Save the Texas Dune Buggy

[faron]

We have been working on this project for over a year & we have accomplished a lot. But we are not finished yet.
Thousands of dollars have been raised. (All Funds Raised go to support Save the Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail & Kitcar. If you would like to donate, PayPal Faron@savethetexasdunebuggy.com or you can send in a check.)
Thousands of hours have been donated.
We hired the Lobbyist who is credited with getting the Polaris Slingshot Legal in the State of Texas. We have attended multiple TxDMV Board Meetings.
Attended 3 Working Group Meetings that the TxDMV Board, directed the Director of the TxDMV Title & Registration division to organize. (SEMA, as well as Factory 5 Racing, were both involved. SEMA is still keeping a close eye on the situation.)
Attended a Sunset Commission Meeting. (Where we were a topic of concern.)
Talked to just about everyone in the Texas State Capitol Building. (Most of whom do not understand why the TxDMV arbitrarily made this rule WITHOUT their direction)
Written hundreds of letters to Executives at the TxDMV.
Written hundreds of letters to Legislators.
Held a Rally on the South Lawn of the Texas State Capitol Building where Bruce & Winnie Meyers, the inventor of the Dune Buggy Attended. Mike & Lorie Ann Dario the President & Secretary of the International Manx Club with over 5000 members were also in attendance.
We have a Bill Written that we assume will be on the Docket of the next Legislative Session that starts in January of 2019.
All that, & we still have work to do! At the moment everything is pretty quiet due to a "Christmas Coma" & I assume that it will stay this way until after the first of the year. But that does not stop the bill that comes in every month to pay Ron our Lobbysit. Ron our Lobbyist still needs a monthly check & we are shy at the moment, please donate if you can. PayPal to faron@savethetexasdunebuggy.com We have come this far because of Rons guidance & hard work, it would be a shame if he had to slow down or quit because we can no longer pay him. Please help if you can.
Not long ago we asked that all of our fellow Texas Dune Buggy Owners send an email with their Name, City/Town, & Zip Code to faron@savethetexasdunebuggy.com for our records. We will also be sending specific updates that we would like to keep from the public eye AKA the prying eyes of the TxDMV who are still closely monitoring what we are doing. As of the time, this is being written, we only have 52 people on that list. We really need your help! Please send the above info to faron@savethetexasdunebuggy.com
The way we see it... we are in the third quarter of the Superbowl & the odds are in our favor. But we still need to continue to bring our A game. PLEASE HELP WHERE YOU CAN!

[jhkinca]

Faron,
You are doing an incredible job and I hope everyone recognizes the efforts. I would encourage people to donate what they can; all donations big or small add up (Remember 20 nickels make a dollar). Cheers and Happy Holidays to you and your family.

[faron]

Monday, January 21st, 2019, Ron our Lobbyist, gave us an update. He said that the Newly appointed Texas State Senate Transportation Committee for the 86th Legislative session was announced. That is good news as it means that they will finally get things underway, we hope.
Chair: Sen. Robert Nichols, Jacksonville
Vice Chair: Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills
Members: Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston
Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D- Edinburg
Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, R-Brenham
Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
Sen. José R. Rodríguez, D-El Paso
Sen. Charles Schwertner, R- Georgetown
Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas
As of the time that I am writing this, our Bill is being rewritten by Attorneys, once they have put everything into the "legal language", it will be presented to us in order to look over and make any corrections we feel might be necessary. We will post when this happens.
After the Attorneys have done their due diligence Texas State Senator Ed Thompson (R) District 29 will present our Bill to the Texas State House Transportation Committee.
After the House Transportation Committee, the Bill will be presented to the Texas State Senate Transportation Committee.
Once both the House & Senate Transportation Committees have passed our Bill. It will be presented to both the House as well as the Senate Floor for Debate.
At this point, you are probably asking yourself what you can be doing while this LONG process takes place.
Most importantly, you can follow along on the "Save the Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail, & Kitcar Facebook page.
Be prepared to attend any meetings that we ask you to attend. (On the Save the Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail, & Kitcar Facebook Page.) So get those dress clothes to the cleaners in order to be prepared, we HAVE GOT TO HAVE LARGER NUMBERS show up to the meetings we ask you to attend than we have in the past. Remember there is strength in numbers.
It is understood that it feels a lot like we are asking everyone to sit on our hands, seeing how we were all so individually active a few months back. But sending letters & making calls at this time very well could do more harm than good at this point. As each Legislator is getting bombarded and their time is very limited right now. What we need to do is let Ron (Our Lobbyist) do the job we are paying him for. I have been with him in Downtown Austin on more than one occasion, it seems everyone who walks around downtown Austin, knows who Ron is & knows who he represents. It's pretty close to being with a Rock Star. LOL
Lastly, we NEED YOUR continued donations! Please keep in mind that all proceeds go to fund the fight & we can not do this without your donations. If you would like to make a donation, please donate to our PayPal Account at the faron@savethetexasdunebuggy.com account.

