Triumphrat

Tiglath

I wrote this to Rep. Lopez-Cantera:

----------------------------
I am writing about your bill that will allow police to confiscate
motorcycles doing 30 mph over the speed limits, but not cars.

I'll keep it brief: SHAMEFUL.
------------------------------

Below is his reply and my answer to it:

(Lopez-Cantero's answer is marked by '>')

-------------------------------------

Thank you for your reply. Please see below.

(Your letter edited for brevity)

> I am sure you can agree that popping wheelies at
> high rates of speeds or any other kind of stunt riding
> has no place Florida's roads.

I can. Still, one should worry about the beam before the mote; please read on.


> That is the type of reckless driving this bill seeks to
> address. The goal of this legislation is to target stunt
> riding and prevent motorcycle fatalities.

I don’t understand this. Take for instance the many 35 mph zones where the limit seems to have nothing to do with road safety and everything to do with milking the public cow, as many municipalities like to do for extra cash. In those zones an absent-minded motorcyclist can easily accelerate his bike to say, 66 mph when traffic allows it. Your bill says that he should pay for his non-stunt offense with his vehicle; yet a car should get only a speeding ticket. As I said: shameful.


> Currently, it seems HB 137 has been drafted in a way that
> would affect all motorcycle riders. I feel that the poor actions
> of a few riders should not punish all riders. Subsequently,
> I am currently working on language that will amend the bill to
> clearly address the problem of motorcycle stunt riding on public
> roads. The amendment will clearly define what is considered
> stunt riding and require a motorcycle rider to maintain two wheels
> on the ground at all times. The speeding focuses of the bill will
> not stand alone but will rather be in conjunction with stunt driving.

That’s encouraging. Yet as the bill stands my comment remains fair.


> Thank you for expressing your concerns. They will definitely be taken
> into consideration. I recently met with James Reichenbach from
> ABATE, and after I explained the true intent of this legislation he
> told me that he would support it.

If the goal of the legislation is to prevent motorcycle fatalities, it should be as obvious to you as it is to me that the biggest potential payoff is not in fighting stunt riders.

Sir, with all respect, you are trying to double lock the back door while leaving the front door wide open. You acknowledge that stunt riding is a problem with a "few riders," yet you allow many riders to drive motorcycles and mopeds without wearing a helmet. What sense does that make? Because of such deeply flawed logic Florida accounts for almost 10% of the national motorcycle fatalities.

One needs no stunts; it is a true fact that without a helmet a minor motorcycle accident can result in death or serious injury. Hence, mandatory helmets to ride bikes and mopeds would substantially reduce mortality. First things should come first.

And before fighting stunt riding you would do well to fight for a mandatory basic rider skills course as the prerequisite for riding motorcycles above certain displacement. Look at the British model. Most reckless driving motorcycle deaths are caused by the combination of powerful engines and riders getting into situations beyond their skills.

You should rank the problems you see with motorcycles in order of importance. I’ll be happy to see you do that.

Thanks again.

-----------------------------------------

This is the entire reply of Rep. Lopez-Cantera unedited.

--------------------------------------------

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding HB 137, Offenses
Committed While Operating a Motorcycle. I realize some riders have
several concerns regarding my legislation. This bill aims to address
riders of high performance motorcycles that treat Florida's roads and
highways as their own personal stunt track. I am sure you can agree that
popping wheelies at high rates of speeds or any other kind of stunt
riding has no place on Florida's roads. That is the type of reckless
driving this bill seeks to address. The goal of this legislation is to
target stunt riding and prevent motorcycle fatalities.

Currently, it seems HB 137 has been drafted in a way that would affect
all motorcycle riders. I feel that the poor actions of a few riders
should not punish all riders. Subsequently, I am currently working on
language that will amend the bill to clearly address the problem of
motorcycle stunt riding on public roads. The amendment will clearly
define what is considered stunt riding and require a motorcycle rider to
maintain two wheels on the ground at all times. The speeding focuses of
the bill will not stand alone but will rather be in conjunction with
stunt driving.

Thank you for expressing your concerns. They will definitely be taken
into consideration. I recently met with James Reichenbach from ABATE,
and after I explained the true intent of this legislation he told me
that he would support it. I am open to meeting with any person or group
to discuss amendments to the bill. I believe that part of the process of
creating a great law is being open to the ideas of others.

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact
my office.

Sincerely,

Carlos Lopez-Cantera
State Representative, District 113

-----------------------------------------------------