National Motorists Association Blog

Dear NMA Members,

I wish to echo Lauren’s sentiments regarding the honor and privilege of being asked to serve
as the Executive Director of Policy for the National Motorists Association. Almost a decade
and a half ago, I saw a story about how stop sign cameras were unfairly ticketing visitors to a
local park system in LA. I knew little about motorist issues or political advocacy at the time,
but I did know a bully when I saw one.

Through my efforts to expose what was clearly not a safety program but a revenue scam, I
became acquainted with Gary Biller and the NMA. Little did I know that this would lead to a
successful effort to rid the City of Los Angeles (and many other California cities) of red light
cameras and to eventually fight for motorists’ interests throughout California.

I also never imagined that one day I’d be asked to help lead this great organization into the
future.

As Lauren mentioned, being entrusted with the NMA and its legacy is a huge responsibility,
one we don’t take lightly. This is especially true considering the real and growing threats to
our driving freedoms. This may seem somewhat hyperbolic, but I have never been more
concerned about the curtailment of our freedom to go where we want, when we want, and
how we want, free from government attempts to make our driving experience as difficult and
expensive as possible.

Years ago, I visited the Soviet Union and was shocked that citizens needed the government’s
permission to journey throughout the country. Forty years later, we are on the verge of similar
constraints on Americans’ right to travel using our personal automobiles. Here, the restrictions
are a bit more subtle.

Whether it’s the imposition of ridiculously low speed limits coupled with a proliferation of
automated ticketing machines to penalize us for the simple act of driving, removal of travel
lanes to back up traffic, a tax on every mile we drive, banning of internal combustion engines
to eliminate our choice of vehicles, kill switches, congestion taxes and car-free zones, or a
host of other schemes to get us out of our cars, the goal is the same – complete control over
our freedom of movement.

Our vow to you is that this will not stand. We will never give in to the tyranny of the anti-car
movement. This year, we will embark on a media blitz to increase awareness of the NMA and
its mission. The words “cars” and “automobiles” should immediately invoke thoughts of the
National Motorists Association. Likewise, when elected officials consider legislation, they
should immediately think, “What do the NMA and its members have to say about this?”

But to accomplish this, we all need to redouble our efforts. Your loyal servants at the NMA,
dedicated as we are, can only do so much. We are going to need your help, both time-wise
and financially. We need more members and volunteers to help in our grassroots advocacy,
and we need the resources to implement that advocacy.

We can win the war on cars – and we must – because the alternative is too frightening to
imagine: A world without the use of our personal automobiles, meaning a world without
freedom.

Lauren and I are committed to preventing that future. We ask that each of you actively join us.

Sincerely,

Jay Beeber
Executive Director of Policy
National Motorists Association