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CORD

Coloradans Organized for Responsible Driving

October 31, 2019 By Scott O'Sullivan Leave a Comment

Scott O'Sullivan - The O'Sullivan Law Firm, motorcycle accident attorneys
Scott O’Sullivan

In February of 2016, Brian and Jacquie Lehner were riding their Harley-Davidson on Highway 83 near Franktown when an oncoming driver crossed the double-yellow line and hit them head-on. Both of the Lehners were killed. The driver, Athina Munoz, was found by police to be texting while driving, and she was also high on multiple substances.

Susan Dane was friends with the Lehners, having met them through her Harley-Davidson Chapter in Parker.

“The summer after they died, I told our Chapter members, ‘Something good has to come out of this!’” says Susan. “I looked up the penalties for texting and driving in Colorado and discovered that it was only $50 and one point. We were all shocked and realized we had to get that changed.”

Photo from a strategy meeting before the 2018 legislative session.

Dane understood that Colorado’s laws were not strict enough to make anyone change their habits, meaning more people could die due to texting and driving. But she didn’t know how to change laws. She had never been involved in any legislative efforts in her life.

Therefore, Susan and a few of the Lehners’ other friends requested a meeting with George Brauchler, the district attorney who had prosecuted Athina Munoz. 

“He said we had two options to change the law,” says Susan. “Either we could create legislation and try to get it passed through the Colorado legislature, or we could try to get signatures on a petition and get it on the ballot. He told us legislation would probably easier.”

CORD was Born

Knowing this would take an organized, grassroots effort, Susan and several other motorcycle riders founded CORD: Coloradans Organized for Responsible Driving.

“My role was to go out and find bills that had been introduced or laws that had passed in other states,” says Susan. “I discovered that there was a bill moving forward in Colorado that year! Senator Lois Court had introduced the bill, so I gathered a bunch of bikers to show up and testify on behalf of the bill.”

Susan laughs a bit when she thinks of that day. “When Senator Court saw us all walk in the room – all these motorcycle riders – she was afraid we’d be against the legislation because bikers are typically against more restrictive laws, such as helmet laws. But then we all started telling our stories and she realized we were on her side.”

CORD and Senator Court worked together to cross party lines and get a bill passed that year. It was a victory but, according to Susan, still not enough.

“It was a small victory,” says Susan. “We got the fines increased but it was a very hard law to enforce. Basically, the only way to get pulled over and ticketed is if you’re texting while driving, and you’re driving carelessly, and a police officer sees you.”

(I also testified at that first public hearing and have been working with CORD and Senator Court to pass stricter texting-while-driving laws.)

Sadly, a stricter bill was quickly killed in 2018. But everyone involved agreed that they had to keep trying in 2019. Their first goal was to expand awareness and support of their efforts.

“We got insurance companies, AAA, C-DOT, the bicycle communities and so many others involved,” says Susan. “So many people want safer roads!”

The 2019 bill made it through the Colorado Senate but was killed in the first House committee it faced.

“The opposition seems to come from a perceived profiling concern, and because not everybody can afford a Bluetooth-enabled car,” says Susan, who explains that she has hard data refuting the profiling concern, and that there are many ways to go hands-free in any car.

“We aren’t going away!” she proclaims, insisting that CORD and many others will be back for the next legislative session to get an impactful, habit-changing law passed.

“In my perfect world, I would like to see a fine of $500 and 4 points for the first offense, escalating from there for each additional offense,” she says. “This is just as bad as drunk driving! As a comparison, we have a $1,000 fine for littering!”

Want Safer Roads? Get Involved!

Susan would love to hear from anyone interested in supporting CORD’s efforts, and she understands how intimidating it can be to join the legislative process.

“It’s an eye opener,” she says. “I’ve never done anything like this before. Social studies was not my cup of tea in school so I’m making up for it now. Honestly, it’s very interesting and I have seen how average people can make a difference.”

If you’d like to follow CORD’s work, visit them on Facebook. You can also email Susan directly: sdane@caresynergynetwork.org

Filed Under: Legal, Magazine, Safety Tagged With: 11/19, CORD, Legislation, Scott O'Sullivan, Susan Dane

Honoring Our Military

June 5, 2019 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

This issue will focus a lot on veterans and their upcoming events up in June. The Freedom Fest, Brotherhood of Veterans, Combat Vets and many more have events that will help our veterans with hands on services and boots on the ground assistance here in Colorado. It has always been my policy to donate and support charities that help actual residents and not send my funds to a charity outside of my local community.

[Read more…] about Honoring Our Military

Filed Under: From the Publisher, Magazine, Perspective Tagged With: 06/19, ABATE, BikerDown, CORD, Laurie Montoya, Letter From the Publisher, Rider Justice

6th Annual Look Twice Save a Life

May 2, 2019 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

There is rarely a weekend in Colorado’s riding season that riders don’t ride for a good charity or cause. Motorcycle riders have always been the go-to group when a charity needs assistance. At the same time, our community also suffers an epidemic of motorcycle accidents and fatalities and the community outside of ours, rarely steps up to help us.

