HB 328 Introduced Please Support

Details: Published on Friday, 03 February 2012 08:21

We have a bill that we are working on at this time H.B. 328. I ask that you call the legislative hotline at 1-800-372-7181 and leave the following message for your State Representative: "Please Co-sponsor H.B. 328." If you do not know who your representative is which can be tricky right now due to redistricting just tell the folks at the phone center your address and they will be glad to help you out. You can also look it up by clicking on this link:

http://lrc.ky.gov/Legislators.htm

HB 328 (BR 1304) - R. Adams, T. McKee, R. Rand

AN ACT relating to the operation of a motorcycle.
Amend KRS 186.450 to allow a person who has received an intermediate operator's license to apply for a motorcycle instruction permit; make a motorcycle instruction permit good for 1 year, with the ability to renew the permit 1 time, allow a person whose motorcycle instruction permit has expired apply for a motorcycle operator's license if the person can present proof of successful completion of a motorcycle safety education course in accordance with KRS 15A.352(5).

Jan 26-introduced in House
Jan 30-to Transportation (H)

So the next question I am sure you are asking is what is H.B. 328 and why should I be calling to support it. This bill seeks to address two items. First is a long standing problem here in KY of folks riding around on their instructional permits for years and years and years. Under current law a person can renew their motorcycle learner's permit forever. They just have to go back to the county clerk's office every 3 years and pay the fee. Bad part is that a good chunk of these folks along with others who have not even tried to get their learner's permit are involved in about half of all accidents here in KY. In 2010 for example we had about 2000 accidents that were reported. Of those a little over 800 had either a learner's permit or no license at all. Now when these folks are out on the road on a permit they are supposed to be riding in the daytime, no passengers and with a helmet. Unfortunately that is not always the case. So you can see how the numbers get skewed by folks who are already breaking the current law which gives lawmakers another reason to try and add even more laws like a mandatory helmet law for example.

The second issue the bill seeks to remedy is a problem which occurred when the graduated licensing program began a few years back. In that bill it increased the age at which you could even obtain a motorcycle learner's permit to 18. So what is wrong with that? Most people may not thinking about this but KY statute defines anything on 2 or 3 wheels over 50cc's as a motorcycle. Those Vespas and other scooters are technically a motorcycle and you need an endorsement to be able to ride them. Especially in the larger towns like Louisville, Lexington, and Northern KY these type vehicles are used on a regular basis by the 16-21 crowd among others. Right now there is no way for a 16 or 17 year old to obtain a leaner's permit to ride one of these type machines. Additionally we have a law on the books for the 16 and 17 year olds which allow them to take the rider-ed course here in the state for FREE and get their motorcycle endorsement. However they cannot get their endorsement without a permit first. But you cannot get a permit so why even take the class. See the dilemma? This bill would move the age at which a person could get their motorcycle permit back to 16 1/2 which is when they can get their intermediate driver's license. Hopefully more kids will go on to take the FREE course as well.

So how is the bill going to address that 1st problem? Glad you asked. A person would have 2 years to get their full motorcycle endorsement just like they do now. You would take the written test and receive your learner's permit. Now it would be good for one year however and you could renew it once. This would give a person 2 years to complete the process of getting a permit and taking the skills test to get their full endorsement. If they still cannot get their endorsement after 2 years they can still obtain one. They must take an approved rider-ed course and by doing so they will get a card to take to their county clerk for their full endorsement. This bill seeks to address the issues of people without licenses, lack of training and getting the youth more involved and trained as well.

Please be sure to call 1-800-372-7181 and ask your House member to Please Co-sponsor H.B. 328.

Last but not least we will be having a meet your legislator day at the Capitol Annex

Feb. 22nd at 10am.

Please meet in the Annex main cafeteria at 10am and folks will be going to meet their Reps. and Senators later that day. The Senate Transportation Committee meets that day at Noon so be sure to stop by there and talk with those folks as well. Just please come to the Annex Cafeteria at 10am and look for Dave Webster and/or Dave Newman. They can help tell you where you need to go. See you there.