ABATE of FL, IncLake Cnty ChapterPO Box 492Astatula, FL 34705http://lake.abateflorida.com/Volume 26 Issue #03MARCH 2026American Bikers Aiming Towards EducationA Brotherhood AgainstTotalitarian EnactmentsNOTICE, NOTICE, ABATE of FL, Inc. Accepts no responsibility for the comments or opinions contained in this publication. Donations to ABATE of FL, Inc. are not deductible for Federal Tax purposes. This is the official publication of ABATE of FL, Inc Lake Cnty Chapter, It is published monthly & is free to Chapter members.WHY ARE WE HERE? The purpose of this Corporation shall be: A) Promote motorcycle safety through education. B) Elimination of unfair motorcycle related legislation. C) Protection of personal rights of all motorcyclists.D) Improve the image of motorcyclists to the general public. E) To provide for a Lobbyist to represent ABATE OF FL, INC & to work with Legislators in the interest& protection of all motorcyclist rights on the State & National levels.ABATE of FL, Inc – State Office PO Box 614 -Cantonment, FL 32533Phone: 386-943-9610President: Will “Griz” Deaver 352-516-2982https://abatefloridainc.comABATE OF FL, INC. DOES NOT CONDONE DRINKING & RIDING. DONATIONS TO ABATE OF FL, INC ARE NOT DEDUCTIBLEFOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION & FINANCIAL INFO MAY BE OBTAINEDFROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. WWW.800HELPFLA.COM
ABATE of FL, Inc – Lake County Chapter PO Box 492 Astatula, FL 34705https://www.facebook.com/AbateOfFLLake CountyChapter http://lakecountyFLabate.comPresident Griz 352-516-2982 [email protected] President JOE 352-6195144 [email protected] Shortcake 352-409-6443 [email protected] Sugar Mama 904-219-4955 [email protected]@Arms Termite 352-723-8448 [email protected] OPEN [email protected] Jessie 352-227-7214 [email protected] “V” 352-516-4240 [email protected] ULI 305-868-8058 [email protected] Delegates Bubbles & Steve ----------------------PR/Comm-Billing Jessie 352-227-7214 [email protected] Director Cpt Mike 352-250-3601 [email protected] Captain Russ 352-391-7151 [email protected] Lil bit 740-507-1709 [email protected] Master Beamer Bob 352-347-9238 [email protected] JIM 352-665-7743 [email protected]
If you have not renewed for 2026 get with Jessie 352-227-7214. $100 per year for a business size ad. When you go to our advertisers, write ABATE across your ticket let them know that we support those that support usOne Nation under “GOD” – Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ & the American G.I. One died for you soul, the other for your freedom. ~~ If you do not stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them ~~~Are you expired? Don’t lose your $4,000 ADA insurance, renew on time. [email protected]: If you have political info share with me – I can’t find info anymore “V” President & Vice President Ride safe -- Ride FREE - Griz chapter PresidentJOE--Chapter Vice PresidentIf you didn’t get a letter & this card in the mail. Get with me “V”
Mar 1 General Mtg, Eagles – Okahumpka starts at noon with a possible ride to the ‘old’ Franks PlaceMar 5-7 Safety Booth at Speedway – Advent entranceMar 15 Fund raiser at JJ”s Sorrento grilling for the monthly Antique Car Show – come helpMar 18 Girls luncheon 11:30 APPLE Bees in Eustis, ALL are welcomeMar 23 Board Mtg, all welcome –7:00- Minneola Moose – come early for dinner
----I can’t think of a time when I lost my toupee while riding a motorcycle. At least not right off the top of my head.---- A teenage girl brought her new boyfriend home to meet her parents. They were appalled by his leather jacket, motorcycle boots, tattoos, & pierced nose. Later, the parents pulled their daughter aside & confessed their concern. \"Dear,\" the mother said, \"he doesn't seem very nice.\" \"Oh please, Mom,\" the daughter replied. \"If he wasn't nice, why would he be doing 200 hours of community service?\"----What are two blondes fighting over, on a motorcycle? Over which one gets the window seat.----Dear editor, I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision. I've suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs...phone rings, but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out withthe girls a lot recently, although when I ask their names she always says, \"Just some friends from work, you don't know them.