ABATE of South Carolina, Inc. is the motorcyclists' rights organization of South Carolina. Our members brought freedom of choice to South Carolina bikers in June of 1980; ABATE amended South Carolina's mandatory motorcycle helmet law to allow adult freedom of choice. ABATE stands for A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments. Our philosophy is to defend liberty; while we do not oppose safety devices we oppose laws that mandate the usage of devices.
I have updated the Flier information for the first weekend in October including Hotel information which is across the street from Hard Knox and Tom's Columbia office. Please pass this information along and hope to see everyone there.
Referring to the City of Myrtle Beach losing their case over the unconstitutional helmet law, "The ruling should remind the Legislature to extend the state requirement for motorcycle helmets to all bikers, not just those under 21. Riding without a helmet is a safety hazard for all motorcyclists."
"On Tuesday June 15 The Law Offices of Tom McGrath filed suit in Horry County South Carolina asking the Court to find an ordinance enacted by the City of Myrtle Beach South Carolina unconstitutional and therefore invalid. This ordinance was enacted for the sole purpose of driving motorcyclists out of Myrtle Beach. The plaintiff's in the law suit are numerous residents of the City of Myrtle Beach as well as ABATE of South Carolina, Inc. and ABATE of South Carolina, Inc., Horry County Chapter.
You may be asking yourself why are filing suit when we, with the help and sacrifice of many dedicated riders, already succeeded in overturning the helmet ordinance along with other anti-motorcycling ordinances. The ordinance which is the focus of this suit has nothing to do with helmets. Myrtle Beach also enacted its very own exhaust ordinance."
Rick Has Made it Through Surgery Rick has come through another major battle. They performed two surgeries on him today. The first surgery involved putting screws in the T8, T9, T11 and T12 vertebra and two rods to stabilize the T10... [read more]
Donation Page Let's help this family help their dad, our friend, and good member of our community. [donation page]
An excellent article in the Detroit Free Press written by an ABATE member in Michigan. Please comment and politely educate the cagers that are ignorant.
"Our state's economy is based on tourism, and this law discourages out-of-state riders from traveling to this great state.
Our outdated helmet law is a barrier to motorcycle tourism. At the same time, the current law does nothing to reduce motorcycle injuries and fatalities. Michigan is the only Great Lakes state with a mandatory helmet law. Surveys repeatedly show that an overwhelming majority of motorcyclists in neighboring states refuse to visit Michigan because of this law."
4 U.S. Senators from big Ethanol-producing states are pressuring the EPA to mandate a 15% blend of Ethanol in gasoline. This, in spite of the fact that the EPA has tested a TOTAL of 18 vehicles with this new blend, and they say it is safe for automobile engines made after 2001. No mention of any or planned testing of motorcycless.
Here is the full press release from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation:
MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE | Suite 510 | Washington, DC 20002-4980 202-546-0983 (voice) | 202-546-0986 (fax) | http://www.mrf.org
10NR17 - MRF News Release - Washington Update
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 24 June 2010
Contact: Jeff Hennie, Government Relations and Public Affairs
Click on the links below to read some of Sputnik's writings. I never got to meet him and I wish I would have. He had a strong presence, anyone with a Mohawk haircut with "Free" tattooed across their forehead can't be all bad. You knew what he stood for right off the bat.. He will be missed.
Cliff
From: New York Freedom Riders.
Loss of a Great Teacher
Sputnik of The Texas Motorcycle Rights Association, passed away suddenly at approximately 5:00 AM on June 24, 2010. He was a powerful figure in the motorcycle rights arena and with people who had an interest in the fight.
Bikers lost a true warrior and friend. Sputnik aka Bill Strain passed away this morning in the TMRA2 office in Austin Texas engaged in the fight for biker rights to the very end. Rest in Peace Brother!
"MYRTLE BEACH—A Virginia-based lawyer filed a lawsuit on behalf of several bikers and bike groups in Myrtle Beach, claiming city ordinances passed nearly two years ago don’t follow state law.
Myrtle Beach City Council passed stricter noise ordinances two years ago."
"As Myrtle Beach prepares to adjust some of its ordinances passed in 2008 to quell the May motorcycle rallies, it faces another legal challenge that could require more changes.
Some residents and other motorcycle enthusiasts are suing the city, hoping the Horry County Circuit Court will overturn the city's noise ordinance."
ABATE does not advocate riding without a helmet; ABATE advocates that you have the right to decide. ABATE does not condone drinking and driving or riding. Contributions to ABATE of South Carolina, Inc., or any of its chapters are not tax deductible.