by James J. Baxter, President, NMA - National Motorists Association

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7NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION NEWSRadar Detector Crack DownBy Eric Skrum, Managing EditorTexas is going after radardetectors, was the simplephrase from a CNN story thatbegan a deluge of emails to my office.Many members became concerned thatthey were going to be ticketed forusing their radar detectors.The simple answer to this is, "No.You aren't going to get a ticket forusing your radar detector." So, whatwas CNN referring to? The TexasDepartment of Public Safety (DPS)purchased 101 radar detector detectorswith federal grant money in order tocrack down on truck drivers. While itisn't illegal for motorists to use radardetectors (except for Virginia andWashington DC), it is illegal underfederal regulations for interstatecommercial drivers to use detectors.This new effort and future plans by theDPS will make it possible for nearlyevery License and Weight trooper inthe state to have this technology.On the issue of radar detectordetectors, we do need to warnmembers who travel in Virginia andWashington DC or those who may alsobe commercial truck drivers. Radardetector detectors are nothing new.They have been around for quite sometime. There is a see-saw battlebetween radar gun manufacturers andradar detector manufacturers. Theradar gun manufacturers try to comeup with a reliable way to defeat thedetectors while the radar detectormanufacturers keep developing waysto thwart those efforts. Well, this battlehas shifted again. The NMA recentlylearned of a new development on theside of radar detector detectors. Thenewest devices are reported to have thecapability of detecting all radardetectors.While the NMA hasn't been able toconfirm how rampant the use of theselatest devices is, we felt that a warningto our members was still in order.Please be aware of the possibility thatthese units may be used in the areaswhere detectors are prohibited. As ofthis printing, the NMA hasn't been ableto determine if the 101 detectordetectors purchased by the Texas DPSare the new technology or the old.Nationwide Scrappage ProgramsAbill (S. 517), authored bySenators Daschle (D-SD) andBingaman (D-NM), has beenintroduced in the U.S. Senatecontaining a provision (Section 832)that would federally fund statescrappage programs for vehicles over15 years old. Owners who turn invehicles for crushing would receive a"minimal" payment and a future credittoward purchasing a newer vehicle, allin a misguided attempt to improve theoverall fuel economy of the country'svehicle fleet. This bill represents themost formidable Federal legislativethreat to the vehicle hobby in manyyears.• Section 832 of S. 517 wouldgive states that don't currently operatescrappage programs an extra incentiveto create a program due to generousfederal funding.• Section 832 of S. 517 requiresthat federally funded state scrappageprograms crush every car. It threatensenthusiasts nationwide with the loss ofvaluable parts for repair, restoration,and customization projects.• Section 832 of S. 517 does notrequire states to determine the fuelefficiency of vehicles being scrappedor that scrapped vehicles are beingreplaced by more fuel-efficientvehicles.• Section 832 of S. 517 ignoresthe fact that cars turned in forscrappage often barely run or arerarely-driven second or third vehiclesthat have a minimal impact on overallfuel economy.• Section 832 of S. 517 willdiminish the availability of affordabletransportation and repair parts to lowincomedrivers as more and more oldercars are crushed.• Section 832 of S. 517 does notguarantee that low-income individualswill be able to afford to purchase newvehicles—let alone more fuel efficientvehicles—with the money provided byscrappage programs.• Section 832 of S. 517 ignoresmore socially responsible and costeffectivepolicy options like voluntaryvehicle repair and upgrade programsthat maximize the fuel efficiency ofexisting vehicles.Thanks go to SEMA (SpecialtyEquipment Market Association) forsending this information to the NMA.Contact Your U.S. Senatorsregarding Section 832 of S. 517. Visithttp://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm to find their contactinformation. You may also phone theUnited States Capitol switchboard at(202) 224-3121 and an operator willconnect you directly with the Senateoffice you request.NMABenefit ReminderWant to fight a ticket?The NMA Legal Defense Kit TMis a great resource!Call 800/882-2785for more information.MARCH/APRIL 2002
8NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION NEWSThe "Not-A-National-ID" ScamBy Eric Skrum, Managing EditorFor years there have been manyproposals that, in essence,would have created a NationalID. Groups such as the NationalMotorists Association and theAmerican Civil Liberties Union haveopposed such actions. However, afterthe tragic events of September 11th,the National ID issue is picking upmomentum in the cry for moresecurity.The American Association ofMotor Vehicle Administrators hasformed a task force to address the issueof driver licensing. They will bedetermining a standard procedure toissuing licenses. They will also explorea variety of ways to connect the driverlicense databases from different statesto each other, and then explore howthose could be linked with lawenforcementagencies. The use of"biometrics" as a way of identificationon your license is being vigorouslypursued. Whether that will befingerprints, retina scans, DNA, orsome other method has yet to bedetermined.Officials are claiming that none ofthis will cause your driver's license toThe Hillbilly MilleLong time NMA memberAnatoly Aruntunoff isorganizing the Hillbilly Millethis year in Santa Fe, New Mexico.This event will take place from April16th to the 21st. Anyone participatingin this event will expect to enjoy fivenights and six glorious days touring theback roads of New Mexico with stopsalong the way to include the art,pottery and jewelry galleries of Taosand Santa Fe, Georgia O'Keefe's GhostRanch, the Acoma Pueblos, and theSandia Peak Tram, to name a few.Meals will be of your choosing frombe a National ID because the driver'slicense will still be issued by the statesrather than by a national agency. Wedisagree. This is pure sophistry. If allthe driver license databases areconnected, you basically have onegiant database on every licensed driverin the United States. Add to theequation that law enforcement willhave free access to this system, andyou now have your National IDsystem.This use of the driver's license foridentification is being touted as a wayto increase safety. This is not only abad idea, it is unworkable.To begin with, almost a third of thepopulation does not possess a driverlicense. Young people under the age of16, elderly folks who no longer drive,handicapped persons, and persons whohave had their licenses revoked do nottypically carry driver licenses. Asurvey conducted in Ohio in the late1990's found that one out of sevendrivers was operating without a validdriver's license. A large percentage (50percent has been quoted by motorvehicle administrative agencies) of thedrivers convicted of DWI violationsthe menus of world renown restaurantsand historic sites. You will be stayingat the historic Bishop's Lodge, SantaFe, New Mexico.If you are interested in attending,send either the $1000 deposit or totalentry fee of $3600 to:Hillbilly Millec/o Anatoly Arutunoff1329 East 29th StreetTulsa, Oklahoma 74114never apply for reinstatement of theirrevoked driver licenses, usuallybecause they cannot afford the cost ofthe required insurance coverage.Driver licenses are also suspended orrevoked for failure to pay childsupport, attend school, or paymunicipal fines. (And the list growslonger each year.)The point here is that a large portionof the population does not possess adriver license. Further, the purpose of adriver's license is to provide evidencethat the holder has the minimum skillsnecessary to operate a motor vehicleon public roads. Using the driver'slicense as an ID card (or a lever toforce attendance in school or coercechildcare or fine payments out ofdebtors) defeats its primary purpose,that being the identification of theholder as a person capable of operatinga motor vehicle. Rather than make abad situation worse, why not step back,reverse course, and confine the officialuse of driver licenses to the purposethey were originally intended to fulfill;Identifying the holder as qualified tooperate a motor vehicle on a publicroad. Wouldn't that be a novel idea?Have a friend join the NMA andyou’ll get an extrathree months of membershipFREE!State ChapterCoordinators & Activists:You can find a list of thesevolunteers on the back of thenewsletter. They are a greatresource for NMA members.Can’t find one in your state?Would you like to become one?Contact the NMA for moreinformation.MARCH/APRIL 2002
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by James J. Baxter, President, NMA - National Motorists Association

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