\"r> I sometimes stay awake to look out for her cab coming home, but she always comes walking up the drive as I hear the sound of a car leaving, around the corner, as if she has gotten out & walked the rest of the way. Why? Maybe she wasn't in a taxi at all? I once picked up her cell phone, just to see what time it was. This caused her to go completely berserk. She quickly snatched the phone out of my h& & cursed me hysterically, screaming that I should never touch her personal property, then accused me of trying to spy on her. Anyway, I have never broached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn't want to know the truth, but last night she went out again & I decided to really check on her. I decided I was going to park my Harley Davidson Lowrider next to the garage & then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the street around the corner when she came home. It was at that moment, crouching behind my motorcycle that I noticed a small amount of motor oil leaking through the gasket between the rear head & rocker arm cover. So...is this something I can easily repair myself or do you think I should take it back to the dealer?----2 Peace Corps volunteers were riding their motorcycles through a remote rural area. One of them got a ways ahead, but the other guy just followed his tracks & didn't think much of it. Eventually, he reached a stream where he saw motorcycle tracks going in on one side, & continuing out the other side. But just to be sure, he asked an old man he saw sitting there, \"did another American come by here on a motorcycle?\" The old man said yes. \"Did he cross the river here?\" Again, the old man said he had. So the volunteer guns it & finds himself neck-deep in the stream. Sputtering, he drags the motorcycle out & yells at the old man, \"I thought you said the other guy crossed here!\" The old man said, \"yes, but the other guy used a boat.\"FOCUSING MAINLY ON REGULATING E-BIKES IN FEB, due to disproportionally high numbers of accidents & injuries. For the 26 FL legislative sessions, key motorcycle-related bills focus on regulating high-speed e-bikes as \"electric motorcycles,\" creating new safety rules for child passengers, & introducing specialized license plates. Notable proposals include HB 243/SB 382 (e-bike regulations) & SB 1384/HB 233 (child restraint requirements). Key 2026 FL Motorcycle & Related LegislationHB 243/HB 382 (Electric Bicycles/E-Motorbikes): This legislation reclassifies electric bicycles with motors over 750 W & speeds exceeding 28mph as \"electric motorcycles.\" These will require registration, insurance, & a license, with operation prohibited on sidewalks & bike lanes. It also creates an Electric Bicycle Safety Task Force. SB 1384/HB 233 (Child Restraint Requirements): Prohibits operating a motorcycle or moped with a child under age 8 unless the child is secured in a sidecar with appropriate restraints. HB 571 (Motorcycle Specialty License Plates): Directs the Dept of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to develop an \"Endless Summer\" motorcycle specialty license plate. HB 841/HB 253 (Vehicle Registration & Security): Addresses electronic registration renewal & increases penalties for using devices that obscure license plates. Key 2025 Legislation (Still Relevant) HB 6009 (Motorcycle Safety): Proposed legislation to remove provisions allowing certain persons over 21 to ride without a helmet. These bills are in various stages of the legislative process for the 2026 session. Uli ABATE of FL, Inc – Lake County Legislative Rep Increase in yearly membership to ABATE of FL, Inc is now $30 per year which includes a $4,000.ADD insurance policy. LIFE membership is now $450. With $300 to ABATE Inc & $150 to chapter
PLEASE volunteer to help with security – see JOE Vice President
ABATE (A BROTHERHOODD AGAINST TOTALITARIAN ENACTMENTS ) has come a long way since it was started by Easyriders in 1971 & it continues to grow & protect the rights of motorcycle riders around the country. The way that is done is to get people involved. There are numerous ways to do that, &, in most cases, it starts with joining a motorcycle rights organization. Contact your legislators & other elected officials & letting them know what changes you want made & why. In my opinion the most effective way to get their attention is to bring people to their office in the Capitol. Groups left from different locations & the one I was in had a Tallahassee Police Escort who did a. excellent job. When we arrived at the capitol ABATE of Florida had already set up a welcome tent & podium for speakers. The President of ABATE of Florida led the pledge of allegiance & addressed those present about meeting their legislators. Elisabeth Fetterhoff of the FWD Consulting Firm the lobbyist for ABATE of Florida spoke to the group about how the bills were doing & points to bring up to legislators for those doing so. The handouts of legislation I & others