evanmac-@aol.com
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I dropped a line to the sponsor of this bill, as everyone else should also.
I am worried, however, that this is a veiled attempt to curtail bicycle use.
Not a veiled attempt to us, of course, who see through it. But I am also
worried that if we are to write to any of our legislators who do not support
cycling, they will only use our arguments against us. I sent a letter to the
"honorable" Mr Zauner as a citizen, not identifying myself as a cyclist. I
argued against the bill on its bureaucratic nonsense, and the fact that it
would force the state to work overtime on something that is really not that
important, especially given the current state of funding. A bill that charged
registration fees higher than cars would certainly never pass, on equity
issues alone. And even if it did, that same basis should shoot it down in
court. $10 to register a $40 Kmart bike every two years, but only $20 for a
$40,000 car? I don't think so. Now, I would actually support the bill, if and
only if registration fees for cars were raised to a commensurate level that
would support roads, police, fire, paramedics, the courts, POLLUTION, etc.
I have included the note I wrote to Mr Zauner below. Please consider my
argument WHEN you write to him, or your local representative. I'll get off my
soapbox now, even though I think (hope) I am just preaching to the choir
anyway.
Have a nice day.
Evan
-----------------
Mr Zauner:
Please drop this proposed bill. In an era of already deteriorating state
funding, this bill would be a nightmare to implement, and an even worse
nightmare to enforce. Who would be responsible, DMV? Would bicyclists have to
go through inspections of their vehicles? Would the owner of a $40 Kmart
bicycle be forced to register it for $10? What about when it sells? would the
new owner have to register it right away? What about bikes that are stolen or
otherwise taken out of service? Who is going to track all this information?
Will parents have to register a new bike every time they buy one for their
children? At what point will children be forced to register bicycles on their
own? How will the state verify that owners of bicycles brought in from other
states are theirs and not stolen? If a bicycle is stolen from another state
where there is no record, will it become the legitimate property of the
"owner" in Oregon?
For anyone who complains about the ridiculous level of bureaucracy in
government, this bill would double it. Please do not pursue it any further,
our government has much more important things to worry about.
Evan MacKenzie
Portland
"We fear the cold and the things we do not understand. But most of all we
fear the doings of the heedless ones among ourselves."
......AN INUIT SHAMAN, quoted by an early Arctic explorer (As published in
William H. Calvin's, "The River that Flows Uphill", 1986)
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">I dropped a line to the sponsor of this bill, as everyone else should also. <BR>
I am worried, however, that this is a veiled attempt to curtail bicycle use. Not a veiled attempt to us, of course, who see through it. But I am also worried that if we are to write to any of our legislators who do not support cycling, they will only use our arguments against us. I sent a letter to the "honorable" Mr Zauner as a citizen, not identifying myself as a cyclist. I argued against the bill on its bureaucratic nonsense, and the fact that it would force the state to work overtime on something that is really not that important, especially given the current state of funding. A bill that charged registration fees higher than cars would certainly never pass, on equity issues alone. And even if it did, that same basis should shoot it down in court. $10 to register a $40 Kmart bike every two years, but only $20 for a $40,000 car? I don't think so. Now, I would actually support the bill, if and only if registration fees for cars were raised to a commensurate level that would support roads, police, fire, paramedics, the courts, POLLUTION, etc. <BR>
<BR>
I have included the note I wrote to Mr Zauner below. Please consider my argument WHEN you write to him, or your local representative. I'll get off my soapbox now, even though I think (hope) I am just preaching to the choir anyway. <BR>
<BR>
Have a nice day. <BR>
<BR>
Evan<BR>
<BR>
-----------------<BR>
<BR>
Mr Zauner:<BR>
<BR>
Please drop this proposed bill. In an era of already deteriorating state funding, this bill would be a nightmare to implement, and an even worse nightmare to enforce. Who would be responsible, DMV? Would bicyclists have to go through inspections of their vehicles? Would the owner of a $40 Kmart bicycle be forced to register it for $10? What about when it sells? would the new owner have to register it right away? What about bikes that are stolen or otherwise taken out of service? Who is going to track all this information? Will parents have to register a new bike every time they buy one for their children? At what point will children be forced to register bicycles on their own? How will the state verify that owners of bicycles brought in from other states are theirs and not stolen? If a bicycle is stolen from another state where there is no record, will it become the legitimate property of the "owner" in Oregon? <BR>
<BR>
For anyone who complains about the ridiculous level of bureaucracy in government, this bill would double it. Please do not pursue it any further, our government has much more important things to worry about.<BR>
<BR>
Evan MacKenzie<BR>
Portland<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
"We fear the cold and the things we do not understand. But most of all we fear the doings of the heedless ones among ourselves."<BR>
......AN INUIT SHAMAN, quoted by an early Arctic explorer (As published in William H. Calvin's, "The River that Flows Uphill", 1986)<BR>
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