MMA Legislative Agenda 2009

The 2009 Legislative Session has begun. Following is a Lobby Update on the two bills that we will be running this session:

Here's what we have to date:

There are approximately 150,000 registered motorcycles in Arizona

Following are the BILL#'s assigned to the 2 Bills that the motorcycle lobby team are running, as well as the DPS Tow Bill that we recently made you aware of. There is a short description of each bill as well as a step by step description of how you can follow these bills through the legislative session:

HB2133 - Motorcycle Safety Fund and Arizona Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council (AMSAC) Sunset Extension:
The fund and the Council were to Sunset (expire) in June of 2010. The reason this is not going before a "Sunset Committee" for extension, is that the fund and the council are considered a program and not a state agency. As a Sunset can only be extended for a maximum of 6 years, this BILL will extend the Sunset to 2016. - Sponsor is Representative Jerry Weiers.

SB1060 - Right of Way (ROW) - Addition of Types and Increase of Penalties:
The current ROW statute ARS.28-672 - has Left Turns and Running Red Lights. We are ADDING Pulling Out From Intersections, Merging, and Moving From Your Lane Safely. Currently one penalty in the statute states the court 'MAY' suspend a license for causing 'Serioud Physical Injury/Death' for 90/180 days. We are ADDING for a Second or Subsequent Violation within a 36 month period, that the court 'SHALL'. Currently when causing any of the above ROW violations listed, while driving on a Suspended or Revoked License, the penalty automatically escaltes to a Class 5 Felony for SPI and Class 4 Felony for Death. We are ADDING a classification of driver that does not have a Valid Driver License and a Proper Endorsement to this section.

SB1137 - Vehicle Impound - Lacking Proper Endorsement:
This is the DPS Towing BILL that we recently announced. Currently, it is law that when a person is found to be driving/riding on a Suspended or Revoked License, that their vehicle is TOWED and kept for 30 days, or until the owner comes to the impound yard with proof of their license being reinstated. This would include proof of ownership via registration / title and insurance etc. This BILL will Revise that statue to include the Towing of anyone driving/riding a vehicle WITHOUT THE PROPER ENDORSEMENT (i.e. Motorcycle, SemiTruck). According to DPS and the statute, you will be given a "Hearing" date when ticketed and towed, and IF you get your ENDORSEMENT prior to your Hearing date, you will be given the proper paperwork to get your motorcycle released to you immediately. IF you cannot get your ENDORSEMENT prior to your "hearing" date, you can ask for an extension so that you can.

The important thing on this bill at this time is for everyone to have their Motorcycle Endorsement.

You Too Can Follow These Bills Through The Legislative Session:
LOGON TO - _www.azleg.gov_ ()
ENTER THE BILL# - into the search box – top right corner of home page
CLICK ON - “Show the Bill Overview” - to see sponsors, committees assigned,
voting summaries for each House/Senate committee it goes before, as well as
the floor votes. Everything that happens to the BILL is recorded here.
CLICK ON - “Show Fact Sheet” - to see the Fact Sheet or explanation of the
BILL as written by Staff (once there is one).
CLICK ON - "Show Versions" - to see the Contents of the BILL itself. HTML
version is a nicer view, but PDF version is better for print.

As of 1/21/09, Committee assignments have not been made to these BILLs, only
BILL #'s, with the exception of Bill # HB2133 which has been assigned to
Military Affairs and Public Safety. This year, the assignment of Committees and
the actual Hearing of most BILLs will depend on the progress of the State
Budget. As always, any questions, please contact me or one of the Motorcycle Lobbyist.