discussed with our legislators are. HB 1241 & SB 1152 ABATE Support for Hands-Free Driving Bills (HB 1241 & SB 1152) What the Bills Do (in plain language): HB 1241 would prohibit a driver from operating a vehicle while holding or physically supporting a wireless communications device (like a phone), except for brief activation/deactivation. Sustained use must be via handsfree accessories. The Senate bill SB 1152 mirrors the House bill with similar language, definitions, & provisions to make Florida a hands-free state. Why ABATE Supports This Legislation 1. Reduces Distracted Driving Risk Motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable around drivers who take eyes off the road. Handsfree laws target the manual & visual distractions that lead to crashes. 2. Addresses a Known Safety Gap Current Florida law bans texting while driving, but does not clearly prohibit holding a device for other uses (navigation, scrolling, etc.) — making enforcement difficult. HB 1241/SB 1152 close that gap. 3. Easier Enforcement Means Safer Roads By making the rule simply about holding the device, law enforcement can more reliably uphold the law, promoting consistent deterrence of dangerous behavior that disproportionately affects motorcyclists. 4. Consistent with Trends in Other States Over 30 states have adopted hands-free driving laws. Advocates (like Hands-Free Florida) point to these as a model for reducing distracted driving across all road users. 5. Clear Legislative Intent to Improve Safety for all Road Users The bills explicitly aim to improve safety for vehicle operators, passengers, bicyclists, pedestrians, & other road users — which aligns with ABATE’s mission of promoting rider safety without unnecessary burden. Opposition to HB 429 & SB 536 (Criminal Gang Membership Expansion Bills) ABATE of Florida opposes HB 429 & SB 536 because these bills expand the definition of “criminal gang membership” in a way that is overly broad, subjective, & vulnerable to misuse, posing serious risks to lawful motorcycle riders, clubs, & other constitutionally protected associations. 1. Overly Broad & Subjective Criteria The bills allow appearance, associations, language, symbols, & social media activity to be used as indicators of gang membership. These factors are inherently subjective & depend heavily on interpretation rather than clear criminal conduct. Law-abiding citizens should not be at risk of enhanced penalties based on lifestyle, clothing, or group affiliation. 2. Guilt by Association The bills weaken the long-standing principle that people are judged by their actions, not who they know or ride with. Merely associating with others who may later be accused of wrongdoing could expose innocent individuals to gang designation or sentencing enhancements. This creates a dangerous precedent of punishing associationrather than criminal behavior. 3. Chilling Effect on Constitutional Rights Freedom of association & expression are core constitutional protections. These bills risk discouraging lawful citizens from: Joining motorcycle clubs Attending events or charity rides Expressing themselves online or in public Floridians should not have to choose between their rights & avoiding suspicion.4. Disproportionate Impact on Motorcycle Clubs Motorcycle clubs—especially traditional MCs—often have: Patches, colors, insigniaDefined hierarchies & terminology Strong group identity & camaraderie These cultural elements could be mischaracterized under the expanded criteria, despite no criminal intent or activity. 5. Existing Laws Are Already Sufficient Florida already has robust criminal statutes to prosecute: Organized crime Conspiracy Racketeering Violent offenses Expanding definitions is unnecessary &risks net-widening rather than improving public safety. 6. Risk of Uneven or Discriminatory Enforcement Broad discretion increases the likelihood of inconsistent enforcement across jurisdictions. What one agency views as harmless association, another may view as “gang-related.” Laws should be clear, objective, & uniformly applied, not dependent on individual interpretation.ABATE’s Recommendation ABATE urges lawmakers to: Reject HB 429 & SB 536 as written Preserve clear, conduct-based standards for criminal liability Protect the rights of law-abiding motorcyclists & civic organizations Focus enforcement on actual criminal acts, not perceived identity or association
