Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman Melanie Stokes is reminding drivers to be more aware as the weather improves.

“As the weather gets warmer, more motorcycle riders are hitting the roads in Virginia,” she said. “Motorists need to share the road with motorcycle riders, while motorcyclists are reminded to follow the rules of the road and to wear helmets and other protective gear that will increase their visibility.”

That’s especially true because motorcycles are often in a car’s blind spot.

There were 79 motorcycle riders killed on Virginia’s roadways in 2008, down from 126 the year before.

In the five years up to 2007, the number of motorcycle deaths in Virginia soared.

After learning of our efforts to meet with them, RNC Chairman Mike Duncan asked their Director of Government Affairs, Will Kinzel, to arrange a meeting with us. The MRF readily accepted Mr. Kinzel’s offer to meet on August 11, 2008 at their headquarters in Washington DC.

Representing the MRF was Jeff Hennie; Vice President of Government Relations, Dave Dwyer; Sustaining State Motorcyclists Rights Organization Representative, Tiffany Latimer; Washington Office Manager/Communications Assistant and Michael Kerr; Vice President of the MRF.

The meeting was candid and direct with the MRF citing by name, the appointees and their actions that we had grievances with. Our concerns were attentively listened to, but the comment was made that little could be done in regard to appointees of the current administration.  At that point it was agreed that our discussion would focus on the future rather than the past. The exact number of days until the November election was mentioned. Suggestions were made as to how the MRF could leverage our political activism in regard to influencing future presidential appointees.

The MRF inquired as to what the Republican Party’s position is on Federalism and the 10th amendment to the constitution. It was answered in a straightforward manner. We were told that the Republican Party remains committed to smaller government and to delegating as much government as possible to the states and local units.

The RNC expressed an interest in the MRF and the motorcyclist rights movement. They had questions of their own. One was whether any of us were in Sturgis when Senator McCain gave his speech. Others were more political in nature.

The meeting ended on a cordial note with the MRF representatives and Mr. Kinzel having their picture taken together in a reception area of their headquarters.

After the meeting with the RNC, the MRF representatives walked to the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). We have made repeated attempts to contact them requesting a meeting. To date, we have not received a reply. So we decided to personally deliver our candidate survey and ask to speak with someone (anyone would do) from the DNC. We were told by a security guard that no one was available, but we could leave our material for them.

We will be shifting gears – so to speak – in regard to making contact with the Democratic Party and their presidential candidate. After the convention we will begin to work on getting a meeting with the campaign staff of Senator Obama at his election headquarters in Chicago. We are anxious to meet with them.

The MRF believes August 11, 2008 to be an historic day in the history of the motorcyclists’ rights movement. From our rather humble beginnings we have risen to where the leadership of the national political parties is taking us seriously and is willing to work with us on our issues.

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php
or call 1-202-546-0983

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Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF’s Young Activist Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.

Sign up today for the MRF’s new roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members.

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

Sgt. Michelle Cotten, a State Police spokeswoman, identified the victim as Dustin Joe Barrack, 22, of the 300 block of Yorktown Road.

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