The Ultimate ACC Protest?

[Mcycle]

Like many of you I was at the Wellington Bikeio and whilst we may have succeeded on the day, the ACC levy battle is far from won….. so what is next? What would be the ultimate protest motorcyclists could make?

The following is one thought, and I stress that I am not condoning what could be seen as illegal activity.

If motorcyclists do not get the ACC and the Government to back down from the proposed unfairness of the currently proposed increased motorcycle registration levies then the following ‘ultimate protest’ is possible.

1.) Motorcycle owners with multiple motorcycles will only register one motorcycle. They will swap number plates to the bike they are riding at any one time.
2.) As motorcycles come up for re registration, protesting motorcyclists will place their motorcycle registration on hold for (say a minimum of) 6 months by completing form MR24 ( Application for Exemption from Continuous Licensing,) at their local Post Office. This will halve their annual registration cost however they will continue to ride their bike as before. Naughty them.

Legal Implications.

Both the above actions are illegal under current law. Some motorcyclists may be prosecuted, if this is the case, then it is recommended they should plead ‘not guilty’ and call on other motorcyclists to create ‘fighting funds’ to fight the cases citing amongst other things;
• The unfairness of the current ACC levies.
• The unfairness of the ‘pre vehicle ACC cost.’
• The unfair discrimination against motorcyclists versus (say) cyclists.

Several Motorcycle clubs have ‘reserves’ which could be used to help such a ‘fighting fund.’ Last time I looked Ulysses NZ had over $100,000 in accumulated funds and while I can’t speak for them or other such groups, it may be seen as a good use if such funds to help their members fight a few well chosen (and publicised) ‘test’ cases. Care is needed as the ultimate protest is not about making Lawyers rich, any legal action will need to be carefully considered on its merits.

Likely Results of such a protest;

a) Within 12 – 15 months Motorcycle registration fees will drop up to 50% on their current levels. This lower ‘fee take’ is the essence of the motorcyclists protest. Motorcyclists will only support a vehicle registration system that is fair.
b) At any one time up to 50% of the motorcycles on the road may be effectively unregistered.
c) Some motorcyclists may get fined, but as the fine for ‘no vehicle registration’ is $200, this fine is perhaps less than the proposed ACC increases. Whether or not fines are going to be paid, is the choice of each motorcyclist.
d) Courts will become more clogged as motorcyclists fight their cases.

Other Considerations;

Motorcycle Insurance. Some motorcyclists may be worried that an unregistered bike negates their motorcycles accident insurance. They will need to consider this carefully, however it is possible that case law indicates otherwise, as according to John Baker (head of the Motorcycle Insurance company that bears this name,) “non registration is not in itself a cause of an accident and therefore is not a reason not to pay accident insurance.”So while words to this effect were spoken to a recent meeting of Motorcyclists gathered in Taupo, different insurers may have different wording in their policy, so take care and make your decisions accordingly.

Of course this idea is the mere ramblings of a frustrated madman... but what if?

[ready4whatever]

If somebody throws a rock at nick smith which knocks him out at the next protest i will internet bank 500 bucks into their account. just post a photo of your face next to a sign saying 'username' from kiwi biker and i'll match it up with the face on the news. do it if you have nothing to lose!

[hayd3n]

If somebody throws a rock at nick smith which knocks him out at the next protest i will internet bank 500 bucks into their account. just post a photo of your face next to a sign saying 'username' from kiwi biker and i'll match it up with the face on the news. do it if you have nothing to lose!

500 thats a nice set of tyres

[peasea]

I have no intention of paying any more than I already do. If the levies go up I'll go for the 'on-hold' option and ride anyway. Plead not guilty to any charges, put the ticket through it's paces etc etc, jam the system even further. (As it happens I plead not guilty to anything and everything anyway.)

I might just license the bikes for a period that equates to what we pay now and make that the period we use the bikes the most, Dec-April etc.

If I bash my thumb I'll say I did it playing rugby. If I fall off a ladder, same thing ad infinitum. Every accident from here on in needs to be reported as a sporting injury.

[peasea]

500 thats a nice set of tyres

Which you can fill with petrol, wrap around Nick's neck and set fire to.......

I hear Soweto is lovely this time of year.

[McJim]

The gist of my submission was pretty much that the income earmarked to fill in the deficit wouldn't materialise because motorcyclists simply wouldn't register their bikes for the whole year. Summer only riders are more at risk of binning than all year round riders so the number of ACC claims would increase too.

Less money in, more money out is not a tenable situation.

this argument won't make bikers feel they got one over on the govt but it will focus the minds of those seeking to make the books look better.

