South Carolina Motorcycle Rights Association

Senate Highway Bill Would End Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints

This week the Senate Commerce Science Transportation Committee passed a six-year highway bill. The bill, slated to go to the Senate floor next week, was voted out of committee by a party line vote of 13-11. The best part is that the language to end federal funding of motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints is in the bill, and it’s because of the joint work of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation membership and of state motorcycle rights organizations that the language is included. This issue was the number-one priority at this year’s “Bikers Inside the Beltway,” and the hard work has paid off. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation and I personally thank every one who attended “Bikers Inside the Beltway,” made a separate lobby trip, or contacted their elected officials in one way or another about this important issue to the motorcyclists of this country.

The specific language reads:

SEC. 4121. SHORT TITLE.

    This part may be cited as the ``Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act''.

SEC. 4122. GRANT RESTRICTION.

Notwithstanding section 153 of title 23, United States Code, the
Secretary may not provide a grant or any funds to a State, county,
town, township, Indian tribe, municipality, or other local government
that may be used for any program—

(1) to check helmet usage; or
(2) to create checkpoints that specifically target motorcycle operators or motorcycle passengers.

It’s terrific that the Senate is working towards a long term, six-year highway bill, but the funding portion of the bill remains stymied. With over $90 billion left to come up with, progress has been slow. The obvious solution of a small increase in the road user fee, or of gas tax, has been a non-starter for most members of Congress. The House of Representatives has yet to unveil its intentions for a long-term bill. Current funding expires at the end of July, and with no real solutions, another extension is imminent. House Ways and Means Chairman, Paul Ryan (R-WI) has vowed to fund a long-term bill but has yet to announce any formal plans to do so.