The final rule, which went into effect on May 13, targets novelty helmets that feature similar labels to that of the current Department of Transportation (DOT) label, which shows compliance with the current motorcycle helmet safety standard. From the report filed with the Federal Register:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-13/html/2011-11367.htm “…Some motorcyclists use noncompliant helmets known as novelty helmets. These helmets are not certified to the agency’s helmet standard and have been shown in testing to fail all or almost all of the safety performance requirements in that standard. Some novelty helmet users attempt to make their helmets appear to law enforcement agencies and the courts to be compliant by misleadingly attaching labels that have the appearance of legitimate `’DOT’’ certification labels. This final rule revises the existing requirements for the “DOT” certification label and other labels and adds new requirements to make it more difficult to label novelty helmets misleadingly.”

According to the report, some helmet sellers have imitated the current certification label — which only features the word “DOT” — by using a label that includes the acronym “D.O.T.” to make it look like the helmet is FMVSS No. 218 compliant. “People who obtain these labels can simply attach them to their novelty helmets to create the appearance of compliant helmets,” the report says.

Under the final rule, certification labels will include the manufacturer’s name, helmet model, and the more informative labeling of “DOT FMVSS No. 218 Certified.”

Polaris bought Indian Motorcycle last week. The company doesn’t know yet how many jobs will be added at its northwest Iowa plant, where it introduced Victory 13 years ago.

Polaris spokesperson Marlys Knutson told the Des Moines Register it’s not set when Indian production will begin in Iowa. The company reportedly will move machinery and equipment from North Carolina, where 25 employees worked, to Iowa over the next two to three months.

Polaris CEO Scott Wine told analysts the company “will accelerate growth of both brands” over time.

While the company isn’t trying to make avid bikers out of everyday executives, Moto Limos Club are promising to move professional business types through the heavy congestion and daily traffic jams that plague most major cities.

First, the motorcycle details; the fleet will include 15 2012 Honda Goldwing motorcycles and an undetermined number of the three-wheeled Bombardier Can Am Spyders.

And the top executive of the hottest company won’t have to worry about a grey beard flying in his face or hang onto a pinned and patched leather vest. According to the website, the chauffeurs are ‘highly skilled and qualified riders each possessing over 15 years of riding experience coupled with extensive histories in related motorcycle activities.’

‘Our chauffeur riders are trained to take every care and precaution with their passengers and trained to react correctly in case of any emergency,’ states the website, ‘Our riders aren’t just enthusiasts, but professional daily riders.’

The concept isn’t a new option to business people around the world with motorcycle taxis regularly seen in England, Sweden, Indonesia, Cambodia and India.

Read More here

The chief county assessment office and the Lake County Township Assessors Association are hosting 14 informational meetings where seniors can get one-one-one assistance in filling out the forms on homestead exemption freezes.

Aimed at helping seniors who have a household income of less than $55,000 save money, the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze could be taken advantage of by many more seniors, said Chief County Assessment Officer Martin Paulson.

“We have about 13,000 people enrolled in the program now out of 33,000 people in our senior homestead exemption who could potentially be in” the assessment freeze program, Paulson said.

The homestead exemption lowers the assessed value of properties by $4,000, but the assessment freeze could hold the assessed value of a home over several years, even if the true assessed rate increases.

“Let’s say you and I have the same assessed value – and it’s $100,000. I’m on the assessment freeze program because I’m 70 and I’ve been in it for 5 years. In that period, my assessment went from $80,000 to $100,000, so essentially that $20,000 — I get off of my assessments,” Paulson explained.

However, if valuations do not increase, and actually decrease, the lower assessment will be entered as the frozen rate, Paulson said. The assessment freeze begins when residents are accepted into the program. It’s not retroactive.

Residents do not have to re-enroll each year for the homestead exemption application, but do have to reapply for the assessment freeze every year, in case household incomes change.

“It’s a tremendous benefit for seniors, we’re in a time like right now people when many more could’ve benefited from it,” he said.

Filling out the paperwork for either program involves filling out applications that look like a simple tax form, Paulson said. Those who are eligible for the assessment freeze and homestead exemption must be age 65 or older, own the property of principal residence for the last two Jan. 1, have a household income of $55,000 or less. Participants should bring copies of income such as a 2010 federal income tax form and a social security statement.

In the meantime, he said seniors can ask for help at his office or at township offices.

For more information, go to http://www.lakecountyil.gov/assessor , call 847-377-2050 or e-mail assessor@lakecountyil.gov.

