Texas
S.B. 288 would allow motorcyclist to split lanes when traffic is congested on limited-access or controlled-access highways.The motorcyclist would be limited to traveling no more than 5 mph faster than traffic. And splitting would be permitted only when traffic is moving at 20 mph or slower.
H.B.2 would allow motorcyclists to ride on the shoulder of highway for the sole purpose of getting to the next exit when traffic is moving at 25 mph or less. The law would apply only to limited access multilane divided highways with speed limits of 50 mph or more. And the motorcyclist may not exceed 45 mph while on the shoulder.
Oregon
Senate President Peter Courtney, a member of Oregon’s Distracted Driver Task Force, supports amending state laws to create harsher penalties for driving while texting, using social media or talking on the phone. Courtney favors a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a $6,250 fine or both for first time distracted driving offenders. Multiple violations with in 10 years would increase the penalty to five years in prison and a $125,000 fine.
Michigan
P.A. 318 signed into law by Gov. Rick Syder, increases the penalties for riding a motorcycle without the proper license endorsement. Under the law, violators are guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty for a first time violation is up to 90 days in jail, a $500 fine or both. Subsequent violations carry up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.
Connecticut
H.B. 6048, H.B.6281 and H.B. 7055, introduced in the house of Representatives would require all riders in the state to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle or motor scooter. Current state law allows riders 18 and older to choose whether to wear a helmet. These bills would eliminate that choice.
Florida
Two bills would attempt to address distracted driving in the state. H.B. 69 would change the stat’s ban on texting while driving from secondary enforcement to primary enforcement for drivers 18 or younger. The bill also would require that fines be deposited into the states Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund. H.B. 47 would revise penalties for violations of the ban on texting while driving to provide enhanced penalties for violations that occur in a school zone or school crossing. The bill also removes the requirement that texting while driving be enforced as secondary action by law enforcement agencies.
Utah
S.B. 159 would raise the legal age for riding motorcycles without a helmet from 18 to 21.
Idaho
H.123 would prohibit motorcyclist profiling by state or local law enforcement agencies. The bill defines profiling 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.”
Michael Theodore
National Road Captain
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