News Bytes
NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
ANTI-PROFILING BILL INTRODUCED
IN CALIFORNIA
Legislation aimed to curb anti-biker profiling has been
introduced in California. Citing anecdotal evidence that
Golden State motorcyclists tend to get pulled over unjustly,
Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) authored
a bi-partisan bill that would have police officers undergo
training emphasizing that profiling of motorcycle riders is
prohibited.
The measure seeks “to ensure that anyone entering law
enforcement in California knows the ground rules to apply
the law fairly without regard for irrelevant factors of, ‘I’m
on a bike’ or they’re dressed a certain way,” Cooley said,
adding that “it is an important issue of people being secure
in their persons and the administration of traffic laws.”
Assembly Bill 334 would add Section 13519.17 to the
Penal Code, relating to the profiling of motorcycle riders:
“This bill would require the Commission on Peace Officer
Standards And Training to ensure that the profiling of
motorcycle riders is addressed in the course of basic law
enforcement training and offered to law enforcement
officers in conjunction with existing training regarding
profiling,” according to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest.
Assembly Bill 334 would also require law enforcement
agencies to create policies barring discrimination against
riders.
NEW MEXICO HELMET LAW OPPOSED
Despite the fact that helmet legislation has only recently
been introduced i