OFF THE WIRE
PICKERINGTON,
Ohio -- A bipartisan bill introduced today by U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen
(D-N.H.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Joe Manchin
(D-W.Va.) would prohibit the use of federal funds in establishing
motorcycle-only checkpoints.
This is a similar bill to H.R. 1861, introduced in in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.).
Specifically, the "Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act" would
restrict the Secretary of Transportation from granting funds to any
government entity for a program to check helmet use or to create
checkpoints for an operator of a motorcycle or a passenger on a
motorcycle.
The American Motorcyclist Association fully supports the bill.
"During the past two years, federal, state and local governments spent
more than a half million dollars on motorcycle-only checkpoints," said
Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. "The AMA
believes that money could be better spent supporting programs that
conduct rider education, reduce distracted driving and encourage
motorist awareness of motorcycles."
The AMA has tracked motorcycle-only checkpoints since they were first enacted in New York.
The state of Georgia used funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration in March 2011 to conduct motorcycle-only checkpoints as
thousands of motorcyclists rode through the state on their way to
Daytona Beach, Fla., for Bike Week.
Another motorcycle-only checkpoint was conducted in northern Virginia
during one of the nation's most visible motorcycle rallies -- Rolling
Thunder -- over the 2011 Memorial Day weekend.
Motorcycle-only checkpoints also were conducted in Utah when thousands of riders attended a world-class road-racing event.
California, Missouri, North Carolina, Illinois, New Hampshire and
Virginia have passed legislation curbing MOCs. If passed, this federal
bill will ensure that riders across the country are safeguarded from
ineffective and prejudicial MOCs. For more information on the efforts by
the AMA to fight motorcycle-only checkpoints, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/motorcycleonlycheckpoints.aspx.
