solobiketour4cancer.com

OFF THE WIRE
DEPARTURE: Scheduled for JUNE 2012
FROM: WIRRAL, UK
TO: NORDKAPP, NORWAY
Introducing the website of Julian Davies long time chef of distinction, motor cycle traveller and fundraiser, and last but by no means least devoted husband to Jackie Davies (breast cancer survivor).
The story so far, Julian and Jackie met in 2000, whilst both working at The Wheatsheaf Inn, Raby on the Wirral. After two years together they bought their first restaurant, Julian’s in Hoylake, Wirral. A very successful eatery.
In March 2010 Jackie was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and was treated successfully by a wonderful surgeon (Miss Maria Callaghan, Consultant Breast Surgeon) and Oncologist (Dr Zafar Malik MB CHB), together with all their absolutely devoted staff at Clatterbridge Hospital, in the Wirral.
Julian’s adventurous spirit planned a solo motor cycle ride up to the Northern most parts of Europe, and now coupling the adventure ride with a fund raising project on behalf of Breast Cancer.
The machine that will undertake this journey is a DL650 Suzuki V-Strom. A versatile machine for on and off road travel. With a 22-litre fuel tank for long range.
To follow Julian's journey on a day to day basis, simply click here http://www.solobiketour4cancer.com/index.asp
and click on the wall.

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Texas - Authorities strike at Bandidos, close meth pipeline

OFF THE WIRE
By Guillermo Contreras, By Guillermo Contreras
gcontreras@express-news.net

Saying they have "hit at the heart" of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, authorities here announced Friday they have arrested 10 of its members and closed a pipeline that had brought $600 million worth of methamphetamine to the area in the past decade.
The arrests were dubbed "Operation Screaming Eagle" and occurred this week during a national surge of arrests of persons linked to Mexican drug cartels in response to the killing of a U.S. law enforcement officer in Mexico.
Federal, local and state officers arrested 15 affiliates of the Zetas drug cartel and seized $10,000 in cash, guns and drugs in the San Antonio and Austin areas as part of national sweep, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said was meant to send a message to the drug smuggling industry that it would not tolerate an attack on its agents.
But the Bandidos arrests were already in the works and were only indirectly part of the sweep, officers said. Also seized in that probe was $200,000 in cash, guns, cocaine and five pounds of high-purity meth.
The DEA said the Bandidos organization had been bringing in 25 kilos of meth per month since 2000, and the total estimated street value was $600 million. DEA agents, Hondo and San Antonio police, IRS criminal investigators, the Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies spent 18 months investigating the Bandidos in San Antonio, Hondo and Kerrville.
"Those of you who believe (the Bandidos are) simply a motorcycle or social club are wrong," said Mauricio Fernandez, head of the DEA's San Antonio District Office. "This is a ruthless criminal organization."
Added San Antonio Police Chief William McManus: "They are a bunch of bad, bad actors."
The investigation found the group was receiving meth that was 98 to 100 percent pure from the Mongols Motorcycle Club in California. The group also dealt in cocaine.
The drugs were shipped from California to San Antonio hidden in motorcycle parts, and payment for the dope was deposited in accounts of businesses that were nothing more than fronts, court records allege. Fernandez said investigators believe the drugs were obtained from Mexico by the Mongols.
Among those arrested was a vice president of the Bandidos, Wolfgang Kuhn, who pleaded guilty Jan. 25 to conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine, officials said.
Kuhn ran a San Antonio tattoo shop and agents determined that he was receiving drugs from a source in California, Emiliano "Chino" Gonzalez, court records show.
Gonzalez was arrested Wednesday in California, as were three alleged members of the Bandidos: Ricardo Casas, Frank Garcia and Ronnie Garcia. The four are indicted on charges of conspiracy to traffic in meth and cocaine. Gonzalez is also charged with money laundering.
The other five were taken in on state drug-related charges, and at least two others remain on the lam, Hondo police said at the news conference.

Drug raiders target Bandidos

OFF THE WIRE

Mauricio Fernandez, Head of the DEA San Antonio District, leads a press conference about a recent roundup of Bandidos in the San Antonio area on Feb. 25.
Photo: LISA KRANTZ / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Drug-raiders-target-Bandidos-1031020.php#ixzz1F5N2eSjX

Saying they had “hit at the heart” of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, authorities here announced Friday they had arrested 10 of its members and closed a pipeline that had brought $600 million worth of methamphetamine to the area in the past decade.
The arrests were dubbed “Operation Screaming Eagle” and occurred this week during a national surge of arrests of people linked to Mexican drug cartels in response to the killing of a U.S. law enforcement officer in Mexico.
Federal, local and state officers arrested 15 affiliates of the Zetas drug cartel and seized $10,000 in cash, guns and drugs in the San Antonio and Austin areas as part of national sweep, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said was meant to send a message to the drug smuggling industry that it wouldn't tolerate an attack on its agents.
But the Bandidos arrests already were in the works and were only indirectly part of the sweep, officers said. Also seized in that probe was $200,000 in cash, guns, cocaine and 5 pounds of high-purity meth.
The DEA said the Bandidos organization had been bringing in 25 kilos of meth per month since 2000, and the total estimated street value was $600 million.
DEA agents, Hondo and San Antonio police, IRS criminal investigators, the Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies spent 18 months investigating the Bandidos in San Antonio, Hondo and Kerrville.
“Those of you who believe (the Bandidos are) simply a motorcycle or social club are wrong,” said Mauricio Fernandez, head of the DEA's San Antonio district office. “This is a ruthless criminal organization.”
Added San Antonio Police Chief William McManus: “They are a bunch of bad, bad actors.”
The investigation found the group was receiving meth that was 98 (percent) to 100 percent pure from the Mongols Motorcycle Club in California. The group also dealt in cocaine.
The drugs were shipped from California to San Antonio hidden in motorcycle parts, and payment for the dope was deposited in accounts of businesses that were nothing more than fronts, court records allege.
Fernandez said investigators believe the drugs were obtained from Mexico by the Mongols.
Among those arrested was a vice president of the Bandidos, Wolfgang Kuhn, who pleaded guilty Jan. 25 to conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine, officials said.
Kuhn ran a San Antonio tattoo shop and agents determined he was receiving drugs from a source in California, Emiliano “Chino” Gonzalez, court records show.
Gonzalez was arrested Wednesday in California, as were three alleged members of the Bandidos: Ricardo Casas, Frank Garcia and Ronnie Garcia. The four are indicted on charges of conspiracy to traffic in meth and cocaine. Gonzalez is also charged with money laundering.
The other five were taken in on state drug-related charges, and at least two others remain on the lam, Hondo police said at the news conference.


By Guillermo Contreras,

Texas - SAN ANTONIO - Raid: S.A. Bandidos 'a bunch of bad, bad actors,' SAPD says

OFF THE WIRE
Brian New
 kens5.com
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) says more than 10 members of a local organized crime gang have been arrested in what authorities are calling a "devastating blow" to the Bandidos Motorcycle Club.
Along with the ten arrests made Wednesday in Hondo, special agents seized homes, cars, $200,000 in cash, guns, cocaine and a large amount of meth, that investigators say was as pure as any they have seen in this area.
Their main message: The Bandidos Motorcycle Club is not a social club, but an organized gang.
For months now investigators have been tracking the Bandidos from California to Texas. Federal agents say the bikers would hide drugs and cash behind the headlight of their motorcycles and they transported meth and cocaine to Texas.
But, it's not just drugs the federal agents say the Bandidos are involved in.
"Dealing not just in narcotics, drugs, but also involving murders, extortion, prostitution, illegal smuggling - you name it," says the DEA's Mauricio Fernandez.
"They are a bunch of bad, bad actors," says San Antonio Police Chief, William McManus. "And the fact that these individuals are off the street, makes the San Antonio area much safer for it."
The DEA's Operation Screaming Eagle ranged from Kerrville to San Antonio, all the way out to California, and even south of the border.
KENS 5 will bring you more on this developing story.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- Biker Bluesgrass Fest kicks off in Myrtle Beach

OFF THE WIRE
 Amy Vitrano
http://www2.scnow.com/news/grand-strand/2011/feb/26/biker-bluesgrass-fest-set-saturday-myrtle-beach-ar-1510757/
Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson and the American Red Cross hosted the 1st Biker Bluegrass Fest Saturday.
The event kicked off Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. at Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson, 4710 South Kings Highway.
Several bluegrass bands entertained while non profit groups collected donations. The American Red Cross, The American Legion and The Shriners club was there.
The bands enjoyed helping the organizations, but also help each other out as well.
"One of their mandolin player didn't show up so another one just jumped right in,” said Denise Triece, marketing and event director for Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson. “They're helping one another. It's amazing you can go all over town every weekend and find them playing at different locations. And they come out today for the nonprofits to take care of us."
The event featured food and music and helped raise funds for local families in need.