[scissorhands]

We draw straws and the loser has to set his bike to fire outside the ACC offices with media present

[Pixie]

A good plan.It's most important to defend the infringement and clog the courts.
If the backlog becomes big enough, the case may never come up

[rob 0]

don't do anything iligal

just regester your bike as a farm bike (no ACC component)

and if you get pulled fight it in court as a lawfull protest ,
let them sort that one out

oh i can hear it now

judge "a 2300 cc farm bike WTF"
me "yes sir its a like tractor, lots of torque "

[Mcycle]

don't do anything iligal

just regester your bike as a farm bike (no ACC component)
"

Nice idea but how do you register a farm bike - when they don't need registering?

[rob 0]

they do if you ride them on thre road

[rocketman1]

I would just like to thank all those that took their time and money to organise this Bikoi to Wgtn.It was huge undertaking and those BRONZ guys in particular need a pat on the back. I like most took a few days off work to attend this much needed protest.
Yes it was a long ride to Wgtn on my sportsbike but it was great to feel part of the Bikoi, the commoraderie amongst all the bikers was very evident. I felt there was a underlying anger amongst some of the crowd, I think that it was due the controlling faction of the organisers, that kept the crowd under control.Should there be another ride to Parliament, things could easily develop into a riot.
It would only taken a hotheaded leader and things would have gotten very ugly, quickly. I was at the Tour protest back in the 80's, it does not take much to ignite a crowd. I am not promoting this action but I have not seen such a huge united protest in years, and that most did not attend for the fun of it, I like other bikers realise that this is a very hot topic for many bikers/ voters and their families. I hope the Govt take it as seriously as us bikers, and get ACC to sort their shit out.:2thumbsup

[mctshirt]

Nice idea but how do you register a farm bike - when they don't need registering?

Exempt Class B

Exempt Class B vehicles may be exempt from the payment of some levies.

Exempt Class B vehicles are:

Farm vehicles

A motor vehicle (not a trailer) designed for agricultural operations and used on a road solely for agricultural operations, including mobile or movable huts, galleys, and similar motor vehicles used on a road solely in connection with such operations. (Not including a vehicle designed for cartage or spreading of lime or fertiliser when used on the road for cartage or a weed sprayer on a truck chassis)
A motor vehicle (not a trailer) owned by a farmer and only used on the road to go from one part of the farm to another part of the same farm, or from one farm to another farm owned or managed by the same person, for agricultural operations
A tractor or traction engine used on the road solely for agricultural operations; or if used mainly for agricultural operations and otherwise only in connection with road construction and maintenance
A tractor owned by a farmer used on a road only for
the owner's agricultural operations, and/or
the cartage of milk, cream, or whey to or from a dairy factory, and/or
cartage of any farm produce, implements, stock, or other farm requisites from one farm to another farm that is owned or managed by the same person or for a maximum round trip of 21 kilometres of public highway
A tractor that is designed and used partly for the purpose of loading lime or fertiliser into topdressing aircraft and partly for drawing a trailer that is designed and used exclusively for carrying aviation fuel in a permanently attached tank for use in topdressing aircraft, and for no other purpose and is not taken on any round trip of more than 21 kilometres of public highway.

[Mcycle]

Exempt Class B


A motor vehicle (not a trailer) owned by a farmer and only used on the road to go from one part of the farm to another part of the same farm, or from one farm to another farm owned or managed by the same person, for agricultural operations
.

I guess we just need to start calling our selves 'Farmers' and call our homes 'farms'...... ?

[Mcycle]

The gist of my submission was pretty much that the income earmarked to fill in the deficit wouldn't materialise because motorcyclists simply wouldn't register their bikes for the whole year. Summer only riders are more at risk of binning than all year round riders so the number of ACC claims would increase too.

Less money in, more money out is not a tenable situation.

this argument won't make bikers feel they got one over on the govt but it will focus the minds of those seeking to make the books look better.

If I recall a lesson from history correctly.... the Boston tea party protest was a protest against unfair (British) taxes that started the American Revolution.....

Just perhaps 6,000 to 20,000 motorcyclists putting registrations 'on hold' is a start to the revolution to get ACC back on track as the 'no fault' system it was set up to be.

Hit them where it hurts - in the wallet!

[p.dath]

You do realise if the fees that ACC collect half, then next year they'll just look to double them again, and say "see look, we were right, cars are subsidising those who have accidents even more".

[rob 0]

first ,
has any one concidered going to FAIR GO ,

on the premise of it is unfair to put the levies up for cars
and the ACC shouldn't be "furure funded" as it creates a
$11B cash cow for the govt, out of our pockets in a recesion

second,
if we start protesting as car drivers (most of us will own cars too)
with the $400 + road fees per year as unnesassary
we will get more suport from the car drivers to the same ends.
use the 4x4 as posibly being taxed higher simular to 600cc bikes
(hey, if they can bullshit so can we)

[p.dath]

(hey, if they can bullshit so can we)

If bikers spread mis-information then the public will come to distrust us and what we say.

We distrust ACC because their claims don't stack up. We want the public to feel the same way.

So we want to do things that build support and trust from the public.

