Of course the big news is the passage by the General Assembly yesterday (6/23) of A2316, the Motorcycle-only Checkpoint bill. This bill, when passed, will prevent any law enforcement agency in the State from conducting a checkpoint or systematic inspection on any public roadway in New Jersey which includes only motorcycles.
We have some good momentum going on this bill and I would like to see it continue right on through the Senate and be signed into law by the Governor. Upon passing in the Assembly, the bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Transportation Committee chaired by Senator Nicholas Sacco from District 32 (Bergen County). This bill easily passed through the committee with a unanimous vote during the last legislative session (2012/2014) and we see no reason it will not pass again during the current legislative session (2014/2015).
We now have four co-sponsors on the Senate version of the Bill (S1614). Senator Oroho (R-24) and Senator Norcross (D-5) are the two latest co-sponsors. Senators Van Drew and Doherty are the bill’s Primary Sponsors. Of the four co-sponsors, two are Democrats and two are Republicans so there is bi-partisan support for the bill.
The good news is that it is still early in the 2014-2015 legislative session. There is still a year and a half left in which to get the bill out of committee, through the Senate and signed by the Governor into law.
I suggest that very soon we make contact by letter or email with the members of the Senate Transportation Committee to familiarize them with the MOC bill and let them know why it is important to pass it. We also need to encourage the Committee Chairman (Sen. Sacco) to bring the bill up for consideration sooner rather than later.
Once through the committee, we will again use the AMA action alert to inform NJ motorcyclists to contact the members of the Senate to vote in favor of the bill. After that, we may even do the same with Governor Christie to encourage him to sign the bill into law. For once we have time on our side.
I want to personally thank all of you who wrote, emailed, called or visited with your Assembly members to help push this bill through the Assembly voting session. We will be doing the same thing to get it through the Senate and signed by the Governor.
What we are now witnessing is how a simple concept, hard work, and grass-roots lobbying can achieve success toward a common goal by influencing our state law making process. Great work everyone!
Jim Parker Legislative Director ABATE of the Garden State