The following is a list of outreach session locations and dates:

Vernon Hills

1 to 2 p.m. April 11 at Vernon Hills Village Hall, senior center, 290 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills

Lake Villa

9 to 10 a.m., April 13 at Lake Villa Township West, 37850 North Route 59, Lake Villa

North Chicago

1 to 2 p.m., April 13, Foss Park District, 1730 Lewis Avenue, North Chicago

Antioch

10:30 to 11:30 a.m., April 18, Antioch Senior Center, 817, Holbeck Ave., Antioch

Mundelein

1 to 3 p.m., April 20, The Regent Center, 1200 Regent Drive, Mundelein

Fox Lake

10 to 11 a.m. April 21, Fox Lake Lakefront Park, 71 Nippersink Blvd., Fox Lake

Waukegan

9 to 11 a.m., April 25, Park Place, 414 South Lewis Ave., Waukegan

Round Lake

1 to 3 p.m., April 26 Round Lake Area Park District Senior Center, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake

Highland Park

10 a.m. to 12 p.m., April 29, Recreation Center of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave. West, Highland Park

Zion

Noon to 2 p.m., May 4, Zion Park District, 2600 Emmaus…, Zion, Illinois

Libertyville

10 to 11 a.m., May 6 Libertyville Civic Center, 135 West Church Street, Libertyville

Deerfield

9:30 to 11 a.m., May 10, Patty Turner Senior Center, 275 Elm Street, Deerfield

Grayslake

10 to 11 a.m., May 16 Grayslake Park District, 240 Commerce Drive, Grayslake

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff

1 p.m. to 3 p.m., May 19 Dickinson Hall, Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Center, 100 East Old Mill Road, Lake Forest

“IDOT is dedicated to motorcycle safety in Illinois and has developed a proven and effective traffic safety program to positively impact motorcyclists and the general public as a whole,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable of highway users, and we want to work together to promote motorcycle safety and help protect all of the motoring public.”

“Our goals are to educate our members in proper riding techniques and safe operation and to improve public acceptance and awareness of motorcyclists while maintaining a friendly, fun atmosphere,” said GWRRA Illinois District Director Dan Ribbing. “The Illinois District of the GWRRA is proud to cooperate with the State of Illinois and all of its departments in educating the motoring public.”
“The mission of the members of ABATE. of Illinois is to preserve the universal right to a safe, unrestricted motorcycling environment, and to propose and advocate actions that can be taken by elected and appointed officials to protect and conserve the natural resources of the State of Illinois, and ensure through professional management that sustainable use, recreational opportunities and enjoyment of these new resources is available for this and future generations,” said ABATE of Illinois, Inc.

Motorcycles represent slightly less than 3 percent of total vehicle registrations however motorcycle fatalities approach 14 percent of all vehicle fatalities. Statistics show that about half of motorcycle rider deaths occur in single-vehicle crashes. While causes of such crashes can be many and sometimes difficult to determine, statistics reveal several problem areas over which riders themselves have a degree of control. When properly trained, they can improve their chances of a safe ride.

IDOT offers the following tips as part of the “Gear Up” campaign:

-Dress with the proper riding gear. Riders should employ the use of a quality DOT-approved helmet to protect from devastating head injuries. Goggles or glasses constructed of shatter-resistant materials will help protect eyes. Jackets, long pants and gloves constructed of sturdy material will help protect the rider’s body in case of a fall. Strong over-the-ankle footwear will help protect ankles and feet. The use of high-visibility clothing for riders is an effective tool to enhance safety by alerting other drivers of your presence.

-Utilize a reputable preventive maintenance program for motorcycle equipment. Before the first ride of the season, motorcycles should be thoroughly inspected and serviced by a professional mechanic.

-Riders should take advantage of free training opportunities to help improve riding skills and to outline proven strategies to manage the inevitable risks of the sport. IDOT will make 25,000 free Motorcycle Training Slots available for all skill levels during the 2011 training season. To learn more about the free training courses, visit http://www.startseeingmotorcycles.org/Courses.asp.

-Make sure all motorcyclists are properly licensed. About 20 percent of motorcyclists killed in crashes are not properly licensed.

-Obey traffic laws. Motorcyclists who obey traffic laws significantly improve their chances for a safe ride.

-DON’T DRINK AND RIDE. The use of alcohol plays a negative role in about 40 percent of motorcycle fatalities.

-Never ride beyond your ability. Riding skills improve with experience and training. Riders who are patient and gain these skills before trying advanced maneuvers increase their chances for a safe ride.
IDOT encourages all Illinois motorcyclists to get actively involved in creating a safe motorcycling environment for all. To learn more about IDOT’s motorcycle safety program, laws and regulations, statistics or additional educational materials please visit www.startseeingmotorcycles.org.

The Memphis Police Department Motorcycle Squad in 1925. At the point of the eleven member unit was Motorcycle Sergeant Hal V. Allen, commander of the squad.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – In 1911, the Memphis Police Department bought its first two motorcycles. A century later, the department’s motorcycle unit is still going strong.

Memphis’ motorcycle officers are marking 100 years of filling important roles within the department. After beginning with just two bikes, the unit grew as traffic increased.

