In the last week, two legislative items from California caught our eye. Both issues could impact not only those who live, work or visit the Golden State, but could have lasting impacts across the nation.
First, as the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) reported earlier this year, lawmakers in Sacramento are considering legislation to require new vehicles sold in the state to have passive intelligent speed assistance systems installed. This system would alert the vehicle operator by visual and audio signals if they exceed ten (10) mph over posted speed limits. ABATE of California’s lobbyist firm, the Lombardo Group, met with the author of the bill and successfully negotiated an amendment to exclude motorcycles from the list of motor vehicles defined in California Vehicle Code Section 415. The battle lasted seven (7) months. They were additionally supported by the Modified Motorcycle Association of California, the California Motorcycle Dealers Association, the United Motor Vehicle Coalition of California, the Biker Rights Organization of California and
other groups. The hard work on the bill, SB 961, resulted in an amended version with motorcycles stripped out of any mandate.
Secondly, another bill, SB 615 may impact the push towards electric vehicles (EV). The bill would make a battery or vehicle manufacturer responsible for collecting and repur-posing batteries. Comments the MRF submitted in January to the California Air Resources Board addressed this issue. The MRF stated, “Disposal of these vehicles at end of life is very worrisome. The batteries needed to power them contain materials that are harmful to our soil and groundwater.”
Finally, a story this week out of California involving a Tesla Semi Rig crashing and catching fire is also
Read California SB 961 Here
Calif SB 961Read California SB 615 Here
Calif SB 615Read About Tesla Big-Rig Fire
CBS NewsWatch About Tesla Big-Rig Fire
making news. According to media reports, firefighters had to rotate on and off the scene due to smoke coming from the wreckage, described by a California Highway Patrol official on the broadcast as “toxic.”
While the push to kill the internal combustion engine remains strong, perhaps some are starting to realize the obvious pitfalls of a push toward an all-electric vehicle marketplace.
Congratulations to the bikers in California who fought to exclude motorcycles from the speed restriction devices! We will continue to track their efforts on these two issues and any others that impact riders.
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