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 INDEX
11/11/2011 - Lobby Day 2012
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, 2011. 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 effects motorcyclists in Virginia with their Delegates and Senators.
On Sunday January 15, from 12:00 pm 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 effecting 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 am 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 to an end 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. However, we have been unable to seriously speak with potential patrons until the elections. Now that the elections have passes we will be able to speak to some potential patrons who had been busy with campaigns.
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 Back to menu
07/13/2010 - We have Filed a New Suit Against Myrtle Beach
We help motorcyclists injured in accidents, but as riders ourselves, we're also committed to helping protect the interests of motorcyclists wherever their rights are threatened. As a benefit to our fellow riders everywhere, we agreed to represent 50 residents of the City of Myrtle Beach, without charge, in a challenge to the unconstitutional scheme of anti-motorcycle laws enacted by the City. The South Carolina Supreme Court ultimately sided with our clients, and struck down the City's laws.
Our commitment to other riders did not stop with that opinion though, and we have again initiated legal action on behalf of clients sharing our belief that Myrtle Beach's remaining unconstitutional anti-motorcycle laws should also be set aside.
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06/08/2010 - Myrtle Beach Ordiance Overturned
Our challenge to Myrtle Beach’s anti-motorcycling ordinances has been ruled upon and the Supreme Court of South Carolina has found that they are unlawful. Thanks to all who have helped in this matter and who volunteered their time and energy to stand up for the rights of motorcyclists everywhere.
If you would like to read a copy of the opinion the link is provided below:
http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/26825.htm
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01/25/2010 - News From The General Assembly
It's that time of year again. I will be sending out periodic updates on what is going on at the Virginia Capitol with regard to legislation affecting motorcyclists. VCOM (Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists) has two bills that we are pushing this year. One is House Bill 1267 being carried by Delegate Gear. (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB1267) It would make the penalty for a helmet violation the same as that of a seat belt violation. Currently if you prepaid a helmet violation you would pay in excess of $80.00 when court costs are factored in. If you chose to go to court to fight it and lost, it could be much more. The penalty for a seat belt violation is a $25 civil penalty which does not carry court costs. HB 1267 attempts to address this inequity in the law. The second is House Bill 752 which is being carried by Delegates Greason and Janis. (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB752) This legislation would allow us to do what motorcyclists in nine other states do. Under this proposed legislation, when a motorcyclist stops at a traffic light and is not recognized by the sensor, upon waiting 120 seconds the motorcyclist would be able to treat the red light as a stop sign and proceed so long as the way was clear. This would help all of us who have at one time or another been stuck at a light that will not change. There are numerous other pieces of legislation that we are watching and actively working against that we believe have a negative impact on motorcycling. There was action on several of those today. House Bill 395 (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+sum+HB395) carried by Delegate Lohr would remove the exception to section 46.2-910 which currently allows riders of motorcycles with wheel diameters of 8 inches or less to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. This bill was carried at the request of the Harrisonburg Police Department and we believe that it was targeted at a single individual who rides a motorcycle which falls under the exception. Our research has been failed to turn up a single death or injury that has occurred as a result of a person being injured on such a motorcycle due to not wearing a helmet. This piece of legislation was defeated this morning in sub-committee. House Bill 579 (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+sum+HB579 )is a troubling piece of legislation. It would require that all motorcycle exhausts meet federal standards. This bill was passed out of sub-committee and heard in full committee this morning. However, as a result of some productive meetings with several members of the House Transportation Committee last night, the bill was re-referred back to sub-committee where it appears it has little chance of passing. That being said, we are not taking that for granted and will stay on top of this piece of legislation. There were two other pieces of legislation at the capitol today of interest to motorcyclists. One is House Bill 145 (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+ful+HB145) carried by Delegate O'Bannon. It would require utility trailers with an unloaded weight of 3,000 pounds or less to have reflectors. At first we were concerned over some of the language in the bill but we have ensured that so long as the trailer has two approved reflectors on the back it will be in compliance with the law should this bill pass. The last bill on which there was action today is Senate Bill 321(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+sum+SB321) carried by Senator Reynolds. It would allow law enforcement to operate motorcycles two abreast in the same lane. As many of you know Virginia and Vermont are the only states that prohibit this and only Virginia makes it a jailable offense. For the life of me I cannot fathom a benefit that law enforcement gets from being able to ride side by side that is unique to them and not applicable to the rest of us. That being said we are continuing to watch this bill which was passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee today. We will continue to update as necessary. As usual if anyone has any questions or comments about any of the legislation discussed, please feel free to contact me at 1-800-321-8968 or matt@motorcyclelawgroup.com.
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01/04/2010 - Oral Argument Set for Myrtle Beach Cases
Oral Argument has been set in the Back to menu
01/04/2010 - South Carolina Lobby Day 2010
ABATE of South Carolina will have its Lobby Day on January 12, 2010 at the South Carolina State House in Columbia South Carolina. Motorcyclists will meet at the Calhoun Statue at 9:00 a.m. and will then proceed to walk the halls of the capitol in order to speak to legislators about issues of importance to motorcyclists. It s a great way to show your legislators that motorcyclists care and vote. For more information you may email Jeff Coleman at coleman849@truvista.net. Back to menu
12/01/2009 - Lobby Day is Approaching
Lobby Day 2010
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 18, 2010. 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 effects motorcyclists in Virginia with the delegates and senators who will decide whether the legislation passes or fails.
On Sunday January 17, from 12:00 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 effecting 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, Virginia Freedom Riders and Virginia Bikers Association.
On Monday the 18th we leave the Holiday Inn at 8:00 am 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 there will be another bill to increase the penalty for any driver who kills another person due to violating their right of way. There will also be a bill to bring the penalty for any helmet violation in line with the penalty for failing to wear a seat belt. It would be a $25 civil penalty with no court costs. Currently a helmet ticket costs in excess of $75 with court costs. That is 3 times what an automobile driver pays for a seat belt violation. Additionally, we expect legislation that would allow a motorcyclist who is at a red light which will not change due to not recognizing the motorcycle to proceed anyway after ensuring that the way is clear and safe. Finally, we are expecting a bill to amend 46.2-910 of the Code of Virginia to allow adult riders to decide whether or not they wear a motorcycle helmet.
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. There was also the bill that would have classified mopeds as motorcycles. Can you imagine what our crash statistics would be like if that passed?
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.
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