Noise ordinance back to square one, New Hampshire - NORTH HAMPTON

OFF THE WIRE
With the decision by a federal judge to send the lawsuit brought by Seacoast Motorcycles against the town back to Rockingham Superior Court, things are back to square one in the fight to enforce a motorcycle noise ordinance passed by voters at the 2010 Town Meeting.




"We have not yet received a date for (a) hearing (in superior court)," said Town Administrator Steve Fournier last week. "Until such time, the police will be enforcing the laws that were on the books prior to the warrant article's passage."



NH CALM (New Hampshire Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles), a New Castle-based organization that intervened in the case, had attempted to move the case to federal court based on the citing of the EPA requirement that motorcycle exhaust system emit no more than 80 decibels in the ordinance. State law allows motorcycles to emit no more than 106 decibels.
In an order dated Feb. 4, U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty ruled the case belonged in the superior court based on the fact that NH CALM was simply an intervener and the town did not join in the motion to have the case heard in the federal court.
"Without formally analyzing the issue, the court observes that NH CALM's claim for federal-question jurisdiction appears to be exceptionally weak," McCafferty wrote.
North Hampton Police Chief Brian Page has called the ordinance unenforceable citing several legal opinions as the basis for his decision, including one from Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams. Page's determination has the backing of the Select Board.
"The town ordinance is trying to circumvent state law and is not enforceable," he told the Select Board in June of 2010. "It would be ridiculous for me to direct my men to enforce it."

It's a bird! It's a spy! It's both, Backed by the Pentagon's research arm....

OFF THE WIRE
www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hummingbird-drone-20110217,0,2685906.story

It's a bird! It's a spy! It's both
Backed by the Pentagon's research arm, Monrovia firm AeroVironment has developed the Nano Hummingbird, an experimental miniature drone that could one day do reconnaissance by landing on a window ledge.

By W.J. Hennigan, Los Angeles Times
February 17, 2011
A pocket-size drone dubbed the Nano Hummingbird for the way it flaps its tiny robotic wings has been developed for the Pentagon by a Monrovia company as a mini-spy plane capable of maneuvering on the battlefield and in urban areas.
The battery-powered drone was built by AeroVironment Inc. for the Pentagon's research arm as part of a series of experiments in nanotechnology. The little flying machine is built to look like a bird for potential use in spy missions.
The results of a five-year effort to develop the drone are being announced Thursday by the company and the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Equipped with a camera, the drone can fly at speeds of up to 11 miles per hour, AeroVironment said. It can hover and fly sideways, backward and forward, as well as go clockwise and counterclockwise, by remote control for about eight minutes.
The quick flight meets the goals set forth by the government to build a flying "hummingbird-like" aircraft. It also demonstrates the promise of fielding mini-spy planes. Industry insiders see the technology eventually being capable of flying through open windows or sitting on power lines, capturing audio and video while enemies would be none the wiser.
The Hummingbird would be a major departure from existing drones that closely resemble traditional aircraft. The next step is likely to be further refinement of the technology, officials said, before decisions are made about whether the drones would be mass-produced and deployed.
"The miniaturization of drones is where it really gets interesting," said defense expert Peter W. Singer, author of "Wired for War," a book about robotic warfare. "You can use these things anywhere, put them anyplace, and the target will never even know they're being watched."
With a wingspan of 6.5 inches, the mini-drone weighs 19 grams, or less than a AA battery. The Hummingbird's guts are made up of motors, communications systems and a video camera. It is slightly larger than the average hummingbird.
The success of the program "paves the way for a new generation of aircraft with the agility and appearance of small birds," Todd Hylton, Hummingbird program manager for the Pentagon's research arm, said in a statement.
In all, the Pentagon has awarded about $4 million to AeroVironment since 2006 to develop the technology and the drone itself.
Matt Keennon, the company's manager on the project, said it was a technical challenge to create the mini-machine from scratch because it pushes the limitations of aerodynamics.
Less than two years ago, an earlier version of the drone could fly for 20 seconds. Keennon said the current eight minutes of flight are likely to be extended as experiments continue.
"This is a new form of man-made flight," Keennon said. It is about "biomimicry," or building a machine that is inspired by nature, he said.
The Pentagon issued seven specific milestones for the Hummingbird, including the ability to hover in a 5-mph wind gust and the ability to fly from outdoors to indoors and back outdoors through a normal-size doorway.
Critics have noted that privacy issues may emerge depending on how the drones are used.
For now, the Hummingbird is just a prototype, Keennon said. But 10 years from now, he sees the technology carrying out detailed reconnaissance missions.
But it's not likely to be a "hummingbird," considering that that's a rare bird in, say, New York City.
"I'm not a bird expert, but a sparrow seems to be better," Keennon said.

NOTE: presentation video at link

Anti Helmet Choice Testimony in Nebraska

OFF THE WIRE
You're right on, I have the same concerns. Our biggest challenge is to discredit NTSB and NHTSA, they are our strongest opponents. They send professional speakers in three piece suits and a wheelbarrow of manipulated statistics . They cherry pick their information and walk the line of down-right lying to convince the legislators about the benefits of helmets. Never once have I heard them say the helmet is only designed and approved for a 13 mph impact. Or that fatalities went up in a state after repeal because of more registered motorcycles on the road. Maybe someone's presentation could directly challenge each one of their typical claims. Supporters of a bill are often heard first, so they could say "you are going to hear from the opponents..... but the fact is......" I think the presentation from Christopher Hart covers most of NTSB's claims and could be used as a guideline to counter them. Warren Woodward, author of Helmet Law Facts did a written response to each of NTSB claims in the past. I have that document if anyone wants it. The following is an example of how Warren discredits Mr. Harts presentation.

John Bland
Christopher A. Hart
Vice Chairman
National Transportation Safety Board
Before The
Transportation and Telecommunications Committee
Nebraska Unicameral Legislature
on Legislative Bill 52
Repeal of Nebraska's Universal Helmet Law
Lincoln, Nebraska
February 14, 2011

Good afternoon Chairman Fischer and members of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. It is my pleasure to be here in Lincoln, at the invitation of Senator Lathrop, to discuss the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendation on helmet use laws and therefore our opposition to Legislative Bill (L.B.) 52, a bill that would reduce the safety benefits that are now provided by Nebraska's very sound universal helmet wear law.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress to investigate transportation accidents, determine their probable cause, and make recommendations to prevent their recurrence. The recommendations that arise from our investigations and safety studies are our most important product.

"Any person or agency getting federal money is not "independent" Warren Woodward, author of Helmet Law Facts.

Motorcycles represent only 3 percent of the 257 million vehicles on our roads, but they account for 13 percent of highways deaths. In 1997, the motorcycle fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 55.30. By 2007, the rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 72.48, an increase of 31 percent, with the result that the number of fatalities grew faster than the number of registered motorcycles.

"Cherry-picking" data for the purpose of fear mongering. Going back as for as 1975, 1997 was the low point for fatalities. Had he said "Since 1980...' fatalities would have decreased compared with now." Warren Woodward.

Anti Helmet Choice - Warren Woodward
http://www.sbumaui.org/

Hells Angels to plead not guilty

OFF THE WIRE
A selection of guns, knives, weapons and other items seized by Salmon Arm RCMP
By Tracy Hughes - Salmon Arm Observer
Four members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club have informed Crown Counsel of their intention to enter not-guilty pleas to weapons and drug charges relating to a traffic stop in Salmon Arm on Nov. 25.
The four men, Cory Montemurro, Joseph Skreptak, Dennis Miner and Carl Ennis, will appear again in court April 12 to set a trial date.
The group was arrested after they were stopped by police for speeding on the Trans-Canada Highway near Salmon Arm around 10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25. Police say they detected an odour of marijuana and then searched the car.
They found several firearms including a sawed-off shotgun, three handguns and a large quantity of ammunition. Police also recovered a bulletproof vest, a baseball bat, an axe handle, knives, bear spray and a radio jamming device designed to block outgoing transmissions.
Ennis, 39, Miner, 35, and Skreptak, 43, each face four counts of possession of a prohibited/restricted firearm with ammunition, two counts of occupying a vehicle in which there is a firearm, one count of storage of a firearm contrary to regulation and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Skreptak is also charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Montemurro, 40, is facing those same weapons charges as well as a charge of carrying a concealed weapon
Montemurro is the sole suspect remaining in custody, the other three have been released on bail.

New York Freedom Riders New York Legislation and news -2/25/11

OFF THE WIRE
NEW YORK LEGISLATION UPDATES:


Motorcycle, helmet, gang: No updates.

