Our Mission
 Motorist Bill Of Rights
 Meet The Staff
 Privacy Policy

Our Mission

The National Motorists Association (NMA) was founded in 1982 to represent and protect the interests of North American motorists. We began by combating the 55-mph National Maximum Speed Limit and we continue to support efforts to retain motorists' freedoms and rights. We work for more reasonable speed limits and fight for better driver training, fair enforcement practices and important privacy protections. The NMA believes in freedom and responsibility to make choices, not in "one size fits all" legislation, ticket cameras, unfair driving taxes, revenue-motivated traffic courts and speed traps. The NMA supports traffic laws based on sound engineering principles and public consensus - not political agendas.

The NMA is a grassroots organization supported by membership dues and donations contributed by people just like you. We are motorists joining together to protect our common interests. Beyond influencing national policy, the NMA supports change from the ground up by providing resources to help individuals challenge unjust laws and tickets.

If you share our vision for preserving automotive freedoms then please consider helping the NMA by joining our organization - and learn how the NMA can help you with our many member benefits.

Motorist Bill Of Rights

1. The right to traffic regulation based on sound engineering principles and public consensus.
2. Clear guarantees that revenue collected from highway users for highway purposes be used for such purposes, and that all streets, roads, and highways be properly maintained, signed and regulated in a manner that expedites travel.
3. Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and the guarantee that all traffic stops will be based on probable cause.
4. The right to choose the type of vehicle and related equipment that best meets an individual's needs and preferences.
5. Protection from discourteous and reckless drivers including those who deliberately impede traffic, who threaten other motorists with their actions, or who are impaired or incompetent.
6. Freedom from unreasonable surcharges, fees, taxes, and fines.
7. Complete access to all public streets, roads, and highways, free of arbitrary restrictions, exorbitant fees, or governmental attempts to dictate personal travel choices.
8. Freedom from driver license suspensions or revocations for non-driving violations or matters of personal conduct.
9. Protection from arbitrary and exploitative insurance industry practices.
10. The right to a fair and impartial trial for traffic offenses, including a trial by jury if requested by the defendant.

Meet The Staff

James J. Baxter—President
Bonnie Sesolak—Development Director
Aaron Quinn—Marketing & Web Coordinator
Kelly Acker—Membership Services Manager
Nancy Mills—Office Manager

James J. Baxter—President
I would like to claim to be the valedictorian of my high school class, that I attended Harvard for my undergraduate studies and did my graduate work at Oxford. That would be slight fabrication. Somewhat closer to the truth would be my D-plus high school average where I specialized in wood shop. Because Harvard doesn't offer "woodshop" I opted to attend Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan where the main claim to fame is that it has snowed in every month of the year.

After two years in Michigan, I transferred to University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point where I graduated with majors in Conservation and Political Science. I passed on attending Oxford and went to work for the US Department of Interior as a Watershed Planner.

For the next nine years, I worked in federal and state natural resource agencies, as a planner. In 1974, I left my job with the Wisconsin DNR and struck off to make my fortune as a consulting planner. By the late 1970s I had shifted into state level lobbying and trade association management. My clients were primarily small businesses with transportation-related products. The first and longest enduring being the state motorcycle dealers association. This was a natural fit as I had been and remain an avid fan of "motor bikes."

My position with NMA is more than just a job. I have a long-standing appreciation for vehicles of all kinds and the opportunities that they afford us. The freedom to travel is one of the most undervalued and under-appreciated of all our rights. Almost everyone takes this freedom for granted. They shouldn't. The world is full of social engineers, elitists, and tyrants that are highly agitated by the proposition that ordinary people should be able to travel when and where they please, without asking anyone's permission. Then there are the plain run-of-the-mill government officials who believe the definition of "motorist" is "one who is taxed."

Someone once asked my wife "why does Jim have five canoes hanging in the garage?" She responded, "he sold one." The same could be said about my eclectic collection of motorbikes, all having one thing in common, they are old. I had an undistinguished dirt bike racing career where I competed in every kind of event from enduros to ice racing. It also brought me many great and lasting friendships. Speaking of "old," I still have the 1931 Plymouth Business Coupe I drove in high school. It was 30 years old then! My "good" bicycle is a 1974 Schwinn Paramount and I still have the "woodies" on which I skied my first "Birkie." You just don't get rid of these tried and true friends!

In addition to my riding of two wheelers and paddling canoes I hunt in the fall and cross-country ski in the winter. And, I build things, the last major project being a log cabin near my rural home in Wisconsin. In that cabin is a plaque that stands as a monument to prudence, as professed by Mark Twain. I think it holds great wisdom for those who don't expect to live forever. It says "I smoke in moderation, just one cigar at a time." And so it should be with having fun; driving cars, or riding motorcycles---just enjoy them, one at a time.

