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The American Motorcyclist Association
URL for this article: www.amadirectlink.com/news/2006/MOlaw.asp

Posted July 11, 2006 Email Print this article Print

Missouri passes "Clutch's Law," raising fines for right-of-way violations

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has signed a bill that includes "Clutch's Law," in memory of John Michael “Clutch” Clubine, who was killed by an inattentive driver. The new law, which takes effect January 1, 2007, increases penalties for drivers who injure or kill others by committing right-of-way violations.

Clutch's Law was passed after several years of effort by the AMA and Freedom of Road Riders, an active grassroots motorcyclists rights organization in Missouri. The law follows model legislation proposed as part of the AMA's Justice for All campaign, and allows for additional penalties of up to $1,000 in fines and a drivers license suspension of up to 180 days, when someone is injured or killed, beyond the other fines for right-of-way violations.

The AMA supported the Missouri legislation by issuing Action Alerts through the AMA Rapid Response Center and AMA Grassroots Manager Terry Lee Cook, a close friend of Clutch, personally testified on behalf of the legislation.

"I'm happy that this law was passed in the memory of my good friend Clutch, but the best reward will be if other husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends and family don't have to suffer through senseless tragedies because of driver inattention," said Cook. "The state of Missouri has sent the message that there have been too many funerals and these offenses need to be taken more seriously."

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 Missouri law addresses that potential injustice.

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