WHAT IS A.B.A.T.E. OF LOUISIANA?

A. B. A. T. E. is an acronym for American Bikers Active Toward Education. 

A. B. A. T. E. of Louisiana, Inc. is a non-profit organization, chartered in 1981, dedicated to the goals of motorcycle safety, education, public awareness, and realistic motorcycle legislation. A.B.A.T.E. is NOT a club. Membership is open to all motorcyclists from all walks of life, riding all types of bikes. 

A. B. A. T. E. is a freedom of choice program, dedicated to the premise that the individual is best suited to decide the type of motorcycle to ride, type of safety gear worn, and personal lifestyle.

A. B. A. T. E. actively monitors motorcycle related legislation on local, state, and federal levels, and encourages all members to become politically involved, so as to effect positive legislation and deter that of a negative nature.

A. B. A. T. E. is a statewide organization with local chapters that conduct business according to their own needs, under guidelines established by the State Board. The State Board is made up of two representatives from each chapter and state officers who are elected from the general membership.

A. B. A. T. E. is affiliated with national rights groups such as the American Motorcyclists Association (AMA), the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF).

A. B. A. T. E. encourages all riders to take the Louisiana Motorcycle Operators Training Course, as it is our firm stand that an informed, educated, and well-trained rider is a safer rider.

A. B. A. T. E. sponsors fund-raisers throughout the year for operating expenses and charitable causes. These events provide people with a chance to get together, have a good time, and share experiences and ideas for the betterment of motorcyclists statewide.

A. B. A. T. E. works to educate the general public about motorcycles and riders, as well as their responsibilities when sharing the road with motorcycles, through a variety of motorcycle awareness events throughout the year. 

A. B. A. T. E. has been instrumental in promoting the interests of motorcyclists in Louisiana:

· *actively lobbied for state funds for the rider education program. 

· *successfully amended the helmet statute to limit the fine of $50.00 to include all costs of court.

· *successfully lobbied federal Congressmen and Senators to support the 1995 National Highway Systems bill which gave the helmet law decision back to the states.

In 1999 A. B. A. T. E. was responsible for getting freedom of choice helmet legislation introduced, and actively lobbied for the bills in Baton Rouge. On June 17, 1999 Senate Bill 86, sponsored by Senator Ron Landry, passed the Louisiana State Legislature, allowing freedom of choice for adult riders until we lost them again in 2004. We did it once we can do it again.