STATES COMBAT MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTS, QUOTABLE QUOTE: “One man can make a difference, and every man should try.”--John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963), 35th US President

OFF THE WIRE
STATES COMBAT MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTSCalling motorcycle-only roadblocks discriminatory and unconstitutional, ABATE of California is pushing a bill that would ban state and federal funding of such so-called “safety checkpoints”.
New York and Georgia have initiated roadside barricades under the auspices and guidance of NHTSA to coral motorcycle riders en route to major motorcycle events to check paperwork and equipment for violations, and for other illegal activity.
AB 1047, authored by Kevin Jeffries, Vice Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, would prohibit the CA Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) from issuing grants to law enforcement agencies to stage Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints and also require the OTS to conduct audits of the safety checkpoint grants to insure that law enforcement is complying.
Similarly, North Carolina is currently considering two bills (H375 & H381) aimed at preventing law enforcement agencies from establishing patterns for vehicle stops at checking stations based on a particular type of vehicle.
In Congress, Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) and some of his colleagues have authored legislation to de-fund the checkpoints. US House Resolution 904 would prevent the US DOT from providing funds to states which would be used for motorcycle roadblocks.
Motorcyclists across the country are also awaiting a court ruling on the constitutionality of the New York checkpoints, being challenged by N.Y. Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Mitch Proner, which could wind up on the docket of the U.S. Supreme Court.