UPDATES

California - helmet NEW

AB695: Vehicles: motorcycles: safety helmets: exceptions.
Existing law requires a driver and a passenger to wear a safety
helmet meeting certain requirements when riding on a motorcycle,
motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle.
This bill would exempt from this requirement a driver who is 18
years of age or older who has either completed a motorcyclist safety
training program, or has been authorized to operate a vehicle
pursuant to a valid class M1 license or endorsement, or a comparable
license from another jurisdiction, for 2 years or more.
Sponsor Norby
Status:
Feb. 18 From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
Bill text:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0651-0700/ab_695_bill_20110217_introduced.html
Connecticut - pipes, license update
SB821: AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER ON A MOTORCYCLE TO BE
THE SAME AS THE NUMBER ON THE TAILPIPE.
Sponsor: Sen. John W. Fonfara
Status: 2/24/2011: Public Hearing 02/28
Bill text:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/TOB/S/2011SB-00821-R00-SB.htm

HB6214: AN ACT REQUIRING A VALID MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR'S LICENSE IN
ORDER TO REGISTER A MOTORCYCLE.
Sponsor: Rep. Hector L. Robles
Status: 2/24/2011: Public Hearing 02/28
Bill text:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/TOB/H/2011HB-06214-R00-HB.htm

Hawaii- noise task force update

SR5: CONVENING A LEGISLATIVE NOISE POLLUTION TASK FORCE TO REVIEW BEST
PRACTICES FROM OTHER STATES IN REDUCING URBAN NOISE POLLUTION.

Sponsor: GALUTERIA, CHUN OAKLAND, ESPERO, KIDANI
Status: The committee(s) on ENE has scheduled a public hearing on
02-24-11 3:00PM in conference room 225.
Testimony:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/Testimony/SR5_TESTIMONY_ENE_02-25-11.pdf
.Bill text:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/bills/SR5_.pdf

Illinois - helmet, traffic lights updates

HB0285: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that every operator
and passenger on a motorcycle, motor driven cycle, or motorized
pedalcycle who is age 26 or younger must wear a helmet that meets
federal safety standards.
Sponsor: Rep. Mary E. Flowers
Hearings

Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee Hearing Mar 2 2011 10:00AM
Capitol Building Room 115 Springfield, IL
Bill text:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=0285&GAID=11&LegID=55314&SpecSess=&Session=

HB0290: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to require every operator and
passenger on a motorcycle, motor driven cycle, or motorized pedalcycle
to wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards.
Sponsor: Rep. Mary E. Flowers

Hearings
Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee Hearing Mar 2 2011 10:00AM
Capitol Building Room 115 Springfield, IL
Bill text:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=0290&GAID=11&LegID=55326&SpecSess=&Session=


HB2860: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the driver of a
motorcycle, facing any steady red signal which fails to change to a
green signal within a reasonable period of time because of a signal
malfunction or because the signal has failed to detect the arrival of
the motorcycle due to the motorcycle's size or weight, has the right to
proceed subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop
sign.
Sponsor: Rep. Daniel V. Beiser - Brandon W. Phelps - Thomas Holbrook
 Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. - Patrick J. Verschoore
Hearings
Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee Hearing Mar 2 2011 10:00AM
Capitol Building Room 115 Springfield, IL
Bill text:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=2860&GAID=11&LegID=60182&SpecSess=&Session=

Kansas - traffic lights update

HB2192: "Dead Red"- Making seat belt regulations part of uniform act
regulating traffic on highways.

Status:
Tue 22 Feb 2011 House Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend -
Offered
Tue 22 Feb 2011 House Committee of the Whole - Amendment by
Representative Brookens was adopted
Tue 22 Feb 2011 House Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
Wed 23 Feb 2011 House Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 99 Nay:22

Thu 24 Feb 2011 Senate Received and Introduced
Bill text:
http://kslegislature.org/li/b2011_12/year1/measures/documents/hb2192_02_0000.pdf

Maine- inspection NEW

LD 704 (HP 535)"An Act To Repeal the Motorcycle Inspection Law"
Sponsored: Lance Harvell
Status: 2/18/2011 - Received by the Clerk of the House on February 18,
2011.
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION pursuant to

Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
Bill text:
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/billtexts/HP053501.asp
Maryland- helmet fines update
SB852: Altering the penalty from a maximum fine of $500 to a maximum
fine of $25 for specified violations of law relating to the failure to
use protective headgear and other protective equipment while operating
or riding on a motorcycle.

Sponsor: Astle
Status: 2/22: Hearing 3/22 at 1:00 p.m.
Bill text:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/sb/sb0852f.pdf
HB1571: Relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles during
periods of traffic congestion.
Sponsor: Miller, Sid
Status: 02/21/2011 H Filed
Bill text:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/html/HB01571I.htm
Virginia - traffic lights update

HB1981: Allows motorcycle and moped drivers and bicycle riders, in
certain situations, to proceed through intersections controlled by
traffic lights showing steady red signals. This bill incorporates HB
1991.
Sponsor: Thomas A. Greason
Status:

02/17/11 Senate: Reported from Transportation with amendment (15-Y
0-N)
02/21/11 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
02/21/11 Senate: Reconsideration of passed by for the day agreed to
(40-Y 0-N)
02/21/11 Senate: Reconsideration of dispensing with constitutional
reading agreed to (40-Y 0-N)
02/21/11 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/22/11 Senate: Read third time
02/22/11 Senate: Reading of amendment waived
02/22/11 Senate: Committee amendment agreed to
02/22/11 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/22/11 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (40-Y 0-N)
02/22/11 House: Placed on Calendar
02/23/11 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (87-Y 11-N)
02/23/11 House: VOTE: ADOPTION (87-Y 11-N)

Bill text:
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+HB1981H1

Washington- profiling update

HB 1333: Addressing motorcycle profiling.
Sponsor: Kirby, Van De Wege, Hurst, Pearson, Appleton, Ross, Ladenburg,
Kagi, Upthegrove, Blake, Green, Kenney, Condotta
Status:

Feb 18 Executive action taken in the House Committee on General
Government Appropriations & Oversight at 1:30 PM. (Committee Materials)
APPG - Executive action taken by committee.
APPG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be
substituted, do pass.

Feb 23: Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Bill text:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1333.pdf

Substitute Bill (APPG 11)
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1333-S.pdf




FEDERAL

USA PATRIOT Act
H.R.514

Latest Title: FISA Sunsets Extension Act of 2011

Sponsor: Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] (introduced 1/26/2011)
Cosponsors (2)
Related Bills: H.RES.79, H.RES.93, H.R.67
Latest Major Action: 2/23/2011 Presented to President.

OTHER NEWS:

Groundbreaking MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study Under Way
Multiple Age Groups, Various Riding Environments
www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm?pagename=News&action=display&content=3A825E31-C291-4619-4EE43B36BBFED370

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Riders asked to oppose Georgia motorcycle-only checkpoints

www.americanmotorcyclist.com/NewsView/11-02-23/Riders_asked_to_oppose_Gergia_motorcycle-only_checkpoints.aspx

NEW REPORTS-
Christopher A. Hart, Vice Chairman, NTSB

Testimony on NE LB52- helmet law

www.ntsb.gov/speeches/hart/hac110214.html

Road Sharing- Does it matter what road users think of each other?

Dr Simon Christmas (Simon Christmas Ltd); Dr Shaun Helman (TRL Ltd)

January 2011
PDF 43 pages:

http://www.pacts.org.uk/docs/pdf-bank/road%20sharing%20-%20christmas%20and%20helman%20-%20report.pdf
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some pro helmet case questions ...(rebuttal to Hart's testimony - work in progress) [2 Attachments]

OFF THE WIRE.
from TigerLily
I'm not finished but I didn't want to delay sending this out. I may have made a few mistakes that i'll address later - just didn't want to delay more because many of us need to provide this info asap. Will try to finish tomorrow. If any of you need to use my stuff as your own - by all means go for it. Don't worry about plagerizing - it's about getting the word out.
I'm also cutting and pasting below. Any notes you can make to fix my errors, please do so.
Thanks a mil.
TigerLily
Visit my blog: http://tigerlilsblog.blogspot.com/

p.s. I noticed my graph didn't cut and paste, so I'll put the graph on an attachment.
http://www.ntsb.gov/Speeches/hart/hac110214.html
Christopher A. Hart


Vice Chairman
National Transportation Safety Board
Before The Transporation and Telecommunications Committee
Nebraska Unicameral Legislature on Legislative Bill 52
Repeal of Nebraska's Universal Helmet Law
Lincoln, NebraskaFebruary 14, 2011

Good afternoon Chairman Fischer and members of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. It is my pleasure to be here in Lincoln, at the invitation of Senator Lathrop, to discuss the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendation on helmet use laws and therefore our opposition to Legislative Bill (L.B.) 52, a bill that would reduce the safety benefits that are now provided by Nebraska's very sound universal helmet wear law.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress to investigate transportation accidents, determine their probable cause, and make recommendations to prevent their recurrence. The recommendations that arise from our investigations and safety studies are our most important product. Were there any investigations by NTSB related to motorcycle accidents? If so, what are the particulars?

The NTSB is concerned about the growing number of motorcycle riders that have been killed or injured in motorcycle crashes. From 1997 through 2008, the number of motorcycle fatalities nationwide more than doubled from 2,116 to 5,290. Although fatalities among motorcyclists declined in 2009, to 4,462, that is still an average of 12 motorcyclists per day, and an additional 90,000 were injured. Here in Nebraska, during the same 12-year period, there were 145 fatalities, an average of 12 deaths per year. Based upon experience in other states, the number of motorcyclist fatalities and injuries can be expected to increase if Nebraska enacts L.B. 52. Who collected this data? If it wasn’t then we should question whether Mr. Hart has the authority to be identifying these numbers.

