NEW YORK: Law enforcement focusing on motorcycle safety

OFF THE WIRE
http://centralny.ynn.com/content/all_news/central_new_york/545416/law-enforcement-focusing-on-motorcycle-safety/
Law enforcement focusing on motorcycle safety

 By: Erin Clarke
As part of the Onondaga County Traffic Safety Advisory's ongoing efforts to keep the roads safe, officers are patrolling and setting up checkpoints in June that focus on motorcycles. But as YNN's Erin Clarke tells us, some bikers are worried police are targeting them.
As part of the Onondaga County Traffic Safety Advisory's ongoing efforts to keep the roads safe, officers are patrolling and setting up checkpoints in June that focus on motorcycles. But as YNN's Erin Clarke tells us, some bikers are worried police are targeting them. To view our videos, you need to enable JavaScript. Learn how. install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Officers at checkpoints will step up the effort to keep bikers safe. The primary focus is what bikers wear on their heads.
"A lot of people are wearing novelty helmets, which don't have any protection. There's no padding in them, they'll crack like an egg if you get in a crash," said Onondaga County Aggressive Driving Chair Jeff Tripp.
But members of ABATE, an organization that promotes motorcycle safety and awareness, say this month's crackdown is about more than that.
"What we're disputing is a month dedicated to say that they're looking at just out helmets, but yet they're inspecting complete motorcyclists, sound, brakes, tires and so on," said ABATE Onondaga County Chapter President Sonny Schiebler.
They think bikers are being profiled.
"They do not pull you over and check your brakes on the side of the road on your car or your tail lights, or your head lights or your horn," said Schiebler.
However, police are looking out for drivers breaking other state laws. By midday Wednesday, officers at this stop issued a number of seat belt and texting while driving tickets.
Police say they're not the bad guys, they just want to make sure bikers and everyone else is safe on the road.
Recently there have been a number of biker accidents in Onondaga County. Some fatal. ABATE's Vice President was even hurt in one where a car ran a red light. Police say they're just as concerned with educating the public on sharing the road as they are with making sure bikers wear the proper protective gear.
"To the other motorist, look out for the motorcycles. They're small, they're hard to see, they may be caught in your blind spot, but they have a legal right to use the road too," said Tripp.
Still, ABATE believes that wearing a helmet and the type worn is the biker's choice. The group also wants a clear description from the state as to what a legal helmet is. And members say they're willing to discuss that and other issues with lawmakers.
The Traffic Safety Advisory Board will focus on a different traffic violation every month. For more information about the crackdown, visit www.ongov.net/tsab/calendar.