GA Senate Bill 275

Senator Chip Rogers Introduced this bill mid session and I feel that we should oppose this bill for many reasons.

First. It is discriminatory due to the fact that motorcycle riders are being singled out and being required to take an expensive, specialized training to operate a pleasure vehicle.

Second. The bill is discriminatory in that it has imposed age limitations.

Third. It appears to be Racial in nature as the prime age group for Urban Riders is around the 17-26 year old.

Fourth. The intention of this bill is to increase revenue and not save lives as it allows for 16 year olds [section 2] to receive Instructional permits.

Fifth. Allowing a person regardless of age who has an out of state or out of country license [Section 1] to receive an M endorsement with out taking a training course is unfair to those who have been required to take the course.

A good example is ALABAMA. If you received your Alabama vehicle operators license before 1990 and have had it since you automatically have the M endorsement EVEN IF YOU HAVE NEVER RIDEN A MOTORCYCLE. Alabama Also allows for ONLY a written test to be taken for new drivers in order to receive an M endorsement. [ dmv.org] and NEVER even sit on a motorcycle.

We are not opposed to Rider Education. We are opposed to Mandatory, Discriminatory Legislation that treats motorcyclist and Georgia citizens unfairly.

Write or call your Senator (like I did, see below) and your House rep and request they vote against Georgia S.B. 275

Dan

Georgia General Assembly - Find Your Legislator - Click Here!

October 12, 2011

Senator Josh McKoon
District 29
P.O. Box 2565
Columbus GA 31902

Senator McKoon,

As a voter, a citizen of Georgia and a motorcycle rider I would like to express my opposition to S.B.275 by Senator Rogers of the 21st

This bill would make it mandatory for a person between the ages of 17 and 26 to receive a motorcycle operators license unless they completed an approved motorcycle operator safety training class.
This bill would also allow an individual from another state who currently has a class M endorsement to receive a Georgia license without taking the course. This is punitive to Georgia residents.

This bill would also allow for an individual 17 and older to receive a permit to operate a motorcycle on the highways of Georgia, without benefit of an approved training course, for a period of 6 months.

I feel that this bill is discriminatory as it imposes age limitations. I believe it also unfairly discriminates against motorcycle operators and places an additional requirement on us to operate a legal pleasure vehicle on the highways of this state. I furthermore feel that this is financially discriminatory as it requires us to pay for an expensive specialty course not taken by any other pleasure vehicle operator.

Operating a motorcycle is no more dangerous than being a pedestrian or a bicycle rider as can be attested to by the fatality rates of motorcycle operators vs. the combined total of pedestrian/pedal power operators. This group is not required to take any specialized training yet their fatalities are in line with motorcyclists.

This bill also appears to be directed at minority motorcycle operators as the age range fits the primary age of sport bike riders in Georgia.

This bill, although presented as an educational bill to provide training, does not address the real issues with the safety of the motorcycle operators. The statistics available from The Governors Office on Highway Safety clearly shows that a majority of all fatalities are caused by the motor vehicle operator and NOT the motorcyclist. Why then penalize the motorcyclist when we are truly the victims?

I am not against rider education. I am against mandatory and discriminatory legislation that unfairly targets a specific group of citizens.


Please vote NO to S.B. 275.

Sincerely,

Dan Forrest
State Director ABATE of Georgia {American Bikers Active Toward Education}