[manxvair]

Faron & Ron, Thank you so much for all your continued hard work on this effort. We are at a time when we all need to roll up our sleeves and get this effort pushed over the top of this mountain. To all of you that can Please help and donate whatever amount you can to help, no amount is to small. This effort directly affects our hobby! if we lose the ability to own a buggy in Texas, what state is next! Please follow Faron's link and donate, "United we stand, divided we fall"

[rzeller]

Donation sent from coastal (Wilmington) Carolina. Keep up the good fight.

[faron]

We just got some GREAT NEWS!!! Rep Ed Thompson who has agreed to Sponsor our bill to the House was just named as a Texas State House Transportation Committee Member! This is the committee where our bill is to be referred for discussion. That's a win!

[faron]

It has been a pretty active day for us at the Texas State Capitol, as we have a little more news regarding Save the Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail & Kitcar. We have confirmation as to who it is that is trying to rid Texas roads from Dune Buggies, Sandrails & Kitcars. The lobbyist for TADA (Texas Automobile Dealers Association) spoke with Ron (our lobbyist) at the Capitol & told him TADA is opposing our bill. Even though the bill has not been filed & they have not had the opportunity to read a word of it.
"The Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) is the statewide trade association representing over 1,300 franchised automobile dealerships in nearly 300 communities throughout the state of Texas.TADA advocates on behalf of the dealers at the Texas Legislature, Congress, and all regulatory agencies.”
For those of you who do not know General Counsel for TADA has been involved with this issue from the start, yet they have been VERY Closed lipped at EVERY MEETING!
When discussions on the safety of our cars was brought up, and we asked how a Dune Buggy, Sandrail or Kitcar was less Safe then a Motorcycle. Tada had nothing to say.
When we asked why the TxDMV felt that a Assembled Vehicle was less safe than that of a Motorcycle, Hot Rod, Rat Rod, etc., and the TxDMV responded with "Those vehicles are in a different catagory". TADA had nothing to say.
When we asked the TxDMV for data to PROVE that our Vehicles were unsafe. TADA had nothing to say.
When we showed the TxDMV that NHTSA had written a letter talking about how an Assembled Vehicle was not governed by the Federal Government, & that it was up to the individual State to regulate them. TADA had nothing to say.
When we showed Graphics of how other categories of vehicles modified their chassis in much the same way as a person did for an Original Dune Buggy, and the TxDMV only said that those vehicles were in a different category. TADA had nothing to say.
When Jeremiah Kuntz, the Director of the Vehicle Titles & Registration Division for the TxDMV directly asked TADA General Counsel what they had to say about the 3 Working Group Meetings that were set up by the TxDMV Board of Directors. TADA had nothing to say.
Of all the time and money that has been spent thus far during both Working Group Meetings as well as TxDMV Board Meetings that TADA has been DIRECTLY INVOLVED in. TADA has had nothing to say.
Fast forward to today when their lobbyist told ours, that TADA will be opposing our bill BEFORE they have even had a chance to read it. Stating that they are doing so because they heard they were unsafe automobiles. This is 100% disgusting, Friends!
Folks, we now have absolute confirmation who our enemy is! At the right time we will need EVERYONE to call their legislator and give them the facts. They need to hear from US the Builders & Owners what the facts are in regards to our vehicles, and NOT the distorted arguments that TADA will give.
The FIGHT is on, & that is all we have for now!

