BPI
2008 Idaho Bill WatchList
House Bill 356
- language pertaining to... motorcycle
endorsement requirements
House Bill
363 - License plate fee increase
House Bill
365 - MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS
House Bill
372 - All-terrain vehicles, revise definition
House Bill
429 - Uninsured, underinsured motorist insurance.
House Bill
586 - Vehicle emission testing
House Bill
602 - All Terrain
Vehicles, Utility Vehicles and Motorbikes
House Bill
632 - To increase the annual registration fee
House Bill
633 - Increase the annual registration fee on certain school
buses, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and utility trailers, and to
increase the fee to validate a dealer or manufacturer number plate.
House
Concurrent Resolution No. 57 - Stating findings of the
Legislature encouraging and supporting proactive efforts, such as those
of the Blake Webb Motorcycle Safety Awareness Foundation
and to educate
and inform Idahoans about the importance of motocross riding safety both
on and off the track.
Senate Bill
1359 - Idaho rangeland license plate program and fees.
For additional information
on any of the bills listed above click
HERE
to go to the Idaho Legislature
web site.
Some of the more important dates during the 2008 Idaho
legislative session taken from the
Legislative Perspective:
Important 2008 Dates
January 3
Economic Outlook Committee - Half Day
January 4
Economic Outlook Committee - Full Day
January 4
Change in Employee Compensation Committee (CEC)
- Full Day
January 7
Session Convenes
January 18
Senate Personal Bill Deadline
January 26
House Personal Bill Deadline
February 4
Deadline for Bill/Resolution Drafting
Requests to LSO for 36th
Day
February 11
36th
Day - Nonprivileged Committee
Introduction Deadline for Bills and Joint Resolutions
February 15
JFAC Target to Complete Agency Budget
Hearings
March 1
Target Date for Transmittal of Legislation
Between Houses
March 7
JFAC Target to Complete Appropriations
Coeur
d'Alene Press Article on BikePAC of Idaho, Inc.
BikePAC gives
motorcyclists a voice
Posted:
Monday, Dec 11, 2006 - 11:41:58 pm PST
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff writer
Nonprofit focuses on
education, legislation
POST FALLS --
Motorcyclists are rallying their troops for a political voice and to offer a
perspective in the classroom.
BikePAC of Idaho was recently formed as a statewide
grassroots nonprofit to promote motorcycle safety and address concerns of
all riders at the state and federal levels.
"It was formed to bring together concerned
individuals and motorcyclists from all corners of the state to protect their
rights and further their interests," Post Falls' Tim Herzog said. "We feel
that motorcycle rider education and awareness campaigns are two of the best
ways to address serious safety issues."
The organization is
open to all motorcyclists.
Statistics, and Idaho's growth, point to the need for
motorcyclists to have a voice, Herzog said.
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, of
the 549 motorcycle collisions reported in 2005, 26 resulted in a fatality.
There were about 60,000 registered motorcycles, making Idaho among the top
states in motorcycles owned per capita.
"Yet only a small number of motorcyclists are
represented or involved in the protection of their rights," Herzog said.
Herzog, a member of the National Coalition of
Motorcyclists legislative task force, recently visited with legislators
during their North Idaho tour.
Last session, he, along with BikePAC member Willie
Stephenson of Dalton Gardens, helped push through a law that allows
motorcyclists to proceed through stoplights, with extreme caution, under
certain circumstances. Idaho was the fourth state to implement such a law.
"We see ourselves in the information business,
providing motorcyclists with information and tips on how to become involved
in the legislative process," Stephenson said. "Most people don't know how
and a lot don't care, but we're hoping some will."
Herzog said among the issues being considered for the
next legislative session are increasing fines for those who cause accidents
due to using cell phones.
"Tailgating is a real big issue with me," Herzog
said. "There's a lot of time that doesn't need to be spent on the cell
phone."
BikePAC endorses the American Motorcyclist
Association's Justice for All program, which focuses on inadequate
sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill others on the road.
Herzog and Stephenson recently met with Post Falls
school superintendent Jerry Keane about having BikePAC members offer
motorcyclists' perspective in driver's education classes.
"We will be exploring the possibility of
reestablishing a relationship with the motorcycle community," Keane said.
Stephenson added: "We want to explain why riders do
what they do. We wear leather jackets not because we are mean, but it's part
of our safety code."
BikePAC is separate from ABATE, another motorcycle
group that has local chapters. Some members belong to both and each has
their own priorities.
"BikePAC focuses on legislative priorities and
education," Stephenson said. "We don't do charity work and we don't have
social events. It's pretty much meat and potatoes."
BikePAC membership is $20 or the "supporter" level
runs $10.
Information: www.bikepacofidaho.org, 777-1915
Coeur d'Alene Press - Local and
National News - Kootenai County, Idaho
P.O. Box 7000 / 2nd & Lakeside / Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 / 208-664-8176
Coeur d'Alene Press Online is updated everyday between 9 - 10am PST.
