Massachusetts Motorcycle Fund is Raided yet again

[karen]

Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
Massachusetts Motorcycle Fund is Raided yet again

Wednesday, November 11, 2009


(Salem, MA) The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) is disappointed to see the Motorcycle Safety Fund (Budget Detail 8400-0016) once again raided of funds destined for Public Safety. Though the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) reported 182,215 registered motorcycles in September 2009, this safety fund, already underfunded by 48%, has just seen an additional $12,157 dollars removed from it. (source: Budget Detail 8400-0016-Motorcycle Safety Program: http://www.mass.gov/bb/gaa/fy2010/app_10/act_10/ha84000016.htm)

The MMA notes that while this motorcycle safety fund has seen $186,629 (52%) of money already collected from motorcyclists in 2009 diverted elsewhere, the RMV’s own Wages & Salaries have risen 20% over the last 2 years while the RMV’s Employee Benefits saw a 13% increase for the same period. (source: RMV Budget Summary, Historical Spending Categories: http://www.mass.gov/bb/gaa/fy2010/app_10/dpt_10/hormv.htm)

MMA’s Legislative Director Rick Gleason commented, “Once again, the motorcyclists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts see their Motorcycle Safety Fund decimated.” Noting that the current administration has now taken 52% of the funds destined for motorcycle safety & awareness programs, Gleason explains, “This is not tax-payer money readily available for the taking: instead, this self-funded account is paid into solely by motorcycle riders in Massachusetts, yet the current administration once again victimizes motorcycle riders by appropriating 52% of the money collected.”

According to current M.G.L. Chapter 90, Section 34, Paragraph (i), “$2.00 from every annual motorcycle registration fee collected from the motorcyclist by the Registry of Motor Vehicles” are supposed to be used “solely for the purpose of promoting and advancing motorcycle safety” & awareness. This fund was created specifically by earmarking money from every Annual Motorcycle Registration and should not be reduced or eliminated!

The chart below shows the actual funds collected from Massachusetts motorcycle riders versus the amount of money annually credited to the Safety Fund. Please note that EVERY YEAR except for 2003, this Safety Fund was underfunded by an average of 30.2% with 2009 already showing a whopping 52% deficit:

[NOTE: go to link to view chart]

The MMA has filed legislation this session that includes S.1934 (Danny’s Bill) and S.1894 (Ryan’s Bill). Danny’s Bill (named after Danny Wood from Saugus, MA) and Ryan’s Bill (named after Ryan Orcutt from Brockton, MA) both rely on the Motorcycle Safety Fund as the key component to increase motorcycle safety initiatives.

Danny’s Bill (S.1934) seeks to increase the annual motorcycle registration fee from $2.00 to $5.00 and have these funds held into a more accountable fund. Ryan’s Bill (S.1894) seeks to require the junior motorcycle operator (16-18 year olds) successfully complete formal motorcycle rider training and includes a component whereby the safety fund reimburses the junior rider a portion of the training fees. Both bills already have broad public and legislative support and are currently sitting with the Joint Committee on Transportation where they have been since Public Hearings on October 6th, 2009.

MMA Chairman Dave Condon emphasizes, “The MMA is very concerned that the collected funds be used for their intended purpose. This change from $2 to $5 also requires that the funds be deposited into a Registry retained revenue account solely for the purpose of promoting and advancing motorcycle safety.” Condon further states, “No other group of motorists in this state takes safety as seriously as motorcyclists, as evidenced by their willingness to pay into their own safety fund.”

With annual motorcycle registrations up for renewal in another month or so, Massachusetts motorcyclists will once again be forced to pay into a safety fund that seems to be more of a bail-out fund for other interests.

The MMA has contacted the Governor’s Office to express its concern and has formally requested a meeting to discuss the "missing safety funds." Gleason adds, “The Motorcyclists of Massachusetts are the sole contributors to this Safety Fund: no other Taxpayer from the Commonwealth contributes in any way. To reduce these Public Safety Funds may reduce the number of available Motorcycle Safety Classes contributing to increased motorcycle fatalities over time. This is not something the MMA wishes to see.”

