Posted June 6, 2006   Email   Print

Louisiana passes law adding fines for right-of-way violations

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has signed into law a bill that increases penalties for drivers who injure or kill others by committing right-of-way violations.

The new law, which was passed quickly due to the grassroots work of ABATE of Louisiana and other motorcyclists and government officials, is consistent with the goals of the AMA's Justice for All campaign, which seeks to address inadequate sentencing of drivers who injure or kill others.

The new law allows courts to impose additional penalties on drivers when they commit a right-of-way violation and cause injury or death. The additional fines can range from $250 for an injury to $1,000 for a death. Previously, the statewide minimum fine for a right-of-way violation was $50, even if injury or death resulted.

While the AMA worked to help pass the bill by issuing Action Alerts through the AMA Rapid Response Center, AMA Legislative Affairs Specialist Imre Szauter credited the grassroots efforts of ABATE of Louisiana, led by its president, James "Poet" Sisco, in getting the legislation passed in record time.

The bill was introduced March 16 and signed into law on June 5.

"I think this bill was passed so quickly because ABATE of Louisiana, the Motorcycle Awareness Campaign, and the Louisiana Motorcycle Safety Committee all got behind the bill from day one and lobbied effectively on its behalf," said Szauter. "In addition, I know the strong support from the bill's sponsor, Rep. M.J. 'Mert' Smiley, and from Colonel James Champagne, chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association, were instrumental in the bill sailing through the legislature."

"We had some powerful allies in this fight, and we were pretty well organized," said ABATE President Sisco.

The AMA launched the Justice for All campaign in response to numerous instances across the country in which drivers killed or injured motorcyclists and walked away with minor fines. In many cases, state laws do not provide for additional fines beyond a simple ticket for a traffic offense. The Louisiana law addresses that potential injustice.

Elsewhere, laws consistent with the Justice for All campaign have been passed this year in Wisconsin, Georgia, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Iowa, and West Virginia.

© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association