MRF Legislative Agenda

The MRF's primary goals at this time are:

1. Promote safety on American roads for ALL road users.

Throughout the 1990s, rider training was a problem getting worse, with waiting periods for training a year and longer. With many of the individual state governments running budget deficits, the funds set aside for motorcycle rider education are being raided and used for other state programs. New motorcycle sales are at an all time high and are expected to continue to climb, drastically straining the current rider-training infrastructure. The MRF remains committed to assisting the states with expanding all rider education programs so that every individual that desires to be properly trained can be.

The MRF was successful in obtaining language in the most recent reauthorization of the federal highway bill otherwise known as SAFETEA-LU, which was signed into law in August of 2005 and takes effect in 2006. The language sets forth a grant program that will make funds available to individual states for implementing or improving rider education programs and awareness campaigns. This victory is a first for motorcyclists across the country, never before has Washington DC sent money to the individual states specifically for on road motorcycle safety. It has been shown that over 90% of all motorcycle fatalities are of self educated riders, or riders that never enrolled in a motorcycle rider education course. Educating motorists to see motorcycle riders improves the safety of all road users, because a motorist who does not see a motorcyclist will likely not see less visible road users like bicyclists and pedestrians.

Another landmark victory for motorcycle safety in the federal highway bill is the formation of an advisory council that will sit in the Federal Highway Administrators office. The council will advise the administrator on road, bridge and barrier design and how the small signature of motorcyclists is taken into consideration when designing our nation's highway systems. The MRF feels that is council will help avoid the further implantation of non-motorcycle friendly design, ultimately saving lives.

The MRF is also opposed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) approach to motorcycle safety. NHTSA actively promotes mandatory equipment in order to access public roads and in turn promotes safer crashing instead if pursuing methods of avoiding the crash altogether. By emphasizing and devoting funds to the promotion of personal protective gear NHTSA fails to recognize that most fatal crashes result from uneducated riders. Studies have shown that protective gear does not always work in realistic on road situations. The MRF does not believe the federal government has any legitimate role in promoting or requiring that citizens wear certain attire to access American roads.

The NHTSA lobby ban that prevents the administration from entering states uninvited and lobbying for mandatory equipment mandates is also an area that is constantly monitored to ensure that the ban remains intact. The MRF position is that the federal government should not use taxpayer dollars to lobby individual states for any reason.

The MRF promotes tougher penalties for right of way (ROW) violations that result in serious bodily harm or death of motorcyclists. The recent conviction of former congressman Bill Janklow (R-SD) for killing a motorcyclist when he ran a stop sign and hit the motorcyclist has brought national attention to this otherwise looked over epidemic. Often times motorcyclist are seriously injured or even killed when a four wheeled motor vehicle makes a simple right of way violation, leaving the motorcyclists dead and the driver of the offending vehicle with a simple fine. In the case of Janklow he received 100 days of jail time for manslaughter, the MRF sees this as a massive injustice.

You can review all of the MRF's efforts to promote safety on American roads for all road users by visiting the NHTSA - National Highway Transportation Safety Administration section of this website.

2. Fight for motorcycle exemptions from Environmental Protection Agency regulatory restrictions.

As of 2006 new tail pipe emissions standards will come into effect for all models 2006 and later for all motorcycles operated on American roads. These new standards have the potential to reshape the entire landscape of American motorcycling, as we know it. With the implementation of the new standards chances are the average motorcycle owner will no longer be able to work on their own vehicle, similar to what we have seen in the automobile sector. The MRF is the only organization in the entire country that has taken opposition to the EPA rules.

You can review all of the MRF's efforts to fight the EPA's proposed regulations by visiting the EPA Proposed Emissions Standards section of this website.

3. End the discrimination of motorcyclists when it comes to health insurance.

The federal government regulates all employer- and union-provided health care plans (with some important exceptions involving state regulatory authority). Unfortunately, a Clinton administration regulation in 2001, spurred by a provision in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which prohibits the mandate of plan participation, has resulted in discrimination against motorcyclists. In short, insurers must extend health care participation to all employees, but may refuse benefits to employees who injure themselves while participating in any recreational activity. It is left up to the employer to determine what is recreational and what is not. Currently many self-insured employers are using this loophole to deny benefits to employees who sustain any injury while on their motorcycle. The MRF sees this as an outrageous form of discrimination. Legislation has been introduced in the current 109 th Congress to close this loophole. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) sponsor the legislation, S. 577 in the US Senate. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Ted Strickland are the House sponsors of the counterpart legislation HR 2793.

You can review all of the MRF's efforts to rescue health care for motorcyclists by visiting the Health Care Issues and HIPAA section of this website.

4. Monitor federal legislation for any impact on the motorcycling community at large.

The MRF has been extremely effective in the past in protecting motorcyclist and the related lifestyle from any adverse legislation. In the past Congress has tried to single out motorcyclists as a problematic portion of the community. The MRF has always and will continue to fight any and all legislation that will directly affect the motorcyclists of America.

Some areas that are under constant monitoring are:

US PATRIOT act and how it can be used to harass and detain law abiding motorcyclists. The PATRIOT act, passed just days after 9-11-01, is intended to be used for capturing and prosecuting groups or individuals that commit acts of terrorism or violence against Americans on American soil.

The MRF is concerned that some particular provisions may be used against the motorcycling community. To date this has not happened, nevertheless, it deserves continuous monitoring.

Anti Gang legislation, several pieces of legislation have been introduced this congress that aim to strengthen prosecutors tools to be used against organized gangs that commit multiple acts of violence in concert with each other. While this legislation has yet to be signed into law, The MRF feels strongly that the sponsors of the legislation need to be informed of the possible pitfalls of the language. More specifically, how it can negatively impact law abiding motorcycle riders.

Intelligent transportation systems are becoming more and more prevalent in our society. MRF works closely with the developers and integrators of these new smart systems to insure that motorcycle are considered.

 

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