There is some concern about Electric Bicycles because of unclear past legislation about of road & rode motorcycles. HB 243 (Electric Bicycles / Motorized Vehicle Definitions) Position: WATCH WITH CONCERN SUMMARY HB 243 is presented as an electric bicycle safety & classification bill. While it does not directly regulate motorcycles, it creates definition, licensing, & reporting precedents that could later be expanded to include motorcycles & other motorized two-wheel vehicles. ABATE of Florida urges lawmakers to consider long-term impacts on rider rights, enforcement, & data accuracy.KEY CONCERNS 1. Definition Expansion (“Definition Creep”) HB 243 revises statutory definitions for electric & motorized two-wheel vehicles. History shows that once definitions are broadened, future legislation often folds motorcycles into those frameworks.ABATE is concerned about blurred lines between: electric bicycles electric motorcycles scooters & mopeds traditional motorcyclesABATE Position: Motorcycles must remain clearly & distinctly defined in statute. 2. Licensing & Endorsement Precedent HB 243 introduces or reinforces licensing concepts tied to vehicle classes. This sets a precedent that can later justify: additional endorsements IF YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT THIS & ANY OTHER ISSUES YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) is a nationwide motorcyclists rights organization serving over 2,000 NCOM Member Groups throughout the US, with all services fully-funded through Aid to Injured Motorcyclist (AIM) Attorneys available in each state who donate a portion of their legal fees from motorcycle accidents back into the NCOM Network of Biker Services (www.ON-A-BIKE.com / 800-ON-A-BIKE).Autopilot Overstated The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is taking note of recent changes by Tesla to scale back use of the term “Autopilot” in California following regulatory pressure. While this may seem like a simple branding change, it highlights a much larger safety issue the MRF has warned about for years, drivers often misunderstand the actual capabilities of these systems. Advanced driver-assistance features can help a driver, but they do not replace the driver. When names or marketing suggest otherwise, many motorists become too confident & pay less attention to the road. A better way to describe the problem is that drivers are misinformed about the limitations of the technology. That confusion can lead to delayed reactions, poor decisions, & dangerous situations. For motorcyclists, that risk is even greater. When a driver assumes the vehicle is “handling it,” riders can be overlooked entirely. An uninformed driver is a real concern to everyone on the road, especially those without the protection of a steel cage. The MRF supports innovation that improves safety, but technology must be paired with clear language & proper driver education. No matter how advanced a system becomes, the responsibility to operate a vehicle safely still rests with the humanbehind the wheel.--- A MUST TO SUPPORT–RE: Support H.R. 3385 — Clarifying the Federal Definition of “Motorcycle” We write in support of H.R. 3385, legislation that directs the Secretary of Transportation to update the federal definition of “motorcycle.” Far from eliminating innovation or harming American jobs, this bill provides long-overdue regulatory clarity, strengthens consumer safety, & restores coherence between vehicle design, performance expectations, & applicable federal safety standards. H.R. 3385 does not constitute a ban. It corrects a definitional inconsistency that has allowed fundamentally different vehicle architectures—three-wheeled vehicles equipped with steering wheels, pedals, & bucket seats—to be regulated under motorcycle standards that were never designed for such configurations. Ensuring that vehicles are regulated according to their design characteristics is not market interference; it is sound public policy.--- Lawmakers advanced several measures, including H.R. 1566, the Right to Equitable & Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, & H.R. 3385, legislation updating the federal definition of a motorcycle. The hearing also addressed multiple bills related to autonomous vehicles & overall vehicle safety. Advancing these two (2) Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) high-priority bills out of subcommittee shows forward momentum & signals growing support, which we must encourage by renewing our recent Calls To Action. These bills will now be taken up by the full House Energy & Commerce Committee, where additional debate & amendments may occur, before potentially advancing to the full U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. We cannot pass up this opportunity to encourage progress on these two issues, reminding legislators that we have not lost focus.
