National Motorists Association

The National Motorists Association (NMA) is a grassroots organization whose revenue is membership- and donation-driven. It was created in 1982 to "to represent and protect the interests of North American motorists", and advocates a "Motorist Bill of Rights".^[1]

History

The NMA, originally called the Citizens Coalition for Rational Traffic Laws (CCRTL), was founded in 1982 to advocate against the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Law,^[2] which was their chief cause until its successful repeal in 1995. The National Motorists Association name was adopted in the late 1980s.

Traffic Justice Program

The NMA encourages motorists to challenge all traffic tickets in court.

To promote this, through its Traffic Justice Program, the NMA offers to pay the fines for customers who challenge their speeding tickets in court and are subsequently found guilty. This offer is limited to US$300, once per subscription year.^[3]

The NMA also provides an audio program called "Guerrilla Ticket Fighter" and other web resources to its customers.

Civil Obedience Days

In the 1980s and '90s, the NMA would advertise a "Civil Obedience Day" where some drivers would travel in a caravan at the posted speed limit on a few local highways. The purpose was to illustrate that the current speed limit was unreasonably low. By purposely leaving the far left lane open for cars to pass, the volume of cars passing the caravan and the large amount of cars behind it, proved the point.^[4][5]

Other efforts

In cooperation with GetMADD.com, the NMA offered a $20,000 reward to anyone who could substantiate the NHTSA and MADD's statistics on impaired-driver fatalities.^[6]

The NMA operates a speedtrap registry and a roadblock registry where people can post the locations of known speed traps and road blocks. It opposes the installation of red light cameras.

Corporate status

The NMA is a closely held corporation which thereby allows it to engage in a full range of political activities. As such, it is not a non-profit organization. The NMA president, James J. Baxter, is also chairman of the National Motorists Association Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1999.^[7] and based in Waunakee, Wisconsin, for the purposes of carrying out research, education and litigation that advances and enhances individual mobility.^[8]. The latest available financial report dates from 2006.^[7]

Previous usage

The National Motorists Association was also the name of an older automobile club in the United States, founded in 1922^[9] which merged with the American Automobile Association in 1923.

See also

• ABATE

References

1. ^ ""About Us"". http://www.motorists.org/aboutus/. Retrieved 2008-10-25. ""About the NMA"" 
2. ^ ""About Us"". http://www.motorists.org/aboutus/. Retrieved 2008-10-25. ""The National Motorists Association (NMA) was founded in 1982 to represent and protect the interests of North American motorists. We began by combating the 55-mph National Maximum Speed Limit "" 
3. ^ "The NMA's Traffic Justice Program". National Motorists Association. http://www.motorists.org/join/traffic_justice_program.html. 
4. ^ Buckley, Stephen (September 30, 1991). "They Drive 55 to Go Like 60 - and More; Md. Protesters Use I-95 to Push the Limit". Washington, D.C.. pp. d.06. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74739647.html?dids=74739647:74739647&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+30%2C+1991&author=Stephen+Buckley&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=They+Drive+55+to+Go+Like+60+-+and+More%3B+Md.+Protesters+Use+I-95+to+Push+the+Limit&pqatl=google. Retrieved 24 February 2010. 
5. ^ Meredith, Robyn (February 18, 1996). "Drivers Seek Higher Speed In Michigan By Going Slow". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/18/us/drivers-seek-higher-speed-in-michigan-by-going-slow.html. Retrieved 24 February 2010. 
6. ^ "GetMADD.com Reward Statement". http://www.getmadd.com/20000reward.htm. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "IRS Form 990 submitted by National Motorists Assn Foundation" (PDF). National Motorists Association. http://www.motorists.org/nmaf/nmaffinancials2006.pdf. 
8. ^ "About The NMA Foundation". National Motorists Association. http://www.motorists.org/nmaf/. 
9. ^ "National Motorists’ Association Forms". Los Angeles Times. June 21, 1922. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/331053732.html?dids=331053732:331053732&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+21%2C+1922&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=NATIONAL+MOTORISTS%27+ASSOCIATION+FORMS&pqatl=google. Retrieved 24 February 2010. 

External links

• National Motorists Association
• NMA's 1996 "Civil Obedience Day" in Michigan