Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

.-4 00 0') .-4 Sounds pretty radical, doesn't it? And yet, when you consider the implications of AB996, Assemblyman Dick Floyd's new helmet law proposal, the "handcuffed" statement isn't that far from fact. We've been through this beforel We fought, invested our donations and wrote letten to ovenhrow the previous helmet 20 law. We - as riders - don't want it any more than drivers want a law that requires the use of seatbellS, airbags or helmelS in automobiles. The reasons for not having a belmet law overwhelm Floyd's feeble argwnenlS for proposing one. Gary Winn, American Motorcyclist A.odation'slegislative analyst in their Government Relations Department outlines them in detail in a letter to Auemblyman Floyd. We've reprinted that letter on p. 24. It contains some very useful ItatJItia that you'll find helpful when you write your own letter to your district auemblyman. His name and address are listed on p. 22, along with the name and address of your (with emphasis on the your - you elected him!) California State Senator. ThOle two letters sbould be COIIIidered an ablIoIute minimum effort. Unless you have a hankering for handcuffs. That's the part that worries me ~QIt ••• the part where we become lawbreaken by not wearing a helmet. Personally, I'm the kind of guy who always bucltles up when he drives a car, who would not object to an airbag popping up between his daughter's face and the dashboard aDd who would not consider letting anyone he loves ride a motorcycle without fint strapping on a Snell-approved helmet. (In fact, one of my main gripes is that even the best standards the U.S. has for helmet manufacturen are not stringent enough.) I don't like to be stopped by policemen. Something's changed since the days of Spanky and Our Gang; the big, stem but lovable cop on his beat has been replaced by the soldier of for· tune with no foreign war to fight. Don't get me wrong. I 'wouldn't take that job for anything. I understand as does the next CHP officer who pulls you over for a chat - that you may be one of the increasingly prevalent violent minority. Someone who will greet him with bu11eu instead of bull-stories. I don't want to talk to someone with that attitude. As necessary for his survival as it may be, it automatically puIS me in a guilty·until-provenmnocent position. And he's got the law, the badge and the gun. ADd the handcuffs. Nope. A freeway shoulder is no place to debate the basic foolishness or Injustice of the helmet law. The place to fight it is through The System in Sacramento. And the time to fight it is right now. Where'd thl. Floyd guy come from? Boy, now there's a good question. I fint heard about Dick Floyd while chatting with Roxy Rockwood, our National Papers columnist. That was about the time (if memory serves) that Floyd began his campaign for office. Roxy recommended Floyd as a longtime motorcyclist - a Harley rider who would be a good man to have in Sacramento, especially with Bob Hayes on his way out. Then Hy Weitzman, Executive DiJec· tor of the California Motorcycle Dea1erI A.ociation, got into the act. Hy caught up with us at the Anaheim Dealemews Moton:ycIe and Acceuory Trade Expo, and invited us to the CMDA cocIttail party where we could meet DicIt Floyd aDd learn more about him. Both Roxy and Hy suggested we interview him. It was a good idea, but _how it never happened. It's probably going to tum Into one of my greatest regrets. It wasn't until we finally did an interview (Vol. XVIII, No. 12, April I, 1981) that the helmet law issue emerged. That interview was conducted after a reminder from Weitzman that we still hadn't done what we'd agreed wu a good idea back at Anaheim. Editor Dale Brown got on the phone the same day H1 reminded us, and the story broke In the next week's Cyck HAISt WIlSt. I was shocked. At fint opportunity, I phoned Weitzman aDd u1ted him about CMDA's support of Floyd. Did CMDA support AB996? It was Weiu· man's tum to be mrpriIed. He thought AB996 was a helmet stGndtzrds bill; in my opinion, something we not only could use but need. Helmets should be made to higher safety standards. But what about good, 01' Harleyriding Dick Floyd? Our buddy in the. California State AsIIembly. Was this the ultimate doubleawa? Or did CMDA know of, and support, the helmet law? Weitzman offered a politician's answer; IIOIIIething like: "Some of our members believe in a helmet law and some don't." I u1ted for a CMDA official policy on AB996. Weitzman said he'd get back to me after they'd had a meeting and made their decision. This morning (preuday, Monday, April 6) I phoned Weitzman's office. He wasn't in; he was in San Francisco attending the CMDA meeting. "The decision is being made in San Francisco today, but in all liItdihood it will he neutral," the man on the phoDe told me after confering with an lIIIOCiate. As it turned out, the CMDA's position was anything but neutral. Hy Weitzman returned the call at 5:45 p.m., jUIt 45 minutes before our printer picked up the artWork on this issue, and made their position clear. "The CMDA, speaking for the 700 franchised dealers in California, is unalterably oppOled to AB!t96 which calls for mandatory helmet use, but well continue, as we have over the last few yean, to support the voluntary use of approved helmets, all. other safetyrelated items and the promotion of driver safety education in California." What .re we going to do .bout It? Fight. This newspaper was involved in the previous helmet law tum-around, and it'll be involved in this one. We'lliteep our readen up to date on what's happening, and we'll vigorously support (and urge you to do the same) Floyd's opposition next election. Unless, heaven forbid, he's a far worse choice. Or unless Floyd decides he may have chosen a poor cause to champion. That's what we're hoping. We hate to think of a good 01' Harley rider as anything but a friend. ChB..... Morey

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