Florida Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants your motorbike and drivers license General Motorcycle Discussion Discuss Florida Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants your motorbike and drivers license in the Motorcycle Discussion forums; Florida Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants your motorbike and drivers license, so he can appear tough on crime. Lopez-Cantera, whose bill will be considered during the 2008 legislative session, said in ...

[icebrkr]

Florida Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants your motorbike and drivers license, so he can appear tough on crime. Lopez-Cantera, whose bill will be considered during the 2008 legislative session, said in a press release that he is focusing on motorcycle riders who travel at “outrageous speeds and treat Florida’s roads as their personal race tracks.’’ Rep Carlos Lopez-Cantera is sponsoring a bill to target bikers. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sectio...9&SessionId=57 This bill unfairly targets bikers and circumvents due process in seizing bikes etc… Riding reckless is a blanket offense. This is not a football game and civility in exercising our rights is key. Meanwhile here are some tips on contacting your representative from one of the TBD members. Here's the email address to the Speaker of the House. I would recommend that we all write him: speaker@myfloridahouse.gov The Honorable Marco Rubio, Speaker Florida House of Representatives 420 The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 General Writing Tips Type or print legibly. Sign your name neatly and give your address correctly so the Speaker can respond to your letter. Keep your letters brief. Never write more than one page. Concise written correspondence is more likely to grab and keep the reader's attention. Identify your issue or opinion at the beginning of the letter, don't bury your main point under trivial text. Cover only one issue per letter. If you have another issue to address, write another letter. Back up your opinions with supporting facts. Your letter should inform the reader. Avoid abbreviations or acronyms, and don't use technical jargon. Rather than impressing your reader, such terms will only frustrate him or her. Make sure you understand the legislative process. Even the most basic understanding of the process will help you effectively express your ideas. Contact the Speaker about a particular issue before the Legislature takes action on it. Most matters coming before the Legislature are well publicized before session. Use a variety of communication methods. You might choose to telephone, write, e-mail, fax, or visit the Speaker. You might also choose to give testimony at public hearings held by the Legislature. (To give testimony, you would need to contact the appropriate committee.) Tell the Speaker what effect you think a particular bill, if it becomes law, will have on you, your children, business, or community. Be concise, but specific. Be polite, even if you disagree strongly with the Speaker. Your communication will be more effective if you are reasonable in your approach. Suggest a course of action and offer assistance. Don't make promises or threats. Here is the canned response received implying support of ABATE. Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding HB 137, Offenses

Committed While Operating a Motorcycle. I realize some riders have several concerns regarding my legislation. This bill aims to address riders of high performance motorcycles that treat Florida's roads and highways as their own personal stunt track. I am sure you can agree that popping wheelies at high rates of speeds or any other kind of stunt riding has no place on Florida's roads. That is the type of reckless driving this bill seeks to address. The goal of this legislation is to target stunt riding and prevent motorcycle fatalities. Currently, it seems HB 137 has been drafted in a way that would affect all motorcycle riders. I feel that the poor actions of a few riders should not punish all riders. Subsequently, I am currently working on language that will amend the bill to clearly address the problem of motorcycle stunt riding on public roads. The amendment will clearly define what is considered stunt riding and require a motorcycle rider to maintain two wheels on the ground at all times. The speeding focuses of the bill will not stand alone but will rather be in conjunction with stunt driving. Thank you for expressing your concerns. They will definitely be taken into consideration. I recently met with James Reichenbach from ABATE, and after I explained the true intent of this legislation he told me that he would support it. I am open to meeting with any person or group to discuss amendments to the bill. I believe that part of the process of creating a great law is being open to the ideas of others. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Sincerely, Carlos Lopez-Cantera State Representative, District 113

Contrary to Rep Lopez-Canteras statement, ABATE will not support this bill. A meeting for bikers and bike groups to respond is being organized in Tampa. Your participation is needed. I will post information as it become available. Diego Hernandez President Tampa Bay Desmo D.O.C

[AK74]

See what happens when you put a spanish guy in power.

[RadFace]

I don't even blame the guy. I blame all the scum bag riders, who fock it up for everyone.

[AK74]

This is just another politician looking for their claim to fame. Yeah there are scumbag riders out there, but there also scumbag drivers. They are just looking to pinpoint this a small and minor group. Going by facts most people can't drive in Florida, this is by far the worst place I have ever seen for drivers. No one uses blinkers or mirrors, then they wonder why there is so many accidents.

[EricAmandaf4i]

Damn Cubans! Can't get a license and they have no insurance when they hit you. Just call "La Migra" and they will run!!!!

[jgalt]

Originally Posted by EricAmandaf4i

Damn Cubans! Can't get a license and they have no insurance when they hit you. Just call "La Migra" and they will run!!!!

They're not Mexicans. Where are they going to run to? Their boat?

[EricAmandaf4i]

We don't use a boat per say, It is more like a tire... a truck,... even go as far as to try some cardboard piled up high so we don't sink!

[Checuliau]

Originally Posted by RadFace

I don't even blame the guy. I blame all the scum bag riders, who fock it up for everyone.

Dude are you telling me you've never ridden at "outrageous speeds"? EVER? Don't blame "all the other riders". I remember a certain ride to the keys that you were party to, in which you were riding up there in the triple digits with the rest of the group. I'm pretty sure that qualifies as outrageous speeds. So stop trying to blame everybody else's riding for this idiots idea of a law. We all speed, and this law, if passed, will affect all of us.

[motopsyko32]

i dont speed

[bigjoe87865]

Originally Posted by Checuliau

Dude are you telling me you've never ridden at "outrageous speeds"? EVER? Don't blame "all the other riders". I remember a certain ride to the keys that you were party to, in which you were riding up there in the triple digits with the rest of the group. I'm pretty sure that qualifies as outrageous speeds. So stop trying to blame everybody else's riding for this idiots idea of a law. We all speed, and this law, if passed, will affect all of us.

I dont ride fast...


I fly low