[5150bossman]

By remaining silent, TADA is most likely trying to divert attention away from themselves as the bad guys while still appearing neutral and influencing the Texas State Legislature's decision through what is most likely a massive behind-the-scenes lobbying effort (you wonder what kind of back room deals and payoffs are being made, which should be of extreme concern on our part). TADA needs to be pressed to explain exactly what their motivation is (selling more cars?...) since there is no proof that our cars are so dangerous that they should be removed from the road. I would also ask for how the differences between the kit car and hotrod categories relates to the overall safety of each to clarify the differences as to why one is OK, and the other should be banned.

And how does TADA have any standing on the issue anyway?

[faron]

And how does TADA have any standing on the issue anyway?

TADA is a very well funded Special Interest Group. They were able to fight Tesla and won.

[faron]

Senator, Pat Fallon of District 30 or the Wichita Falls Area is looking at lending a hand to Save the Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail & Kitcar, but first, he would like to see a list of names of people who live in his District 30. If you are open to helping the cause in this way, please email me your contact information to faron@savethetexasdunebuggy.com ASAP. https://www.texastribune.org/directory/ ... senate/30/

[faron]

Okay, Ladies & Gentlemen things are starting to heat up & we are going to ask that you to get involved in order to help in one way or another. As of this moment, we are looking for people who call District 87 home, to email your information to faronsmith70@gmail.com (We are looking for Name, City/Town, County, Email, & Phone number). That information will be forwarded to your State Senator in order to show that he/she has constituents (or voters) in his district that are interested in this issue. The more we have the BETTER!

[5150bossman]

Are you forwarding this request to other groups with web sites that this legislation will affect? The more the merrier!

[faron]

Are you forwarding this request to other groups with web sites that this legislation will affect? The more the merrier!

I am doing all I can, if you can think of some that you feel it should be sent to I would appreciate it!

[faron]

This is the moment, that we have all been waiting for! Our bill has been introduced by Representative Ed Thompson of House District 29. The bill number is 86 (R) HB1755 , just click the link and you will be able to read it. Rep. Thompson is VERY enthusiastic about our bill, especially after reading some of the transcripts of the Board Meeting that we have attended.
We are still in talks with a couple of Senate Members, but we haven't narrowed it down to just one member to introduce our bill to the Texas State Senate as of the close of business today!
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/b ... 01755I.htm

[faron]

We have some extraordinary news for you this morning! We got word yesterday evening that Senator Bryan Hughes will file the Senate companion bill to HB 1755! This is such incredible news. I told you that we were starting to pick up steam! We now have the bill ready to be voted on in both the House & the Senate! Feeling GREAT!

Check out his outstanding resume!

Occupation: Attorney
Education: BBA, the University of Texas at Tyler; JD, Baylor University School of Law
Legislative Experience: House Member, 2003 - 2017; Senate Member: 2017 - present
Hometown: Mineola
Party: Republican
Senator Bryan Hughes is serving his first term in the Texas Senate, representing the 16 coun­ties of Senate District One in Northeast Texas. He previously represented District Five in the Texas House.
Born and raised in East Texas, Bryan attended Tyler Junior College and the University of Texas at Tyler, receiving his BBA in Economics, cum laude, and becoming the first member of his family to receive a Bachelor’s degree. He later graduated from Baylor University School of Law and served as law clerk to U.S. District Judge William Steger of Tyler before entering private practice.
He has received numerous awards for his work in the Legislature, including the Taxpayer Champion Award from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Horizon Award from Texas Right to Life. He also has been named Defender of the American Dream by Americans for Prosperity and Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business. Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored Senator Hughes as 2017 Legislator of the Year.
Senator Hughes promotes individual opportunity and personal liberty so that everyone can experience the American Dream.