Motorcycle Lobby Day
January 17, 2014
I want to remind everyone that this Monday is Motorcycle Lobby Day at
the Virginia General Assembly. This is a holiday so many people are
off. That morning, Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists lobbyists, as
well as members of other state motorcycle rights organizations,
independent motorcyclists and any other interested people will go to the
Virginia General Assembly to speak to the Delegates and Senators about
upcoming legislation that affects motorcyclists in Virginia.
On Sunday January 19, from 12:00 p.m. until we get through, Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists lobbyists will lead an informational meeting at the Four Points by Sheraton at 4700 South Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23231 to discuss this year's legislation affecting motorcyclists. We will also discuss how to talk to your legislators about these issues in case you have never done that. Later that evening, attendees will enjoy a free homemade BBQ dinner.
On Monday the 20th, we leave the hotel at 8:00 a.m. sharp for our annual trip to the Capitol. After lobbying our legislators, we will head to Penny Lane Pub where Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group takes everyone to lunch as a thank you for coming to support Virginia Motorcyclists.
This year we have numerous bills of interest to Virginia motorcyclists. We have two bills to modify the definition of a motorcycle, and to create a new classification of motor vehicles called autocycles. In recent years we have seen numerous three wheeled vehicles on the market which are, for all purposes, three wheeled cars. They are controlled by a steering wheel as well as a foot controlled brake and throttle. Yet under current Virginia law these vehicles are motorcycles. There is legislation to make these vehicles autocycles and to further clarify the definition of a motorcycle.
On Sunday January 19, from 12:00 p.m. until we get through, Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists lobbyists will lead an informational meeting at the Four Points by Sheraton at 4700 South Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23231 to discuss this year's legislation affecting motorcyclists. We will also discuss how to talk to your legislators about these issues in case you have never done that. Later that evening, attendees will enjoy a free homemade BBQ dinner.
On Monday the 20th, we leave the hotel at 8:00 a.m. sharp for our annual trip to the Capitol. After lobbying our legislators, we will head to Penny Lane Pub where Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group takes everyone to lunch as a thank you for coming to support Virginia Motorcyclists.
This year we have numerous bills of interest to Virginia motorcyclists. We have two bills to modify the definition of a motorcycle, and to create a new classification of motor vehicles called autocycles. In recent years we have seen numerous three wheeled vehicles on the market which are, for all purposes, three wheeled cars. They are controlled by a steering wheel as well as a foot controlled brake and throttle. Yet under current Virginia law these vehicles are motorcycles. There is legislation to make these vehicles autocycles and to further clarify the definition of a motorcycle.
As always, there will be numerous bills submitted at the last minute
which will negatively affect motorcycling. As these bills are filed, we
will be able to identify them and discuss them at lobby day so that we
can convince the legislators why they are bad bills. Those who have
participated in Lobby Day in the past remember bills that we have killed
such as the one that would have required proof of insurance before one
person could sell another person a motorcycle, even if the person buying
the motorcycle had no intention of putting the bike on the road. We
killed that one with the help of all of those who participated at Lobby
Day. A few years ago we also defeated a bill that would have prohibited
children under eight from riding on a motorcycle as a passenger by
pointing out that the law improperly infringed on the rights and
responsibilities of parents. Those at Lobby Day also pointed out the
fact that in the prior ten years not a single child under eight was
killed on a motorcycle.
I encourage everyone who can to join us. It is a lot of fun, it is educational, and most importantly it shows the legislators that motorcyclists are a significant and active portion of the electorate.
For more information you can call VCOM at (800) 437-9434. For Room Reservations call (804) 226-4300. As the hotel accommodations were just secured, room blocks may not be available until after December 15. We hope to see you at lobby day.
Matt Danielson
McGrath & Danielson
Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group
1-800-321-8968
Motorcyclelawgroup.com
I encourage everyone who can to join us. It is a lot of fun, it is educational, and most importantly it shows the legislators that motorcyclists are a significant and active portion of the electorate.
For more information you can call VCOM at (800) 437-9434. For Room Reservations call (804) 226-4300. As the hotel accommodations were just secured, room blocks may not be available until after December 15. We hope to see you at lobby day.
Matt Danielson
McGrath & Danielson
Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group
1-800-321-8968
Motorcyclelawgroup.com
