Dear Group, After my railing about inconsistency, after reading the new Oregon bill helpfully linked to this site earlier, it would seem that more could have been done on their law. Even a libertarian wants basic protections. It seems from their Law, that rather than paying the fine, a maximum of $12,500 for vehicular manslaughter, a hundred or two of community service could square the deal. At $10/hour that is back to just a "maximum" of $1000. Then they speak that this Law bridges some gap between such offenses as "reckless driving and --?--" Isn't reckless driving just that---withouth having to smack something or someone? Now the bicycle-car passing distance which didn't get included in their Law might really mean something. Of course one would have to take a picture or have a car follow or something-----but with a stiff fine and publicity--and inclusion in High School Divers' Ed. courses----regular motorists might get the idea.
<from the bill--and the Oregonian coverage> ". . .The bill provides that when careless driving results in injury or death of a vulnerable user, which includes cyclists, pedestrians, highway workers, horse riders, skateboarders and roller skaters, the driver would face a one-year license suspension and a maximum $12,500 fine. These penalties would not be imposed if the driver completes a traffic safety course and between 100 and 200 hours of community service. The driver would have to appear in court, not just write a check, said Scott Bricker, lobbyist for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the Portland-based organization that has been effective in shepherding a package of bike proposals through the Legislature this session. Another BTA bill that appears headed for approval would require motorists to leave a safe distance when passing bicycles. Bricker said the vulnerable user bill is designed to bridge a gap in Oregon law between careless driving, a traffic infraction that c arries a maximum $300 fine, and reckless driving, a criminal offense that can include jail time but can be difficult to prove." Eric Westhagen _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
