Sen. Kline tells off-roaders to buzz off (WA Dem unleashes astonishing hissy-fit)

The Seattle Times ^ | March 2, 2007 | David Postman

[Stoat]

Sen. Kline tells off-roaders to buzz off

Posted by David Postman at 11:41 AM

.(snip)

.... sometimes Kline has no interest in restraint. In responding to an e-mail from someone asking Kline why he was backing a bill that would crack down on loud off-road vehicles, the senator sent this e-mail:

Dear Mr. Helgeson,

I signed on because I have been annoyed, endangered, and angered one too many times by people riding motorized dirt-bikes and other off-road vehicles
that have no damn business anywhere. To me, this bill is narrow — it doesn't include those "personal watercraft," seemingly jet-powered little missiles whose only apparent purpose is to risk death and dismemberment for boaters
and swimmers, for the amusement of spoiled drunk teenagers.

Yes, I am sure there is the occasional responsible person who rides one of these machines on land or water. And yes, like every human being I have been pleasantly surprised to find my stereotypes broken. But why, why, why, do folks insist on motorized "sports"? Those two words are an oxymoron.

There is nothing sporting — athletic, physically demanding — about riding any machine anywhere. And it's a damned annoyance to folks who see the outdoors as a place to go for quiet and solitude and self-exploration. I would be happy to ban the use of the internal combustion engine off-road, by anyone without a handicapped sticker, subject to a stiff fine. Maybe we could call this an anti-obesity measure.

Please circulate this to all motorized sports enthusiasts, so they can remember never to vote for me.

Adam Kline

(snip)

[Melas]

1st, this isn't Texas, so you don't have a clue what you're talking about. In Washington State, there are no trails that Motorcycles and Quads are allowed on that bicycles, equestrians, and pedestrians are not also allowed on, yet over 90% of trails that bicycles, equestrians and pedestrians are allowed on, and paid for by ORV gas tax dollars do not allow ORVs.

For starters, trails that allow pedestrians and bicycles should not allow ORV's, period. ORV's are simply too fast to share lanes with hikers and bikers.

Secondly, I'm inclined to doubt that ORV gas tax dollars go to support off-road trail systems. There are no gas taxes specific to ORV's. All gas taxes go to the same places. More than likely you ORV taxes are funding Washington highways, not off-road trail systems.

2nd, If you are having trouble keeping motorized vehicles off local trails, you need to ask yourself some things, like "Are they allowed here?"

Nope, they're not allowed. When we can catch them we hold them for the police who then impound the vehicles. More often though we wind up taking pictures on our cell phones in hopes that they can be used later if they catch the guys.

3.There's better than 90% odds that the trails you are trying to keep everyone but your self off of were built by these same motorcyclists, and maintained by them or a combination of them and trail crews paid for by the state using ORV gas tax money and off road sticker money paid for by these same people you want to take the trails away from.

Again, total nonsense. Most of the trail work is done by the Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association by volunteers. What we wouldn't give for state money for maintaince.

How many weekends have you spent clearing windfall, and repairing damage done by logging, so others can enjoy their weekends?

Again, you went fishing and came up empty. I've done more than my share of trail work, and will continue to do so. Believe it or not, the DFW metroplex has one of the better organized mountain biking communities in the country, and rarely is there a shortage of volunteers.

[4woodenboats]

Nope, they're not allowed. When we can catch them we hold them for the police who then impound the vehicles. More often though we wind up taking pictures on our cell phones in hopes that they can be used later if they catch the guys.

Ahhh, so it's illegal activity that you're refering to. Why didn't you say so in the 1st place, other than wanting to pick a fight?

This bill isn't about activities that are currently illegal.

It is about making a legal activity illegal, and substituting lawyers for police to enforce it.

The bill is about enriching lawyers. 1/2 the "citizens" testifying pro are attorneys who stand to gain financially from it, as is Senator Kline and his wife.

So please, take your self centered belligerent self elsewhere, I have no time to diddle with you over bike paths in Texas.

