National Motorists Association
Encyclopedia
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".
, which was their chief cause until its successful repeal in 1995. The National Motorists Association name was adopted in the late 1980s.
s 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.
The NMA also provides an audio program called "Guerrilla Ticket Fighter" and other web resources to its customers.
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.
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. and based in Waunakee, Wisconsin, for the purposes of carrying out research, education and litigation that advances and enhances individual mobility.. The latest available financial report dates from 2006.
in 1923.
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 LawNational Maximum Speed Law
The National Maximum Speed Law in the United States was a provision of the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act that prohibited speed limits higher than . It was drafted in response to oil price spikes and supply disruptions during the 1973 oil crisis...
, 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 ticketTraffic ticket
A traffic ticket is a notice issued by a law enforcement official to a motorist or other road user, accusing violation of traffic laws. Traffic tickets generally come in two forms, citing a moving violation, such as exceeding the speed limit, or a non-moving violation, such as a parking violation,...
s 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.
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.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.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 corporationCorporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
which thereby allows it to engage in a full range of political activities. As such, it is not a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. 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. and based in Waunakee, Wisconsin, for the purposes of carrying out research, education and litigation that advances and enhances individual mobility.. The latest available financial report dates from 2006.
Previous usage
The National Motorists Association was also the name of an older automobile club in the United States, founded in 1922 which merged with the American Automobile AssociationAmerican Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
in 1923.