I'm emailing my motorcycle lists to ask that you please support SB1021 - a California bill which penalizes drivers who injure people by violating their right of way. Sen. Debra Bowen, who carried the bill legalizing foam earplugs, has proposed a bill that will add penalties for violating right of way and injuring (or killing) someone. You can see the text of the bill (as it stands today) at [URL]http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1001-1050/sb_1021_bill_20050222_introduced.html[/URL] Basically it makes the penalty for causing an accident by violating someone's right-of-way and injuring them roughly the same as reckless driving. This obviously has a bigger impact on drivers who run into motorcycliosts, bicyclists, and pedestrians, and that's a good thing. It's not done. Some folks think the penalty levels are too low, there is no explicit penalty for killing someone (yet), and the eduication component we've discussed (which emphasizes right of way in future educational materials prepared by the state) aren't in the bill yet; we're working to get those in as a part of the process. The bill is officially supported by the AMA, ABATE, the California Bicycle Coalition and tacitly by the MSF. The CHP is officially 'neutral' (they don't support much) and AAA will be neutral as well. I'm also looking for pedestrian/runner organizations to reach out to - let me know if you know of any. This bill was based on a proposal from a California motorcyclist (me), who spent about a year researching achievable options for making riding safer. Reducing the number of drivers who violate our right of way seemed like a pretty high-impact change to make. The California Senate Transportation and Housing Committee will hear the bill for the first time on the afternoon of April the 19th. I'm asking people to do three things: * send a short fax supporting the bill to the committee to the attention of their staff member; * send a short fax supporting the bill to the Senators on the Committee; * send the same fax to your own Senator, asking them to support the bill and contact members of the committee. We all know people who have been killed or injured by drivers who turned left, changed lanes, ran stop signs or red lights, or pulled into traffic, violating the riders right of way - and the drivers maybe got a traffic ticket. Use names and tell stories. Be calm, be friendly, be positive. If you can't send faxes, send an email. But a signed fax is worth 10 or more emails, and is well worth the effort. Send it to: California Senate Transportation and Housing Committee Carrie Cornwell ([email][/email]), Chief Consultant State Capitol, Room 2209 Sacramento, CA 95814 Fax (916) 445-2209 - Write me, and let me know if you've sent a fax or emailed...!! Marc Danziger [email][/email] Here are the committee members, in case you're willing to send more faxes: Senator Tom Torlakson (Chair) D - Concord (916) 445-6083 Fax (916) 445-2527 Senator Roy Ashburn R - Bakersfield Phone: (916) 445-5405 Fax: (916) 322-3304 Senator Denise Ducheny D - San Diego (916) 445-6767 Fax (916) 327-3522 Senator Alan Lowenthal D - Long Beach (916) 445-6447 (916) 327-9113 fax Senator Abel Maldonado D - Monterey Phone: 916-445-5843 Fax: 916-445-8081 Senator Kevin Murray D - Los Angeles (916) 445-8800 Fax (916) 445-8899 Senator Joe Simitian D - Palo Alto Phone: (916)445-6747 Fax: (916) 323-4529 Senator Tom McClintock (Vice-Chair) R - Thousand Oaks Phone: (916) 445-8873 Fax: (916) 324-7544 Senator Gilbert Cedillo D - Los Angeles (916) 445-3456 Fax (916) 327-8817 Senator Christine Kehoe D - San Diego (916) 445-3952 Fax (916) 327-2186 Senator Michael Machado D - Vacaville (916) 445-2407 Fax (916) 323-2304 Senator Bob Margett R - Glendora Phone: (916) 445-2848 Fax: (916) 324-0922 Senator George Runner R - Antelope Valley Phone: 916-445-6637 Fax: 916-445-4662 Senator Nell Soto D - Ontario Phone (916) 445-6868 Fax (916) 445-0128