Motorcycles represent only 3 percent of the 257 million vehicles on our roads, but they account for 13 percent of highways deaths.

In 1997, the motorcycle fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 55.30. By 2007, the rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 72.48, an increase of 31 percent, with the result that the number of fatalities grew faster than the number of registered motorcycles.

I did a little “national” research and discovered that between those dates in which there was an increase of 31% fatalities, the number of states that expanded helmet options went up only by three states, or less than 6%. If fatalities increase with more states offering helmet choice, then there should have been 16 more States allowing for optional use of helmets. Source: http://www.iihs.org/laws/helmet_history.html

Recognizing the safety benefits of motorcycle helmets and the effectiveness of universal helmet laws in increasing helmet use, in October 2007, the NTSB recommended that the states lacking a universal helmet law enact legislation to require all motorcycle riders and passengers to use a helmet that complies with federal standards. We were pleased not to have to send that recommendation to Nebraska because, to its credit, Nebraska already had a universal helmet law in 2007.

Helmets Are Effective

Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the use of a safety helmet that complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218 is the "single critical factor in the prevention [and] reduction of head injury." Where is the data to support this claim? Should we take his word for it – and the word of the lobbyists – NHTSA – who were banned from lobbing to States? The main function of the helmet is to protect the rider's head, especially the brain, during a fall or crash. A helmet that meets the federal safety standard is designed with a hard outer shell, an impact-attenuating liner, and a retention system to protect the structure and contents of the head in a wide variety of impact scenarios. He fails to mention that FMVSS is a testing standard by which testing of helmets is conducted at a speed of 12 mph. And more than 1/3 of those tested helmets – fail! http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/2008s218.pdf
Out of 39 tested helmet brands tested in 2008, 18 failed, or 46%. These are helmets that are legal to wear because they were “tested.”

Helmets can be effective in both low- and high-speed crashes because crash speed is not directly related to head impact speed. In the definitive study on motorcycle cause factors (frequently referred to as the Hurt Report), the severity of head impacts was determined by examining crash-involved helmet damage. This study found that 90 percent of head impacts were less severe than the single test impact required in FMVSS 218. Thus, FMVSS 218-compliant helmets are well designed to protect the head for the vast majority of motorcycle crashes. Notice the word: can – not WILL.

It’s difficult to find unbiased data collection when it is being collected by an agenda-driven government. Here’s an older study that indicates a dramatic increase in neck injuries when helmets became mandatory:

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles did a study in 1969 comparing accident data from the years 1966 and 1967 in order to detect the effects of that state’s mandatory helmet law, which became effective Jan. 1, 1967. http://www.sbumaui.org/helmet_law_facts.pdf
Injuries Sustained by Motorcycle Occupants Killed

Injury 1966 Fatalities 1967 Fatalities

Head - fracture, bleeding wound, concussion 75.4% 45.9%

Neck - fracture, broken 5.8% 37.8%

Experience has abundantly demonstrated the effectiveness of appropriately designed motorcycle helmets in preventing and mitigating head injury. The independent Cochrane Review of published studies found in 2003 that helmets substantially reduced the risk of head injury and fatality in motorcycle crashes, and found no evidence of an increased risk of any other types of injury. A 1996 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) report noted that riders not wearing helmets are three times more likely to suffer brain injury than those riders wearing helmets.

About the Cochran Review. It appears to be an organization out of the U.K., as their financial statement is measured in “pounds.” They work with “WHO” World Healthcare Organization. http://www.cochrane.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Annual%20Report%202009-10_The%20Cochrane%20Collaboration.pdf
5. TAXATION

The Cochrane Collaboration is a registered charity, and is therefore not liable to pay corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Working better with external organisations
We are looking again at our external
partnerships, seeking ways of working
effectively with organisations with
common missions and purposes, where
the sum of our contributions can be
greater than the parts. As an example,
we are in the late stages of establishing
‘official relations’ with the World Health
Organization, a key partner in much of the
work we do for resource-poor settings.

According to another DOT report published in 2004, helmets are 37 percent effective in preventing all fatalities in motorcycle crashes. What is he basing this wild claim on?

David Thom, one of the lead researchers involved with the Hurt Report, spoke at the NTSB's Motorcycle Forum in September 2006, about the potential negative effects of helmets on safety. An active motorcyclist and researcher on motorcycle safety for three decades, Mr. Thom noted that helmets neither cause nor prevent neck injuries. A large number of scientific studies confirm Mr. Thom's observations. Similarly, helmets have not been shown to cause problems with vision or hearing. I would like for this person to give his testimony wearing a full-face helmet with the temp at 100 degrees and then let Mr. Hart tell me that helmets don’t cause problems with vision or hearing. There is also the added impact of wind – a helmet large enough to not raise a law enforcer’s suspicion, will likely have an impact at controlling the motorcycle at high speeds. When you turn to ensure you are clear to change lanes, it can be unnerving to feel wind catch under your visor and can cause an added struggle to handling the motorcycle safely. These are especially trying circumstances when dealing with high wind condition.

Helmets Laws Do Increase Helmet Use Yes, all laws that have a fine and a threat of being arrested when not paid or addressed – WILL increase helmet use by close to 100%. But these helmet law advocates fail to address the astounding loss of revenue to the motorcycling industry and tourism. This is especially crucial to our current economy.

By 1976, following passage of the 1966 National Highway Safety Act, which withheld federal funding from states that had not enacted mandatory helmet laws, 47 states, including Nebraska, had mandatory helmet laws that applied to all motorcycle riders. Since that time, motorcycle groups have argued extensively against such laws, and restrictions on federal funding contingent on such laws were removed (in 1976), partially re-enacted (in 1991), and then removed again (in 1995). Each removal of federal funding restrictions was followed by a wave of repeals of universal helmet laws. Currently, 20 (Incorrect – 22 states have universal helmet laws – he must not be counting DC)states, including Nebraska, have universal helmet laws (requiring all riders to wear a helmet), 27 states have partial laws (requiring minors and/or passengers to wear such helmets), and 3 states (2 states have no helmet laws) have no helmet laws.

Unfortunately, these repeals have amounted to a vast experiment affirming the effectiveness of helmet laws and regulations in reducing death and injury. A 1991 review of studies of helmet use found that helmet use under universal laws ranges from 92 to 100 percent, (I challenge this statement on the grounds that in Nevada the data is collected by a police officer at the scene of the accident. There is a checkbox on that report that requires the answer to whether or not the rider was wearing a helmet. There are some incidents in which the data collector would check “no” because the helmet came off on impact, or if it was removed to resuscitate) while without a law or under a partial law (requiring only some riders, such as teens or novice riders, to wear helmets), helmet use generally ranges from 42 to 59 percent. A 2009 NHTSA research note indicated that helmet use in states that require all motorcyclists to wear helmets is at 86 percent, while helmet use in a state without a law or under a partial law is about 55 percent. How did he get those numbers? I belong to a riding club in which I am the ONLY rider that goes helmetless in states with helmet options.

A 1986 study concluded that the repeal of helmet use laws was associated with a 10.4 to 33.3 percent increase in the fatality rate when calculated per accident. It would be nice to have the entire picture. How much was the motorcycle registration, how much more riding took place because of the helmet choice, and how often are those accidents caused by helmets – close to zero. The study also found that between 158 and 420 fewer motorcycle rider fatalities would have occurred in 1984 had the laws not been repealed. That study should have also captured how the fatalities were decreased because of decreased riding. More recently, studies of states that have repealed their mandatory helmet laws within the last 10 years have shown similar patterns.

For example, Arkansas repealed its universal helmet law in 1997, and 18 months after repeal, helmet use dropped by two-thirds (from 97 to 30 percent). First off, how can any study know the percentage of persons wearing a helmet? If helmet usage dropped by two thirds, fatalities should have increased by two-thirds. Arkansas also experienced more than double the number and rate of unhelmeted crash scene fatalities, and more than double the hospital admission rate for unhelmeted motorcycle crash survivors. It would be nice to know if there were any “droolers” that resulted from having worn a helmet. A more merciful fate in that case might have been death. “Let those who ride decide” applies. Associated with this increase in death and injuries was a substantial increase in the amount of non-reimbursed charges for initial treatment. What are these increases? I looked high and low in Nevada to see what the adverse effects have been. Reality check: more people die or cause a drain on healthcare due to poor nutrition than due to law-abiding, motorcyclists that tend to be healthy and even athletic.

