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We
have learned today that House Bill 1215 is scheduled to be heard in the
House Transportation Committee tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. This bill
makes it reckless driving when a person kills or seriously injures
another person during the commission of most right of way violations.
Under current law a person who kills another or causes a serious injury
faces a charge of failure to yield the right of way which carries only a
fine. HB 1215 not only gives the court the power to impose jail or
suspend a license if appropriate, it forces the charged party to appear
in court to answer for the charges rather than simply pre-pay the
ticket. You can read the full text at: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+HB1215 Normally a bill would be assigned to a sub-committee before being heard but this one has been sent straight to the full Transportation Committee where the committee can send the bill to the full House, kill the bill, or re-refer it to the Courts of Justice Committee. There are several important aspects of this bill that should be shared with the committee members.
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YOUNG RIDERS PICK A DESTINATION AND GO.
OLD RIDERS PICK A DIRECTION AND GO.
These are sayings out of the book Sit Down, Shut Up & Hang On!
A biker's guide to life.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Bill 1215 Being Heard Tomorrow
Saturday, January 18, 2014
LOBBY DAY
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
New bill HB1215 1-17-14
January 17, 2014We have a bill which was filed today. HB 1215 increases the penalty for persons who kill or seriously injure another person by violating their right of way. You can follow that bill at: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=141&typ=bil&val=hb1215&submit=GO You can read the full text at: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+HB1215 Matt Danielson McGrath & Danielson Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group 1-800-321-8968 Motorcyclelawgroup.com |
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
2 New Bill Filed 1-8-13
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More
bills were filed that, while not directly aimed at motorcyclists, are
of interest to us. VCOM will be watching these bills closely. HB 441 has been introduced by Delegate Farris. Delegate Farris represents the Rustburg area of Virginia. The bill requires that any new insurance policy insuring a motor vehicle known to the insurer to be a salvage vehicle to contain, if the policy provides collision or comprehensive coverage, a notice that (i) the motor vehicle is a salvage vehicle and (ii) in the event of an accident in which the motor vehicle is declared a total loss, the insured will be paid less money than he would if a salvage certificate had not been issued for the vehicle due to fact that the actual cash value of a salvage vehicle is generally less than it is for motor vehicles that are not salvage vehicles. The bill also requires an appropriate reduction in premium charges for those motor vehicles for which a salvage certificate has been issued. Many motorcyclists who have had their motorcycles totaled have chosen to retain the motorcycle and put it back on the road. Many have continued to pay insurance premiums in the same amount as they had prior to the accident, even though the motorcycle was no longer worth what it was prior to the accident. This bill makes sure that the insured motorist knows that his or her vehicle is worth less, and makes sure that the insurance company does not continue to charge the same premium for a motor vehicle that is worth less. VCOM supports this bill and will continue to watch it closely. If you wish to follow the progress of this bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=141&typ=bil&val=hb441 If you wish to read the full text of the bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+HB441 Another bill of interest to motorcyclists is HB 542 which was filed by Delegate Delores McQuinn of Richmond. The bill concerns wearing a mask in public. Currently wearing a mask in public is a class six felony. There are certain exceptions to the statute, such as wearing certain protective equipment that covers your face (motorcycle helmet), or wearing masks on certain holidays. However, we have seen instances around the state where motorcyclists who were wearing cold weather protection which covered their face were pulled over and forced to remove the covering. The officers have cited the statute against wearing a mask in public. The Supreme Court of Virginia has ruled that the statute carries with it a requirement that the person be wearing the mask with an intent to conceal their identity. What this bill does is make that clear in the statute. The bill clarifies that it is only illegal to wear a mask in public if you are doing so to conceal your identity, not if you are simply trying to stay warm. VCOM supports this bill. If you wish to follow the progress of this bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=141&typ=bil&val=hb542 If you wish to read the full text of the bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+HB542 As always, if you have any questions or comments about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact me. In the meantime, I will continue follow up with any future news on these or any other bills of interest to motorcyclists. Matt Danielson McGrath & Danielson The Motorcycle Law Group 1-800-321-8968 Motorcyclelawgroup.com |
Monday, January 6, 2014
Two Bills Filed - Jan 6, 2014
Two More Bills Filed that are of Interest to Motorcyclists
January 6, 2014
Two more bills were filed that, while not directly aimed at motorcyclists, are of interest to us. Both Bills were filed by Senator Jeff McWaters who represents parts of Virginia Beach. VCOM will be watching both bills closely.
The first is bill is SB 179. It concerns mopeds which, while not motorcycles, seem to be a topic that is of interest to many motorcyclists. This bill would require operators of mopeds to be 16 years of age or older, and to possess and carry a valid driver’s license. It also classifies mopeds as motor vehicles. Currently, mopeds are not considered motor vehicles for most purposes. The major impact that such a re-classification would have is that an owner would be required to carry motor vehicle liability insurance on their moped unless they paid the yearly $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee. This will be interesting to watch. I will follow up with any additional news on this bill as it makes its way through the legislative process.
If you wish to follow the progress of this bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+sum+SB179
If you wish to read the full text of the bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+SB179
The other bill is SB 180. For those of you who are age 75 or older, or those of you who are close, this bill will be of particular interest to you. The bill reduces the age at which a driver must appear before the DMV in order to renew their driver’s license from 80 to 75. It also provides that drivers who are age 75 or older may not renew their license for more than five years.
If you wish to follow the progress of this bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+sum+SB180
If you wish to read the full text of the bill you may do so at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+SB180
As always, if you have any questions or comments about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact me. In the meantime, I will continue follow up with any future news on these or other bills of interest to motorcyclists.
Matt Danielson
McGrath & Danielson
The Motorcycle Law Group
1-800-321-8968
Motorcyclelawgroup.com
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