----ENDANGERMENT FINDING REPEALED– President Trump & EPAAdministrator Lee Zeldin today announced that the EPA was repealing a rule known as the Endangerment Finding that seeks to limit carbon dioxide emissions from motor vehicles. This validates a decade of work by the CO2 Coalition & others to refute irrational regulation of a harmless gas necessary for life. The CO2 Coalition has worked tirelessly to provide the science, facts & data that were used to overturn this economically destructive regulation that was enacted on the basis of junk science & disinformation. Thousands of scientists &researchers stood with us for the truth. We believe EPA’s action – & other reforms of rules covering power plants – could ultimately end foolish public policy that has wastefully diverted trillions of dollars to address a manufactured climate emergency & away from efforts that could have otherwise benefited people. CO2 Coalition Statement on Repeal of Endangerment Finding Statement of Gregory Wrightstone Executive Director, CO2 Coalition Re: Repeal of Endangerment Finding 2/12/26 ----The repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Endangerment Finding by Admin Zeldin is cause for celebration. The basis of this wrongheaded climate regulation put ideology ahead of science. The rule has been an impediment to economic growth, a cause of rising energy costs & a destroyer of many thousands of jobs at power plants, coal mines & manufacturing facilities. Since the 2009 enactment of the Endangerment Finding, its scientific underpinnings have been found to be even weaker than previously believed & contradicted by empirical data, peer-reviewed studies & research. Relying on false computer models & pseudoscience, the Obama EPA erroneously claimed carbon dioxide & other so-called greenhouse gases threatened to overheat the Earth. The agency disregarded complexities of climate dynamics – from solar cycles to clouds to ocean currents. Also ignored were a mountain of real-world data accumulated over decades & centuries that disprove the finding that the plant food carbon dioxide is a pollutant. Rather than an Earth spiraling into man-made climate crises, the facts reveal that ecosystems are thriving & humanity is benefiting from modest warming & more CO2. Forests are expanding, deserts are shrinking, agricultural productivity is expanding &drought is declining. In short, there is no climate crisis & carbon dioxide is a beneficial gas necessary for life. –CO2 Coalition--------BIKERNET WEEKLY GUN NUT REPORT–Astute VA gun owners anticipated terrible gun control legislation from the 2026 General Assembly. Still, some may be shocked to learn that anti-rights zealots in the VA Senate have advanced a bill to CONFISCATE standard capacity firearm magazines! On Jan 27, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee advanced a substitute version of SB749, banning commonly-owned firearms & their magazines. This substitute version defines a “large capacity ammunition feeding device” to include standard capacity magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The bill then provides, B. Any person who imports, sells, barters, transfers, purchases, or possesses a large capacity ammunition feeding device is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The legislation does not grandfather magazines possessed prior to the ban. The legislation is magazine confiscation, as current owners would be forced to dispossess themselves of their lawfully acquired property or face a Class 1 misdemeanor. A Class 1 misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in prison & up to a $2,500 fine. The legislation also implicates magazines “that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition.” There is no definition of “readily restored or converted to accept” provided. This vague language could be used to prohibit common magazines that employ a block to restrict an otherwise normal magazine’s capacity to comply with restrictive state laws. This would severely curtail the availability of magazines to VA gun owners. Magazines that hold more than 10 rounds are the standard & undeniably “in common use” Many of the most popular firearms in America are designed to use magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds. Law enforcement officers routinely carry 15 or 17-round magazines in their duty sidearms. Law enforcement & law-abiding civilians choose these magazines for the same reasons; to best protect themselves & others from criminal violence. In 2024, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (the firearm industry trade association) released a document titled “Detachable Magazine Report: 1990-2021.”[1] This study analyzed manufacturer & sales data on magazines & magazine capacity over an extended period of time starting in 1991 (“[n]o reliable data exists prior to 1990 to estimate historic detachable magazines that may still be available for sale or in working condition”). The NSSF study concluded that the “national standard for magazine capacity for America’s gun owners is greater than 10 rounds.” Among the other significant findings were: Overall, almost a billion (963 million) magazines “were produced & entered the commercial market between 1990 & 2021.” The study “does not claim all the magazines estimated in [it] are owned by Americans; these are both magazines estimated to be in circulation & made available for sale at some point from 1990 to 2021;”
