program to fund motorcycle-only checkpoints*
Take Action!
Administrator Strickland immediately
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is offering
federal funds that would expand the highly criticized practice of creating
motorcycle-only checkpoints by law enforcement agencies.
Initially begun in New York State, the process involves setting-up
checkpoints where only motorcycles are pulled over. Law enforcement officers
then check for U.S. DOT-compliant helmets, legal exhaust systems, and
compliance with licensing, registration and inspection regulations. The
NHTSA program would also collect information on
high-motorcycle-crash-incident areas and citations would be issued for any
violations discovered.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has questioned the potential
discriminatory and legal nature of this program and submitted a list of
questions for clarification to the New York State Police.
To date, New York
authorities have not responded. The AMA has also sent a letter to
Administrator Strickland urging him to suspend the grant program until
questions have been addressed. To view AMA's letter, click
here
To view Administrator Strickland's response, click
here
While law enforcement officials in New York defend the program as a safety
measure to decrease motorcycle crashes, injuries and fatalities,here is no
proof of its effectiveness. The practice has drawn the ire of otorcyclists
both locally and nationally.
The AMA believes public funding would better serve motorcyclists by applying it to the national motorcycle crash causation study that is currently underway. The primary source of motorcycle safety is in motorcycle crash
prevention and NHTSA should focus on decreasing the likelihood of crashes in the first place. This is a sentiment supported by Congressman Jim
Sensenbrenner
nd many of his
colleagues in Congress through recently introduced H. Res.
1498
To urge your Representative to support this resolution, click
here
The methods used in New York State remain highly suspect
and no public money should be applied to promoting such a program without addressing questions from the motorcycling community.
Specifically, how do motorcycle-only checkpoints (MOCs) ncrease the safety
of motorcyclists? Where do the selected states draw their authority to
conduct MOCs? Will “probable cause” be required to stop a motorcycle under
the terms of this grant program? If so, what will constitute “probable
cause?” What types of infractions were recorded by ew York law enforcement
officials at these checkpoints? And, what criteria will be used to determine if the MOCs are successful?
The AMA urges all riders to contact Administrator Strickland and request the grant offer be suspended until these questions have been addressed. Follow the “Take Action” option to send a pre-written e-mail directly to
Administrator Strickland demanding no federal dollars be used to expand
programs that discriminate against motorcyclists.
American Motorcyclist.com
Rapid Responseenter
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp>
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Ride Safe. Ride Free. Ride Today.
Eric Hampton
MRF Director of Communications
MRF Reports Editor
