rgnostic@gmail.com where we will post them in post format as we have done in the past.

Some links to posts re: ABATE of Florida and their President/lobbyist James D. Reichenbach:

COMMENTS on ABATE of FLorida and President/Lobbyist James Doc ...
open letter to ABATE of FLorida-Back it up or SHUT UP!
Update Florida stiffer penalties legislation, pissing in the wind ...
Gulf Coast Chapter ABATE of Florida responds re Docs "assault" on ...
Gulf Coast Chapter ask For the resignation Of FLorida ABATE ...
Did ABATE of FLorida again get $500.000?
ABATE of Florida featured on Bikers of America Blog Talk Radio
ABATE of FLorida-Open letter to the Board of Directors
Gulf Coast Chapter files formal complaint against ABATE of Florida ...
ABATE of FLorida lobbyist now targeting sport bikers
ABATE of FLoridas stiffer penalties bill-is it really theirs??? Who wrote it?
Biker Rogue weighs in On his participation at Bike week Freedom Rally
Banshee Jo witness to ABATE of FLoridas lies re Daytona Bike Week Freedom Rally
Pictures of Doc confronting rc at Daytona Bike Freedom Rally by Banshee
ABATE lies re Daytona BIke Week Freedom Rally March 3, 2010
ABATE of FLorida
ABATE of FLorida President
ABATE of FLorida lobbyist
James d. Reichenbach

Also some From Biker Rouge, links to ABATE of Florida tax returns:


Here is Tax info that says ABATE DID GET MONEY!
ABATE’s form 990 Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax return does state money coming in and money going out But it Does Not Say Who Money Went To Or Why. Here is the link to the one for 2008 http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/593/101/2008-593101979-05878295-9O.pdf
For 2007 http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/593/101/2007-593101979-049fcbbe-9O.pdf
For 2006 http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/593/101/2006-593101979-036b5f7e-9O.pdf


And another ride to the land of oz.........Add to Technorati Favorites

Posted by rc