The overwhelming majority of these – approximately 74 % or 717 million magazines – have a capacity of 11 or more rounds, & almost half (about 46%) “are rifle magazines with 30+ round capacity.” More than half (about 55%) of total pistol magazines are detachable 11+ magazines. If the 717 million total was applied exclusively to Americans, it works out to over two “LCMs” per person based on the U.S. population in 2022, 333.3 million; “The consumer market totals of rifle magazines show 30+ capacity magazines, over 413 million, are over thirty times the amount available than 10 & below capacity rifle magazines, about 13 million.” Standard capacity magazines are protected by the U.S. & the VA Constitutions In District of Columbia v. Heller (08), the U.S. Supreme Court made clear that 2nd Amendment protects an individual right to keep & bear arms. Moreover, the Court determined that the U.S. Constitution protects ownership of arms in “in common use” for lawful purposes. In 2015, Heller decision author Justice Scalia reiterated that the 2nd Amendment & Heller preclude so-called “assault weapons” bans when he signed onto a dissent from the denial of certiorari in Friedman v. Highland Park. In the dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas explained, Roughly 5 million Americans own AR-style semiautomatic rifles. The overwhelming majority of citizens who own & use such rifles do so for lawful purposes, including self-defense & target shooting. Under our precedents, that is all that is needed for citizens to have a right under the 2nd Amendment to keep such weapons. As previously illustrated with industry data, it is undeniable that magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds are “in common use” (& the decade-old statistics Thomas cites for AR-15 owners are also now multiple times greater). In 2022, the Court decided NY State Rifle & Pistol Asso v. Bruen. In its opinion, the Court held: When the 2nd Amendment’s plain text covers an individual’s conduct, the Constitution presumptively protects that conduct. The government must then justify its regulation by demonstrating that it is consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation. Only then may a court conclude that the individual’s conduct falls outside the 2nd Amendment’s “unqualified command.” This test would preclude bans on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms & their magazines, as the U.S. has no historical tradition of such firearm prohibitions. Earlier this year, outgoing VA Attorney General Miyares made clear that legislation such as SB749violates the U.S. & VA Constitutions. Article I Section 13 of the VA Constitution provides, in part, That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, & safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep & bear arms shall not be infringed;\\Citing the landmark 2nd Amendment U.S. Supreme Court decision in Heller, Miyares pointed out that the Court made clear that the U.S. Constitution protects arms “in common use” for lawful purposes. In describing just how common standard capacity firearm magazines are, Miyares cited the U.S. District Court decision in Duncan v. Bonta (2023) – a case which at present is up for cert at the U.S. Supreme Court. The AG pointed out, “so-called ‘large capacity magazines’ are ‘in common use.’ In fact, ‘in the realm of firearms,’ magazines holding more than ten rounds ‘are possibly the most commonly owned thingin America.’” Referencing the VA Constitution, the AG noted, that the “additional clause emphasizing the importance of a population ‘trained to arms’ for the ‘defense of … [the] state’ makes clear that arms sufficient for that purpose fall under the Constitution of VA’s protection.” Moreover, “At the founding, citizens called for service in the militia ‘were expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves & of the kind in common use at the time’” & that, “Citizens were, in fact, expected to have such weapons or else face a fine.” Banning standard capacity magazines does not reduce violent crime!European Motorcycle Policies Raise Red Flags For All RidersMotorcyclists across Europe are once again facing regulatory proposals that should concern riders in the US. Policymakers in the European Union (EU) are pushing to expand mandatory Periodical Technical Inspections (PTI) to all motorcycles, claiming that inspections improve safety. According to research compiled by the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA), that claim is not supported by the facts. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) works closely with FEMA to monitor these developments because policies debated in Europe often find their way into American policy conversations. EU-wide studies consistently show that technical defects are the primary cause in less than 1–2% of motorcycle crashes. The overwhelming majority of accidents are tied to rider behavior, road design &infrastructure issues, not mechanical failure. Despite repeated claims from PTI advocates, no credible evidence shows that mandatory inspections reduce motorcycle fatalities. Common inspection findings, such as lights, brakes & tires, are important for safety, but identifying a defect during a check does not mean it contributed to a real-world crash.
