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California Senator introduces anti-motorcyclist profiling resolution - SB41

Senate Resolution 41, introduced by state Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), promotes increased public awareness on the issue of motorcycle profiling and encourages collaboration and communication between the motorcycle community and local and state law enforcement agencies to engage in efforts to end motorcycle profiling and urges state law enforcement officials to include statements condemning motorcycle profiling in written policies and training materials with the intent that it be distributed to local and state law enforcement agencies.

The AMA Board of Directors previously adopted a position statement condemning the practice of motorcyclist profiling. It reads: The American Motorcyclist Association has long advocated for the rights of motorcyclists and the motorcycling lifestyle. The AMA, in diligently scrutinizing government policies directed at motorcyclists, is concerned over motorcyclist profiling. This includes motorcycle-only checkpoints and what is a predisposition in many cases of law enforcement officers targeting motorcyclists solely because they are wearing motorcycle-related clothing.

In the past few years, a number of efforts have been undertaken to address these issues. For example, the states of Washington (S.B. 5242 in 2011) Maryland (S.B. 233 in 2016), Louisiana (H.B. 141 in 2019) and Idaho (S. 1292 in 2020) have passed legislation specifically forbidding the profiling of motorcyclists, and other states are considering similar legislation. Additionally, California adopted Assembly Bill 1047 in 2012, specifically outlawing motorcycle-only checkpoints. Checkpoints are also restricted by state law or judicial action in: Alaska, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, New Hampshire, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The AMA strongly condemns the profiling of motorcyclists by government agencies and has long championed the undeniable fact that the vast majority of riders and enthusiasts are upstanding, law-abiding citizens. Motorcyclists and motorcycling enthusiasts represent the full range of Americans and should be judged on their specific behaviors and actions, not their chosen mode of transportation or association with others.

2021 Bills At A Glance

AB 43 FRIEDMAN (D – GLENDALE, CHAIR OF ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION). TRAFFIC SAFETY. This bill would require, beginning June 1, 2022, and every 6 months thereafter, Caltrans to convene a committee of external design experts to advise on revisions to the Highway Design Manual. This bill would extend the period of time a prima facie speed limit may be justified by an engineering and traffic survey, as specified, if a registered engineer evaluates the section of the highway and finds that there has been an increase in traffic-related crashes.(TRACKING/MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS) *Passed Senate Transportation Committee 7/13/21, referred to Appropriations Committee

AB 122 BOERNER HORVATH (D – OCEANSIDE) VEHICLES: REQUIRED STOPS: BICYCLES. This bill would require a person riding a bicycle, when approaching a stop sign at the entrance of an intersection, to yield the right-of-way to any vehicles that have stopped at the entrance of the intersection, have entered the intersection, or that are approaching on the intersecting highway close enough to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until reasonably safe to proceed. (TRACKING/MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS) *Passed Senate Appropriations Committee on 7/15/21

AB 232 Gallagher (R – Yuba City) Off-highway vehicles: reciprocity. Existing law requires every off-highway motor vehicle that is not registered under the Vehicle Code to display an identification plate or device issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, with certain exceptions, including an off-highway motor vehicle with a currently valid identification or registration permit issued by another state. Except as otherwise specified, a violation of the Vehicle Code is punishable as an infraction. !is bill would permit application of that exception only if the other state recognizes an identification plate or device issued by the department as valid for use in that state. (SUPPORTING) * Passed Senate Appropriations Committee on 7/15/21

AB-1512 Bauer Kahan (D – Orinda) Off-highway vehicular recreation: Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area: Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area !is bill would require the department to preserve, in perpetuity, land known as the “AlamedaTesla Expansion Area,” which is currently part of the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area, for conservation purposes, including for nonmotorized public recreation, as provided. !e bill would require the department to work with other entities to have $9,000,000 appropriated, transferred, or donated to the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund for these purposes, as specified. (OPPOSE) Dual Similar Bill, SB 799 Glazer, same District - Bill Vetoed by Governor in 2019. * Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee

SB 66 Allen (D – Santa Monica) California Council on the Future of Transportation: advisory committee: autonomous vehicle technology. !is bill would require the secretary to establish an advisory committee, the California Council on the Future of Transportation, to provide the Governor and the Legislature with recommendations for changes in state policy to ensure that as autonomous vehicles are deployed, they enhance the state’s efforts to increase road safety, promote equity, and meet public health and environmental objectives. !e bill would require the council to be chaired by the secretary and consist of at least 22 additional members, selected by the chair or designated, as specified, who represent, among others, transportation workers, various state and local agencies, and a disability rights organization.(SUPPORTING) *Referred to Committees on Transportation and Communications & Conveyance

SB 227 Jones (R – Santee) Off-highway vehicles. !is bill would require, for the issuance or renewal of a competition identification, a specified configuration for the vehicle identification number and product identification number for an off-highway motor vehicle or ATV that is model year 2022 or later and is used solely for competition not on a public highway. !e bill would impose restrictions on the operation of a competition motorcycle or ATV on public lands, including, among others, a requirement that a rider possess a current and valid competition card from a competition-sanctioning organization when practicing for a sanctioned event on public lands. Because operating a competition motorcycle or ATV on public lands in violation of those requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (SUPPORTING) * Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee

WANT MORE DETAILS? http://www.legsinfo.legislature.ca.gov

2021 New California Driving Laws

2021 California New Traffic Safety Laws - Click this link to see the details of the new laws for 2021.

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