During large motorcycle rallies it's not uncommon to see states implement motorcycle checkpoints. The purpose? Officials believe it helps reduce motorcycle fatalities and promote riding safety. However many motorcyclists feel the checkpoints profile motorcyclists as being dangerous or unsafe on the road. Apparently the U.S. House agrees with roughly 50 members having signed a bill banning U.S. transportation secretary from allotting funds specifically to operate motorcycle-only checkpoints. 

 

Currently there are five states that have banned checkpoints or put restrictions on implementing them, Illinois, Virginia, California, New Hampshire and North Carolina.  The bill, written by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, “prohibits the transportation secretary from providing grants or any funds to state, county, town, township, Indian tribe, municipality or other local government for use in any program designed to check safety equipment use or create arbitrary checkpoints for motorcycle rides or passengers,” (50 U.S. Lawmakers Oppose Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints-Bill Would Prohibit Checkpoint Funding, American Motorcyclists Magazine, Issue September 2012).

 

The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased with the backing from the 50 House members and “thanks these members of Congress and encourages motorcyclists to also thank them for their support,” stated Wayne Allard, AMA vice present for government relations, (50 U.S. Lawmakers Oppose Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints-Bill Would Prohibit Checkpoint Funding, American Motorcyclists Magazine, Issue September 2012).