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Motorcycle Safety, Laws, and Grassroots Biker Activism

These articles are useful to those learning civics in addition to motorcycle enthusiasts

ABATE of SC Rocked the 116th General Assembly

By FastFred Ruddock

The bikers of South Carolina unified through ABATE passed three bills to improve the lives of motorcyclists. Our lone disappointment was the failure to pass S1027 to address defective traffic sensors at red lights. During the first half of the 116th General Assembly we passed S102 to provide Purple Heart tags for motorcyclists who have earned a Purple Heart while serving our country. Prior to the close of the 116th General Assembly we passed S772 to repeal handlebar height restrictions and H4307 to reduce the property tax rate applied to motorcycles.

Reb Richardson, a member of ABATE of South Carolina’s Sumter Chapter, blazed a fierce path leading to the introduction of S1027 to provide relief to motorcycles stuck by defective traffic sensors. The press took notice of the fast work on the red light bill in January. Reb and others have vowed to press forth with this issue in the next legislative session. Currently Reb is seeking a seat in the General Assembly.

Cathy Dillon, a member of ABATE of South Carolina’s Lexington Chapter spent many hours walking the halls of the Blatt and Gressette Buildings during the first half of the session sheparding our bills. Her dedication lead directly towards passage of S102 to provide Purple Heart Recipients with appropriate state issued motorcycle tags acknowledging their sacrifices to our country. This level of dedication does not come cheap and it took a toll upon her personal life and job.

David Russell, a member of ABATE of South Carolina’s Hell Hole Chapter, tirelessly building personal relationships with his legislators convinced Senator Mescher to introduce a bill to repeal handlebar height restrictions. Dave worked his magic at a local Republican Breakfast. Mescher’s bill was identical to the version given to him by David and written by our state coordinator. This bill progressed nicely and received no opposition once it was established that most police motorcycles in South Carolina violate the current handlebar restrictions.

Jim Bronder, the chapter coordinator of ABATE of South Carolina’s Dixie Thunder Chapter, worked tirelessly to introduce a H4307 when it became apparent the Senate version S261 was not moving. H4307 reduces the personal property tax rate applied to motorcycles from 10.5% to 6%. Jim worked with others from Aiken to keep this bill moving through the House and Senate; some of the team members involved included Richard Cooper, Geri-Lynn Murtha, and Vy Bronder.

Members in two of our areas also played key roles in the final push to pass H4307. Members of Southern Lowcountry successfully contacted Senator Richardson and convinced him to pull his controversial amendment that was endangering our bill. The members of CSRA likewise convinced Senator Hutto to pull his amendments and work towards prompt passage of H4307. The members of these two areas deserve our special thanks for responding so well to our additional legislative calls to action in their respective areas.

Dennis Welborn and his team of forward observers such as Doc Manning and Jeff Coleman were instrumental in the creation of timely alerts to our membership. Ed Haas, ABATE of South Carolina’s Media Coordinator, played a key role in gaining ABATE of South Carolina favorable press with his ingeniously crafted press releases. However no amount of work by our teams and dedicated individuals would bear fruit without the support and hard work of ABATE of South Carolina’s membership. When called upon the membership of our organization made the phones at the statehouse ring for days. The average member in the trenches is the true key to successes of ABATE of South Carolina.

Many more of you than I can list here worked these bills and have my grateful heart-felt thanks. Together we can continue to reach further and achieve even greater goals. I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at our upcoming state party or rather victory party.

Fast Fred Ruddock with a Helmet Ticket in Polk County North Carolina

About Fast Fred

My life has been a dedicated blend of open road adventure and relentless advocacy for motorcyclists’ rights. I'm "Fast Fred" Ruddock, and my journey on two wheels began as a teenager. Over the years, I’ve owned 13 Harleys and several other motorcycles, machines that were far more than just transportation. They represented a freedom that I have fought to protect. Recognizing the power of information, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, skills I immediately put to use for the movement.

My commitment to advocacy led me to a complete immersion in ABATE of South Carolina (ABATE of SC). I quickly moved through the ranks, starting by developing the ABATE of SC website in 2001 and serving as the Berkeley/Dorchester Chapter Coordinator. This progressed to serving as Lowcountry Area Coordinator, where I successfully shifted our local focus decisively toward rights and rapidly increased membership. From 2003 to 2007, I served as the State Coordinator, where I helped coordinate several key legislative victories, including the passage of the Purple Heart license tag bill and the successful repeal of unnecessary handlebar height restrictions. My primary strategic goal was always to achieve widespread political influence by organizing a chapter in every county of South Carolina.

On the national front, I extended my influence by serving as the State Representative on the board of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) for several years during the 2000s. This role ensured that the concerns of South Carolina riders were directly represented in critical federal legislative discussions. Crucially, I also worked to shape public opinion: I wrote articles related to motorcycle rights for various magazines and had a small column in Easyriders magazine for several years, using media to educate riders nationwide on the issues impacting their freedom.

My activism was not only about lobbying but also direct action and constitutional challenges. I participated in the Myrtle Beach civil disobedience against local helmet laws, contributing to the legal groundwork for the eventual overturning of that restrictive law through a landmark SC Supreme Court case. I also challenged helmet laws personally, fighting three tickets in court as an act of civil disobedience in several states. I lobbied in multiple state capitols with me friends across the country. My dedication continued after my ABATE leadership, as I served as the Director of Bikers Of Less Tolerance (BOLT) of South Carolina.

Today, while I also enjoy working as a river guide and sharing my travel adventures, my legacy remains rooted in the fight for motorcycle freedom. I have spent decades on the front lines, utilizing both political strategy, legal challenges, and national media to protect the rights of every person on two wheels.

My Other Adventures

I'm a professional whitewater guide and kayak instructor. I grew up rafting, sailing, and surfing, and I spend my North American summers guiding on world-class whitewater. I have spent much of my adult life riding motorcycles and paddling kayaks.

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