Usual time and place, 7pm @ The Rock in Lynnwood. Legislative session has just started, come hear what is going on. We have already launched some bills, but we need YOU to contact your duly elected officials and make it known how you feel and what you want done.
Well, day one is down, only 59 left to go.
HB 1527 (Representative Asay), the malfunctioning traffic signal bill is showing signs of life, but we need everyone to light up the phone lines. Each and every member of the house needs to hear the message loud and clear that the motorcycle community wants some legislative relief for the problem of traffic signals that do not detect us. Swamp the switchboards with calls to your representatives, asking for their support in getting a hearing and moving the traffic signal bill through the house.
Some talking points:
- The bill allows for motorcycles, after waiting for one full cycle of the lighting system without being detected, to proceed through the intersection, but only after exercising the same level of caution as would be used at a stop sign. A sane rider is not going to commit suicide by pulling out in front of traffic.
- No matter what State Patrol may say, there is already a precedent for allowing traffic through a red light. Can anyone say “right turn on red?”
- While there is a system whereby we can notify the cognizant authority after we have been stranded at a traffic light, that is after the fact. There is no legal method to safely get clear of a traffic signal that will not detect a motorcycle. Hanging a right, followed by a U-turn, is unacceptable, and downright unsafe.
If you do not know who your representatives are (shame on you) poke this link. Then get on the phone and start calling. If the house gets a lot of traffic on the issue it will be more likely that they will move it forward. Let’s make this happen.
Ride safely and legislate well,
“Texas” Larry
Government Relations and Junior Blogger
Top of the morning to you.
So, what are you doing today? In case you have been living under a rock, you can guess what I have on my plate. The legislature is going back into session for the 60 day session, so I am getting ready to head out for Olympia. I will be working on getting a couple of things from last session back in motion before things start getting too jammed up.
Here are the primary items on my plate this morning:
HB 1527 (Representative Asay) The malfunctioning traffic signal will revisit the issue of traffic signals not detecting motorcycles. It allows for motorcycles, after waiting for one full cycle of the lighting system without being detected, to proceed through the intersection, but only after exercising the same level of caution as would be used at a stop sign.
I have already done some ground work on getting a hearing in House Transportation. The only real push back I have seen so far is from WSP, indicating that they will never sign off on allowing any motorist “running a red light.” Their position is more based on fear without any real data to back it up, and a bit off base, as there is already a precedent. Can anyone say “right turn on red?”
SB 5578 (The late Senator White) and HB 1833 (Representative Finn). This makes it a requirement that the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Board meet quarterly. Currently the criteria is open to interpretation, and with all of the attempts to cut expenditures across the board the schedule got dropped back to 5 meetings during a two year period.
As a side bar note, after the outcry from stakeholders and the urging of the advisory board, the DOL voluntarily restored the quarterly schedule.
Finally, there is a lot of confusion over the implementation of SSB 5800, the bill that allows a rider to convert a motorcycle listed as “off road use only” into a street legal motorcycle. I will be working with Senator King (prime sponsor), the off road community, and agencies to address these issues.
Of course, further reports to follow.
Until then, Ride safely and legislate well,
“Texas” Larry
Government Relations and Junior Blogger
This is from yesterday, but the whole JOB stuff got in the way of posting faster.
Texas
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MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE | Suite 510 | Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice) | 202-546-0986 (fax) | http://www.mrf.org11NR35 – MRF News Release – Senate Committee Passes Highway Safety Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 December 2011
Contact:Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Ralations and Public Affairs |
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Senate Committee Passes Highway Safety Bill
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Today, the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed a sweeping safety bill known as the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act (S. 1449). The bill passed by voice vote.
Earlier this week, Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) filed an amendment that would have gutted the popular federal motorcycle education and awareness grants, known as the 2010 funds. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to report that Lautenberg did not call that amendment for a vote. Due to an overwhelming response from the motorcycle community, the 2010 grants are safe for now.
Also under attack was the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lobby ban. This law prohibits NHTSA from using federal money to lobby State legislatures, uninvited. The way S. 1449 was drafted, it removed this lobby ban. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) introduced a number of amendments to maintain the ban and the necessary amendments were agreed to, by unanimous consent of the full committee.
The one sticking point that remains is at least, the least troublesome. That being said, it is still something that will keep the attention of the MRF lobby efforts. The trouble lies in a provision in S. 1449 that calls out motorcycle helmets in the list of definitions as “motor vehicle equipment”. Previously, the list simply stated: “any device or an article or apparel… that is not a system, part, or component of a motor vehicle”.
The MRF would like to thank all the State motorcycle rights organizations and everyone else who helped with this legislation.
The bill passed today will likely move on to be a part of the larger Highway Bill which could happen in early 2012. The MRF will keep you informed on this issue.
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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for further details and registration information.Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF’s Young Activist Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visithttp://www.mrfae.org/yas.php.Sign up today for the MRF’s new roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members.© All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.
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