ASSOCIATES AND BRUCE L. SCHEINER HEADLINES 2009-10 CAPE BIKE SEASON
Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers will partner with the City of Cape Coral as primary sponsor of the area's premier calendar of bike events for the upcoming 2009-2010 season.
"The Cape Coral Bike Nights have turned into the area's premier venue for motorcycle enthusiasts in Southwest Florida and we are pleased to be the primary sponsor," said Bruce Scheiner, founder and senior attorney of Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers.
"Fighting for the rights of motorcyclists has been one of our primary goals for 37 years and we look forward to promoting safety and awareness throughout the upcoming season," Mr. Scheiner said.
More than 100,000 bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts visited the 2008-2009 Cape Coral Bike Nights, making it the area's largest event.
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This season's events are scheduled for Saturday Oct. 3rd, Dec. 12th, Feb. 6th, and April 10th.
"Cape Coral is very proud of the bike night events that we put on," said the city's Special Events Coordinator, Todd King, noting the emphasis on keeping the atmosphere family oriented and fun for all ages.
Now in its third season, King said the events draw more than 15,000 people a night and dozens of food, clothing and craft vendors.
"With our partnership with Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Personal Injury Lawyers and the support of Harley Davidson of Fort Myers and our other sponsors we are able to do bigger and better productions and look forward to putting on a great show for our attendees and their families."
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'Stunt Riding' Debate with the State
FLBikers.com
“Stunt Riding” could cost you your motorcycle and the right to ride if a Miami lawmaker has his say this spring.
Florida lawmakers first discussed the bill (HB137) in January but sponsoring Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, has made some changes in an effort to get it passed into law this spring, David Cruz, a member of the representative’s staff, told FlBikers.com.
Initially the proposed law permitted a police officer to seize a motorcyclist’s bike if caught going 30 mph over the speed limit if the officer determined stunt riding was involved. A conviction could have resulted in a 10-year license suspension.
But several lawmakers, including Rep. Gary Auguchon, R-Cape Coral, expressed concern about such penalties for first-time offenders, according to Florida Today.
Lopez-Cantera has amended the bill to require riders be doing more than 50 mph over the limit. The new bill also attempts to define stunt riding by requiring riders to have two legs astride the bike, be facing forward and keep both feet on the ground.
“Someone would have to be doing 120 mph or greater on the turnpike,” said Cruz, noting there is a $1,000 fine for first offense and a $2,500 fine for second offense. He said the possibility of forfeiting your bike and losing your motorcycle endorsement is reserved for a third offense.
“It’s targeting stunt riding on public roads,” said Cruz of the new version.
Motorcycle rights organizations, including the Florida Chapter of American Bikers Aiming Toward Education, have coordinated significant opposition.
They contend, even after revision, the law unfairly targets sport-bike riders, leaves the definition of ‘stunt riding’ to the interpretation of law enforcement officers across the state, and could actually increase the instances of high-speed pursuits.
“We’re not saying there isn’t a problem but this isn’t a problem that is going to go away by taking away someone’s motorcycle,” the group’s president, James “Doc” Reichenbach told Florida Today. “(And that’s) if they catch them. They can’t catch them now.”
Lopez-Cantera acknowledged the difficulty in chasing down a motorcycle going 120 mph or faster. ABATE feels the law could actually prompt bikers to run if they feel they could risk losing their motorcycle and the right to ride for a decade.
Cruz said the representative’s intentions are not to crack down on motorcyclists but to stop people from putting themselves and other motorists in danger by being blatantly foolish on the road.
“It was an example of a couple bad apples were ruining it for everybody,” Cruz said. “So the changes are to target the people he feels were giving a bad name to the motorcycle community as a whole.”
The proposed law will be introduced after the start of session on March 1. It will have 60 days to be passed by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Otherwise it dies without becoming law.
On April 14, 2008, hundreds of concerned motorcycle riders from around the state will meet with their legislators to discuss the issues affecting all Floridians, including HB-137, health care, taxes, insurance availability, the housing market, education, disaster preparedness, employment and the economy according to ABATE.
These face-to-face meetings will let the lawmakers hear from actual riders, who are educated tax payers, home owners, parents, teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, business owners, medical personnel, blue collar workers and professionals from every socioeconomic background, concerned with the continued prosperity of their home state.
Instead of just talking about safety, the Twelfth Annual Motorcycle Ride to the capital by ABATE members will be followed by The Fourth Annual, Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Workshop on April 19th in Deland, Florida.
The Workshop is open to the public, motorcyclists, media, legislators and law enforcement, free of charge.
Additional information on the legislative and safety issues facing Florida’s motorcycle riders can be found on the ABATE of Florida, Inc. web site at www.abateflorida.com. For additional information, to become active in the mission, or to speak with a representative of ABATE call 386-943-9610.
FLBikers take: Whatever you ride, ride safe!!