Crash data across EU Member States confirms that mechanical failure is rarely the root cause. As FEMA’s Wim Taal has noted, policies should be based on real accident causation data, not assumptions. Some European bodies point to roadside inspections with high defect rates to justify expanding PTI. In reality, these inspections are rare & typically conducted only when police already suspect non-compliance, such as visible exhaust modifications. Using targeted enforcement data to justify universal inspections exaggerates the problem, leading to unnecessary regulation. Notably, countries that already require PTI for all motorcycles have shown no measurable reduction in rider fatalities. FEMA & rider organizations across Europe continue to stress that real safety improvements come from better rider training, safer infrastructure, & increased awareness among all road users. PTI does not address these proven factors. American riders should pay attention. Freedom of the open road & the ability to ride without unnecessary government interference are core to the American motorcycling experience, & those values are often the first challenged by policies framed as “simple safety measures.” Regulatory ideas rarely stay confined overseas, & proposals like mandatory PTI are frequently repackaged as “international best practices” in U.S. policy debates. Through its partnership with FEMA, the MRF stays ahead ------ BAN MOTORCYCLE INSPECTIONS–Across the European Union, the push to expand mandatory Periodical Technical Inspections (PTI) to all motorcycles is often justified with the claim that ‘testing improves safety’. But FEMA’s Wim Taal says the evidence simply doesn’t support that claim. Road safety for motorcyclists will not meaningfully improve through mandatory Periodical Technical Inspections (PTI) because the data across the EU shows that technical defects almost never cause motorcycle crashes. Road users’ behaviour & infrastructure are the real issues, & PTI does nothing to address them. EU‑ wide studies consistently find that technical defects are the primary cause in less than 1-2% of motorcycle accidents. The overwhelming majority of crashes are linked to rider behaviour, road design, & infrastructure issues, not mechanical failure. Despite repeated recommendations, no proof of safety gains has been presented by organizations calling for mandatory PTI for all motorcycles. Lights, brakes, & tires are the most common issues found during inspections. These matter for safety, of course but the presence of a defect during a check does not mean it was a factor in real‑ world crashes. Field statistics across EU Member States confirm that mechanical failure is almost never the root cause. ‘Policies should be based on real accident causation data, not on assumptions’ The European Economic & Social Committee (EESC) wants motorcycles over 50cc included in the PTI regime. As a justification for this, the EESC states: “Roadside inspections carried out in Austria & Sweden have found that more than 20 % of these vehicles had serious defects”. Reality check from SMC Sweden: “Roadside technical checks are extremely rare. When the police do carry out a roadside technical check, it is based on a prior, concrete suspicion of non-compliance – for example, the presence of a non-approved exhaust system. In practice, roadside checks specifically targeting the technical condition of motorcycles are therefore almost non-existent.” Defects found during roadside inspections should not be an excuse to harmonize periodic inspections; the rejection rates during such inspections are logically higher because (for example) the police take targeted action against observed defects.The European Parliament & safety councils continue to push for expanding PTI to all motorcycles, even though no measurable reduction in motorcycle fatalities has been linked to PTI in countries that already test all bikes. Riders’ organizations across Europe have submitted technical briefs showing that PTI does not address the real causes of crashes. If the EU truly wants to reduce motorcycle fatalities, the focus should shift to areas that actually save lives, such as better rider training (improving hazard perception, braking skills, & defensive riding has a proven impact), safer infrastructure (road surfaces, guardrails, & intersection design play a major role in motorcycle crashes), & awareness campaigns for all road users (most multi‑ vehicle motorcycle crashes involve another driver failing to notice the rider). And let’s not forget that policies should be based on real accident causation data, not on assumptions. PTI may sound like a simple fix, but it doesn’t target the real causes of motorcycle accidents. The EU’s own data shows that mechanical defects are almost never to blame. If Europe wants safer roads for motorcyclists, it needs smarter, evidence‑ based measures, not more bureaucracy. Written by Wim Taal –FEMA