[mashman]

first ,
has any one concidered going to FAIR GO ,

on the premise of it is unfair to put the levies up for cars
and the ACC shouldn't be "furure funded" as it creates a
$11B cash cow for the govt, out of our pockets in a recesion

second,
if we start protesting as car drivers (most of us will own cars too)
with the $400 + road fees per year as unnesassary
we will get more suport from the car drivers to the same ends.
use the 4x4 as posibly being taxed higher simular to 600cc bikes
(hey, if they can bullshit so can we)

True, but i can't see or smell any bullshit in your statement! If that's what it takes... I have no doubt that there are people out ther scheming like there's no tomorrow, but they'll be scheming for us, against those that are scheming against us!

[Mcycle]

It isn't only Motorcyclists not wanting to pay ACC's increases - here's a quote from the Letters to the Editor of Saturday Nov 21's Dom Post.

"I've decided I might not pay the increase in ACC levies (assuming the Govt passes them into law) after reading double-murderer Graeme Burton received a $10,000 prosthetic leg paid for by cash strapped ACC."

[gwigs]

What if we had a protest and used cars instead...A huge convoy clogging the roads one person per car....just to show what our bikes would be replaced with.....
Just a thought...

[mctshirt]

If that's what it takes... I have no doubt that there are people out ther scheming like there's no tomorrow, but they'll be scheming for us, against those that are scheming against us!

My boss has an idea involving old motorcycle tyres - write a note expressing your displeasure at the ACC levy rise on an old tyre and courier it off to Nick Smith or ACC head office - storing and dumping the tyres will grow boring while getting the point across in a rather inconvenient way for the receiver.

His first old motorcycle tyre idea involved parliament and fire... :oi-grr:

[Pixie]

My boss has an idea involving old motorcycle tyres - write a note expressing your displeasure at the ACC levy rise on an old tyre and courier it off to Nick Smith or ACC head office - storing and dumping the tyres will grow boring while getting the point across in a rather inconvenient way for the receiver.

His first old motorcycle tyre idea involved parliament and fire... :oi-grr:

The Tyres to Parliament was tried in the '80s,when the tariff on car tyres was dropped but the one on bike tyres wasn't.NZ Post did not deliver them.

[Number 5]

Any legal brains out there that could give us an answer as to whether we would have a case of victimisation against ACC as a minority group, ie, Human Rights, Bill of Rights Act, etc ????

[mctshirt]

The Tyres to Parliament was tried in the '80s,when the tariff on car tyres was dropped but the one on bike tyres wasn't.NZ Post did not deliver them.

Which is why you use a courier...

[rob 0]

what about tyres full of bullshit!

I'm shure he could relate to that

[ready4whatever]

Nick Smith in Welly promoting his ACC proposal to bikers is like how biggy smallz went to LA to promote his new album in which resulted in him getting killed :laugh:

[Chocolate Boy]

A tractor owned by a farmer used on a road only for
the owner's agricultural operations, and/or
the cartage of milk, cream, or whey to or from a dairy factory, and/or
cartage of any farm produce, implements, stock, or other farm requisites from one farm to another farm that is owned or managed by the same person or for a maximum round trip of 21 kilometres of public highway

Sweet - make sure you've got a chook in a crate bungied to the pillion seat. "Just moving my stock officer." :innocent:

[eelracing]

If bikers spread mis-information then the public will come to distrust us and what we say.

We distrust ACC because their claims don't stack up. We want the public to feel the same way.

So we want to do things that build support and trust from the public.


How about attacking ACC (and National)from another angle.

Are ACC still investing their yearly profits in Lion Nathan and DB Breweries shares? Nearly $50 million in 2002.

And if so aint these companies just a little bit responsible for a hell of alot more carnage on our roads,violence,accidents etc (therefore more ACC payouts)than motorcyclists.

Apart from ethical reasons this smacks of hypocrisy to me.

[danchop]

swapping plates onto a different vehicle probably is an offence far greater than riding with just no rego

[P38]

We draw straws and the loser has to set his bike to fire outside the ACC offices with media present

I like it!

Said Media Knobs probally wouldn't even notice that the burning bike is a $50 dunga.
Would be worthy of the 6 o'clock news.

Has anyone started a nationwide petition yet!

Good chance to connect with other Kiwi's and get more than just bikers signatures.

[P38]

What if we had a protest and used cars instead...A huge convoy clogging the roads one person per car....just to show what our bikes would be replaced with.....
Just a thought...

Another excellent Idea.

[P38]

My boss has an idea involving old motorcycle tyres - write a note expressing your displeasure at the ACC levy rise on an old tyre and courier it off to Nick Smith or ACC head office - storing and dumping the tyres will grow boring while getting the point across in a rather inconvenient way for the receiver.

His first old motorcycle tyre idea involved parliament and fire... :oi-grr:

Awesome..... shoulda written my submission on one and sent that instead.