Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Support the Failure to Yield law introduced in NM House

HB 0290 introduced by Rick Miera with support of the New Mexico Motorcyclists Rights Organization and which is supported by the Bicycle Coalition as well will add penalties for failure to yield, which is a major cause of bike and motorbike crashes. You know, the old "I never saw you" stuff.

Please support it and call your representative. For most of us, that's Jeannette Wallace.

Bill URL. Be sure to copy the whole thing below.

year=09

NM Legislature
http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/

For more info on the bill:

Dave Covert
Board Member
New Mexico Motorcyclists Rights Committee
505-844-2989 (day)
dcovert (at ) kcp (dot ) com (day)
505-896-2179 (night)
quietdave ( at) bikerider ( dot) com (night)

4 comments:

Amy said...

That's an interesting bill, although the penalties don't seem very stiff. What does the current law say? (if you know off the top of your head.)

Khal said...

I think the current penalties are even worse. Here is what the motorcyclist folks are using as a letter to the political folks.

Dear Representative Ofyourchoice:

I respectfully request that you support HB 290 Failure to Yield the Right of Way. This bill is sponsored by Representative Rick Miera with several co-sponsors. Some of the key points to this bill are:

a. The bill will increase the penalties imposed for Failing to Yield the Right of Way.

b. The current penalties for Failure to Yield is a fine of $25.00 to $50.00 no matter the severity of the accident. Careless driving which also falls under the Failure to Yield Statutes is only a $125.00 fine!

c. This bill would increase the penalties to $200.00 or 30 day suspension of drivers license for an accident causing NO great bodily harm or death.

d. Great Bodily harm would hold a penalty of $500.00 or 30 day suspension of drivers license.

e. Failing to Yield causing Death would hold a penalty of $1000.00 or 6 months suspension of drivers license.

Greg Kendall said...

Here is Jeannette's email

wallace@losalamos.com

homer said...

THE PENALTIES SHOULD BE STIFFER FOR FAILURE TO YILED TO PEDESTRIANS OR BYCYCLISTS. I ALMOST LOST MY SISTER WHO WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF A CARELESS, RECKLESS AND SELFISH DRIVER.
HOMER