We received the following request from the staff of Representative Joe Markosek, chairman of the House Transportation Committee.  He is asking for our assistance in calling for a non concurrence vote on House Bill 67.  Please read the information below carefully and then craft a short note asking all legislators to support a non concurrence vote on House Bill 67. 
If any of you are still confused as to what to do after reading this, then do nothing.  The point is this is why we spend the time and money each year to hold a Leadership and Legislative Seminar in January so that you can be trained to take action when it is necessary and have the proper knowledge of what these terms such as "non concurrence" means. 
Thanks for responding to the Representatives request. 

Charles Umbenhauer

Here is what was sent to us:
Today, the House Rules Committee will take a procedural step bringing us one step closer to Conference Committee. Chairman Eachus make a motion that House Bill 67 be reported from Committee as committed with the recommendation that the House non-concur in the Senate amendments.
Over the next few days, we would ask you to contact the Members of the House to request that they cast their vote for non-concurrence on House Bill 67.
Specifically, we ask for non-concurrence as we intend to enact stronger, comprehensive legislation that includes:
·         Increased driver training hours;
·         Clear and concise passenger restrictions;
·         Comprehensive distracted driving provisions; and
·         Primary enforcement powers to our state and local police so they can stop an accident before it happens, rather than simply citing a driver after another driving violation or accident has already occurred.
The message is simple: We cannot afford inaction. The front page article in the Sunday Tribune Review was titled “3 teens killed, 1 hurt in Salem Township Crash” http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_687822.html.  Police are still investigating, only the driver was wearing a seatbelt.
For your information, contact information for Members is attached. Additionally, please see below for email addresses that can be copied and pasted into an email. Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at (717)783-1012.
Thank you for your support and advocacy,
Anne
To send an email to all members, copy and paste the following into the “to” line of your email:

From Charles Umbenhauer:

Most of you will not be affected in any way from some recent new restrictions that will be placed on the motorcycle licenses of riders who test on a three-wheeled motorcycle.  The restriction will indicate that they are not permitted to ride a two-wheeled motorcycle. 

I have attached a letter from Kurt Myers, the Deputy Secretary Safety Administration which details the new rules. 

Also by going to the website below you will find the most recent PennDOT Frequently Asked Questions regarding motorcycles, motor driven cycles and mopeds. 
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-mcmp.pdf

This week will be a busy one for ABATE at the capitol.  Tomorrow I believe that Representative Joe Markosek is planning on moving our two bills that have been tabled in the House for the past several months.  In addition, the House Transportation Committee will meet on Monday and consider HB 2442, a bill that changes the definition of a motorcycle and allows for conversion kits. 

The House Bill dealing with distracted driving is on the Senate calendar for tomorrow and may or may not move. 

Motorist who painted nails while driving convicted in death of motorcyclist.
Driver faces up to five years in prison.

            A verdict has been handed down in the case of a woman who was painting her fingernails while driving, resulting in the death of motorcyclist Anita Zaffke.
Despite her lawyer’s efforts to persuade the jury that her actions were no worse than talking on a cell phone while driving, the jury decided otherwise and found Lora Hunt, 49, guilty of felony reckless homicide.  She faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced in June.
Zaffke, 56, was killed when Hunt, who police said admitted she was painting her fingernails at the time of the crash, smashed into the back of Zaffke’s motorcyclist a stoplight in Lake Zurich, III., about 40 miles north of Chicago last year.
Greg Zaffke II of Wauconda, III., the victim’s son, told WGN News: “ There are no winners today.  Two families will forever carry the hurt and anguish caused by one person’s reckless actions.”
After the fatal crash, Zaffke began painting his fingernails black as a reminder to anyone he meets of his mother’s death.  He formed the Black Nail Brigade Foundation Against Distracted Driving (www.BlackNailBrigade.org) to publicize the dangers of distracted driving, and to boost awareness to share the road with motorcycles.
Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations says: “This episode puts into stark relief the tragedy that can result from distracted driving, and we hope that the continued efforts of Greg Zaffke and the AMA will help prevent further tragedies.”