Certainley you can find some ORV families to harrass in your own state.

[Melas]

So please, take your self centered belligerent self elsewhere

Wow, that's some chip you have on that shoulder! That thing has to get heavy after a while. You think I'm belligerent because I'm no fan of ORV's? Wow.

Just to make sure, I went back and read my every post in this thread to see if I made a single combative post, and found that I did not.

You on the other hand told me I didn't have a clue, questioned my on my trail maintence hours, and called me selfish. All belligerent, combative remarks. I defy you to show me where I've made the slightest personal attack. You won't find one.

[Sensei Ern]

Wow,your ping pic looks like the annual bicycle trek across San Francisco...Fagbrai.

[ASOC]

Uh, I live in Alaska. I used to live in Spokane and would love to once more. But between the crap at Hansford and asshats in Seattle, it ain't worth putting up with everything.

UP here, yu can still ride all yur machines, and to a great extent, NV.

And you are right, after banging my head till its flat, I would rather switch than fight - at least on this one.

[nuke rocketeer]

That's why I like the way the Texas constitution has mandated a part-time legislature that meets only for 3 monthe every two years. That way they don't have the time to bring useless crap like this.

[Stoat]

I never cared much for NASCAR, SUVS, dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, or those watercraft missile thingies until I found out how much lefty metrosexual control-freaks hate them.

Since then, it's cold beer and hot motors all the way!

You've joined a strong, proud team.  Welcome home  :-)

 

[Chronic]

Nice bike :)
I will say though, I had Adam Kline's wife--Laura Gene Middaugh as a divorce lawyer. 2 times. Ha Ha I highly recommend her. She used to be Judge Laura Gene Middaugh. He is definitely a flaming lib. Ouch.

[Chuckster]

Please circulate this to all motorized sports enthusiasts, so they can remember never to vote for me.

I certainly will.

[Charles Martel]

Wonder what kind of self exploration this guy doesn't want interrupted from while he's in the woods?

Remember the old '70s film titled "Race With the Devil"? Two guys, their wives, a new RV, dirt bikes and.... an interrupted satanic mass.

Don't know why I thought of that, but...

[StarCMC]

Heh! You could be on to something there!

[Charles Martel]

Thanks, Stoat... this thread was in need of some pics! :-)

Y'know, if we added some firearms-related fun, we'd have the makings of the FreeRepublic Torque & Recoil Society. Our motto (shamelessly stolen from elsewhere on the Internet) could be:

"If it rolls, floats, or shoots, runs on gunpowder or gasoline, goes fast, shoots a big bullet or lots of bullets very fast, makes lots of noise while producing torque and recoil, or in any way annoys the PETA freaks, gun-grabbers or tree-huggers - it's cool."

Or something like that. :-)

[Stoat]

Thanks, Stoat... this thread was in need of some pics! :-)

I am delighted that you found them helpful and informative, and in keeping with the highly technical nature of this thread.  Here is another which I can easily justify as being contextually appropriate for inclusion as evidenced by the presence of motorcycles in the photo.

 

 

Y'know, if we added some firearms-related fun, we'd have the makings of the FreeRepublic Torque & Recoil Society. Our motto (shamelessly stolen from elsewhere on the Internet) could be:

"If it rolls, floats, or shoots, runs on gunpowder or gasoline, goes fast, shoots a big bullet or lots of bullets very fast, makes lots of noise while producing torque and recoil, or in any way annoys the PETA freaks, gun-grabbers or tree-huggers - it's cool."

Or something like that. :-)

A splendid idea.  I'm guessing that we could sign up just about every FReeper for this worthy cause   :-)

It could be a PAC and could lobby for the return of  essential equipment that has mysteriously disappeared from availability on the consumer landscape, such as the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

It could also lobby for essential safety standards, such as the Government mandating that all motorized vehicles be equipped with a large, raised, chrome blower

And in keeping with the Safety lobbying theme, it could push for legislation that all homes be required to possess and have at least one family member properly trained in the expert-level operation of  the Barrett M82A1 or better.