[Read more…] about 6th Annual Look Twice Save a Life

Filed Under: Events, Magazine, Non-Profit Tagged With: 05/19, ABATE, BikerDown, CDOT, CORD, Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, Look Twice Save a Life

6th Annual Look Twice Save a Life

April 3, 2019 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

It is a well-known fact that the general public doesn’t watch for motorcycles no matter how many billboards CDOT puts up or lighted signs that are only up a few days in May or in August during Sturgis. It is a well-known fact that most motorcycle accidents involve a car and/or some sort of distracted driving. Our riding community continues to be the victim of irresponsible drivers who are out driving with no driver’s license and little to no insurance and driver’s leaving accident victims on the ground and leaving the scene.

[Read more…] about 6th Annual Look Twice Save a Life

Filed Under: Community, Events, Magazine, Non-Profit Tagged With: 04/19, BikerDown, CORD, Laurie Montoya, Look Twice Save a Life, Motorcycle Awareness Month

SB19-012 Passes the first round

March 12, 2019 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

By: Susan Dane, Coloradans Organized for Responsible Driving (CORD)

Senate Bill 19-012 (SB19-012), Use of Electronic Mobile Devices While Driving, passed the Senate & Energy Committee on February 14 with a unanimous “Yes” vote. [Read more…] about SB19-012 Passes the first round

Filed Under: Legal, Magazine, Safety Tagged With: 03/19, Colorado Legislation, CORD, O'Sullivan Law, Rider Justice, Scott O'Sullivan, Susan Dane

Distracted Driving in Colorado: I’m Still Fighting the Good Fight

February 2, 2019 By Scott O'Sullivan Leave a Comment

Scott talks with Susan Dane before testifying in favor of SB19-012 on January 24, 2019.

For several years now, I have been working with Susan Dane of CORD
and with Colorado Senator Lois Court to end distracted driving in Colorado. We’ve had some successes: it is now illegal to text while driving in Colorado and we were able to increase the fines last year to levels that should change behaviors. [Read more…] about Distracted Driving in Colorado: I’m Still Fighting the Good Fight

Filed Under: Legal, Magazine, Perspective Tagged With: 02/19, CORD, Legal, Perspective, Rider Justice, Scott O'Sullivan, Westword

Driving Laws Must Keep Pace with Technology

September 7, 2018 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

By: Susan Dane, CORD Chair

CORD, along with ABATE, Biker Down, Bicycle Colorado, Bike Blue, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the Property & Casualty Insurance Association of America, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Transportation, AAA and Colorado Drive Safe will be meeting with Senator Lois Court and her Bill Drafter at the end of November to talk about reviving the “Use of Electronic Mobile Devices While Driving” Bill that did not make it through the legislature in 2018. [Read more…] about Driving Laws Must Keep Pace with Technology

Filed Under: Legal, Magazine Tagged With: 09/18, ABATE, BikerDown, Colorado Legislation, CORD, Susan Dane

I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency)

July 7, 2018 By Colorado Rider News Leave a Comment

By: Susan Dane, CORD Chair

A few weeks ago, a local couple was in a single vehicle motorcycle accident while riding with a group. After the couple was transported to the hospital, it took the remaining group members hours (and I mean HOURS) to find emergency contact information so that relatives could be contacted. [Read more…] about I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency)

Filed Under: Community, Magazine, Safety Tagged With: 07/18, CORD, ICE, Susan Dane

Look Twice, Save A Life Ride: Success!

May 31, 2018 By Laurie Montoya Leave a Comment

As an avid rider and Founder of BikerDown, a non-profit that supports motorcycle riders who have been injured, May: Motorcycle Awareness Month is a big deal to me. Each year the number of deaths for riders on Colorado roads continues to grow, and we must do everything we can to stop – and reverse – that trend! [Read more…] about Look Twice, Save A Life Ride: Success!

Filed Under: From the Publisher, Magazine, Non-Profit Tagged With: 06/18, BikerDown, CORD, Laurie Montoya, Look Twice

Coloradans Organized for Responsible Driving

May 2, 2018 By Colorado Rider News 1 Comment

By:  Susan Dane

Coloradans Organized for Responsible Driving (CORD) was formed when our friends, Brian and Jacquie Lehner, were killed on their motorcycle in February 2016  in a head-on collision by a woman who was reading a text message when her car drifted across the double yellow lines and hit Brian and Jacquie.  [Read more…] about Coloradans Organized for Responsible Driving

Filed Under: Legal, Magazine Tagged With: 05/18, CORD, Legislation, Susan Dane

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