Motorcycle Operator Safety Training fund in jeopardy!

[THoward]

As motorcyclists there is an important issue happening at the Capitol November 7th and possibly beyond. I don't know how many of you are aware of the Motorcycle Operators Safety Training (MOST) program and how it works. For those of you that don't here's a quick lesson. The program was established in 1990. Motorcyclists worked with the Legislature to impose fees upon our registration and licensing to create a fund to assist with rider training in Colorado. We even went back to the Legislature in 2006 to raise the fees. Each of us pay an additional $4 on our registration every year and when we renew our driver's license we pay an additional $2. These fees are collected and put into the MOST program to offset training costs to CO residents and military. Every training company that works under MOST gets a subsidy per student to reduce the costs of the courses offered. The amount varies from year to year dependent upon how much money is in the fund. There have been some issues with the program. Until recently it was not well managed. ABATE tried to correct some issues Legislatively in 2010. The bill was ultimately defeated by competing training companies and a faction of motorcyclists. It did result in an Audit of the MOST program which was completed last week and heard by the Legislative Audit Committee. There were several recommendations (surprisingly familiar to what ABATE asked for in 2010) that should be implemented in the program. There was also a recommendation to close the program. The Audit Committee voted to draft a bill to close the program. ABATE's members have chosen to fight to preserve the MOST program with the other recommendations implemented and we need your help if you agree with us!! When the Audit Committee meets again November 7th they will vote whether to move the bill forward to shut down MOST or they will kill the bill. We'd like to convince them to kill the bill. There is still a chance that another Legislator will decide to introduce a bill in 2012. We will compose a plan of action if that happens. If you feel this program is valuable to Colorado and want to help us here is what you can do. Contact these Legislators and tell them we want to keep the MOST program.

This is our first group to hit hard and heavy with emails, phone calls...etc. Thank the ones that voted no on the draft legislation...still send them out talking points which I will cut and paste in another post!! ABATE will be visiting them in person in the coming weeks.

Rep. Cindy Acree - 303-866-2944
E-mail: cindy.acree.house@state.co.us

Rep Deb Gardner - 303-866-2780 Thank you for the support
E-mail: deb.gardner.house@state.co.us

Rep Jim Kerr - 303-866-2939
E-mail: james.kerr.house@state.co.us

Rep Joe Miklosi - 303-866-2910
E-mail: joe@joemiklosi.com

Senator Scott Renfroe - 303-866-4451
E-mail: senatorrenfroe@gmail.com

Senator Steve King - 303-866-3077
E-mail: steve.king.senate@state.co.us

Senator Lucia Guzman - 303-866-4862 Thank you for the support
E-mail: lucia.guzman.senate@state.co.us

Senator Lois Tochtrop - 303-866-4863 Thank you for the support (she is a huge friend to motorcyclists)
E-mail: lotochtrop@aol.com

If you have more questions shoot me a pm or call me 303-789-3264. Thanks for your help. REMEMBER this is NOT a government imposed program, motorcyclists of Colorado imposed this program!! It's OUR money not the general taxpayers!!!

[Ninja2]

Terry, thank you so much for all the time you spend on this and for bringing it to our attention. I definintely agree we need to keep MOST.

[PunyJuney]

Rabea, would you be willing to draft a note with Terry that we riders can cut and paste into an email to forward to those that matter? I'm just not articulate enough to be taken seriously

[Ninja2]

It looks like Terry may have already done so in a separate thread: http://cosportbikeclub.org/forums/sh...ad.php?t=42985

Please let me know in case I am missing anything. I'm happy to assist, depending on when this is needed by.

[PunyJuney]

perfect, thanks for the link!

[Ninja2]

Thumbs up to ABATE and Terry!

This is quite time consuming work that requires a lot of patience, and ABATE does a lot of good for the motorcycle community. I really need to get off my behind and sign up as a member. Sorry, Terry... .

[PunyJuney]

I completely agree. Terry is a one person power house that relies on a network of volunteers and donations through tax deductible membership. She has helped many CSC riders and their families with funding for fallen riders. She gives us a 110% any time we ask. Thanks Terry for keeping Abate alive and strong in Colorado!!!

[Clovis]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Terry!

We have quite a few motorcycle riders at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. I'll bring this up at our next weekly meeting.

[THoward]

Thank you for the kudos! I believe in our right to ride, safety, education, and helping out our fellow riders that's why I do what I do. But as June pointed out...I have volunteers that make all of this possible. Without my members ABATE is nothing. If any of you are available on November 7th (not sure of the time yet) I'd love to have you join me at the Capitol. I will post up the time when I know. We can't speak but I think it will help for Legislators to see that we as motorcyclists CARE about our rights and safety and we are watching them. A point to remember, for every 1 of us showing up it represents 200 people in the eyes of politicians.

