These are sayings out of the book Sit Down, Shut Up & Hang On!
A biker's guide to life.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Highway Bill Passes the US Senate with Language De-Funding Motorcycle Only Checkpoints
July 31, 2015
The
United States Senate passed a six-year highway bill today with strong
bi-partisan support. The bill includes language that would end federal
funding for motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints. The bill also
contains language defining three-wheeled automobiles, which are
currently classified as motorcycles under federal law, as their own
class of vehicle. These amendments were included in the final version
of the bill due to the tireless efforts of the Motorcycle Riders
Foundation (MRF).
Most motorcyclists have no objection with safety checkpoints as a
whole. However, we should have an objection to the practice of stopping
only motorcycles at roadside checkpoints. There is simply no
justification for this practice, and motorcycle-only checkpoints tend
not to be fruitful. We need only to look at the large checkpoint that
was set up during Rolling Thunder a few years ago to see that. Those
conducting the motorcycle-only checkpoint stopped 579 motorcycles over a
period of seven hours and managed to write only 11 tickets; only four
of which constituted a safety violation.
The discriminatory nature of these checkpoints has led states such as
California, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, and Virginia to prohibit
these checkpoints within their borders. Both New Hampshire and
Illinois have passed laws prohibiting federal funds from being used to
conduct motorcycle-only checkpoints. However, being that motorcyclists
travel across state lines on a regular basis, this legislation is
important to all motorcyclists regardless of what their particular state
does.
From a personal standpoint I support safety checkpoints for all
vehicles. If I am on my bike and there is a safety checkpoint stopping
all motorists I will gladly cooperate and subject myself to the brief
detention connected with such a stop. What I object to is being singled
out from the motoring population as a whole due to the fact that I ride
a motorcycle.
The language defining three wheeled automobiles as their own class of
vehicle is also of great importance to motorcyclists. The MRF worked to
include this language in the final bill in order to prevent these
vehicles, which are growing in popularity, from being included in
motorcycle crash data. Including motor vehicles which are not actually
motorcycles in the corresponding crash data unfairly skews the data.
Some states have addressed this issue in their state code. However,
until it is addressed on the federal level we will continue seeing these
three-wheeled automobiles included in federal motorcycle crash data.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives which will take it up
in the fall. The MRF will continue to work on this bill as it moves
through the House.
As always, if you have any questions or comments concerning what I have
written please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are not a member
of the MRF and wish to join you may do so at the following link: http://www.mrf.org/join.php
Matt Danielson
McGrath & Danielson
The Motorcycle Law Group
1-800-321-8968
Motorcyclelawgroup.com