Thanks, Stoat... this thread was in need of some pics! :-)

I am delighted that you found them helpful and informative, and in keeping with the highly technical nature of this thread.  Here is another which I can easily justify as being contextually appropriate for inclusion as evidenced by the presence of motorcycles in the photo.

 

 

Y'know, if we added some firearms-related fun, we'd have the makings of the FreeRepublic Torque & Recoil Society. Our motto (shamelessly stolen from elsewhere on the Internet) could be:

"If it rolls, floats, or shoots, runs on gunpowder or gasoline, goes fast, shoots a big bullet or lots of bullets very fast, makes lots of noise while producing torque and recoil, or in any way annoys the PETA freaks, gun-grabbers or tree-huggers - it's cool."

Or something like that. :-)

[4woodenboats]

Please ping the WA chapter to this;

SB 5544 Hunyford amendment;

5544-S AMS HONE DAVI 086

SSB 5544 - S AMD 115

By Senator Honeyford

1 On page 3, line 17, strike all of section 2.

2 On page 3, line 31, strike all of section 3.

3 On page 4, line 30, strike all of section 4.

4 Renumber the remaining subsections consecutively and correct any

5 internal references accordingly.

6 7

8 SSB 5544 - S AMD 115

9 By Senator Honeyford

10 11 On page 1, line 2 of the title,

after "46.09.120", strike all 12 material through "penalties" on line 3

--- END ---

EFFECT: Removes the provisions of the bill increasing the penalties for off-road vehicle noise violations.

Removes the provisions of the bill providing that it is a violation for noise from an offroad vehicle to be plainly audible or above 45 decibels inside or within 10 feet of a residence or above 55 decibels at the property line.

Removes the provision of the bill allowing for the recovery of attorney's fees for a violation of off-road vehicle noise rules.

Could everyone PLEASE send a note to their state senator urging them to support this amendment 1st thing this morning.

SB 5544 will very likely get a floor vote this morning, and we need to take out this language that replaces law enforcement with civil suits, of which the moving party is guaranteed attorney costs, no matter the outcome.

The amendment leaves intact the drop from 105 db to 96 db for new models, which the ORV community supports.

We're having our ORV rally at the capitol campus today.

[dfwgator]

What a "John Edwards."

[Stoat]

What a "John Edwards."

Yes, this Girlie Man would love to take everyone else's recreational opportunities away merely because he is so much of a sissy that he is frightened of the Vroom-factor.

He probably has to call AAA road service to change his wiper blades.

I know academics like this....they have never opened the hood of their own cars and bring the car to the dealer at every maintenance interval, and perhaps because of their knowledge of their own inadequacies, they have a very low opinion of anyone who is mechanically inclined or skilled....they justify their technological incoherence and fears by convincing themselves that their intellectual superiority places them above such mundane and lowbrow tasks.

 

[4woodenboats]

At 5:01 on 3/14/07, SB 5544 died, after failing to get a vote on the senate floor.

;~)

[Stoat]

 

At 5:01 on 3/14/07, SB 5544 died, after failing to get a vote on the senate floor.

;~)

WOOO HOOOO!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your (offroad) engines!

I have no doubt that YOUR EFFORTS helped in this matter....

THANK YOU!!!

[Stoat]

Update ping to post #77 by 4woodenboats :-)

[4woodenboats]

There were hundreds of people involved, like one woman I know who passed out about 1000 fliers, talking to everyone at trailheads who'd listen.

Washington Off Highway Vehicle Association's (WOHVA)John Eaton, CLOUT's Dave Hiatt, NMA'a Tod Pedersen, and other's were all over this, but there was no limit to the gift value a Democrat Useful Idiot like Adam Kline provided.

He lit a fire in some of the most apathetic of a typically apathetic crowd, when we were going nuts trying to get these people off their butts.

It was a helluva fight.

Till next year.