MR. SMITH GOES TO THE STATE CAPITOL

CITIZEN IDEA, ACTION, AND TESTIMONY CHANGE MINNESOTA LAW

On July 11, 2009 Greg Smith of Forest Lake contacted his legislator State 
Senator Ray Vandeveer (R-Forest Lake), frustrated by a change in Minnesota 
law that no longer allowed him to use his vertical license plate holder.  In 
order to understand the reason for Greg's frustration, one must go back a 
couple of years.

In 2007, Greg purchased a chromed MBW-LED vertical license plate bracket for 
his motorcycle.  With the cost being a hefty $400 and a strict no return 
policy, Greg was advised to check with the Forest Lake License Bureau and the 
Forest Lake Police Department prior to making the investment to make sure 
there were no legal concerns.  Upon checking with the proper authorities, 
Greg received the good news that the bracket was legal so he made the 
purchase.

Two years later on his drive home from work Greg was pulled over by the State 
Patrol.  The reason for being pulled over?  His motorcycle had an illegal 
vertical license plate.  Unbeknownst to him, the law had been changed.  
Sitting with a $400 bracket he could no longer use, he turned to his state 
senator Ray Vandeveer.  After some research, Senator Vandeveer learned that 
the law had been changed in the 2008 legislative session on behalf of the 
State Patrol because officers were having trouble reading the horizontal 
plates when they were displayed vertically.

Greg asked Senator Vandeveer to help him get the law reversed so that he 
could continue to use his very expensive vertical display bracket.  Senator 
Vandeveer agreed and introduced a bill in the 2010 legislative session to 
revert the law back to what it was prior to Greg purchasing the bracket.  On 
March 4th of this year Greg had his chance to testify in front of the Senate 
Transportation Committee chaired by Senator Murphy to explain his 
frustration.

"Greg's heartfelt testimony was clear, concise and convincing," said 
Senator Vandeveer.  Greg convinced the committee that he had a reasonable 
request, but committee members also understood State Patrol concerns.  The 
committee asked the State Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles to work 
together to come up with some language that would satisfy both parties.

The agreed upon solution was to allow motorcyclists to purchase a special 
vertical plate for the cost of $100.  Digital technology now available to the 
Department of Motor Vehicles makes vertical plates a feasible option for 
those parties willing to spend the extra dollars.  The change was supported 
by American Bikers for Awareness, Training, and Education (A.B.A.T.E.) and 
signed into law by Governor Pawlenty and on August 1, 2010 Greg can again 
legally use his vertical license plate bracket.

"This is a great example of representative government in action," said 
Greg Smith.  "If you have a legislative concern I would encourage you to 
contact your legislator.  It was a valuable learning experience."

Sheila Luehrs
Legislative Assistant to Senator Ray Vandeveer