Florida Legislative Update
Please be advised that this is the information that I have at the time the article is written and that things may change by the time you read this because of the legislature being in session as well as other factors. You can find updated information by visiting State of Florida websites http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/ for information on House Bills such as HB 137.
Visit http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm: for Bills such as SB 802 (companion bill to HB 137)
ABATE of Florida http://www.abateflorida.com/ and the AMA at http://www.amadirectlink.com/ is also good sources of information.
Florida House Bill 137 is the one where they want to confiscate your motorcycle for a traffic offense, YES it still very much alive as all but one member voted to pass it out of committee after the sponsor made some changes to his original version addressing concerns from ABATE and others. It should be noted that it still does include the confiscation of your vehicle.
Rep. Greg Evers was the only person voting against the bill, something that everyone should remember at election time.
I did e-mail a very polite letter listing my concerns about HB 137 to everyone on the committee and would like to thank others who did the same. Hopefully concerned people will continue to do so until this bill and others like it are defeated.
There is now a companion bill to this in the Senate SB 802.
It has been very disturbing to me to actually hear and read some comments from motorcycle riders saying that they think confiscating someone’s motorcycle is okay. How about the comment: “It’s people like that that give us a bad name” or we are good people, we do toy runs and other things. Give me a freaking break! This has nothing to do with people being good or bad; it is about taking away your freedoms and in many cases your personal property.
I do not know of any other motor vehicle law that takes away a vehicle for collisions, DUI’s or even killing some one and now they want to do this to people for speeding!
There are already plenty of laws that cover these offenses and all they have to do is be enforced.
I can tell you from past experience if this law is ever passed it will continue to be amended a little at a time until you would not recognize it.
There have also been people suggest to me that this may be an attempt to add income to the agency’s that would be involved in the confiscation. HUM I hadn’t thought of that.
What I do know is that This Is Bad Legislation!
There appears to be some good news on Senate Bill SB 828 that would have prohibited a person from carrying a rider younger than 12 years of age on a motorcycle or moped.
The State of Florida website on 03/18/08 states. Senate Withdrawn from Transportation; Criminal Justice – SJ 00198, Withdrawn from further consideration – SJ 00198.
I am still checking to see what is happening with legislation on Mandatory Rider Education. I am against Mandatory Education and see it as an attempt for those running the for profit courses to guarantee themselves a income. I am also against the courses being allowed to issue certificates of completion that allow Indivuals to get a motorcycle endorsement without taking the state test.
There is money from every motorcycle license and registration issued that is suppose to be spent on education. There is also Federal Grant Money. Why is this not being used to have Free Motorcycle Courses for those that desire to take them? If the courses are about safety and not making money then the manufactures of motorcycles should also be contributing to Free Courses.
By the time you read this ABATE of Florida will have held their Freedom Rights Rally with a Ride To The Capitol on Monday April 14th 2008. They will be talking to legislators about pending bills and laws. If you were one of those able to attend. THANK YOU.
ROGUE |