PO BOX 114

Marlton, N.J. 08053

www.gardenstateabate.org

Tom Gordon

Legislative Coordinator

Legislative Update

February 9, 2007

Bills in the New Jersey Legislature

SJR 64 Designates May as “Motorcycle Awareness Month” just introduced same as AJR 110 that was introduced May 15, 2006.

SJR 64 is Sponsored by Senator Madden ( Democrat –District 4) and Senator Sweeney ( Democrat – District 3).

AJR 110 is sponsored by Assemblyman Albano and Drew both Democrat from District 1.

ABATE has been in contact with all the above legislators.

A-3701 Establishes Lane Splitting Task Force. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Alison Littell Mchose (Republican –District 24) This Bill would establish a task force allowing motorcycles to ride between lanes of motor vehicle traffic during times of congestion.  I have E-mailed her and spoken to her Staff to support this bill. I have had no response from her office. This bill has support from the AMA.

S-1227 Requires MVC to accept certain motorcycle safety courses.  Sponsored by Senator Inverso (R –district 14)

This bill primarily would waive the road test portion of the motorcycle endorsement if the rider has successfully completed a motorcycle safety course offer else ware. Primarily focus on similar courses offered by the United States military.

This billed has just passed the Senate and in the assembly transportation and public works committee.

A-2196 allows certain nonprofits to directly apply to the Division of Highway Traffic Safety for federal grants.

This bill has passed the both the Assembly and Senate. The next step will be to get the Governor to sign the Bill.  This will help ABATE and RENJ to get funding for motorcycle awareness and safety issues.

A-3385   Permits certain motorcycle dealers to offer State approved motorcycle safety education course.

This bill just made it thru the Assembly transportation committee.

The concern on this bill is dealers are offering these courses to make a profit. Do they meet the MSF criteria?  Educational courses should be non-profit.  Some of our members have taken courses thru the dealers and question the course size and safety of the program. 

Rider Education of New Jersey is a non-profit educational organization. It was originally set up by Jersey ABATE and originally known as Rider Education of Jersey ABATE.

All ABATE members and motorcyclist who rides in New Jersey must contact their legislators to get these bills passed and proper amendments added.

On the national level our members have been writing Senator Lautenberg and getting primarily the social burden reply.

I have called numerous times to talk to him in the Washington DC office. Left messages for him and his chief legislative counsel David Matsuda.  David finally called me back on Friday January 26, 2007. We had a lengthy conversation on Lautenberg’s stance on national helmet law. He is aware he is getting lots of negative feedback from all motorcyclists in this country. He wants us to direct our communications thru the New Jersey office:

Attention:             

Paul Rodriguez

Senator Frank Lautenberg

One Gateway Center 23rd floor

Newark, N.J. 07102

Phone 973-639-8700

Fax      973-639-8723

E-Mail   P-Roriguez@latenberg.senate.gov

Paul and I had a lengthy conversation on Monday January 29, 2007.

He is well aware that Lautenberg’s position on the national helmet law. We talked about how this was soundly defeated before.

I thanked him for this; it made more motorcyclists join MRO’s.   If everyone would send massive correspondences to this office before we set up a meeting it will be greatly appreciated.