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SC Bikers Still Have Time to Pass Two Bills

Fast Fred Rafts & Travels

Fast Fred is a wandering guide enjoying endless summers and sharing adventure along the way.
I began writing these motorcycle pages of articles, photos, and trips during 2000.

SC Bikers Still Have Time to Pass Two Bills

By FastFred

The Legislative session is winding down in South Carolina but motorcyclists still have time to pass two bills. One bill would address discriminatory taxation of motorcycles. The other would repeal the arbitrary handlebar height law generally enforced in a discriminatory manner; many police motorcycles in South Carolina are in violation of the current 15” limit. Action on your part today may save you hundreds of dollars this year and more in future years.

Motorcycle personal property tax is a sore issue with many aware bikers. Currently motorcycles are taxed at 10.5% of the bluebook value while cars are taxed only 6%. Additionally cars are not taxed at the full bluebook value but rather at the lowest loan a bank would give. The result is luxury cars are taxed at less than half the rate of our motorcycles. Many bikers use their bikes for daily transportation and as gas prices increase more will join us. Due to the tax classification of motorcycles most counties also refuse to give high mileage exemptions. You can do something to correct these problems by simply contacting your state senator and representative and asking them to support S261 and H4307.

The handlebar bill has passed the senate and currently resides in the house. You may help pass this bill by contacting your state representative today; ask your state representative to support S772. Ask for prompt action on this bill; all bills not passed by the close of this legislative session in June will die.

You may determine who your state senator and representative by looking at your voter registration card. Additionally ABATE of SC has a useful page for finding legislative information such as your elected officials. The SC State House also has a useful search engine. If you are not yet registered to vote please do so now; visit the State Election Commission.

Prior to writing this article I again took the time to contact my senator and representative again on these subjects. Now I am asking you to please take the time to make a difference today. Should these bills fail to pass it will only be for lack of effort on the part of South Carolina bikers. I know the members of ABATE of SC will take action and answer the call for action today.

If your motorcycle is less than 16 years old S261 and H4307 can save you hundreds of dollars each year! Spread the word and help the motorcyclists of SC rock the statehouse.

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 single county.

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.

Raft with me: Check out Fast Fred Rafts for details.

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