After Texas repealed its universal helmet law in 1997, helmet use fell from 97 to 66 percent. Again, who collected those numbers? And how did the helmet repeal increase riding? More than 80 additional motorcyclists died How many more? Was it one more? Two? If he’s a high ranking federal official appointed by the President of the United States – spending money to testify in Nebraska to kill a freedom-based bill, then why can’t he tell us EXACTLY? If the number had been 87, likely the statement would have been “Almost 90.” in the 2 years following the law's repeal than in the 2 years preceding it. The number of unhelmeted riders with traumatic brain injuries increased by a factor of almost 10 Almost 10 – was it 9? 8? 7? 6? If you round six off to the nearest 10th, it’s justifiable to say “almost 10.” How many traumatic injuries resulted from driving other motor vehicles? Or being hit by a car? Or falls? in only 4 years, from 55 in 1997 to 511 in 2001, and the number of unhelmeted riders who were placed in rehabilitation facilities saw similar increases, from 9 in 1997 to 90 in 2001. Here’s a question, with helmet choice and good economy, does it not make sense that people will be out riding? A more recent study published in the January 2010 edition of the Southern Medical Journal indicates that in the 7 years since Texas repealed its mandatory motorcycle law in 1997, fatality rates per vehicle miles traveled increased by roughly 25 percent. Again, was this a good-economy driven factor? Did they experience unprecedented rain? To constantly blame the rider’s choice or non choice of head gear is to deny a slew of factors. People who work for the government and benefit by putting control over law-abiding freedom-loving U.S. Citizens are constantly skewing facts to support their agenda and denying the existence of other factors.

In Kentucky, helmet usage rates fell from 96 to 65 percent following repeal of the state's universal helmet law in 1998; Does the government of Kentucky have cops going around counting how many people are wearing helmets? Who’s paying for this? motorcycle fatalities increased from 26 in the year prior to repeal to 42 in the year following repeal. How many people died from heart disease – isn’t that where Kentucky Fried Chicken originated? Will the feds be testifying with their high credentials to ban fried chicken? Will they use statistics about hospitalizions, strokes, diabetes, etc. to futher an agenda to take away some else’s freedom? Accident-involved motorcycle riders who did not wear helmets in Kentucky were 4 times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury and severe head injury. What, exactly, is the breakdown. Were some fatalities more merciful than quadriplegia? In addition, hospital charges alone averaged more than $25,000 more for the unhelmeted motorcyclist than for the helmeted motorcyclist involved in an accident. Motorcyclists are some of the best insured motorists around. We know we have extra risks and I would venture to guess that we compensate for it. How did he come to this conclusion. Where is the data? Why is it so difficult to obtain?

Louisiana saw its helmet usage rate drop from 100 to 52 how is this data collected? percent after it amended its helmet law in 1999 to remove the universal requirement for helmet use. The motorcycle fatality rate increased by more than 25 percent following the repeal, with unhelmeted accident-involved riders experiencing head injuries at twice the rate of helmeted riders. Nearly 60 more motorcyclists died in the 2 years following the law's repeal than in the 2 years preceding it. In spite of their requirement for unhelmeted riders to carry health insurance, the insurance coverage for unhelmeted riders involved in accidents actually decreased by half following the change in the law. In 2004, in response to the continuing rise in deaths and injuries, Louisiana reenacted the universal helmet law and saw the total number of motorcyclist deaths decline in 2004 and 2005. I am not surprised that the people of Louisiana changed their minds so many times. On the one hand there are some very freedom-loving people – on the other a lot of nannycrats who have deep roots in slavery. Is this a case in which the culture breeds nannyism?

Florida repealed its universal helmet law in 2000. After the repeal, helmet wear decreased from 100 to 53 percent, What’s source for this statement so that we can discern whether these numbers are legit. motorcycle deaths increased by almost 50 percent, How much did mc registrations increase and riding? Do the same people who count helmets on riders also calculate the miles put on these bikes? and the number of serious brain injuries doubled. How bad were those injuries, were they riding faster than 12 mph? What are the odds that those brain injuries could have been avoided? Did the brain injuries keep a quadriplegic alive – to the determine of their own will? An estimated 117 motorcycle deaths in Florida could have been avoided from 2001 to 2002 if the universal law had remained in place. How much cost would it had on freedom to ride lidless?

The most recent study examining the results of a helmet law repeal was completed in 2008 by the University of Pittsburgh. The study looked at motorcycle injuries and fatalities in Pennsylvania for the 2 years before and after Pennsylvania limited its motorcycle law to riders with limited experience and riders and passengers under age 21. In the 2 years after Pennsylvania changed its law, the number of non-head injury deaths increased 25 percent, but the number of head injury deaths increased by 66 percent. Notice the measure stated as a percentage, rather than as a number. Were there 3 injuries and it went up to 9? When they give an alarming number in a percentage form, it is used as an intentional trick heighten alarm. Motorcycle-related head injury hospitalizations increased an astounding 78 percent compared to 28 percent for non-head injury hospitalizations. Again, percentages not numbers. The increase in the number of head injury deaths or hospitalizations significantly outpaced the increase in the number of motorcycle registrations. He needs to quantify the number. Acute care hospital charges for motor-cycle related head injuries increased 132 percent, Did this increase in cost because a helmet put him in a place where they needed a lot of care? Would the cost be lower if they had died due if they had not worn a helmet? and the number of head-injured hospitalized motorcyclists requiring additional care at other facilities, such as rehabilitation or long-term care, increased 87 percent, compared with a 16 increase for non-head injured motorcyclists. He speaks to costs – but doesn’t say if the injured were or were not wearing helmet. Is it possible he is counting all injuries – regardless of whether or not the victim was wearing a helmet? I can’t help but be suspicious in light of the lack of data they will let us have to analyze for ourselves, and in light to furthering their own agenda.

The results of this legislative "experiment" on motorcycle riders are the same in every state where it has been performed. How did he come to this conclusion? Is it possible that even one state enjoyed more riding because of the choice and yet that had no negative impact? Have any actually had a positive impact? When universal helmet laws are repealed, helmet usage rates decrease dramatically, helmet laws = Less riding = fewer deaths and accidents. and motorcycle deaths and injuries increase markedly, even when accounting for the changes in ridership that may be associated with the repeal of the universal law. It is likely that hundreds of deaths and thousands of serious injuries could have been avoided had the states that recently repealed their universal helmet laws not done so. Yes, and we’d be more like other countries in which they cannot enjoy freedoms because they police states – which is what we are becoming.

Most states that have repealed universal helmet laws recognize that younger riders may be unable to make a fully informed decision regarding helmet use. They have, therefore, required that riders under a certain age wear helmets. These younger riders are likely to be among the least experienced riders and are the most likely to engage in risky behaviors, often with an incomplete understanding of potential consequences. Unfortunately, it is difficult to ascertain the age of a motorcycle rider for the purposes of enforcing such a requirement without verifying the rider's age during a traffic stop. If it’s that difficult, allow the parents to intervene. I for one would encourage my son NOT to wear a helmet because helmets give him a sense of security to ride like an animal. As a result, the young motorcyclist helmet law becomes unenforceable They’re pretty unenforceable for adults now, as evidenced by the 56 helmet tickets that were dismissed in Henderson, NV (see the No Bones About it article: http://www.boltusa.org/node/128and http://www.boltusa.org/node/128

helmet usage rates for minors drop dramatically when universal helmet laws are repealed. Thus, the most vulnerable and least risk-averse segments of the motorcyclist population are more likely to be unprotected in the absence of universal laws. Moreover, motorcyclists under age 21 generally represent less than 10% of the national fatality total.

A number of motorcycle-related groups, including the National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Hostile organization that undermine our freedoms. Two MSF instructors were killed in broad daylight, wearing dot helmets. and the American Motorcyclist Association Not as hostile to the other two, but I believe they advocate wearing a helmet but I do not believe they advocate helmet laws (I could be wrong – am running out of gas., encourage riders to wear motorcycle helmets, and most do not oppose laws Aha! That means that some DOES oppose helmet laws – probably the AMA. mandating such use by minors. The National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety (NAMS) report, which was supported by NHTSA and this Mr. Hart should not be allowed to be used by NTHSA since they were declared a lobbyist organization. It is illegal for Fed agents to lobby to states, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and motorcycle manufacturers such as BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, American Honda Motor Company, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha, included an urgent recommendation to increase the use of FMVSS 218-compliant helmets. But did they recommend helmet laws as a means to accomplish this. Seems it would be in their interest to promote a product that they sell. A national survey performed in 2006 by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University noted that, even of those individuals who had previously ridden a motorcycle without a helmet, 61 percent favored state legislation requiring motorcycle helmet use.

Visit my blog: http://tigerlilsblog.blogspot.com/


Tiger Lily,
Check out this little discrepency,

In 1997, the motorcycle fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 55.30. By 2007, the rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 72.48, an increase of 31 percent, with the result that the number of fatalities grew faster than the number of registered motorcycles.

