US Motorcycle Legislature Updates

As part of our continued attention to the sport of motorcycling, CSC will be providing an update to the changes in laws affecting motorcycling from across the country. This doesn't mean that you should not be aware of all of the laws affecting your travel through the various states across the country, nor will we be providing all the laws that affect you. Please remember that ignorance of the law is not a defense. But we will try to increase your awareness with the ones we find.

US: The "Red Flag Rules" have once again been delayed for motorcycle dealerships. It has been extended to November 1, 2009. For more information go to www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule. As a note, Chicago Sports & Cycle has already implement Red Flags Rule and was in compliance at the first deadline of November 2008. For information, please ask Kathi or Kevin.

Missouri: HB253 specifically permits the use of compliant motorcycle headlamp modulators. These devices vary the intensity of motorcycle headlamps from their maximum intensity to a lesser intensity under certain conditions. Although already authorized by federal regulations, motorcyclists throughout the country continue to receive warnings and citations for their use. The bill was signed into law in Missouri July 7, 2009.

Missouri: HB683 and SB368 created an affirmative defense for motorcyclists and bicyclists stuck at an intersection controlled by a traffic-actuated signal that fails to recognize their vehicle. After coming to a complete stop, motorcycle and bicycle operators may proceed with extreme caution after waiting for an unreasonable amount of time and after having determined that the vehicle detection device failed to recognize them. The Governor of Missouri singed HB683 into law July 1st 2009 and SB368 into law on July 9th 2009.

US: Texting. This issues is gaining national attention following the puclication of a New York Times article alleging that the Nat Hwy Traffic Safety Admin withheld distracted-driver data to avoid angering Congress. With that data public, Sec of Transportation, Ray LaHood, then announced an upcoming summit on distracted driving to be held in September 2009. Details have yet to be released, but information can be found on the event's webpage at http://www.rita.dot.gov/distracted_driving_summit/. Also, a new study conducted by VA Tech Trans Inst reports that when long haul truck drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Now four US Senators are pushing for legislation to ban texting while driving anywhere in the country (see http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/29/texting.ban/index.html).