Legal

[Bfromla]

FYI got an email for a limited time call to action to address the federal definition of a motorcycle, here is a copy & its link.

Subject: Fwd: : Address the Federal Definition of a Motorcycle with NHTSA

CALL TO ACTION

ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO JOIN THE LETTER TO NHTSA ADDRESSING THE FEDERAL DEFINITION OF A MOTORCYCLE

April 9, 2019



Dear gill,

We are asking you to take the a few minutes to ask your elected officials to join their colleagues on a letter being sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to ask them to address the decades old definition of a motorcycle at the end of this week. The letter must be sent in the next 48 hours to ensure your member of Congress will be included in the letter.



One of the priorities for the MRF this year is addressing the definition of a motorcycle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in charge of the federal definition. The current definition is 40 years old and so broad that autocycles are classified as motorcycles which creates ambiguity surrounding licensing, registration, insurance and safety courses.



NHTSA defines the term "motorcycle," as "a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with ground" (49 CFR 571.3).



ABATE of Iowa led the charge at the state level to update the definition of a motorcycle in Iowa. However, some states have not been able to address this issue in their statehouses. Now the MRF is seeking to change the definition at the federal level, which will ensure vehicles that are classified as motorcycles are indeed motorcycles. Leaders from ABATE of Wisconsin helped lead this push at the federal level. They came to Washington, DC earlier in the year and met with their Senators and Representatives as well as leaders of the Motorcycle Caucuses.



Those meetings resulted in a letter from Congressman Burgess of Texas and Senator Johnson of Wisconsin to NTSHA asking questions about the current definition of a motorcycle.



Congressman Burgess and Senator Johnson want their colleagues to sign onto the letter and join them in asking these crucial questions of NHSTA. We need you to contact your Congressman and Senators and ask them to join this letter. We want the definition of a motorcycle to be a motorcycle, and that starts with putting NHSTA on notice that the current definition is unacceptable.



We have all seen these autocycles on the road, and we know they aren't motorcycles. Let's make sure the bureaucrats in DC understand the difference!



Take Action

http://cqrcengage.com/mrf/app/take-...JbrCI6Ts1No6EduZQ8P8_IQkUwcWXLbSqQQLi0DY&lp=0

Sincerely,

Tiffany Cipoletti

Director of Operations

Motorcycle Riders Foundation



Powered by CQRC Engage

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I hate to say it but that campaign is a loser before it even gets started. In order for the letter to even begin to gain the attention of lawmakers it MUST include a proposed definition for both motorcycle and autocycle. The inclusion of the word autocycle is meaningless in the absence of a definition for it. In fact, it's not clear to me if MRF wants to include or exclude three wheelers like the Spyder in the definition of motorcycle.

If you want to bring a problem to a Congressman's or Senator's attention you sure as hell had better offer a solution. They aren't going to spend any time whatever looking for a solution just because you tell them there is a problem out there.

 

[LeftCoast]

I’m with you, unfortunately that letter is very poorly constructed.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I’m with you, unfortunately that letter is very poorly constructed.

That's putting it kindly.

Bfromla, this is no reflection on you at all. You're doing a good service passing it on, and it is an issue that needs to be addressed. It's just that the folks at MRF have fumbled badly.

 

[ozarkryder]

I am a member of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) , Freedom of Road Riders (FORR) in Missouri (Same as ABATE in other states) and the Motorcycle Rider's Foundation (MRF).

The purpose of this letter is not to define an autocycle or motorcycle, but to urge us, the constituents, to contact our representatives in Washington to have the NTHSA earnestly begin the process of defining autocycles. There are a few states that have done this - last year FORR and ABATE for Missouri helped to pass a definition of an autocycle, which is treated somewhat as a 3 wheeled car, and the difference between it and a motortricycle, which is treated as a 3 wheel motorcycle. But for licensing, helmet requirements between states, training and insurance requirements a definition at the federal level is desirable.

The MRF has been working on this since at least 2015 when the Polaris Slingshot was released. Kirk "Hardtail" Willard (MRF President) and I had a discussion at the Mid-South M.I.L.E. about this when the Slingshot was announced in 2014. The definitions are out there, but no serious Federal action has yet been taken.

 

[Bfromla]

That's putting it kindly.

Bfromla, this is no reflection on you at all. You're doing a good service passing it on, and it is an issue that needs to be addressed. It's just that the folks at MRF have fumbled badly.

Thank you & this is only the email I was sent, I believe it is summarized for the meaning of the call to action. Too many meeting have discussed the "auto cycle" failed definition. Some states apparently any vehicle with less than 4 tires is a motorcycle, some include phrase of saddle seat & handlebars, some do not. I'll do my part as a motorcyclist, help where I can, & spread the word. So we can all enjoy appropriately

 

[Easy Rider]

If there is a SPECIFIC problem, then address it directly and specifically.

All too often when you get politicians involved in making broad revisions with a non-specific mandate........they end up making things WORSE instead of better.
If any lobbyists see an opportunity to profit from a change, it is almost guaranteed to be a bad outcome for the consumers.

Be careful what you wish for.
The law of unintended consequences is powerful........and can not be repealed.

 

[JerryB]

Hi Easy,

Re: If there is a SPECIFIC problem,

I'm with you. I do not see any problem with these 'autocycles' being defined as motorcycles. It will not change my life in any manner if things are not changed.

Jerry Baumchen

 

[Bfromla]

Fyi follow up received today:


From: Motorcycle Riders Foundation<[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Apr 12, 2019 at 3:50 PM
Subject: For Immediate Release - April 12, 2019 - Letter sent to NHTSA Seeking Clarification on the Definition of a Motorcycle





For Immediate Release

April 12, 2019

Letter sent to NHTSA Seeking Clarification on the Definition of a Motorcycle

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation would like to thank Congressman Michael Burgess (TX) and Congressman Tim Walberg (MI) for a letter they sent this week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeking clarification regarding the definition of a motorcycle. In addition to Congressman Burgess and Congressman Wahlberg, the following U.S. Representatives joined their colleagues in signing the letter: Congressman Troy Balderson (OH), Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO), Congressman Collin Peterson (MN), Congressman Steve Stivers (OH) and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA). The current definition is decades old and so broad that new vehicles on our roadways, with numerous carlike features, are defined as motorcycles.

“As you know, NHTSA has long defined a motorcycle as a ‘motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.’ While this was a clear characterization for many years, the recent emergence of a new class of vehicle that has attributes of both automobiles and motorcycles has created confusion,” the members wrote. “We respectfully request a response that describes whether NHTSA believes the current federal definition of a motorcycle is appropriate and if not, what NHTSA is doing to address this issue.”

The ambiguity of the classification of these new vehicles as either motorcycles or autocycles has created a patchwork of rules and regulations at the state level for licensing, registration and insurance. The MRF believes that a review of this definition is needed and would help provide clarity to states when making decisions on how to appropriately regulate them. We thank these seven members of Congress for seeking clarification from NHTSA on this issue of importance to motorcyclists.

President of the MRF, Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, stated “For three years our members have asked us to tackle the federal definition of a motorcycle. This letter is the first step in helping us understand the current thought process of NHTSA and hopefully opens up a dialogue on the topic. We thank this bipartisan group of Congressmen for their leadership on this issue.”

Link to the Letter:
https://burgess.house.gov/uploadedfiles/04112019_burgess__walberg_letter_to_nhtsa.pdf


About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.

All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. Motorcycle Riders Foundation. All rights reserved. Ride With The Leaders ™ by joining the MRF at http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983
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