Friends of Bikers of Lesser Tolerance - B.O.L.T.

NC Motorcycle Related Legislative Bills, as of April 2, 2009

Click here to search NC legislative site for bills that mention motorcycle.
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillSearch/BillSearch.asp?typeToSearch=ALL&ch...
Note: For some reason, H839 does not show up in the search, so the link is provided below.

H839 Require MC Safety Helmets under 21 only. SUPPORT.
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=...
Sponsors: Bill Current, Dewey Hill, Mark Hilton, and others.
Support, with gratitude to the sponsors, but let them know your support is with protest of the age discrimination and with no credence given FMVSS 218. The preferred repeal is no compromise, total repeal, allowing all adults to decide. Those of us who consider helmets too dangerous for ourselves to wear need to determine if our principles allow us to take part in forcing this on others (young adults). On the brighter side, this is a much better bill than we have seen in years, and possibly a stepping stone toward total repeal. As for myself, as of now, I will support it as a step in the right direction, toward eventual liberty for all, but will try and get a motion in committee to change this to age 18. I will not take part in asking for legislation that would force adults over 18 to wear helmets.

S64 Edition 3 MOTORCYCLE LEARNERS PERMIT. OPPOSE.
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=S64
Sponsor: Harry Brown Co-Sponsor: Tony Rand
LP expires in 6 months rather than 18. Can only be renewed once, for 6 more months. Commissioner has to report on the number of class seats available for training.
They have addressed our stated opposition regarding the waiting time for class seats, but they still have not addressed the discrimination against the use of motorcycles. This is not in line with other motorists. There is still no motorcycle operators license available for people who have no access to an automobile.
The push for this comes from military base commanders who already have the power to remedy the situation which bothers them, without catering to their undue influence over the civilian population.

H920 Edition 1 Motorcycles - No Passengers Under Age 16 OPPOSE WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE.
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=...
Sponsor: BRAXTON, an insurance agent in Kinston
TOTALLY ABSURD! Contact the legislators. It's open season on ridiculing this bill, and House member Braxton who introduced it, so happy hunting! Demand to know why this bill was introduced and who put Braxton up to it. Are there potential ethics violations by using the powers of his elected office to further his private ambitions or the goals of lobbyists such as the insurance industry? Present your questions and comments so as to not slander or libel.
Important: This bill should not stand a snowballs chance in hell, so don't let it consume much of your time, and don't let it distract your focus from more important issues such as helmet repeal.

S875 EDITION 1 INCREASE COURT FEES. OPPOSE.
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=...
Sponsor: Clodfelter
The change more needed is not an increase in court fees but a citizen demand that the court system process be revamped to change the way traffic courts operate (by wearing down the defense to the point of giving in by their scheduling process).
They have opened the door regarding GS 20-140.4, the helmet statute, by amending it to go along with other court costs. Take the opportunity to motion to change this to GS 20-140.4 is repealed.

H696 Edition 1 MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH. SUPPORT. NO NEED TO ACT.
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=...
This is "feel good" legislation of little or no significance. Reading a proclamation in the general assembly does little to nothing to increase public awareness. It raises awareness of legislators only. This "fluff" bill is okay and does no harm, so don't oppose.

THERE ARE 3 SEPARATE, BUT SIMILAR, BILLS REGARDING MOPEDS.
I oppose all three, because it is a class thing. Rich people can hire lawyers to argue DWI and other charges. Rich people can afford taxis to get to work if convicted. Poor people cannot. A moped is often the last resort transportation some people have in order to get to work. Removing this final alternative can cause undue hardship on people at a point in their lives when they are at their weakest. Regulation of vehicles operating on public roads was historically done for commercial vehicles only, because they tended to be larger and caused more wear and tear on the public roads. Mopeds (and motorcycles) are smaller, cause less injury to others and less property damage in a crash. What is next - bicycles?

S135 Edition 2
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=...
Sponsor: Tony Rand
Moped must be registered. Cannot carry a passenger. Mentions 20-140.4.

S318 Edition 1
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=...
Sponsor: Apodaca Co-sponsor: Ed Jones
Moped operators must be licensed. Moped must be registered. Mopeds can not be operated on streets with posted speed limits over 40 mph. Legislation would also modify G.S. 20-7(a1), which is the pertinent section of Senate Bill 64, LP's.

H310 Edition 1
http://ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=...
Sponsor: Nelson Cole and a few others.
Mopeds must be registered. Cannot be operated on streets with speed limits above a manufacturers suggested speed. Financial responsibility.

There are two bills to relax annual vehicle inspections. SUPPORT.
This is a huge bill. We need to check the bill more closely so that we don't have 18 wheelers with no brakes tailgating us. My initial review of it is okay.

There are two bills to force off-road vehicles to be registered. OPPOSE.
FOR MANY OBVIOUS REASONS, SUCH AS KEEPING THE STATE AWAY FROM TAKING JURISDICTION OVER OUR BACKYARDS.