Federal Highway Bill

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Federal Highway Bill Contains Wins for Motorcyclists The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) announced the passage of Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act the first week in Dec.  The $305 billion dollar federal highway bill funds highway and transit programs for the next five years and represents the first long-term highway bill we have had in a decade. The bill contains several provisions of interest to motorcyclists.  It contains language re-establishing the Motorcycle Advisory Council to advise the U.S. Department of Transportation on motorcycling infrastructure issues.  It also provides for the continuation of the funding of motorcycle safety grants.  Furthermore, a section titled “Share-The-Road Model Language,” requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide to the states model “Share the Road” language on the importance of sharing the road safely with motorcyclists. Of particular interest to motorcyclists is the language prohibiting federal funds from being used for motorcycle-only checkpoints.  Through the work of the MRF and State Motorcycle Rights Organizations, this language survived the amendment process and is included in the bill signed into law by the President.  While safety checkpoints serve as an important safety tool, there is simply no reason to discriminate against motorcyclists and single them out over all other motorists using the nation’s roadways. If you have any questions or comments concerning the FAST Act or any other matters of importance to motorcyclists, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Matt Danielson  McGrath & Danielson  The Motorcycle Law Group  1-800-321-8968  Motorcyclelawgroup.com

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Motorcycle Lobby Day Meeting 2016

Sunday January 17, 2016

The Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists and Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group would like to invite all interested motorcyclists to attend this year's Motorcycle Lobby Day.  This year it will be held on Monday January 18, 2016.  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 17th, beginning at 1:00 p.m., Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists lobbyists will lead an informational meeting at the Holiday Inn at 2000 Staples Mill Rd, Richmond, VA, 23230 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 18th, 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 The Motorcycle Law Group provides lunch to all who attended as a thank you for coming to support Virginia motorcyclists. This year we know that there will be another bill to amend the Code of Virginia to allow motorcyclists to use auxiliary lights in order to increase visibility to other motorists.  This bill faces heavy opposition from the Virginia State Police and will require strong support from the motorcycling community in order to become law in Virginia. As always, there will be numerous bills submitted at the last minute which may negatively affect motorcycling.  As these bills are filed, we will identify them and discuss them at Lobby Day so that we can convince legislators to oppose them.  Those who have participated in Lobby Day in the past remember bills that we have defeated 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 defeated that one with the help of all of those who participated at Lobby Day.  A few years ago we defeated a bill that would have prohibited children under eight from riding on a motorcycle as passengers.  We pointed out that the proposed 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. Both of these bills may have become law if it were not for the efforts of Virginia motorcyclists who took the time to come to Richmond and oppose them.   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 may call VCOM at (800) 437-9434.  For Room Reservations call 1- (888) 465-4329.  Make sure to ask for the VCOM rate.  We hope to see you at Lobby Day. Matt Danielson McGrath & Danielson Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group 1-800-321-8968 Motorcyclelawgroup.com

Virginia Motorcycle Helmet Reform Meeting January 17, 2016

We have recently received information which would indicate that there may soon be a realistic opportunity to achieve motorcycle helmet law reform in Virginia.  There will be a meeting to discuss this immediately after the Lobby Day prep session in Richmond on January 17, 2016. As soon as we have more information concerning the specific time and place for the Sunday Lobby Day I will forward it to this group.  We looking forward to speaking with everyone concerning this issue of importance to all of us.     Matt Danielson McGrath & Danielson The Motorcycle Law Group 1-800-321-8968 Motorcyclelawgroup.com