David
Guerrilla Lawfare

David, Tigerlily,
To look at fatals per registered is a trap that works against us.
The only statistic that matters is , Death per accidents ratio.
Since the presence or absence of a helmet neither prevents nor causes an accident, the only indicator is, what happens when a crash occurs? The death per accident ratio is the only number that tells the story of what happens when an accident occurs.
Vehicle miles traveled, registered bikes , number of rainy days, etc. Are all fictions created by NHTSA to sell their lie.
Focus on death per accident ratio to tell the most accurate story,

Don

Death per accidents ratio doesn't tell the whole picture - they like to say that deaths to accident ratio increases after helmet repeal. But how many people died even though they were wearing a helmet in a state that offered the helmet option? That's the most relevant question - and one that is almost never addressed by the opposition.

TigerLily,
Yes I agree, What I was pointing out is, they Used the number of registered vehicles as the baseline, between the dates to get the increase. Then the slimeballs insert the numder of registered motorcycles  to complete their bogus statistic. scroll down and read it again.
David

New Kansas City, Mo - Motorcycle Accident Legislation Could Limit Helmet Use

OFF THE WIRE

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/kansas-city-motorcycle-accident/kansas-city-motorcycle-accident-missouri-2-16104.html
New Kansas City Motorcycle Accident Legislation Could Limit Helmet Use
February 27, 2011. By LAS Newswire Email

Kansas City, MO: A new bill related to Kansas City motorcycle accidents could allow those over the age of 21 to not wear a helmet while riding the vehicles, reports KSPR, a local ABC affiliate.
According to Missouri's current legislation, all motorcycle drivers or passengers are required to wear a helmet while riding the vehicle. However, some drivers recently told the Missouri Senate's Transportation Committee that helmets can be a burden in some cases.
"It's the feeling of freedom that you get," said Mark Chapman, chairman of Freedom of Road Riders, which is an anti-helmet group. "You can ride down the road and be one with nature basically. You feel and smell and hear everything that goes on."
Chapman added that helmets can affect a person's hearing, claiming that the best way to prevent injury from a motorcycle crash is to avoid the accident in the first place.
The new bill was reportedly passed by the Senate Transportation Committee, but it will now be debated on the Senate floor, according to the news provider.
The bill is being examined in Missouri on the heels of a recent Johns Hopkins University study that indicated motorcycle helmets help to reduce the risk of spinal injuries, according to HealthDay News.

LUCKY`S RIDE FOR LUEKEMIA

'Dead Red Bill' Allows Motorcycles To Run Red Lights Missouri Has Similar Law

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.kmbc.com/news/26978795/detail.html

'Dead Red Bill' Allows Motorcycles To Run Red Lights Missouri Has Similar Law

OLATHE, Kan. -- Lawmakers in the Kansas House want to let motorcycle riders run red lights under certain situations.
Nicknamed the "Dead Red Bill," Kansas HB 2192 would allow motorcyclists to run red lights if the signal sensor at the intersection failed to recognize that a motorcycle was waiting at the intersection, and the light failed to change from red to green.
"It's a major annoyance," said motorcycle rider Charles Smith. "You can pull up to a turn lane at a traffic light and watch it cycle through a couple times."
"It might be half a day," said Cyclops Cycle shop owner Jim Lepisto. "Most people are not that patient, and I'm one of them."
The bill, which was recently passed by the Kansas House, states that "a red signal, which fails to change a green light within a reasonable period of time because …the signal has failed to detect the arrival of a motorcycle …because of its size or weight …shall have the right to proceed subject to the rules."
"I have to confess I've done that a couple times myself," Lepisto said. "I'm not going to sit there and wait a fortnight for the light to change. That's looney tunes."
The bill would also apply to scooters and bicycles.
Missouri has had a similar law in effect for a couple years.
The bill has moved to the Kansas Senate for its approval.

Australia - sydney - (Third Rock from the Sun) Hells Angels' deadly enemy moves in..

OFF THE WIRE
blacktownsun,com.au
Les Kennedy
http://www.blacktownsun.com.au/news/national/national/general/hells-angels-deadly-enemy-moves-in/2087994.aspx

MONGOL MC - a vicious southern Californian outlaw bikie gang that is the sworn enemy of the Hells Angels - is setting up in Sydney. In the US, Mongols are under instructions to kill Hells Angels on sight. They also have a reputations for shooting at and blowing up police stations.

The Mongols set up a six-member chapter on the central coast in December and plan another chapter in Sydney, gang squad police sources say. They fear it will add to tensions between the Hells Angels, Comanchero, Nomad and Notorious bikie gangs over control of the drug trade and protection rackets.

Mongol Nation, as it is also known, was formed in 1969 by Hispanic Vietnam War veterans who were refused entry to the Hells Angels because of their race. There are chapters in Mexico, New Zealand, Germany and Italy.

Posted by Throttle on 2/26/2011 4:06 PM

'It is understood Bandidos were paid to defect and all were granted full membership, which usually takes at least a year. Some got Harley-Davidson motorbikes as a reward."... Who writes these cartoons ? Oh ! the Cops feed this shit to there Media Whores. The only people that get paid to not switch to other CopShops are the PIGS and it is called "Retention Pay". They are the only Scum that would take money to not switch sides , so what do they do, but try and put Clubs in their own Gang Swine Barrel !!!

FLORIDA: Motorcycle only checkpoints stir controversy

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.clutchandchrome.com/news/news/motorcycle-only-checkpoints-stir-controversy
Motorcycle only checkpoints stir controversy

Thursday, 24 February 2011
Written by Digits

The legendary Daytona Beach Bike Week could have its own controversy, starting long before riders have the chance to ride into Florida as the AMA warns of motorcycle checkpoints in the state of Georgia.
Motorcycle only checkpoints aren’t necessarily a new challenge faced by riders, but the latest round of road hazards comes courtesy of state and Federal grants.
The checkpoints, which target well-known motorcycle events, force motorcyclists traveling to and from those events to leave the roadway regardless of any wrongdoing and have their vehicles and equipment inspected for safety and non-safety equipment violations and stolen VIN numbers.
Reportedly, motorcyclists have been detained as long as 45 minutes in makeshift stockades while undergoing the inspections. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recently began Federal funding for motorcycle checkpoints nationwide in order to assess their effectiveness despite objections raised by members of Congress.
In the State of New York the motorcycle specific checkpoints have resulted in a lawsuit currently being considered in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Although the stated purpose of the checkpoints is to promote safety, the majority of the more than a thousand tickets which were issued during the first year of the checkpoints had nothing to do with safety and instead focused on non-safety violations such as loud pipes.
With the possibility of similar checkpoints being organized in the state of Georgia the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is asking riders nationwide to contact Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to urge him to stop the Georgia State Patrol from conducting any motorcycle-only traffic checkpoints.
Tens of thousands of motorcyclists from around the nation could be subject to Georgia motorcycle-only checkpoints if those checkpoints are in place before, during and after Daytona Bike Week, which runs March 4-13.
Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government affairs, suggests that riders contact the governor through the AMA website and ask that any motorcycle-only checkpoints be suspended until key questions are answered.
Those questions, which have been posed by the AMA to Deal and other officials, include, How do motorcycle-only checkpoints increase the safety of motorcyclists? Where do states draw their authority to conduct motorcycle-only checkpoints? Is "probable cause" required to stop a motorcycle and, if so, what constitutes probable cause?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave Georgia a $70,000 grant to conduct one or more roadside motorcycle-only checkpoints. New York State has operated a similar program. The AMA has been tracking this disturbing development of motorcycle-only checkpoints since it first appeared in New York several years ago.
"The AMA believes that the primary source of motorcycle safety is in motorcycle crash prevention and not in arbitrarily pulling over riders and randomly subjecting them to roadside inspections,” Ed Moreland says.
In addition to letters submitted to the past and present governors of Georgia, the AMA has questioned the potential discriminatory and legal nature of this program and submitted a list of questions for clarification to the New York State Police concerning that agency's program.
The AMA also sent a letter to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland urging him to suspend the grant program that gives states money for motorcycle-only checkpoints until questions have been addressed.
It appears Mr. Strickland doesn’t agree. He views the checkpoints as part of the NHTSA’s ongoing safety campaign to decrease motorcycle accidents and considers the results in New York State as a success.
‘After reviewing promising results from a program applying this checkpoint concept to motorcycle safety conducted by the State of New York, NHTSA is using the Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstration Program to assess the concept for possible replication by other States,’ Strickland replied in his reply to the AMA, ‘At one of the motorcycle checkpoints conducted in New York, 225 motorcycles were inspected and 11 percent were found to have unsafe tires, 1 percent had illegal handlebars, and 36 percent of riders were not wearing helmets meeting the New York State law.’

But not so fast, say the AMA.

“The NHTSA should focus on decreasing the likelihood of crashes from occurring in the first place, " Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government affairs says, ”No public money should be applied to promoting such a program without first addressing questions from the motorcycling community."

