Once Upon a Time

In the State of Maine their was Common Sense in the State House. The laws they wrote and put into effect were good for all. The Government was for the people, by the people and was found to be fair to the people.

This is a fairy tale of our dreams. This is not happening now or will it happen in the near future unless we as a hobby stand up to be counted.

As we Speak the Transportation Committee is getting ready to combine 2 bills that should remain separate. LD1642 is the bill that concerns us, as the Establishment of Quiet Zones with a 62db level, which is quieter than a Bean Fart after a Saturday Night Church Supper. LD1675 is the Motorcycle/Public Health Bill that was heard right afterwards and obtained all the News Coverage.

Both Bills went to Work Session last Friday with no result in our favor. LD1642 did not die, nor did LD1675. In fact now it seems they want to put an even tighter restriction on all motor vehicles rather than the ones that the bills were originally aimed at, which are Motorcycles and Tractor Trailers.

I am all for restrictions on the use of Engine Brakes, Control of the noise level of Motorcycles is also a favorable decision that I could support with the proper language and some type of scientific test results to bring the whole ball of wax into perspective. In the case of LD1642, no scientific testing has been done, no facts have been gathered other than the personal feelings of the proponents. The Transportation Committee has not listened to the Opponents who have asked this Bill to die in Committee.

Yet an already written and established statute which can't be fairly enforced due to the lack of training of qualified personnel on a state or local level, the lack of funding for both the training or equipment required to do the job properly isn't good enough at the Federal mandated limit of 95db. They want to reduce down to whatever Decibel level they pulled out of a Hat while wasting our tax dollars on yet a still unenforceable law.

This also is the second session of our Legislature which should by rule be reserved for the passage of Emergency legislation, not this public annoyance crap.

Go to the State Web Site and get the E-mail of all the members of the Transportation Committee and let them know how you feel about the Antique/Classic/Street Rod /Muscle Car hobbies being held hostage by proponents who couldn't find a clue in a box full of them.

Next session I want a law that says all wannabe elected officials must first pass an Idiot Test not just take it.

Added at 6:55PM: A combined Work Session is scheduled for the 19th of Feb. this will be for both LD1642 & LD1675