An End to the Blind Trust
Editorial by jan
Opinions presented here are the opinions of the writer only.
The so-called State MRO, CBA/ABATE has been overrun by safety nannies, and became a safety organization (MSO) rather than a motorcyclist rights organization, except when it is convenient to appeal to new members.
In the November 2, 2005, meeting of a Motorcycle Safety Work Group, sponsored by NC Executive Committee for Highway Safety, ABATE was present and represented by Jim Everhart. Darryl Jernigan, NC GHSP, the glassy- eyed bureaucrat in the NC Helmet Law Propaganda video, suggested changing the helmet law so that LEO’s will be encouraged to regulate helmets according to “thickness”, and that dealers would cooperate because a law to force bikers to buy new helmets would mean increased sales. Thus, CBA/ABATE knew, in advance, to expect a change in the helmet law to be introduced.
In March 2007, when H563 was introduced by (soon to be former Rep.) Ron Sutton and co-sponsored by Rep. Bill Faison, CBA leadership told NC Bikers not to contact the legislators! CBA also refused to issue a position statement!! For this reason, B.O.L.T. announced, on April 22, 2007, just four days prior to the bill advancing to a legislative committee, it was resurrected in NC. B.O.L.T. of NC immediately issued a Call to Action, telling legislators to modify the helmet statute portion of the bill to be a repeal, whereupon CBA leadership told their members to contact legislators and say they like the helmet law.
In 2008, CBA seriously entertained a proposal for reflective gear and ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) until BOLT told independent bikers and MC’s what CBA was considering, and to tell them “NFW!”, whereupon CBA backed down as soon as the NC state president of the Blue Knights MC told CBA they would do everything in their power to oppose it.
In 2009, CBA improved somewhat when their legislative coordinator, Thomas “Doc Ski” Wasileski, had an unfortunate accident. In his absence, CBA did something good by proposing a clean under 21 helmet repeal bill.
However, in 2009, Wasileski agreed, via a conference call with legislators, on behalf of CBA, to a legislative compromise which allowed mandatory training to get a toehold in North Carolina.
When Wasileski was active in 2007 and 2008, CBA asked the state to pass laws to force NC motorcyclists to pay higher registration fees to create a motorcyclist discriminatorily funded motorcycle safety center. This would have been not only discriminatory and unwanted but also redundant since NHTSA funding for a motorcycle safety center was awarded to Oklahoma. Early on, BOLT convinced the bill sponsor that the funding was discriminatory, and obtained assurances the bill would not move forward. Wasileski kept spinning his wheels for months, trying to convince motorcyclists they need the state to force them to pay higher registration fees.
In recent years, CBA/ABATE has declined to participate in protest actions, saying they are “afraid” of what the legislators might think. Later, CBA claimed they are prohibited from organized protest actions due to their corporation format, (ie. their “official” agreements with government). Some chapters of CBA continue to be loyal to biker rights causes, as do many individuals. However, CBA clearly functions as a motorcycle safety organization at the state level. Reference: IRS Form 990.
CBA has received thousands of taxpayer dollars routed to them via the NC Governors Highway Safety Program. (The GHSP are the same bureaucrats from the NC executive branch of government who are behind the 2007 helmet bill and checkpoints). If you find this incredible, ask CBA/ABATE members when you see them. Do you still trust Thomas Wasileski and CBA/ABATE to defend your rights in Raleigh? You may be better off to stay informed and stand up for your own rights rather than to leave it up to others!
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