Senate Bill 1967, authored by Texas State Senator John Carona (R-Dallas) and sponsored by Representative Norma “Da’Lady” Chavez (D-El Paso), introduces many motorcycle-related changes in the Lone Star State.

Included in the bill are:

1) funding by Texas Department of Transportation for a public awareness campaign to promote motorcyclist safety and the concept of sharing the road with motorcyclists;
2) changes to the definition of a motorcycle to include certain enclosed three-wheeled passenger vehicles;
3) changes to the licensing requirements for enclosed three-wheeled passenger vehicles;
4) a requirement for all applicants for a motorcycle license or endorsement on a regular or commercial driver’s license to provide proof of successful completion of a basic motorcycle operator training course;
5) penalties for failure to yield the right-of-way violations resulting in bodily injury range from $500 to $2,000 while those resulting in serious bodily injury range from $1,000 to $4,000;
6) a prohibition against stopping or detaining a motorcycle operator or passenger solely to determine whether the person has successfully completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by a health insurance plan;
7) a requirement for the Department of Transportation to develop a standard of proof of health insurance coverage for adult motorcycle operators and passengers; and
8) a requirement that all driver education courses or driving safety courses include information on motorcycle awareness, dangers of failure to yield the right-of-way to motorcyclists, and the need to share the road with motorcyclists.

Governor Rick Perry signed the bill into law on June 19; it becomes effective September 1, 2009.

“We made history, Warriors” exclaimed Sputnik, State Chairman of the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA-II) and Chairman of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF). “We owe Da’Lady and her entire staff a huge debt of gratitude for all the work they did for riders this session.”

This is the type of forward government thinking that we require here in Ontario and I would be first in line to stand up for similar changes to our laws here. Way to go Texas!
.