Open Letter to Motorcyclists

March 3, 2007

To All Motorcyclists:

New York Freedom Riders R.A.C.E., Riders Against Constitutional Erosion, is an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring personal freedoms, liberties, and individual rights. Our members also monitor current legislation being introduced into the New York State Assembly and Senate to insure our rights are not being taken away. We have found a bill that we feel is discriminating and can jeopardize your right as an individual and is the reason why we are contacting you.

Assembly bill A04755 and Senate bill S01739 states: Authorizes the superintendent of state police to establish and maintain a statewide gang database consisting of information pertaining to criminal street gang members in order to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in the apprehension and prosecution of such criminal street gang members.

The reason given for these bills to be written are as follows: “Gang members are always looking to expand their gang's membership or turf. This legislation would allow the State police to establish a database for all law enforcement agencies in New York State to use in fighting gangs. Many gangs send members from one area to another to recruit members, sell/buy guns, drugs or other stolen property where their members are not well known. This would create one source for law enforcement agencies to check when they arrest or suspect new individual(s) in their area of committing gang-related crimes.”

In these bills it classifies “gang” as an individual who is a member of a formal or informal group, club, organization, or association of three or more individuals who participate, or agree to participate, in criminal activity. It also states the database will contain information on individuals who affiliate with the person who has been arrested and the statewide database will be used for investigations, apprehensions, and prosecution of individuals. We feel New York State does not have the right to compile files and prosecute individuals on what others have done. “Guilt by association” should never be used as a legal excuse to prosecute.

New York Freedom Riders will be monitoring this bill and we will inform you of any developments that may occur. If you have any questions pertaining to this bill or any bills that you feel take away your rights, please contact us at: nyfreedomriders@localnet.com or visit our website at: www.newyorkfreedomriders.com.

Thank you,

Bill Cox, President

New York Freedom Riders