Motorcycle-only checkpoints have revved up concern in Congress, and wording was recently inserted into the House highway bill that would bar the U.S. Department of Transportation from providing grants to local or state governments for such discriminatory inspections.
The action arose over motorcycle-exclusive roadblocks set up in Georgia and New York under federal safety grants that single out motorcycles from four-wheeled traffic for police to check the bike and rider for proper paperwork, helmet, exhaust and equipment violations.
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who sponsored H.R. 904 to ban federal funding of motorcycle-only checkpoints, applauded the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for including his bill’s wording in their Feb. 1st mark-up of the transportation measure, saying; “It is encouraging to see that the transportation reauthorization bill will encourage more efficient use of taxpayer dollars and smart motorcycle safety policy.”
“Motorcycle riders are right to be outraged at being singled out for safety inspections,” added Rep Tom Petri (R-WI). “Nobody is suggesting flagging cars down for unscheduled inspections, and there’s no good reason why motorcycles should be treated differently. It’s unnecessarily intrusive, and not a smart way to use limited police resources.”
Section 5007 of H.R. 7, the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012” reads:
PROHIBITION ON FUNDS TO CHECK HELMET USAGE OR CREATE CHECKPOINTS FOR A MOTORCYCLE DRIVER OR PASSENGER.
The Secretary may not provide a grant or otherwise make available funding to a State, Indian tribe, county, municipality, or other local government to be used for any program to check helmet usage or create checkpoints for a motorcycle driver or passenger.
The House bill, which also provides federal funding for state motorcycle safety programs and funds for motorized trails, will now go to the full House floor before going over to the Senate for consideration. The Senate will consider their own version of the highway bill, and a final version will be ironed out in a conference committee.
