Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125730
WilD tD Write...
DIRT-BIKE REGISTRATION
In our last column, we reported on
AB 2985 (Z'berg) by printing the Bill in
its entirety. I hope that article erased
any doubts you might have had about
the type of legislation which a great
many persons would like to see 'shoved
down our collective throats'.
There have already been many letters
written by motorcyclists who are
incensed over AB 2985. But that's not
enough. We need a letter from every'
dirt-rider in the state, just to let them
know that we are a force which should
not be trifled with.
During the hearings on Wednesday,
we were able td exert enough pressure
to have all actitms on AB 2985 shelved
for three weeks. AB 2985 baS already
been amended but it is still totally
unsuitable and we are working with the
author trying to convince him of the
need for further amendments.
In the meantime, we have presented
'our' Bill (AB 2342) and it has been
generally well-received. Of course, it has
been shelved for three weeks also and
we are in the process of making various
amendments, such as:
I. An amendment to state that
"off-road motorcycles (except those
used in sanctioned competition) must
be equipped with a muffling system
which does not create excessive or
unusual noise. This is in contrast to AB
2985 which stipulates unattainable
decibel ratings.
2. As you will recall, AB 2342
provided
for
registration
and
identification of off-road vehicles at a
fee of $10 every two years, with up to
$5 going to the DMV for administration
and the balance to be used to build
motorcycle and mini-bike parks. Most
of our members have written to state
that they are willing to pay more but I
have held the fee to $10 until now.
Most of us have been paying personal
property taxes on our non-registered
motorcycles but some have not claimed
them. I t occurred to us that in the
future, counties could obtain listings
from the DMV of the formerly
non·registered motorcycles and send the
owners a tax bill on the personal
property. The. amount would vary by
value and age and by county, but it
could be from $5 to $25 annually. With
this in mind, we are amending AB 2342
to increase the fee to $I 5 every two
years. An amount up to $5 will go to
the DMV for administration; an amount
of $4 (or $2 annually) will go to the
county in which you reside in the form
of an in lieu tax; and the balance of $6
(plus) will go to the park-building fund.
The $2 per year in lieu tax will prevent
the
county
from
taxing
your
motorcycle as personal property and
should save you a great deal of money.
If you're one of the "cheaters" who
hasn't been paying your taxes, you're
out $2 per year (but now legal).
NOISE
. As reported in this column earlier, we
are faced with 18 separate Bills aimed at
motorcycle noise. Hearings were held on
most of these Bills two weeks ago. As of
this time, it appears that legislation will
be passed to make the manufacturers
reduce the noise-emission levels for new
on-road bikes to about two decibels
lower than present, starting with 1974.
Also, new off-road bikes manufactured
after 1974 will probably be reduced to
88 or 86 dbA.
We are proposing that existing
legislation
which
prescribes
noise-emission levels for operation be
revised so that a motorcycle may be
operated at the level which was in effect
at the time of manufacture. Current
laws, on the books, require operation of
mo torcycles at levels which are lower
than the levels in effect at time of
manufacture.
Also, as mentioned earlier in this
article, we are proposing no decibel
ratings for operation of off·road
motorcycles.
Instead,
we
are
recommending
legislation
which
prohibits 'unusual and/or excessive
noise'.
IT'S UPTO US
During this next year, we are going to
have to prove that we can comply with
a law which merely prohibits unusual or
excessive noise. If we don't, we will be
stuck' with prescribed decibel ratings
and sound tests which will kill the sport
of motorcycling. So, if some of you are
already thinking that you came beat
such a law because "who is to say what
is 'unusual or excessive'?", cool it!
If you still don't know how to write a
letter to. your elected representatives, or
even who they are, ask for one of our
free Legislative Guides. Send a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to M.O.R.E.,
P.O. Box 26062, Sacramento, CA
95826.
Proper form of address:
The Honorable John Doe
The Honorable John Hancock
California State Senate
California State Assembly
State Capitol
State Capitol
Sacramento, Calif.
Sacramento. Calif.
95814
95814
Dear Senator Doe:
Dear Mr. Hancock:
Also note that in matters pertaining to city ordinances, etc., write only to your
city council; if the matters are county, write county officials. These are your
state representative. Clip out this listing and save it for future reference.
CWIl'l'l:
ESTIMAil!:D
M/=ISTS
SEll.
DIS'm.
70,422
Alpine
8
11
14
SEIiAIDR
John '.1. Holll1dahl
lIichol... C. Petri.
Clark L. Bradley
32
1,229
12,160
1,053
1,283
40,192
3
3
2
3
2
7
Glenn
Humboldt
2,458
4,339
27,808
2,634
10,141
1
3
15
2
1.
Randolph Collier
Stephen P. Teale.
Ho-rard Way
Fred W. Marler, Jr.
Randolph Collier
Imperial
Inyo
Kern
4,944
1,853
39,189
40
15
18
J""",. R. 1'.111s
Howard Way
Walter \/. Stiern
5,277
18
2,150
1,792
555,181
1
3
19
21
H. L Richardson
John L. Ilanner
22
Tom Carrell
Lou Cusanov1ch
_