For additional information, please contact LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org or Chairman@MassMotorcycle.org or by writing MMA, PO Box 378, Brimfield, MA 01010.

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K

[karen]

Massachusetts Motorcycle Association

MMA Call to Action-Motorcycle Safety Fund
Wednesday, November 25, 2009

OK Folks, the time to get OUTRAGED is NOW!

The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) has already reported the fact that YOUR Motorcycle Safety Fund, initially underfunded by $174,472 was recently raided of an additional $12,157.

The MMA has now learned that another $50,000 has just been stolen from your safety fund. This puts the fund at an approximate 60% reduction, this fiscal year alone. We don't believe any other line item in the budget has received as big a cut: especially for a fund that costs the taxpayers nothing.

Of an estimated 6.5 Million people (source: 2008 Census Bureau) in Massachusetts, there are only 182,215 in the state who paid into this fund: you, me, and your riding buddies. That’s it! Yet the current administration has seen fit to take our money and give it to the “General Fund” for who knows what purposes!

The MMA has been told that this latest cut originated at the newly formed MASSDOT, whose Secretary of Transportation is Jeffrey Mullan. Will you join us and voice your complaint to Mr. Mullan, Governor Deval Patrick, RMV Registrar Rachael Kaprielian, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo?

Together, we believe our collective voices would be a force to be reckoned with. Be respectful in your communications but, above all, be heard:

Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3170
Boston, MA 02116
617-973-7000
Attn: Secretary of Transportation Mullan

Massachusetts State House
Office of the Governor
Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
Attn: Governor Patrick

Massachusetts State House
Room 330
Boston, MA 02133
Attn: Senate President Murray

Massachusetts State House
Room 356
Boston, MA 02133
Attn: House Speaker DeLeo

Registry of Motor Vehicles
General Mail
Box 55889
Boston, MA 02205-5889
Attn: Registrar Kaprielian

SAMPLE TEXT:
The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) has previously contacted you with detailed information outlining how the Motorcycle Safety Fund once again raided of funds destined for Public Safety. I’m writing to share my own disappointment on this matter.

Though the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) reported 182,215 registered motorcycles in September 2009, the Motorcycle Safety Fund, which is supposed to receive $2 from every registration, already underfunded by 48%, has just seen an additional $12,157 dollars removed from it. Since 1987, this fund has been underfunded by an average of 30.2% with 2009 already showing a whopping 52% deficit!

When the Motorcycle Safety Fund was first created by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1987, it was intended to be used specifically for Safety and Education Programs for Motorcycles. The Motorcyclists of Massachusetts are the sole contributors to this Safety Fund: no other Taxpayer from the Commonwealth contributes in any way.

As a Motorcyclist who contributes to this fund, as a Taxpayer, and as a constituent, I am horrified that these funds are permitted to be raided in this fashion. I ask that you restore these funds and assure that the Massachusetts General Law is permanently upheld with regard to this matter.

Sincerely,

<signature>
Member, Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
END OF SAMPLE TEXT

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us at: LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org. Please reply back indicating your support and be sure to also let us know if you receive a response.


K

[ironwood]

Don't want anything to do with that money grubbin' state...

[karen]

Massachusetts Motorcycle AssociationMMA Call to Action-Motorcycle Safety Fund Meeting with RMV

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

The MMA is scheduled to meet with Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Registrar Rachael Kaprielian and Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Mullan on Monday, January 11, 2010 to discuss the misappropriated Motorcycle Safety Fund monies.

The RMV reported 182,215 motorcycles registered through September 2009. According to MMA calculations there should have been $364,430 deposited into the Safety Fund Account ($2.00 per registered motorcycle). Since there was only $177,801 initially deposited, $12,157 was removed, AND another $50,000 was also removed for other purposes, the MMA is fighting to get $248,786 added back to this fund and demand we receive a full accounting of the monies already stolen from this fund.