[Spiderman]

A point to remember, for every 1 of us showing up it represents 200 people in the eyes of politicians.

Wow!

[Ninja2]

Pls keep us posted on the time, Terry. Even though it falls on a Monday, I will try my best to be there. I will also contact some of the Representatives and Senators you mentioned.

[DolphinRider]

Here is a Copy and Paste of a reply We got this morning from Scott::

"Ramon & Nickoline Uribe
*
Thank you for the email.* I agree there should be safety training and safety training will continue.* That is not what is the issue here.* The issue is government taking money from citizens as a fee and giving it to private companies (in the MOST program)*to provide a service (the safety training) that is occurring naturally in the private sector (there are private companies providing safety training at competitive prices).
*
I support eliminating the fees motorcycle owners pay to subsidize certain private businesses.* Look at the bigger picture.
*
There are private companies that provide safety training that the MOST program does without a government subsidy of $70.00 and at the SAME PRICE as the MOST program private companies.* Why do you support the government giving $70 of citizens money to a select few private companies that have competitors that provide the same training for the same price without the government subsidy?* That is not an idea America was founded upon.* This is what is destroying our country.
*
Ending the registration fee will not end the safety training.* Why would a company that provides the training now that does not get the taxpayer subsidy end their program?* They won't.* Ending the program will not increase costs for safety training.* There are companies providing training today at costs less that MOST providers without the subsidy.
*
There will be no loss of Federal Funds.* That is a lie that the department told the Audit Committee as an excuse to keep the program.* There will be no loss of Federal Funds.* There are other programs that do qualify for*Federal Matching dollars.
*
The Auditor stated*in their report, "No clear evidence exists to show that the MOST program subsidy is needed to keep motorcycle safety training affordable in Colorado."* They also found that, "The MOST program does not necessarily lower the cost of training for all students."
*
The Report of the Colorado State Auditor recommended the MOST program be discontinued. The Department of Transportation reported that they do not consider the MOST program to be effective.*
*
I support motorcycle safety training and ending the MOST program.
*
Scott"

[Ninja2]

I'd be interested in Terry's response. I guess my question would be - if it is all private, the business needs to remain profitable with a Return On Investment. If less and less folks are taking less and less private MSF classes, and there are no subsidies, it is just a matter of time till a private company will discontinue offering that course, leaving us and new motorcyclists with less options to learn how to ride. Ultimately, more fatalities.

[UglyDogRacing]

What he isn't telling you is that the private companies that are not subsidized by MOST are the Harley Davidson dealerships that put on their own MSF Rider Courses and our subsidized by Harley Davidson. Outside of them, you'll find that just about all the other motorcycle training companies in Colorado are under MOST.
You can find the motorcycle training companies under MOST here - http://www.coloradodot.info/programs...-trainers.html It does list the prices and you will see that they all fall around $200 for the BRC. Ask him for a list of non-MOST motorcycle training companies and what they charge for the BRC and BRC2.

[dirkterrell]

The Auditor stated*in their report, "No clear evidence exists to show that the MOST program subsidy is needed to keep motorcycle safety training affordable in Colorado."* They also found that, "The MOST program does not necessarily lower the cost of training for all students."
*
The Report of the Colorado State Auditor recommended the MOST program be discontinued. The Department of Transportation reported that they do not consider the MOST program to be effective.*

Where can we find these reports?

[THoward]

Wow...do we have our work cut out for us. He really doesn't understand. There are NO private companies outside the MOST program providing training except Harley's Riders Edge. Their classes start at $300 bucks. Some MOST companies charge less than others because they don't have to pay rent for the training location and are owner operated. The government only imposed these fees after we as motorcyclists asked for them. The ones that charge less are still getting the subsidy. So if they lose the subsidy they will have to increase their prices or go out of business because the overhead is too high. No ending the program will not eliminate motorcycle training, it will however, increase the costs, it will end any safety campaigns we have because there is no money, and it will eliminate training in outlying areas of the state. This is fact because we are the only company that has mobile training units that go to Summit County, Ft Morgan, La Junta, Penrose, etc. We lose money on these classes. While we are a non profit it costs much more than the price we charge to go to these areas. Federal funds WILL be lost. Here is a link to the criteria for Federal funds for motorcycle safety:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/whatsup/T...c_2010_MC.html

He's right, MOST doesn't discount the cost for ALL students because there are companies under the MOST program that do NOT pass the subsidy on to the student. They carpet their offices, tint the windows on class rooms, pay for stuff that should be the cost of doing business.
Sorry for the rant....but he has no clue. Is ABATE doing this to stay in business, absolutely not. With or without the program we will still be in business, but some of the smaller companies will not be able to operate. So less training will be available in Colorado.

