South Carolina Motorcycle Rights Association

South Dakota passed S.B. 85 to remove the restrictions on handle bar heights for motorcycles. Current law dictates that handle bar height must be at or below shoulder height. The new law removes the restriction, and as ABATE of South Dakota State Coordinator Jiggs Creasy put it, “There actually is still one restriction, interstate overpasses.” The MRF salutes the fine work done by ABATE of South Dakota. Sturgis attendees will no longer be harassed by the police for handlebars. South Dakota joins thirteen other states that have no handlebar height restrictions of any kind.

New Mexico is celebrating the demise of not one, but two helmet law attempts. S.B. 327 would have simply mandated helmets for all motorcycle operators and passengers. Current law states that motorcyclists seventeen and under must wear a helmet. The second bill, S.B. 308, would have allowed both operator and passenger to ride helmet-less after purchasing a $697 license plate sticker to offset the burden that some believe comes with helmetless riding. Both bills were killed in the New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee by a vote of 4-3. ABATE of New Mexico faced some tough opposition with lots of health care professionals and doctors in the committee room. ABATE of New Mexico was ready. They had over 700 motorcyclists at their State Capitol Bike Day and handily defeated the legislation.

Both of these are perfect examples of education, organizing, and executing at the state capitol. The MRF commends both South Dakota and New Mexico for their legislative savvy and professionalism.