Bill seeks to protect Florida bikers.........

OFF THE WIRE
Kill a motorcyclist, get at least 90 days in jail
Written by
gsouza@news-press.com
A state senator and a motorcycle rights organization are working together to ensure jail time and other harsher penalties for drivers who injure or kill motorcyclists.
The Florida senate's transportation committee Wednesday approved the bill, filed by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, and supported by ABATE of Florida. The bill is now under consideration by the criminal justice committee.
The bill would require a person, if determined to be at fault for a crash killing a motorcyclist, to serve a minimum 90 days incarceration. A court could also force him to pay a fine of no less than $1,000, attend a driving course and revoke his driver's license for no less than a year.
If a motorcyclist is injured in a crash, the driver at fault could serve up to a month in jail, pay a fine of no less than $500 and have his license taken away for no less than 30 days.
This is the fifth year a bill of this type has been proposed in the senate, said Dave Rich, state public relations trustee for ABATE, which stands for American Bikers Aiming Toward Education. Last year it came close to passing.
"We're just trying to make drivers pay attention to the road and make them aware of the motorcyclists out there," Rich said. "The majority of the people are getting away with a $166 fine."
Since Jan. 2010, 22 motorcyclists have been killed in crashes on Florida roads that were not their fault, Rich said. Only three received fines more than $166 and none got jail time.
In Lee County, Arjuny Jani received a $159 citation last September for failing to yield the right of way and causing the crash that killed motorcyclist Philip Baker.
These incidents are a grim reminder to Mickey Barncord of the dangers he and other motorcyclists face on the road. Though he gets frequent warnings from family, they aren't enough to stifle a passion for the road that started at age 15.
Barncord, 41, a motorcycle technician, has watched crashes where friends were badly injured.
"I've seen a lot of motorcycles rear-ended by cars," he said.
He hopes this new legislation will make drivers pay more attention to the motorcyclists who share the roadway.