In an interesting story I found on Whowon.com, the American Motorcyclist Association recently contacted Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia over a motorcycle-only checkpoint that the AMA called “discriminatory”. Apparently the Arlington County Police Department set up a motorcycle-only checkpoint during the Rolling Thunder rally last weekend in Washington, D.C. The event typically draws tens of thousands of enthusiasts between May 27-29 who gather to recognize POW’s and MIA’s.
"The safety of motorcyclists is better served by efforts that minimize injuries and fatalities by preventing crashes in the first place," AMA rep Rick Podliska wrote in the letter. "The most efficient way of doing so is not through sporadic, discriminatory roadside checkpoints, but by mitigating crash causation."
The letter goes on to ask for a suspension of the checkpoints until certain “questions” can be answered. Questions like: How do motorcycle-only checkpoints increase the safety of motorcyclists? Where do states draw their authority to conduct motorcycle-only checkpoints? Will "probable cause" be required to stop a motorcycle? If so, what constitutes probable cause?
Along with the governor, the AMA also sent copies of the letter to Police Chief of Arlington M. Douglas Scott, Virginia Senate Transportation Committee Chairwoman Yvonne Miller, and Virginia House of Delegates Transportation Committee Chairman Joe May.
I’m happy to see the AMA standing up for motorcyclists and challenging lawmakers when they create blatantly biased situations like this. You can click here to read a PDF of the letter.
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