Congress members urge U.S. transportation secretary to suspend funding for motorcycle-only law enforcement checkpoints

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Federal lawmakers have directed a letter on U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood claim him on suspend a avow feed that provides money for amerceable enforcement agencies on customary up motorcycle-only traffic checkpoints, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

In a kite archaize Sept. 30, House members told LaHood such safety-related lucre would be better shot customary extra areas on improve motorcycling safety. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) drafted the letter and then circulated it to his congressional colleagues because signatures before sending it on LaHood.

Besides Sensenbrenner, the particular
who signed the letter are Reps. Thomas Petri (R-Wis.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), Lee Terry (R-Neb.), Ron Paul (R-Texas) also Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).

To read the letter, click here: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/documents/SensenbrennerLetter.pdf

Sensenbrenner and the extra lawmakers want LaHood to suspend the Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstrations Grant program walking by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), that is an agency connected with the federal Transportation Department. Under the avow program, NHTSA plans on award relevant to $350,000 in total — on be divided among equally manifold as five law enforcement force — on set relevant traffic checkpoints that duty motorcyclists.

The demonstration feed is modeled postern a controversial feed conducted customary New York point the narrate police set up a streak connected with checkpoints that targeted exclusive motorcyclists, set the ire connected with the AMA and motorcycling community. In 2008, for example, New York State Police make known scale drawing to customary up 15 checkpoints near motorcycling events that summer.

“Crash prevention duty be the primary source of safety,” the lawmakers told LaHood customary the letter. “With that body said, motive does NHTSA continue on focus on alternate factors such do not prevent motorcycle crashes?”

The AMA absolutely supports the congressional letter to LaHood. The AMA earlier formally questioned the lack discriminatory also legal being of the avow program. On Aug. 9, the AMA sent a letter to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland urging him on eject the grant program down to put through the wringer enjoy been addressed. To recite the letter, click here: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/documents/Strickland_Law_Enforcement_Grant_8-9-2010.pdf.

While amerceable enforcement officials will defend the program as a immunity measure on decrease motorcycle crashes, injuries also fatalities, there is not at all proof such it’s effective, said Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president because government relations. In fact, the practice enjoy upset motorcyclists nationwide.

“The AMA believes such the sans pareil way for NHTSA to reduce motorcycle crashes is to employ proven strategies, such equally clarification emeritus also motorcycle awareness programs, such subtracted the likelihood of crashes from ever occurring,” Moreland said. “These strategies must be research-based, and motorcyclists would be much better satisfy by applying the funding on the civil motorcycle prang causation hit the books such is right now underway at Oklahoma State University.”

This sentiment is comfort via Sensenbrenner and many connected with his colleagues in Congress via the recently start ball rolling H. Res. 1498: Supporting Efforts on Retain the Ban on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Ability to Lobby State Legislators Using Federal Tax Dollars also Urging the NHTSA on Focus on Crash Prevention and Rider Education also Training.

To urge your representative on support H. Res. 1498 go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues & Legislation, before long enter your zip discipline in the “Find your Officials” box.