Follow up to 8-4-07 posting Drunk kills "biker" may get probation

Wherein it was reported that Daniel D. Christ, 40, died when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by Darcy L. Schehr, 27, of Hartford, Wis. She was charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. The DA has indicated that he will ask for prison but believes that the defendant will ultimately get probation.

The following was sent by Mike Greenwald over at GoldIron. He has been following this case closely and keeping all concerned updated. We appreciate his efforts to help insure that a gross miscarriage of justice does not occur. And that should such occur it is this writers opinion that all bikers should take it as a personal affront. Hopefully we will here more in 20 days.

Several things I noticed and noted today at the Dodge County Courthouse in Juneau. Five motorcyclists were there. Three men and two women. The defendant had about eight people there from a cursory glance over to her side of the courtroom. The plea was "stand mute". The judge announced that a response was due in ten days and the defense requested twenty days. The twenty days was granted.

The Dodge County Courthouse or some one had five uniformed deputies stand with the family while we were already mounting our bikes and discussing the routes home.

I am not certain if this was done as a show of force to protect the murderer or if it was a common intimidation technique employed by her attorney. I was disheartened to see the level protection offered to a drunk and a murderer.

Scuttlebutt has it that this defendant Darcy L. Schehr seemingly is known to party in this condition regularly. Thanks to all for your support and concern.

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MRF (Motorcycle Riders Foundation ) issues nation wide Alert

Motorcyclists finally have a real opportunity to close the HIPPA loophole that enables insurance companies under certain circumstances to refuse coverage. This has been has been fought for over 5 years. Nows are chance, if we lose we have only ourselves to blame.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)

HIPAA Call to Action

With Congress poised to return today from a sleepy month off fromWashington, it's a great time to call or e-mail your federal legislators and remind them to support HR 1076 and S 616, the two pieces oflegislation filed on behalf of motorcyclists to fix the discriminatory loopholes in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These two pieces of legislation are currently sitting in committee before both bodies of Congress. The Motorcycle Riders
Foundation (MRF) encourages you to contact your Senators and Representatives this week.

The HIPAA loophole mentioned above allows employer-sponsored health insurance plans to deny payments for particular injuries that stem from any risky recreational behavior. Another wrinkle is that the employer can determine what behaviors they want to define as risky. Some have refused payment of hospital bills for injuries as common as sprained ankles resulting from jogging. And although it is a legal form of transportation subject to taxes, tolls and licensing fees, for some reason motorcycling is specifically mentioned in HIPAA as a hazardous recreational activity.

It is important to contact your federal representatives now. One very easy way to do it is to go to the American Motorcycles Associations Rapid Response center. Feel in a few blanks and bang the letter is sent in your name to your official.

"The battle for bikers' rights is not about patches, parties or poker runs. We fight to protect the freedom and promote the interests of American motorcyclists ... to defend our right to choose our own modes of transportation, attire and lifestyle ... to deter and defy discrimination against us ... and to vanquish those who violate our rights or right-of-way."--Bruce Arnold
http://ldrlongdistancerider.com/bikers_rights.php

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LET US NEVER FORGET

By way of the Chrome Diva's
Please pass the word and join us for the 3rd Annual Fire and Iron 9/11 Remembrance Motorcycle Ride on Tuesday, September 11, 2007. We will meet at 8am at the Wal-Mart on the Apallachee Parkway for a group ride to the Capitol steps for a ceremony at 8:30am. Governor Crist and other agencies will be there this year! For more information, contact Mike Terhune at 850-212-2494.

If unable to ride, please take a moment to stop an say a prayer for those that lost their lives that day and for the impact this event has had on our country-rcAdd to Technorati Favorites

Work in Progress

(pic from T-Customs, check out some of the new pics added on their page, link to the right).

Like the bike in the picture hopefully most of us are and will remain "works in progress". In some areas of our lives though, we may not be making the progress we wish to be making or should be making. Maybe we got a clogged fuel filter or something.

But if you haven't yet checked the video on Culleys page (link to the right), please do so.
The dude makes a really interesting observation.

That being that the average driver puts 12 to 13000 miles on their cage yearly. But get this, the average motorcycle in America is only driven "less than 2000" miles a year. Or somewhere around 160 miles per month.

Yeah o.k. I think I just heard some one say, "yeah so whats the point." Well the point the dude makes is that most people who own motorcycles are inexperienced and will remain so every time they throw a leg over the saddle. The fact is, most people do not ride enough to become experienced.

Now I know that doesn't apply to anyone reading this (you ever notice how the worst driver in the world always thinks they are the best). Pride and Ego, they can be deadly. But if some where to be honest, go ahead admit it to yourself no one is listening, the most many folk ride their bikes, is to bike night or the occasional weekend ride. Let it drop below 60 degrees and the sucker is locked up for the rest of the year.

Now if this is the case then "rider education" means squat. Experience (even bad experience) is the best teacher (especially on a bike). YOU only learn the power of the front brake by dropping your bike in a slow turn a couple times.

Now add a couple of beers to that mix........well you can see where that will go.

So hears the thing, nobody is asking anyone to go out in the middle of the street before they ride and holler "look out, I'm fixin to ride". But a good suggestion might be, when you throw your leg over that bitch, take a moment to be honest with yourself re your abilities. The life you save may be yours. Ride Free, Enjoy, and watch your butt. rcAdd to Technorati Favorites