Thank you Ramon for conatcting Senator Renfroe and posting the results.

[THoward]

Where can we find these reports?

Here's the link to the audit report:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/OSA/coaud...ept%202011.pdf


Jim, he isn't telling the whole story because he doesn't know it!! The Harley Rider's Edge only offers the BRC....no other classes. Thanks for posting the MOST link.

After reading the Audit report you will see there are several issue within the MOST program. ABATE is and has been totally aware of the problems and have tried to fix them in 2010 with SB-40 (http://www.abateofcolo.org/index.php...d=86&Itemid=84) Also in the report it shows other companies getting reimbursemnts for mobile expenses. ABATE is the only company besides Iron Buffalo that provides mobile training. I will tell you there are some crooked companies out there that have found loopholes in the Rules and Regulations and have used them to their benefit. Please don't take that comment that all of them are bad...they aren't, but there are some I'd love to see go out of business. However, that is my personal opinion. Another point, the MOST program has NEVER been audited since it's inception. Give them a chance to fix it for crying out loud. Fix the loopholes so ALL the companies have to fly straight and narrow.

[dirkterrell]

Here's the link to the audit report:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/OSA/coauditor1.nsf/All/A1449369AAF521958725791400588F96/$FILE/2142%20Final%20MOST%20Sept%202011.pdf

Thanks Terry. I'll read through it this evening or tomorrow.

[Spiderman]

... the MOST program has NEVER been audited since it's inception. Give them a chance to fix it for crying out loud. Fix the loopholes so ALL the companies have to fly straight and narrow.

[THoward]

Here's a new link for the Federal funding criteria regarding motorcycle safety. The other one didn't work.


http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/whatsup/T...c_2010_MC.html

[R1-Laubinero]

hmm--i just started teaching here too!--but this is no better or worse than whats going on in arkansas-- itd be nice if the state just built a few training facilities and hired the coaches...

[Ninja2]

Just a quick note to let you know that I sent messages out on Sunday, and have not heard back at all. After reading Senator Renfroe's reply to DolphinRider, I decided on a slightly different approach and added some questions, to get some of the arguments from both sides on MOST. No response yet. Maybe I am expecting too much?!

I did read through some of the study and it looks like all this was the result of a federally imposed study that determined that the MOST program has some weaknesses and that it would cost more to implement additional oversight. As of today, the MOST program's cost is higher than the revenue. I think the important difference is that motorcycle riders ONLY would pay for this, not the general public. At least that is how it's been done. The ultimate question is whether WE as motorcyclists are willing to continue to pay and are willing to pay a bit more for MOST to continue to exist. And you have my vote.

What still isn't clear to me, though, is what happens without MOST. I understand the cost of motorcycle training will most likely increase. My assumption still is there will be no training (only what is left at the DMV to get the license) or the training will be reduced in time and scope to fit the smaller budget. I would really like to understand this part better.

As to the state hiring and building, I'd like to see a cost analysis.

[THoward]

Ninja2 I have just spent the last 20 minutes responding to your post only to lose internet connection and my whole response!!! If you would PM me, I'll send you my phone number and I can explain it to you.

Thanks!!

[THoward]

Update.....
I met with 6 of the other training companies last night. They want to save the MOST program. So we are drafting a letter from the contractors to indicate a unified support. They had some other ideas that we are working on. I have contacted all the tv stations along the Front Range hoping one of them may think this story is of interest. I did a prerecorded radio interview with Wild Ride Radio in Greeley to be aired Saturday at 1 PM. As a result of last night's meeting here are the next steps I have taken:
I spoke to Jerry Abboud with the Powersports Dealers Assoc., they are on board with us to preserve MOST. I made a phone call to my connection at AMA and discussed the situation with him. Our former Senator Wayne Allard is VP of Government Relations.... AMA will write a letter in support of saving the MOST program. Allard has also offered to contact his connections at the Capitol and try to muster some more support for us. Quick note...Jerry helped Senator Lois write the legislation for the MOST program back in 1990, so he is very familiar with it.
Spoke to Motorcycle Riders Foundation, they as well will send a letter supporting our position. Senator Lois also called and says emails are coming in and they sound very professional and she is proud to be aligned with us!! I will be meeting with her on Tuesday to discuss further actions we can take prior to Nov 7th. Keep the emails going and remember if you can make it to the Capitol on Nov 7th we'd love to have you join us. Time is still to be determined, but will post up as soon as I know.
Thanks to those of the that have sent emails or made phone calls...we have to keep the heat on them!

I am getting more hopeful by the minute...we just might win this!!!!