If any of you are pissed off enough here's yer chance to bitch..
" +Following is the text of a 5/4/09 Press Release re the subject, with links.
Please attend the picket if you're able:
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On Wednesday, May 6th, American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE of New
York, Inc.) and other motorcyclists will picket the Empire State Law Enforcement
Traffic Safety (ESLETS) Conference at the Double Tree Hotel and Conference
Center at 6301 State Route 298, East Syracuse, NY where the New York State
Police are anticipated to present their Motorcycle Safety Roadblock Scenario and
other "Hot Motorcycle Topics" to a broad and diverse cross-section of New York's
law enforcement community.
For nearly two years now, the New York State Police (NYSP) have been conducting
highway roadblocks diverting only motorcyclists from the state's roadways to
perform "safety checks". "Operation 5060" was expanded in 2008 and continues
to-date. Ironically, last year New York State raided $552,000 of dedicated
motorcycle safety funds, created through mandated increased motorcycle
registration costs. In fact, even though State Finance Law explicitly prohibits
it, over the course of the eleven-year existence of the dedicated motorcycle
safety fund, New York State has inappropriately diverted millions of dollars
into the state's general fund.
It remains ABATE of New York's position that, since motorcycles operated in New
York are already required to pass annual safety inspections, the current NYSP
initiative continues to serve only to harass, intimidate and inconvenience
motorcyclists traveling upon the state's roadways. Further, motorcycle-only
roadblocks of this nature are a discriminatory and unconstitutional infringement
upon an individual's right to travel without interference, and an abuse of
discretionary power as acknowledged by the New York State Court of Appeals.
ABATE of New York demands that NYS and the NYSP redirect their combined efforts
toward overall driver education of the presence of motorcyclists on the state's
roadways.
It is also ABATE of New York's position that New York State has inadequately
administered its dedicated motorcycle safety fund designed specifically to
instruct motorcyclists in proper operating techniques and safety initiatives.
There remain insufficient sites statewide to provide motorcycle training and the
cost remains prohibitive in nature. Motorcyclists suffer due to the
underutilization and misapplication of their funds, and a more cost-effective
approach should be implemented, subsidized by these raided funds. ABATE of New
York decries New York State's history of unlawfully diverting motorcyclists'
safety fund money to the general fund, and continues its support of legislative
efforts prohibiting the transfer of dedicated fees into any other fund.
Motorcyclists demand that their dedicated safety funds be used for motorcycle
safety TRAINING initiatives, not motorcycle safety ENFORCEMENT initiatives. The
latter should clearly not precede the former.
ABATE of New York was established in 1974, and incorporated in 1991 as a 501c4
not-for-profit corporation representing the rights of all New York State
motorcyclists.
For further information, contact:
ABATE of New York, Inc.
P.O. Box 300
Walker Valley, NY 12588
(888) 344-4400
www.abateny.org 
