“By Bonnie West, EditorLast Thursday, hundreds of motorcyclists converged on Olympia on a day known as Black Thursday–for the protective black leather they wear.It has been a traditonal gathering for motorcyclists for the last ten years to get legislators to pay attention to laws on the books that affect them–sometimes adversely.For example, riders would like to see the Blue Dot Taillight Bill changed. Forty years ago motorcycles had a blue-colored dot of light in the red taillight that generated contrast so the motorcyclist stood out among cars and trucks at night. The modern law on the books says the taillight must be red only. An officer will pull over a rider and issue a ticket if he sees a contrasting blue dot of light in a motorcycle taillight–unless the motorcycle is 40- years-old.Among last Thursday’s motorcyclists was Scott Bourne, president and CEO of the Scott Bourne Companies, including the Scott Bourne Consulting Group, out of Tacoma.Bourne, who rides an Indian cruising-style motorcycle, rode to the capitol as a suit, and met with a number of legislators about laws on the books and upcoming bills affecting motorcyclists, including the Motorcycle Rider’s Education Bill that will be heard at the capitol this afternoon.Riding has been a big part to my since I was 14-years-old, Bourne said. I’ve been riding longer than driving cars or dating women. So it’s one thing I’m pretty good at.Bourne said he decided to support the efforts of Black Thursday participants because he believes that motorcyclists are unfairly profiled by the police.They’ve pulled me over to see if I’m wearing a legal helmet, and they use that as an enforcement tool to run my plates and check my license, he said.Bourne, who said he’s never been issued a ticket, said he wears a $500 helmet, not a beanie style that motorcyclists use to skirt around the helmet laws. Some of the beanies are legal, some are not. This year the Washington Road Riders Association (WRRA) and several other organizations have different bills either filed or that will be in an attempt to stem the tide of some of this, he added.The Washington Road Riders Association is a Non-Profit Corporation, formed by motivated riders dedicated to the protection of motorcycling within the Legislative and Political arenas. The WRRA Web site can be visited at: http://www.roadriders.org, for more information and for meeting times. “