Legislative Update - April 2009

Compiled by Vinny Neuman - Legislative Coordinator CCCBA

State Issues:

- House Bill 839 - Helmet choice for riders over 21 years of age.  If you support freedom of choice for adult riders, please thank these five sponsors and ask your Reps to co-sponsor this bill.

Here are the Reps who we should thank:   Bill.Current@ncleg.net - Dewey.Hill@ncleg.net  - Pearl.Burris-Floyd@ncleg.net  - Mark.Hilton@ncleg.net  -  Efton.Sager@ncleg.net

Please also send an email or call the members of the Transportation committee and ask them to discuss and vote to pass HB 839 in the Transportation committee.

Becky.Carney@ncleg.net  Lorene.Coates@ncleg.net  Nelson.Cole@ncleg.net  Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net  Mark.Hilton@ncleg.net    Danny.McComas@ncleg.net  Arthur.Williams@ncleg.net  Lucy.Allen@ncleg.net Cary.Allred@ncleg.net  Curtis.Blackwood@ncleg.net  William.Brisson@ncleg.net  George.Cleveland@ncleg.net Leo.Daughtry@ncleg.net  Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net  Phillip.Frye@ncleg.net Melanie.Goodwin@ncleg.net Ty.Harrell@ncleg.net  Sandra.Hughes@ncleg.net  Ric.Killian@ncleg.net  Nick.Mackey@ncleg.net

Grier.Martin@ncleg.net  William.McGee@ncleg.net  Tim.Moore@ncleg.net   Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net Ray.Rapp@ncleg.net  Fred.Steen@ncleg.net   Bonner.Stiller@ncleg.net  Ron.Sutton@ncleg.net Jane.Whilden@ncleg.net   Winkie.Wilkins@ncleg.net   Michael.Wray@ncleg.net

- House Bill 696 - Motorcycle Awareness Month - This bill has been sent to the House Rules Committee.  Depending on the committee's deliberations this bill may move forward as a Joint Resolution rather than a bill.  Contact your Reps and Senators to seek support for this proposal in its final format.

- House Bill 920 - No passengers under 16 years of age on a motorcycle.  Introduced by Rep. Van Braxton (Dem) from Kinston.   He's an insurance agent.  CBA ABATE is opposed to this bill.

- House Bill 67 - Introduced by Rep. Nelson Cole (D) - This bill mandates that license tags be displayed horizontally. Some choppers have them vertically.  This will results in a class 2 misdemeanor offense if passed (NC G.S. 14-3.1 = $100 fine).   They want to make sure that traffic cameras get a good pic of the offender's plate. Any covering or alteration of a license plate will fall under this new bill.

- Senate Bill 64 - Motorcycle learners' permit changes (similar to last session's bill) - Change the duration from 18 months to 6 months lessening the time someone has to learn to ride.  It also limits it to one renewal. This bill requires someone have a car drivers permit or license to get a motorcycle permit. This bill discriminates against motorcycle riders therefore, the CBA will oppose this bill.

- House Bill 166 - A bill to increase the allowable speed of a scooter or moped of less than 50 cc from 30 MPH to 50 MPH.  Introduced by Rep. Cary Allred (Rep) of Alamance County who just happens to own a moped and scooter retail store.  The CBA will support this bill as enabling mopeds to travel closer to the speed of traffic should reduce traffic congestion and reduce the chance that a rider will get hit by a passing car.

- House Bill 238 - Licensing moped riders - Rep. Melanie Goodwin (D-Richmond 66) who has introduced a bill calling for moped operators to be licensed. The bill says, "It shall be unlawful for any person who is 16 years of age or older to operate a moped ... upon any public street or highway of this State without being licensed as a driver pursuant to G.S. 20-1.Â"

If passed, it would become effective Dec. 1.

- House Bill 310 - Registration and insurance of moped  -  Introduced by Rep. Nelson Cole (D) moped operators will have to have insurance like car drivers and they will not be able to travel on roads with a higher speed limit than the recommended maximum speed declared by the manufacturer.

- Senate Bill 12 / House Bill 68 - BAN MOBILE PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING. Filed 1/28/09 by Sen Dannelly (D). TO MAKE USING A MOBILE PHONE OR ACCESSING ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY UNLAWFUL WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A PUBLIC STREET OR HIGHWAY OR PUBLIC VEHICULAR AREA.

- Senate Bill 96/Similar to S-22 / House Bill 9 -  BAN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. Filed 2/2/09 Sen. Forrester / Rep. Nelson Cole (D). TO MAKE IT unlawful to use additional technology associated with a mobile phone while operating a vehicle on a public street or highway or public vehicular area. Substantively identical to H 9, filed 1/29/09.

- Senate Bill 45 - OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TRUST FUND. Filed 2/3/09 by Rep. Weiss (D). TO REQUIRE ALL-TERRAIN vehicles and motorcycles that are used as off-road vehicles to be registered with the division of motor vehicles, to create a non-reverting revenue fund in the department of environment and natural resources designated as the off-road vehicle trust fund to be used to provide all-terrain vehicle safety training, acquire new lands, manage lands, and develop off-road vehicle parks, trails, and facilities, and to create a new off-road recreation program.

- House Bill 82 - INCREASE AUTO INSURANCE LIABILITY LIMITS. Filed 2/5/09 by Rep. Faison (D). TO INCREASE MANDATORY liability insurance requirements for motor vehicles and to make conforming changes to the general statutes. Amends relevant sections of GS chapters 20, 58, and 62 to increase mandatory liability insurance requirements from $30,000 to $75,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident; from $60,000 to $150,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident; and from $25,000 to $50,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. Makes conforming and technical changes. Effective for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2010.

- House Bill 118 - SPECIAL PLATE FOR BLUE KNIGHTS. Filed 2/10/09 by Rep. McComas (R)

- Senate Bill 368 - Various Changes in Motor Vehicle Laws - Require directional signals on motorcycles if originally equipped by manufacturer.