OFF THE WIRE
By Betsy Z. Russell
Anti-motorcycle profiling legislation has cleared the Senate
Judiciary Committee on a voice vote, after motions to kill the bill or
amend it both died for lack of a second. The House-passed bill, HB 123,
now goes to the full Senate, and if it passes there, to the governor’s
desk.
Committee Chair Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, told the crowd,
which was packed with motorcycle enthusiasts wearing their
insignia-decorated leather jackets and vests, “Remember that with a
right there is a lot of responsibility, so we expect you to do your
part.”
Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, who spoke out against the bill and said
he didn’t think it was needed, made the unsuccessful motion to kill it.
Sen. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, made the motion to amend it. “My concern
is: If I vote for this, what am I saying to people that believe that
there is racial profiling?” he asked, or profiling based on refugee
status, or lack of English skills? “I’ve always felt that there was a
fairly easy way to write this so that it applies to everybody,” Burgoyne
said. “This standard should have been applicable to everyone.”
The bill bans motorcycle profiling by state or local law enforcement,
which it defines as “the arbitrary use of the fact that a person rides a
motorcycle or wears motorcycle-related paraphernalia as a factor in
deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest or search
a person or vehicle.”
Sen. Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, made the motion to send the bill to the
full Senate with a recommendation that it “do pass,” and Sen. Jeff
Agenbroad, R-Nampa, seconded the motion. He said, “It may surprise some
in this room, including this committee, that I also ride a Harley and
wear leathers.”
Agenbroad, a freshman senator, said he doesn’t wear some of the
patches those in the room were sporting because he hasn’t earned them.
“I’ve witnessed this, me and a group of friends,” he said. “We enjoy
getting out on the roads and spending time at some of the larger rallies
around the United States, and I have witnessed the profiling.”
Agenbroad said he hasn’t been profiled himself, but he’s seen it
happen. “I’ve seen the profiling, and therefore I’m going to support
this bill,” he said.
The measure was brought by Rep. Robert Anderst, R-Nampa, who also is
an avid motorcyclist. It earlier passed the House unanimously, 69-0.
Washington has had anti-motorcycle profiling on its books since 2011;
motorcycle groups there report that profiling complaints have dropped
precipitously there since it passed.