I hope you'll join the NMA and help me prove, that together, we can accomplish great things that benefit great numbers of people.

Bonnie Sesolak—Development Director
My background is in marketing and design with an emphasis in technical writing. I am very excited to be involved with an organization that truly cares about making a difference. Living in a country where we spend huge amounts of time in our cars it stands to reason that this has created a source for some hot issues. I come from a family with a history in law enforcement therefore I have had more than my share of exposure to the “hot” issues. And as you know, agreeing or disagreeing, the family platform is not the best place for discussion of such issues; this has made for many interesting holidays!

I live in Waunakee with my family which includes two sons. I enjoy the very short commute to the office, which allows for the additional 2 days I spend in my car dropping off, picking up, and running errands. In my very limited spare time I love to cook, shop, and collect antiques. I am a self described internet and history junkie.

I believe there is a myriad of information that as consumers and drivers they don’t want us to know. That’s where the NMA comes in, I am happy to be distributing the information that people need to be well-educated motorists. You won’t always change everyone’s mind but if you get them thinking, you’re half way there.

Aaron Quinn—Marketing & Web Coordinator
I was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I grew up in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. And I went to college in Madison, Wisconsin. I've been all over the state. Well, I guess it depends on if you consider living in three cities to be "all over the state". Even if you don't, you should, if only to protect my feelings. I'm pretty sensitive about it.

Just kidding. Kidding is a hobby of mine. In addition to directing communications for the NMA, I'm also a standup comedian. You have to have a sense of humor to deal with some of the traffic laws on the books these days in the USA.

When I'm not doing comedy, I like to watch sports. Particularly football and more particularly the Green Bay Packers. Unlike the Packers, the NMA doesn't have to worry about being penalized for having too many men on the field. In fact, we can always use new members, so I hope you'll join us and help score a touchdown for fair traffic regulations. Much like the touchdown I think I just scored for lame sports analogies. My apologies...

Kelly Acker—Membership Services Manager
I joined the NMA staff in January 1999. My primary role with the NMA is to maintain our Membership Database and oversee the fulfillment of all membership services. I enjoy the variety of tasks I handle to keep the NMA Office running smoothly.

During my High School years I tried out several jobs to find out what I wanted to do after High School. My Horticulture teacher suggested I try working in a greenhouse and that led to my employment at The Bruce Company. I enjoyed working with the plants, but I wasn't very good at remembering which plants did good in direct sun-light and which ones didn't.

It was while working at a trucking company that I decided I liked office work. Typing, filing, answering the phones, balancing the accounts; and the general variety of tasks appeals to me. It's a great feeling to take apart a jammed printer, then put it back together and have it actually work!

What I believe to be my greatest accomplishments are, are not always of great interest to others. I haven't found the cure for Cancer, I haven't walked on the moon; heck, I've never even been to the East Coast!

What I do have is a wonderful husband of 6 years, 2 beautiful children (a 4-year old daughter and a 1-year old son), and a lovely house in the country. The only thing that could make me happier is if we won the Lottery. We'd of course give big donations to the NMA and NMA Foundation to "keep fighting the good fight."


Nancy Mills—Office Manager
"Office Manager" is a real catch-all that includes everything from filing and bookkeeping to selling advertising and processing payments for the Traffic Justice Program. I also edit most of the written materials that are produced in our office and help with the design and layout of brochures and other materials intended to promote the NMA.

I grew up on a farm near Endeavor, Wisconsin, the middle child of seven spanning 25 years. The "farm" was never a great success and my father always had outside work as a machinist or carpenter. My mother had a teaching degree, but was usually too swamped with child rearing to actually teach in a formal school setting. My mother was also a talented musician, which may have set me on my lifelong love of music.

Speaking of "loves" there are flower gardening, quilting, a fine son, three granddaughters, three long deceased dogs, and an unquenchable thirst for travel. I love to just "go." I'm also developing a serious passion for a Mini Cooper convertible, blue if possible.

I've had a front row seat, over the past two decades, to the NMA's struggles, successes and failures. The people who work here DO care about driving, individual rights and personal freedoms, as do the members who support the National Motorists Association. I hope you will see the value of what we do and become one of us.

Privacy Policy

The NMA will not release, distribute, or disclose any information that you have given us. This includes but is not limited to your name, street address, email address, telephone number, membership status, and purchasing history. This policy has been in effect since our founding in 1982. We respect your privacy and appreciate the trust your support represents.