NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION


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Dear MA Motorists,


Now that the end of summer is approaching, it's time for me to fill you in on the latest developments in our Commonwealth of Fee-achusetts.


NEW APPEAL FEES

Most importantly, from now on it will cost $25 to see a magistrate if you decide to fight your ticket, and another $50 if you decide to appeal to a judge. That's right, $75 win or lose. Most people didn't notice that the Governor snuck this into his budget, because deep down, they may feel there is nothing wrong with "bad people" (i.e., speeders) helping out a little with the Commonwealth's budget.

The problem is that the way the system was originally designed, the percentage of "bad people" should be about 15% or less. So why, at any given time, do you see a majority of people speeding? And why is it an exception to find a person who has never ever been ticketed in his or her life?

Most bureaucrats - who don't ticket each other thanks to professional courtesy - will be quick to point out that the problem is our hurried lifestyles. All we have to do is slow down. It's about as easy as telling us everyone has to lose 25 pounds.

Why is it so hard to slow down to the speed limit or lower? Because most speed limits are consistently underposted - and in the case of roads under the Department of Conservation and Recreation's jurisdiction - quite intentionally.

Speed limits are maddeningly unreasonable, unpredictable, and irrational, making most of us into "bad people." Traffic laws are presumably about safety; after all, that's why we end up paying more for our insurance premium if convicted.

Because ticketing has become so profitable, these new fees, at one point or another, will be affecting not just "bad people," but probably all of us. The court system was set up to allow people to seek justice when accused of violating a law. That is what's wrong with charging us a fee to allow us to defend ourselves: it is a misuse of the system.

Please let your state legislators know you oppose such abuses, and that the Governor's amendments to Section 3 of Chapter 90c of the Massachusetts General Laws must be removed immediately.

While you're at it, you may as well let them know you oppose having the Registry keep a history of all of your tickets, even when the outcome of the hearing turned out to be favorable to the motorist.

Most people are not "bad." But misusing the system to help balance the budget IS.


IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS?

Well, the number of people wearing seat belts in Massachusetts rose from 67% in 2008 to 74% this year, according to a survey funded by the State Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Please allow me to remind you that the debate over seat belts is not whether or not seat belts save lives. The debate is about whether the excuse the police use now to stop any car at any time to question the driver ("It appeared your taillight was out") will be replaced by the far more subjective, "It appeared the occupant was not buckled in properly."

Highway safety officials reported a decline in traffic fatality rates. The number of deaths nationally per 100 million vehicle miles traveled fell to 1.27 in 2008, the lowest on record, from 1.36 the previous year. "Specialists have attributed the declines to the economic recession, record-high use of seat belts, and fewer people driving," said the official government report. In other words, these "experts" found out that for every mile traveled, there were less people who died, because . . . well, because there were fewer drivers.


IS THAT GOOD NEWS TOO?

The wasteful Turnpike Authority may soon be abolished. Its former board member, Christy Mihos, is running for governor. There is a pending lawsuit, on behalf of turnpike toll-payers, that charges the state with diverting toll revenue towards the Big Dig debt, effectively charging MA taxpayers twice.

Speaking of tolls and diverting funds: portions of the Governor's new gas taxes will go toward subsidizing mass transit and biking trails, and will not be sufficient to prevent the Pike from raising its tunnel tolls.


IT TOOK US EXACTLY TWO WEEKS TO FORGET ABOUT RE-LICENSING THE ELDERLY...

Recently, my mother-in-law moved to an assisted living facility. One of the features of the facility is that residents, who otherwise need assistance with every aspect of their daily living, can get reserved parking for their automobiles.


BUS STOP FEES

And speaking of fees, a new law raises tickets to $100 for parking at bus stops. Under the previous policy, each city set its own fine; Boston's was $55.


So there you have it, some good news and some bad news. After passing the useless, and largely unenforceable, "move-over law," legislators will now be equally busy drafting a new useless and largely unenforceable anti texting-and-driving law - as if we already didn't have enough distracted driving laws on the books. Till then, stay cool and stay involved! Thank you.

Ivan
MA State Chapter Coordinator


8/09

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