Freedom of Choice 1

HB1675 is the Motorcycling Safety and Mobility Act: its primary author is Rep. Pat Ownbey from Ardmore now, as Rep. McNiel had too many issues to advance this year. ABATE is networking to get Sen. Jim Reynolds, a longtime friend of our Riding Community, to author this bill on the Senate side. This bill would allow motorcyclists, after stopping and determining it safe to proceed, to go through a controlled intersection if their bike doesn't trigger the light to turn green. This type of legislation has been passed in several states, and has directly contributed to reducing motorcyclist deaths and injuries. HB2145 and HB2146 would prohibit the Department of Public Safety from routinely using personal and biometric information without cause, and would have the department delete all "Big Brother"-type information from its database. There are EIGHT different bills addressing Driver's License renewal procedures (like dealing with proof of U.S. Citizenship and pre-notification of expiration); and EIGHT different bills targeting Distracted Driving, chiefly using Hand-Held Cell Phones and Driving while Texting. HB2080 is Rep. Wesselhoft's Anti-Gang Bill, and the author assures ABATE that he's not targeting motorcyclists. However, the verbiage is vague enough that groups of three or more who look the same can be identified for increased focus, targeting and harassment, as has happened in other states. This type of legislation is being advanced on the Federal level as well, in the person of S.132--concerned Oklahomans might want to contact Senators Inhofe and Coburn regarding this issue. Back on the state level, HB1321 would waive having to take a Road Test for your "M" Endorsement by furnishing proof of completion of an approved Rider Education Course. One of the most important opportunities we have available to us is contained as a rider in HB2264 (dealing with oversized/vehicle weight payloads). Originally advanced in HB1793 which died in committee, this rider would add five dollars to motorcycle registrations, but the money collected would be placed in a lockbox to fund a State-sponsored Rider Education Program. That's important to know, because Rider Education funding has been stolen in a number of states by raiding it for the General Fund. This is the closest we've come to funding the state's Rider Education Program, passed with much fanfare in 1999 but without any funding mechanism. A novice rider has the right to learn to ride a motorcycle safely and responsibly anywhere in Oklahoma at reasonable cost. With over 130,000 registered motorcycles now in the Sooner State, this bill would provide the funds to make that happen. ABATE is presently networking with both the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the Department Of Public Safety's Motorcyclist Liaison on this vital issue, so stand by for news.