Stop discriminatory motorcycle-only checkpoints by law enforcement agencies
- by: American Motorcyclist Association
- recipient: David L. Strickland, Administrator NHTSA
Initially begun in New York State, the process involves setting-up checkpoints where only motorcycles are pulled over. Law enforcement officers then check for U.S. DOT-compliant helmets, legal exhaust systems, and compliance with licensing, registration and inspection regulations. The NHTSA program would also collect information on high-motorcycle-crash-incident areas and citations would be issued for any violations discovered.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has questioned the potential discriminatory and legal nature of this program and submitted a list of questions for clarification to the New York State Police. To date, New York authorities have not responded. The AMA has also sent a letter to Administrator Strickland urging him to suspend the grant program until questions have been addressed. While law enforcement officials in New York defend the program as a safety measure to decrease motorcycle crashes, injuries and fatalities, there is no proof of its effectiveness. The practice has drawn the ire of motorcyclists both locally and nationally.
The AMA believes public funding would better serve motorcyclists by applying it to the national motorcycle crash causation study that is currently underway. The primary source of motorcycle safety is in motorcycle crash prevention and NHTSA should focus on decreasing the likelihood of crashes in the first place. This is a sentiment supported by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and many of his colleagues in Congress through recently introduced H. Res. 1498. To urge your Representative to support this resolution. The methods used in New York State remain highly suspect and no public money should be applied to promoting such a program without addressing questions from the motorcycling community.
Specifically, how do motorcycle-only checkpoints (MOCs) increase the safety of motorcyclists? Where do the selected states draw their authority to conduct MOCs? Will %u201Cprobable cause%u201D be required to stop a motorcycle under the terms of this grant program? If so, what will constitute %u201Cprobable cause?%u201D What types of infractions were recorded by New York law enforcement officials at these checkpoints? And, what criteria will be used to determine if the MOCs are successful?
The AMA urges all riders to contact Administrator Strickland and request the grant offer be suspended until these questions have been addressed. Follow the %u201CTake Action%u201D option to send a pre-written e-mail directly to Administrator Strickland demanding no federal dollars be used to expand programs that discriminate against motorcyclists
As a motorcyclist and concerned taxpayer, I urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to suspend offering the Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstrations Grant (DTNH22-10-R-00386) until questions raised by the motorcycling community have been addressed.
Specifically, how do motorcycle-only checkpoints (MOCs) increase the safety of motorcyclists? Where do the selected states draw their authority to conduct MOCs? Will probable cause be required to stop a motorcycle under the terms of this grant program? If so, what will constitute probable cause? What types of infractions were recorded by law enforcement officials in New York at these traffic stops? And, what criteria will be used to measure the success of the MOCs?
Motorcyclists are better served by efforts that minimize injuries and fatalities by preventing crashes in the first place. The most efficient way of doing so is not through sporadic, discriminatory roadside checkpoints, but by mitigating crash causation.
The Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstrations Grant is an unwarranted use of taxpayer funding that would only expand a heretofore unproven program. Please suspend the grant offering immediately until these important questions raised by the motorcycling community have been addressed.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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