Operating Motorcycles on the Shoulder of the Highway in Virginia

My office has received numerous emails and telephone calls in recent weeks concerning a rumor spreading through the motorcycling community that it is now legal in Virginia to operate your motorcycle on the shoulder of the highway when traffic is heavy or stopped.  I am sending this email in order to correct this misunderstanding.  It is not legal to operate your motorcycle or any other motor vehicle (emergency responders excluded) on the shoulder of the highway in Virginia. 46.2-841(B) of the Code of Virginia reads as follows: The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle on the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. Except where driving on paved shoulders is permitted by lawfully placed signs, no such movement shall be made by driving on the shoulder of the highway or off the pavement or main traveled portion of the roadway. There is no exception under Virginia law for motorcycles.  While I can certainly understand the argument in favor of allowing this for air cooled engines, it is still prohibited behavior in Virginia. If you are interested in discussing a change to the law as it pertains to this issue or any other issues faced by motorcyclists, I would invite you to join us for the Virginia Motorcycle Legislative Roundtable on October 17, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia.  The Roundtable will start at1:00 pm at the Richmond Marriott West, which is located at 4240 Dominion Boulevard, Glen Allen, VA 23060.  The Legislative Roundtable is where Virginia Motorcyclists gather to discuss issues of importance to the motorcycling community, and to have input on the 2016 legislative agenda to be presented to the Virginia General Assembly by the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists. If you are interested in attending, we would welcome you around the table.  If you are unable to attend but want to express your ideas, or if you have any questions concerning this year’s Virginia Motorcycle Legislative Roundtable, please do not hesitate to contact me. Matt Danielson McGrath & Danielson The Motorcycle Law Group 1-800-321-8968 Motorcyclelawgroup.com

7 Things to Keep on Your Motorcycle Nobody wants to be in an accident, but it’s an unfortunate reality for a lot of riders each year. While you can’t plan for the where and when, you can make sure you’re prepared should you ever find yourself in an accident. One of the most common mistakes people make in an accident is not having the necessary information on hand, as well as the means to document details about the accident. There’s a lot going on and emotions are running high, so expecting to remember everything is a recipe for disaster. Here are seven things all riders should have on their bikes, in the event of an accident: A basic first aid kit Vehicle registration Emergency contacts – Helpful tip: label these “*EMERGENCY CONTACT” in your phone. Using * will make it easy to find at the top of your contacts list. Health and motorcycle insurance cards Allergy and medical information The name and number of a trusted attorney A phone or camera to take pictures of the accident  Often a smartphone can help store most of this information, but in case it gets damaged in the accident, it doesn’t hurt to have all of this information on paper as a backup, as well a pen/pencil and paper to take notes. Want to know more? Download our free Prepared Rider Kit, which has everything you and your family need to know about you and and your bike.

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

Motorcycle Riders Foundation Release June 4, 2015

This was just released by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation   On June 4th the United States House of Representatives agreed to an amendment to the 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill that struck a provision that would have overturned the U.S. Department of Transportation lobby ban. The measure was approved on the House floor reports the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. The Amendment offered by Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) along with Mr. Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Mr. Ribble (R-WI), eliminates a provision in the 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations act that would have allowed the Secretary of Transportation to discuss motorcycle safety initiatives with state legislators. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation thanks Congressman Walberg, Sensenbrenner, and Ribble for their dedication to freedom and motorcycling. In 1998 Congress passed a law that made it illegal for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to lobby state legislatures on any issue. Prior to 1998, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), USDOT had spent tens of thousands of dollars traveling to states whenever a state debated changing their own state helmet law or any other law that USDOT deemed worthy to interfere on. Seeing this as a waste of taxpayer money, the congress prohibited anyone from USDOT to lobby states uninvited. Mr. Walberg had this to say, “The federal government should not be in the business of lobbying state and local officials with federal money.” He added, “I believe the most effective way to reduce motorcycle injuries and fatalities is to prevent these crashes from occurring in the first place, Madam Chairperson, that means putting between the ears as opposed to simply on the head.” See the Walberg video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHIMdT7ycfc “I cannot think of a single issue where the federal government should waste resources lobbying a state entity for something that the state doesn't want”, said Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. He added “With such limited, precious motorcycle safety funds, they need to be used in areas of safety that are proven, not for bureaucratic waste.” The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) thanks everyone who made calls on this important issue; your participation was key in getting this amendment to pass.