M.G.L. Chapter 90, Section 34 specifically states, "$2 from each motorcycle registration fee shall be paid by the registrar or by the person collecting the registration fee into the General Fund and shall be appropriated solely for the purpose of promoting and advancing motorcycle safety."

To repeat: By Law, $364,430 should have been put into the Motorcycle Safety Fund to be used solely for safety and awareness.

Please send a WRITTEN LETTER to RMV Registrar Kaprielian, MASSDOT Secretary Jeffrey Mullan, and Governor Deval Patrick TODAY expressing your feelings regarding the raiding of YOUR Safety Fund. The addresses are at the end of this message and a sample letter is available on the MMA's Web Site.

For MAXIMUM IMPACT, we need your letters to get there BEFORE our meeting! Please act today!

For further information and details, please check the MMA's Web Site: Massachusetts Motorcycle Association

Registry of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Registrar Kaprielian
General Mail Box #55889
Boston, MA 02205-5889

Massachusetts State House
Office of the Governor
Room 280
Boston, MA 02133

Massachusetts Department of Transportation
ATTN: Jeffrey Mullan
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3170
Boston, MA 02116

For more information, please contact LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org or go to the MMA's Web Site: www.MassMotorcycle.org

[karen]

Massachusetts Motorcycle Association

MMA Files Complaint concerning Motorcycle Safety Fund
Thursday, September 02, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MMA Files Complaint concerning Motorcycle Safety Fund

On Thursday September 2, 2010 the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, specifically Governor Deval Patrick, Secretary of Transportation Jeffery Mullan, and Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachael Kaprelian in regard to the Massachusetts Motorcycle Safety Fund.

The complaint requests that the court order the defendants to conduct an accounting of all monies derived from motorcycle registrations by Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 90 Section 34 for each of the calendar years 2000 through 2010. Additionally, the complaint requests that the court order the defendants to reinstate those monies to the Motorcycle Safety Fund.

"It's a shame it had to come to this,” stated MMA Chairman Dave Condon, "but we were left no choice. Numerous inquiries concerning this issue were made by MMA Board Members to state officials which all fell on deaf ears." Condon continued, "Our number one mission is to protect the motorcyclists of this state; this is their money and we will not back down on this. Now it's up to the courts to decide."

As previously reported, the MMA first became aware of money being removed from our safety fund in January of this year, when Governor Patrick eliminated the line item from the state budget under his Transportation Reform Act and placed the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) under the direction of the Department of Transportation (DOT). On January 6, 2010 the MMA met with officials from the registry of Motor Vehicles to voice our concerns; it was a meeting that produced no concrete results. Since then, the MMA has on numerous occasions requested follow-up meetings with both the Governor's Office and the officials from the Department of Transportation. All requests to date have been ignored.

Recently, through communications received from the RMV, it became quite clear that the situation has gotten much worse and there is a true possibility they are considering very limited to no funding at all for the Motorcycle Safety Fund. For example, the MMA was recently invited to participate with RMV officials in establishing a “realistic budget” for the fund. The MMA Board Members voted unanimously that as far as we were concerned there is a budget already established by state law: the sum of $2.00 dollars per motorcycle registration per year. It was further agreed by the MMA Board that for us to participate in such discussions would be hypocritical and that until this matter is resolved, we would only then be willing to discuss how such money should be spent to benefit the Motorcyclists of Massachusetts.

"This is ridiculous," stated Condon, "there is a state law on the books that defines what is the ‘sole’ purpose that this money is to be used for, and the governor is choosing to ignore that law. How come he can just arbitrarily ignore a law and it's called ‘reform’? If I chose to ignore a law it would be called a ‘crime’ and I would have to pay the state imposed penalties for that!"

The MMA will keep its members and the general riding public updated on this situation as it moves through the courts. For more information please contact chairman@massmotorcycle.org or visit Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.

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