Lobby Day 2012
by Matt
Danielson
The Virginia Coalition of
Motorcyclists and Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law group would like to invite all
interested motorcyclists to attend this year's Motorcycle Lobby Day. This year
it will be held on Monday January 16, 2012. This is a holiday, so many
people are off. That morning, Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists lobbyists, as
well as members of other state motorcycle rights organizations, independent
motorcyclists and any other interested people will go to the Virginia General
Assembly to discuss upcoming legislation that affects motorcyclists in Virginia
with their Delegates and Senators.
On Sunday January 15, from
12:00 p.m. until we get through, Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists lobbyists
will lead an informational meeting at the Holiday Inn Airport at 445
International Center Dr., Sandston, VA 23150 to discuss this year's legislation
affecting motorcyclists. We will also discuss how to talk to your legislators
about these issues in case you have never done that. Later that evening,
attendees will enjoy a free homemade BBQ dinner made by Stewart Newton and
provided by several Virginia motorcycle rights organizations including ABATE of
Virginia and the Virginia Bikers Association.
On Monday the 16th, we
leave the Holiday Inn at 8:00 a.m. sharp for our annual trip to the Capitol.
After lobbying our legislators, we will attend the opening of the House of
Delegates daily session and be recognized from the floor. Afterwards, Tom
McGrath's Motorcycle Law Group takes everyone to Penny Lane Pub for lunch as a
thank you for coming to support Virginia Motorcyclists.
This year we
are expecting numerous bills of interest to Virginia motorcyclists. We already
know that we will have a bill to prohibit Motorcycle Only Checkpoints in
Virginia. Delegate Todd Gilbert has agreed to be the patron for that bill and
has sent our draft to Legislative Services for finalization. It was unanimously
agreed upon at this year's legislative round table that this bill was our
number one priority this year. If passed, it will put an end to the
discriminatory practice of targeting motorcyclists with checkpoints which have
to date yielded very little for those that have conducted them.
We are
also still looking at a bill to abolish Virginia's prohibition against two
motorcycles riding abreast of each other. As many of you know it is considered
reckless driving for two motorcyclists to ride next to each other in Virginia.
In 48 other states, it is completely legal. Despite the fact that there is no
data to show that two motorcyclists riding abreast are more likely to be in an
accident, and further given the fact that Virginia recently passed legislation
to allow on-duty law enforcement officers to do so, it still remains a
jail-able offense for the general motorcycling community in Virginia. We had
been unable to seriously speak with potential patrons until the elections
concluded. Jim Cannon and I have an appointment to meet with a member of the
House of Delegates who has expressed interest in carrying this bill for us. I
will keep you informed as talk's progress.
As always, there will be
numerous bills submitted at the last minute which will negatively affect
motorcycling. As these bills are filed, we will be able to identify them and
discuss them at lobby day so that we can convince the legislators why they are
bad bills. Those who have participated in Lobby Day in the past remember the
bill that we killed that would have required proof of insurance before one
person could sell another person a motorcycle, even if the person buying the
motorcycle had no intention of putting the bike on the road. We killed that one
with the help of all of those who participated in Lobby Day. Last year we
defeated a bill that would have prohibited children under eight from riding on
a motorcycle as a passenger.
I encourage everyone who can to join us.
It is a lot of fun, it is educational, and most importantly it shows the
legislators that motorcyclists are a significant and active section of the
electorate.
For more information you can call VCOM at (800) 437-9434.
For Room Reservations call (804) 236-1111 and ask for the VCOM rate.
Matt Danielson
McGrath & Danielson
Tom McGrath's Motorcycle Law
Group
1-800-321-8968
Motorcyclelawgroup.com
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