Deland, FL, January 27, 2011 – ABATE of Florida, Inc. once again begins our fight to get stiffer penalties levied upon careless and negligent drivers that hit, injure, and many times kill the motorcyclists on the roadways of Florida. Our battle begins this year with the filings of Florida House Bill 403 and Florida Senate Bill 608 this week, both titled “Traffic Offenses”.
Over the last two years, we know of at least 24 motorcyclists that have been killed by careless, negligent, and/or drunk drivers. Of those cases, the vast majority of offending drivers have either not been charged at all, or have only been cited with “failure to yield”. Out of these deaths, only three drivers have been sentenced to over $166, with none sentenced to any time in jail. Florida House Bill 403, filed by Representative Baxley, and Florida Senate Bill 608, filed by Senator Evers, are both intended to establish a Florida law that will bring justice in sentencing when an offending vehicle driver injures and/or kills a motorcyclist.
Representative Bill Baxley is currently the Chair of the Criminal Justice Sub-Committee and the Vice Chair of the Transportation and Highway Safety Sub Committee. He has served in the past as Florida’s Speaker Pro Tempore. Senator Evers sponsored our Stiffer Penalties Bill last year while a Florida House of Representatives member, and currently serves as the Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee and the Vice Chair or Transportation Committee in the Florida Senate. Both are members of ABATE of Florida and have been huge supporters of motorcyclists’ rights.
ABATE of Florida, Inc. has been trying for years to get the penalties sentenced drivers convicted of hitting motorcyclists after negligent and/or reckless vehicle operation not only enforced, but made more severe. Now that our Stiffer Penalties Bills have been filed, we wish all to contact your elected representatives and ask them to support Senate Bill 608 and House Bill 403 in an effort to let your legislators understand that motorcyclists’ lives are worth more than a traffic ticket.
Contact:
David “Lockdown” Rich
Public Relations Trustee, ABATE of Florida, Inc.
386.490.4821 FAX: 396.490.4482
statepr@abateflorida.com
www.ABATEFlorida.com
Update 1/12/2012: ABATE of Florida's Stiffer Penalties Bill Filed
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