Soldier impersonators target women on Facebook, They hook their victims emotionally — then ask them to cut a check

OFF THE WIRE
By Bruce Schreiner and Janet Cappiello Blake
The Associated Press

This screenshot shows a Facebook page set up by a person impersonating Army Sgt. James Hursey and showing Facebook friend Janice Robinson. Hursey, 26, discharged and sent home from war in Iraq to nurse a back injury, found a page with his photos on Facebook _ on a profile that wasn't his. It was fake, set up by someone claiming to be an active-duty soldier looking for love. The fake's cover was blown by Janice Robinson, of Orlando, Fla., after she had begun talking to him thinking he was one of several people named Mark Johnson that she knew.

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Scamsters are targeting women on Facebook in what's becoming an all-too-common ruse: They steal photos of soldiers to set up profiles, profess their love and devotion in sappy messages — and then ask their victims to cut a check.
Army Sgt. James Hursey, 26, discharged and sent home from war in Iraq to nurse a back injury, found a page with his photos on Facebook — on a profile that wasn't his. It was fake, set up by someone claiming to be an active-duty soldier looking for love.
Military officials say they've seen hundreds of similar cases in the past several years. Some of the impersonators have even used photos of soldiers who have died overseas.
"It's identity theft, really, if you think about it," said Hursey, of Corbin, Ky., a married father of a 2-year-old.
The impersonator using Hursey's photos portrayed himself as a soldier named "Sergent (sic) Mark Johnson." The fake followed the same steps every time: Send a friend request, immediately express undying love and affection, and ask for money.
The fake's cover was blown, though: Janice Robinson, 53, of Orlando, Fla., knew something wasn't right when the man professed his love to her and signed every message with, "Johnson cares." She had begun talking to him thinking he was one of several people named Mark Johnson that she knew.
"I said, 'How can you say you love me? You don't even know me. You are insane,'" she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "... You could tell the guy in the picture was young. I'm 53 years old. You can look at my picture and tell I'm not 20."
Her story was first reported by WYMT-TV in Hazard, Ky., and WKMG-TV in Orlando.
Christopher Grey, spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigation Command at Fort Belvoir, Va., said the Internet impersonators often make ridiculous claims. Some say they need money for special laptops and cell phones. Others say they need cash to buy special papers to come home on leave or a registration form because military officials won't let them talk to family.

"Well, there is no such thing," Grey said. The papers are phony, often poorly doctored versions of actual military documents.
The person using Hursey's photographs sent Robinson what he called a form to register to be able to speak to the soldier on the telephone. He told her it would cost $350 for them to be able to communicate by phone.
The form, a poorly doctored copy of a common Army form used to correct information in a soldier's official record, included a blank to fill in the intended victim's social security number.
Robinson said she knew people didn't have to register to talk to soldiers and refused to fill out the form. She also refused his requests to wire money and send credit card and bank account numbers.
Instead, she contacted a local television reporter and Hursey, whose name was visible in the phony profile's photos.
"I just wanted to see exactly how far this would go and I wanted to protect people ... that aren't as savvy to scams as I am and don't pick up on this stuff," Robinson said.
Grey said there are no known instances of Army personnel losing money in such scams. But the victims have. In one case, a person lost some $25,000, he said. Because many scams originate in foreign countries, military officials can do little except offer advice about the scams and direct victims to agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission.
The scammers use untraceable e-mail addresses, route accounts through international locations, and use pay-per-hour Internet cyber-cafes that also make it difficult to trace them, Grey said.
The Army encourages anyone who suspects they are being used in a scam to file a report with their local police as well as report the cases to agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission.
Only one state, California, has made online impersonation a crime, said Tim Senft, founder of Facecrooks.com, a website that focuses on scams via social media. The law makes impersonating someone online a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail.
Hursey, who had been based at Fort Richardson, Alaska, said has no clue who concocted the scheme or why he was targeted.
The fake profile featured several photos of Hursey: After basic training, in Iraq and decked out in his military dress uniform. There was even a picture of his dog. Some of the photos apparently were taken from his mother's Facebook page, Hursey said.
"I think it's pathetic that someone is going to impersonate a soldier to try to get money from women," he said.

Maine, WATERVILLE -- Canaan biker vindicated, wins exhaust case

OFF THE WIRE
KEY POINT ("If I'm caught for (operating under the influence), they have to have a reading to prosecute me," Austin said.
Massey said charging someone for loud exhaust is more like charging someone for a loud party than for driving drunk, and officers can use their common sense.
"We don't have to have a decibel meter to put at your stereo at two in the morning," he said.)
When Gordon Austin got a ticket in July for having loud exhaust pipes on his Harley-Davidson, he vowed to fight the charge. This month, he made good on that promise.

On Feb. 7, Waterville District Court Judge Beth Dobson found Austin not guilty of operating a motorcycle with excessive exhaust noise -- a law that was amended a week before he got his ticket.
Austin, who lives in Canaan, was one of 16 people cited for loud exhaust in Waterville under the new law and among about 160 cited in the state. Most of them have paid a fine, but Austin contends, because of the subjectivity of the law, if more people fought the charge like he did, they would have a good chance of being vindicated.
Acting as his own attorney, Austin said he told the judge that Waterville police Officer Dennis Picard had seen him riding his motorcycle around the city nearly every day last summer before ticketing him on July 23.
That was the week Chief Joseph Massey said the department would start cracking down on loud exhaust systems.
The law previously said an exhaust system may not be modified with the intent to make it louder. The change that took effect July 12 left out the word "intent" and says the vehicle's original muffler may not be modified to be louder.
Austin, who said he was pulled over after turning into the Maine Smoke Shop on College Avenue, said he argued that it was unfair to suddenly take issue with his exhaust noise after never having a problem before.
"The day they're enforcing the law they're finding my bike loud," he said.
Between July 12 and the end of January, police in Maine issued 157 tickets for excessive exhaust noise, according to the Maine Judicial Branch Violations Bureau in Lewiston. In the first half of 2010, there were 103 citations.
Of the people ticketed under the amended law, 17 had the charge dismissed and three -- other than Austin -- were found not guilty by a judge, according to the violations bureau.
"We win most of them, but we don't win all of them," Kennebec County District Attorney Evert Fowle said about traffic violation cases.
Fowle said he supports Massey's effort "to keep the streets and neighborhoods down to a dull roar when it comes to exhaust noise."
Both Fowle and Massey said they've heard from residents who noticed a difference in the noise level since the department started handing out tickets.
Massey said his intention is to reduce noise that disturbs outdoor diners and people sleeping in their homes -- not to slap a $137 fine on people with loud exhaust systems.
"I would much rather have voluntary compliance, and I think that happened," he said.
The police chief said he'll continue enforcing the law this summer. Austin thinks it should be rewritten first to include a maximum noise level and require officers to measure the noise before issuing a ticket.
"If I'm caught for (operating under the influence), they have to have a reading to prosecute me," Austin said.
Massey said charging someone for loud exhaust is more like charging someone for a loud party than for driving drunk, and officers can use their common sense.
"We don't have to have a decibel meter to put at your stereo at two in the morning," he said.
But, in Austin's case, the officer's discretion didn't hold up in court.
"Occasionally, there are cases that come up that a judge is going to find in favor of the defendant," Massey said. "That's OK. That's what the system is for. We're not going to change the way we enforce the law."
http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/biker-vindicated-wins-exhaust-case_2011-02-26.html

MI: Readers gear up To push repeal of helmet law

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20110225/NEWS01/102250319/Riders-gear-up-to-push-repeal-of-helmet-law
Riders gear up to push repeal of helmet law By Christopher Behnan • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS • February 27, 2011

 The time for motorcycle riders to be able to make an "adult, informed choice" about whether to wear a helmet is long overdue, according to an advocate of motorcycle-rider rights.

The ability to make that choice would require an amendment to the state's helmet-requirement law, and could be granted through state legislation introduced last month.

House Bill 4008 would make it legal for motorcycle riders age 21 and older to ride without wearing a helmet if they secure $20,000 in insurance for payment of first-party medical benefits in case of an accident.

Riders younger than 21 would still be required to wear a helmet, as required in current law.

American Bikers Aiming Toward Education of Michigan, or ABATE, has likely been the most vocal opponent of Michigan's helmet law.

Motorcycle riders should already have the $20,000 in medical coverage, regardless of the bill, said Mike Poage, motorcycle-awareness director for ABATE of Michigan.

"It's way past due. We're one of only 19 states in this country that require everybody to wear a helmet," Poage said.

"Michigan is far behind the times," he added.

Bill sponsor Rep. Richard LeBlanc, D-Westland, an avid motorcycle rider himself, said the goal of his bill is to allow adult motorcycle riders to decide for themselves whether to wear a helmet.

The state law requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets dates back decades, and debates on the issue — with many riders protesting the law — followed as proposals similar to LeBlanc's surfaced from time to time in the past several years.

He called the issue a matter of "personality liberty," and said his goal isn't to discourage helmet use. LeBlanc said use of seat belts, too, should be left to drivers.

"You probably should wear them, but I don't think it should be required by law to wear them," he said.

LeBlanc said he feels he should be able to decide whether to wear a helmet on the less-than-a-mile trip to his local 7-11 as much as on the highway.

