Due to the quick actions of concerned motorcyclists across the country, a major federal transportation measure narrowly avoided becoming a bill to encourage states to enact helmet laws nationwide.
On Monday, December 12 Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) filed an amendment to S.1449 the "Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011” that would call for mandatory helmet laws nationwide and could jeopardize funding for Motorcycle Safety programs across America.
By Tuesday the motorcycle community was alerted to Lautenburg’s efforts by national and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations, including the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) and numerous NCOM Member Groups, and riders were urgently urged to contact their U.S. Senators to oppose the amendment -- and time was of the essence because a Senate committee was to vote on the bill the following day!
Wednesday, Dec 14, during the hearing held by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee to “mark-up” the bill, Senator Lautenburg decided not to introduce his amendment.
Not only did motorcyclists’ prompt response help avoid another federal helmet law battle and preserve federal funding for motorcycle safety programs, but the committee also voted to accept two amendments by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) that removed language in the bill that would have lifted the current ban on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from lobbying states to enact universal helmet laws for all riders.
S.1449 passed the committee by voice vote and now goes to the Senate floor for further action, while riders remain ever vigilant.
source: ABATE of Florida
January 17, 2012- -
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January 17, 2012- -
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