Today, Maj. Greg Quinn commands two shifts of motorcycle patrol officers, each with seven patrolmen and one lieutenant. The motorcycle officers spend their time at work performing traffic control and enforcement, conducting accident investigations and – perhaps most importantly – aiming radar at speeders in school zones.

“Their work to enforce the speed limits in the school zones in the city of Memphis help protect our most precious commodity – our students,” Gerald L. Darling, chief of safety, security and emergency management for Memphis City Schools, tells The Commercial Appeal.

To qualify for the unit, officers have to complete a two-week intensive training school. They also have to be able to perform difficult maneuvers on the motorcycle.

Qualifying seems tough: Only about one quarter of those who want to be motor officers complete the training.

In one test, the candidates have to make a complete turn inside a 16-foot circle. They have to lean the bikes on their sides to make the slow turn. The officers can’t put a foot on the pavement.

Once the officers pass the tests, they face a job where injuries are common.

For example, Quinn has a steel rod and three screws in his left leg, the result of an off-duty motorcycle crash. He has had two major on-duty spills.

Like many veterans of the unit, Quinn walks with a limp. But even after several tough crashes, he couldn’t wait to get back on his bike.

“They are a special breed,” said Memphis police Col. Mary Newsom, commander over Special Operations, which includes “motors.”

“It’s a very dangerous job. They do it because they love it,” she said. “It’s not just a job; it’s what they want to do.”

Just last year, the unit struck a historic mark when it got its first female officer, Lt. Tina Halfacre. She is actually the first female motor officer in the Mid-South.

“I’ve wanted to do that for 24 years,” Halfacre said.

Operating a motorcycle, she said, “is not as dangerous as dating.”

The job is not always hazardous. Memphis’ motorcycle police also provide security at movie sets, and Quinn has passed the time with such stars as Cybill Shepherd, Reese Witherspoon and Justin Timberlake.

“It’s a lifestyle,” Quinn said. “We’re out there in the heat of summer and the cold of winter.”

A Cook County Circuit Court judge has taken the unusual step of temporarily halting at least 1,700 mortgage foreclosures after a law firm told the court that the cases contained altered documents, the Tribune has learned.

Fisher and Shapiro LLC, one of the top three law firms used by mortgage servicers to handle their local foreclosure actions, reported to the court that, in a breach of protocol, affidavits in the cases were changed. Among other things, fees were added after the documents were signed by servicers.

As a result, Moshe Jacobius, presiding judge of the Circuit Court’s Chancery Division, has stayed the cases. The delay will not necessarily prevent delinquent borrowers in Cook County from losing their homes to foreclosure, but it likely will give some homeowners time to seek assistance or to make arrangements to live elsewhere.

Instances of sloppy paperwork and improper foreclosure procedures by mortgage servicers and their law firms have rocked the lending industry, which has been overwhelmed by the number of cases. There have been instances of lenders and lawyers signing foreclosure affidavits without reviewing the documents for accuracy, a legal violation that has come to be known as robo-signing.

Accusations of shoddy foreclosure procedures have sparked investigations by all 50 attorneys general and individual state agencies into mortgage servicers’ and attorneys’ back-office procedures.

Read the rest of the article at Chicago Tribune

Here are some tech gadgets you can pitch, according to the article:
1. Desktop computer: When the one you have now goes bad, should you really replace it? Laptops meet most people’s computing power needs and you won’t be tied down to one spot.

2. Camcorder: Smartphones can capture video and new digital S.L.R. cameras (such as the Canon EOS Rebel T1i) can shoot in full high-definition video and you’ll even be able to use the interchangeable lenses for still images and use it for video to capture close ups.

3. USB Thumb Drive: You don’t need to carry hardware that could be lost or broken to share files any longer. Instead save and exchange your files by using the cloud, such as with services like DropboxYahoo Mail, or other e-mail accounts.

4. GPS Unit: Your smartphone can do the same thing and it’s cheaper. For example, Android smartphones already come built-in with Google’s turn-by-turn navigation app. The iPhone offers plenty of GPS apps too, such as the Navigon’s MobileNavigator (which starts at $30) or

Gustavson, who has tried and failed to repeal the law in the last five legislative sessions, says more people will attend events like the Laughlin River Run and Reno Street Vibrations – spending lots of cash – if helmets aren’t required.

He cites stats from Florida, which recorded a $2.8 billion increase in motorcycle sales reported by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in the five years after its helmet law was repealed in 2000. Gustavson predicts a $56 million increase in the sales of motorcycles in Nevada following a helmet law repeal, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. But helmet law supporters point out that accidents also increased.

Guatavson’s Senate Bill 177 would require all riders and passengers under age 21 to wear helmets. Motorcyclists over 21 could ride without helmets, as long as they have at least one year of experience and passed an approved motorcycle safety course. He wants to amend it to take effect upon passage and approval, which he hopes will happen before The Laughlin River Run starts April 27.

Committee members John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, and Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, are repeal bill co-sponsors.