Off the Wire
Biker Rights Issues
More than two hundred motorcyclists road their bikes onto the grounds of the state Capitol today seeking tougher penalties for motorists who hit and kill bikers.
Often, car and truck drivers are given just an 89-dollar ticket for failing to yield the right of way, even when deaths are involved,. On average, Florida drivers are killing a motor or bicyclist every day of the year.
Their looks are deceiving. These are doctors, engineers, Vietnam veterans. They belong to a group known as Abate. It started out as A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments and ended up American Bikers Aimed towards Education.
They were here to push the latter. This sign says it all. They want tougher penalties for everyone involved in a fatal accident. Often they say motorists get a slap on the wrist and a civil citation for running a red light, but nothing more.
Tina McElhenny lost her son in 2002.
“We had to fight for 6 months just for her to receive a ticket. And then it was dismissed because he was the only witness and unfortunately he was killed, by her.”
Here in Florida, bikers die on the road at an average of more than one a day.
It took more than ten minutes to read the names of all of the bikers killed last year, a bell sounding for each one of them.
In addition to tougher penalties, they also want everyone involved in a fatal accidents to have their blood alcohol tested. Sen Dave Aronberg, the bill’s sponsor, says some lawmakers are surprised to learn that’s not already the law.
“If that careless driver kills someone, then that driver could go to jail. Right now, it’s like a slap on the wrist.”
The group, which is highly organized, has a track record of winning more than they lose.
The tougher penalties would also apply to drivers who hit pedestrians and bicyclists. Despite their anger, the bikers are not backing legislation to allow red light cameras. They fear they will be unable to see a light changing when they follow vehicles through intersections.
original article