AAA Michigan, a longtime supporter of Michigan's helmet law, flatly opposes LeBlanc's bill, said spokeswoman Nancy Cain.

Australia - The great bikie defection

OFF THE WIRE
Dylan Welch
 smh.com.au
EXCLUSIVE
THE Hells Angels in Sydney have secured what may be the greatest mass defection in the history of the Australian outlaw clubs, recruiting at least 50 members from rival gangs.
Police fear the defections - involving at least three Bandidos chapters in NSW - may lead to a new war between bikie gangs. It could be the most significant event since the Comanchero split of 1982, which led to the Milperra massacre two years later when seven people, including a 14-year-old girl, were shot dead.
''We've had small numbers move around before but this number is unheard of,'' a senior law enforcement source told The Sun-Herald.
Advertisement: Story continues below The underworld has been abuzz since a deal, apparently months in the making, was cemented 11 days ago. Between 50 and 60 men left the Bandidos and joined the Hells Angels.
It is understood the deal was organised by Felix Lyle, a rising force within the Angels and a former Bandido. Offers to defect and join the Angels were also made to other clubs.
Leaving one club for another is considered the most serious of transgressions and often leads to outbreaks of violence. It is believed the main motive for the deal was to bolster Angels numbers to provide a strong front against the Comanchero.
It may also be in response to the establishment of a chapter of another traditional Angels foe, the Mongols, on the central coast.
The clubs have been feuding since a Hells Angels tattoo parlour was firebombed by the Comanchero in 2008. The fatal airport brawl of March 2009 and subsequent shooting of Hells Angels member Peter Zervas were allegedly results of that.
It is understood Bandidos were paid to defect and all were granted full membership, which usually takes at least a year. Some got Harley-Davidson motorbikes as a reward.
Last week the Bandidos announced on their website: ''Chapter Parramatta is no longer part of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club Australia!!!''
The defection rumours were confirmed on Friday when Strike Force Raptor officers watched 20 to 30 former Bandidos meet at a Parramatta restaurant. Wearing Hells Angels T-shirts and other club gear, they were joined by several senior Hells Angels.
A law-enforcement source who has investigated outlaw clubs for decades said: ''If it was just one chapter that would be one thing but what's strange here is it's bigger than that.''
Police are concerned that the move also mirrors recent action in Europe. Last year 80 Bandidos defected to the Berlin Hells Angels.
The defections are indicative of a remarkable morphing of Australia's outlaw clubs. They have moved up several notches to form formed links with international syndicates suspected of organised crime. Some bikies are also involved in multimillion-dollar property developments with loans from Australia's top banks.
The Hells Angels have at least doubled their size overnight. With at least 110 members they are now the third-largest outlaw club in NSW, after the Comanchero and the Rebels.
In June police asked the NSW Supreme Court to declare the Hells Angels a criminal organisation.
But a source said the defectors ''couldn't care less. What do you think they really think about - getting a shitload of money or worrying about the cops arresting them in a week?''
■ The president of the new Hells Angels Parramatta chapter, former Bandido Mostafa Jouayde, was refused bail in Parramatta Local Court yesterday for allegedly breaching bail conditions that he not enter the Parramatta CBD except to work at his tattoo shop.

WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE CHARGE CITIZEN WHO RECORDED TRAFFIC STOP WITH “WIRETAPPING”

OFF THE WIRE

NEW HAMPSHIRE: "LIVE FREE OR DIE" GET READY TO DIE WEARE N.H. RESIDENTS, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN KILLING YOUR RIGHTS!


WILLIAM ALLEMAN, 51, OF WEARE N.H. WAS CHARGED WITH INTERCEPTION OF ORAL COMMUNICATION PROHIBITED, WHICH IS NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FELONY WIRETAPPING LAW: RSA 570-A
MR. ALLEMAN WAS STOPPED JULY 10th AND USED HIS CELL PHONE TO DOCUMENT THE STOP AND THE OFFICER’S CONDUCT.
POLICE CHIEF GREGORY BEGIN SAID ALLEMAN WAS “MAKING AN AUDIO RECORDING OF THE OFFICER DURING A MOTOR VEHICLE STOP WITHOUT GETTING CONSENT OF THE OFFICER.”
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FUZZ CONSIDER IT “WIRETAPPING” BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION WAS RECORDED BY A VOICE MAIL SERVICE WITHOUT THE POOR LITTLE COPPER’S “CONSENT.”
YOU KNOW, KINDA LIKE THE “CONSENT” THE COPS ASK YOU AND I FOR WHEN THEY VIDEOTAPE AND RECORD US WHEN EVER THEY WISH, THAT KIND OF “CONSENT.”
STAY CURRENT ON POLICE MISCONDUCT AND POLICE BRUTALITY CASES THROUGHOUT AMERICA AT: “THE NATIONAL POLICE MISCONDUCT STATISTICS AND REPORTING PROJECT.”

AT: http://www.injusticeeverywhere.com/

INDIANA - A Life Lived: Running bars and helping neighbors...

OFF THE WIRE
Written by
Will Higgins
http://www.indystar.com/article/20110227/LOCAL18/102270374/A-Life-Lived-Running-bars-helping-neighbors?odyssey=mod
 
Typical of charismatic multitalents, Mary Childers -- gardener, tavern boss, neighborhood activist, bookie -- had many friends, and last week several came to her house to reminisce and pore over old photographs.
There was Mrs. Childers posing with one of Porter Wagoner's sidemen. She'd booked Wagoner, the country music star, while managing the Holly Oak Club in the 1970s. "Mary always loved country," said Roberta Schmidt.
Another photo showed Mrs. Childers wearing hot pants and standing next to the giant Harley- Davidson motorcycle she rode (while wearing the hot pants) 40 years ago, back when it was uncommon for a woman to ride a motorcycle in hot pants, or at all.
And there she was smiling into the camera and holding a wad of cash. "Seventeen hundred," said June Stahl, a longtime friend. "The horses."
Mrs. Childers, an Indianapolis woman known widely as "Aunt Mary," died of breast cancer Feb. 13 at the age of 76.
At her funeral was a mix of characters: neighbors who adored her, old friends from her days as a manager of topless dancers, a numbers runner, a former politician. With her in the casket were two of her favorite things: a can of Pepsi and a likeness of Elvis Presley emblazoned on a blanket.
The service went off without incident.

"It was placid, unlike Mary's life," said Scott Keller, who represented Mrs. Childers' neighborhood on the Indianapolis City-County Council from 2003 to 2007. "I meet so many bland people, and she was the antithesis of that. What a gal."
Mary Nancy Childers was born during the Great Depression in the small Mississippi town of Booneville, to few privileges. Her parents died when she was young. She went to live with her grandparents, but by age 16 was on her own. She had an unhappy marriage. Her only child, Jimmy, died at age 8.
But like a heroine from a Loretta Lynn anthem, Mrs. Childers was resilient. She moved to Indianapolis in the 1950s, and with her Southern accent (she never lost her "y'all"), high spirits (her staple: Canadian Club and Pepsi) and smarts (she kept accounts in her head), she soon made for herself a wild yet fulfilling life.
She managed a series of bars, all of them on the city's Eastside -- the Holly Oak, the Emerson, the Hilltop Tavern, Butch's Tavern, the Ritter Inn and the Dungeon. At the Ritter she met Stanley Childers, married him and spent 10 happy years with him. He died in 1997.
Her stint at the Dungeon, which featured topless dancers, required special diplomacy because many of the dancers (there's a great photo of Mrs. Childers with several of them) were the girlfriends of members of the Outlaws motorcycle club.
The rough-hewn cyclists were frequent customers, watching their ladies dance naked alongside other men who were enjoying the same show. But there was no trouble, said Barbara Stewart, Mrs. Childers' oldest friend. (The one time Mrs. Childers was arrested for bookmaking, it was Stewart she called to bail her out.)
The Outlaws "never caused a problem for Mary," Stewart said, "because of the respect they had for her. She just had that way about her."
Mrs. Childers lived for most of the last 50 years on Bradley Avenue, on the Eastside, and was a huge factor there.
She helped neighbors down on their luck to pay their rent, and their utilities, by giving them cash. She bought a moped for a man who'd lost his driver's license. She grew vegetables, canned them and sold them cheaply. She complained to the city about shoddy trash pickup, and trash pickup improved. She took in a stray cat. She took bets on ballgames, auto races, you name it, but also hosted CrimeWatch meetings.
She hounded neighbors to plant flowers, and if they didn't, she'd come over and plant them.
"I said, 'I don't want those (flowers),' " said Schmidt, "but with Mary, you didn't have a choice."

This spring, in a vacant lot across the street from her house, Schmidt and others from the neighborhood plan to install 30 raised flower beds, plant hundreds of flowers in them and call their work the Mary Childers Memorial Gardens.
"A Life Lived" takes a look back at the notable lives of people in our coverage area. To nominate someone for this feature, please contact the reporter at (317) 444-6043 or will.higgins@indystar.com.