<td data-cellinner="cell1" style="width:100.0%;">
Highway Bill Priorities and Strategy
The current Highway Bill, known as the FAST Act, expires in December of 2020. With that deadline fast approaching, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation used the recent Meeting of the Minds to establish a wish list for any reauthorization of surface transportation funding. 34 State Motorcycle Rights Organizations reviewed, debated and agreed upon a list of priorities for the D.C. team to focus on. Below is the official position of the MRF for any new legislation:
- Preserve the Motorcycle Education & Awareness Program Grant Funding (402 funds);
- Preserve the ban on federal funding for Motorcycle Only Checkpoints;
- Preserve the NHTSA Lobbying Ban and expand to other federal agencies;
- Preserve the Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) to advise the FHWA;
- Preserve motorcycle HOV lane access;
- Oppose any motorcycling related federal blackmails or federal sanctions;
- Monitor for any action that would negatively impact motorcycles, motorcycling, and motorcyclists;
- Advocate the integration of an updated federal definition of a motorcycle;
- Advocate a mandate that autonomous vehicles must detect and respond to motorcycles;
- Advocate for expanding opportunities to address motorcyclist profiling
We in D.C. have begun identifying our legislative champions and meeting with specific members of relevant committees to advocate for our priorities. As always, we will rely on SMRO’s and their relationships with specific lawmakers to help press for these important provisions.
State News – Wisconsin passes autocycle legislation
Congratulations to ABATE of Wisconsin and their allies, including the St. Croix Valley Riders and numerous motorcycle clubs for passage of their autocycle bill in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature. This has been a long-time battle for the riders of Wisconsin, but their determination and perseverance has paid off. The state senate passed the bill 33-0 in October, and the state assembly passed the bill this week 95-0. It now just needs the signature of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to become law.
Below is a brief background on what the bill does.
This bill creates a definition of an autocycle, which is a three-wheeled motor vehicle with operation controls similar to an automobile.
Under current law, there are two types of motorcycles. A “Type 1 motorcycle" is a motor vehicle which has either two wheels in tandem and a seat for the operator or three wheels and unenclosed seating for the operator and passengers. A “Type 2 motorcycle" is a motor vehicle with at least three wheels and an enclosed space for the operator and passengers. This bill eliminates the definition for the Type 2 motorcycle and creates a definition for an autocycle. A “Type 1 autocycle" is defined as a motor vehicle, excluding a tractor, an all-terrain vehicle, or a utility terrain vehicle, that is designed and built to have a steering wheel, foot-operated pedals for
controlling acceleration and braking, and at least three wheels in contact with the ground. A “Type 2 autocycle” is a vehicle meeting the current definition of a Type 2 motorcycle.
Under current law, a motor vehicle may not be operated upon a highway in this state without a current, valid registration. Generally, the fee for registering an automobile with the Department of Transportation is $75 annually. The fee for registering a motorcycle is $23 biennially. Under this bill, the fee for registering an autocycle is $45 annually.
Under current law, no person may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person possesses a valid operator's license. Additional endorsements are required for the operation of certain vehicles, including motorcycles. This bill classifies autocycles as “Class D" vehicles, which means they may be operated with the regular license issued by DOT without the need for additional endorsements.
Click here to see the full text of the bill
MRF News – November/December Issue of the American Biker Journal
If you are subscribed to receive your copy of the American Biker Journal via mail, your issue should be in your mailbox soon. We would like to remind anyone that you can switch your paper copy to electronic subscription by emailing the office at mrfoffice@mrf.org. In the meantime, you can read the electronic version below.
NovDec2019_Final_email.pdf
Editor’s Note: The next deadline for article submission is December 1, 2019 for the January/February 2020 issue. Do you have a seminar or lobby day coming up? Be sure to let us know and we can share it with your fellow freedom fighters around the country. If you have an article or photos from your SMRO that you would like to see in the next issue, please email your submission to editor@mrf.org.
Standing Update:
We are currently at 118 cosponsors from 40 states and one territory for H. Res 255, the motorcycle profiling resolution. An additional 3 new cosponsors have joined since our last update. The map below shows which states have at least one lawmaker signed on as a cosponsor. Is your state not filled in yet? Check with the D.C. team about how we can work together to secure cosponsors from your state.
Click HERE to see if your member has signed on to H. Res 255.
<img border="0" data-wawidth="1" id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://MotorcycleRidersFoundation.wildapricot.org/resources/Pictures/Profiling_Nov%2015.png" style="height:auto;line-height:100%;width:auto;" title="" width="570" />
Rocky & Tiffany