5-4-04 Update on HB2136

HB2136 Dies on House Floor

"Kill bill 3 "

     For the 3rd year in a row an anti-cruising bill has been proposed in the Arizona Legislature, and for the 3rd year in a row an anti-cruising bill has been killed in the Arizona Legislature.

    HB2136, the draconian ticket and tow congestion-reduction strategy was voted on today during its "Final Read" by the full Az House of Representatives and things suddenly changed from what was thought by its supporters to be an easy pass rubber-stamp Senate Amendment minor word-change approval, into a hotly debated issue of a citizen's right to move about without fear of having their vehicles seized in the name of traffic congestion.

    The Az House "Floor Session" quickly turned into a classic and highly dramatic legislative debate on Constitutional guarantees of citizens property rights and the freedom of assembly. I believe I counted at least 8 speeches given on this issue by the Legislators.

    There were also an eclectic mix of funny and candid stories from several Legislators who had fond memories of cruising in their past. 

    There was even a moment of high drama as Rep. Nelson the bills principal sponsor tried to bait the House Gallery's audience of 21 vehicle enthusiasts, hobby business owners and car club members by saying that cruisers carry guns and drugs and must be stopped before more people are killed.

    (His ploy didn't work, the cruisers remained cool, and Nelson came across as an exaggerating red-neck reactionary to his peers and past supporters.)

      That's about the time when 2 of his bill's 7 co-sponsors and many of its previous supporters started to bail. HB2136 failed with a final vote of 19 yes votes for it and 37 no votes opposing it. 6 more than the 31 needed to kill the bill.

    Actually 25 of the 60 Rep's flipped their support or changed their vote from its 3rd Read vote on 3-9-04 when it easily passed with 41 yes votes and 17 no's.

     This was an incredible voter turnaround by any standard. Something that maybe only happens once in a Legislative Session. We made a strong and united impression on our Legislators.

    You all did a great job of contacting your Legislators to get them to see that this was a bad bill. Their most common response was that they hadn't even read the bill up until we all spoke-up against it.

    Once our Legislators read the bill and heard of our various concerns. It was obvious to many of them that there were just way too many possible future unintended negative consequences to HB2136 verses its minimal positive applications.

     May it rest in piece

    So for now the bill is dead, but we must also watch for a possible "Reconsideration Vote" or a "Strike-All Amendment" which could bring HB2136 back attached to some other bill and with a new bill number. At this point in this years current Session it is possible, but highly unlikely.

    Also, for the next couple of weeks, be wary of possible Police retaliatory actions against cruiser's, especially in the Maryvale area. Cruise with care.

   Congratulations to all on a job well done and a BIG THANKS to all who helped spread the word and who called their home-district's Representatives and to those who called and e-mailed all 60 Az Representatives to oppose HB2136. Good work folks.

    You are all true Arizona freedom-fighting patriot's.

    Again, congratulations to all on a job well done.