COIR , April 2010--Keeping You Informed
Senate Bill 10-040 sponsored by State Senator Lois Tochtrop glided thru the Colorado Senate without many questions, but it landed in the House Transportation Committee with a thud. The lack of preparations by the authors of the bill has more than a few members of the motorcycle community—and the Colorado House Of Representatives--wondering what the real objective of SB-040 is. This is an unnecessary piece of legislation, which will cost motorcyclists more money in the long run, and perhaps damage the integrity of the various rider training operations in Colorado.
The sponsors of the bill, and those in favor of it, pushed SB-040 through the Senate giving the impression to the members of that body that they (the bill’s backers) speak for ALL motorcyclists in Colorado.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
We in the US Defenders & COIR membership have spoken out to the House Transportation Committee, making clear we are not in favor of this bill. Before the committee hearing, mass “call-to-action” by our membership was implemented. The result was hundreds letters sent to each member of the House Transportation Committee. Email boxes were packed, and phone messages were left. At last count, US Defenders and COIR members had flooded the state capital with over 3,000 letters, 130 e-mails and many, many phone calls.
Our voice was heard.
It is now apparent to members of the House that the interests of all motorcyclists and motorcycle rider education operations are not represented in the presentation of SB-040. Eight of the twelve motorcycle riders ed schools joined with us in fighting this bad legislation. Colleen Boyle, President of T3RG Motorcycle schools, represented those eight schools, and we have been joined in the effort by Deborah Napier, a former lobbyist for motorcycle interests at the national level, to become one well-educated, prepared and passionate voice against the bill and on the side of good business.
While we are not backing off this issue, we are grateful that the House committee listened, and is taking the time to ask the questions and find the answers to the issues surrounding this issue.
It is too soon to say the bill is in trouble, but even getting a co-sponsor on the House side has been difficult for Sen. Tochtrop, who introduced SB-040. The original House sponsor, Rep. Michael Merrifield (D-El Paso), withdrew his support after learning of the problems and opposition to the bill. Eventually, Rep. John Soper (D-Adams) agreed to Co-Sponsor the bill, seemingly as a favor to Sen. Tochtrop.
At the end of the hearing, the bill was referred to a sub-committee to find answers to the questions that were raised not only by US Defenders, COIR and other opposition to the bill, but by the legislators themselves. Legislators wanted to know why CDOT was not at the hearing to answer questions about the administration of the Motorcycle Safety Operator Training (MOST) program, what was happening with the funds there, and who was accountable. There were also questions about the “fluid” nature of the rules regarding the student reimbursement program the MOST funds are designed for. Another looming question was why the businesses that spoke in favor of the bill were in favor of capping the tuition charged to students. There were no answers at the hearing, thus, the formation of the sub-committee.
Senate Bill 10-040 is not in the best interest of any Colorado motorcyclists or the motorcycle rider training operations doing business here.
We will continue to actively oppose SB-040 and hopefully see this bad legislation killed. We’ll keep you informed, too. COIR is your organization
Make your opposition to SB-040 known. Take a minute and let your representative know about your opposition. To find your representative and contact them via a map of Colorado, go to http://192.70.175.79/State/map.asp?state=CO&scope=&command=find&name=_se...
