Posted May 30, 2006   Email   Print

Wisconsin governor signs Justice for All legislation

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has signed into law the Roadway Users Responsibility Act, which is consistent with the AMA's Justice for All campaign.

The new law meets two important goals of the Justice for All campaign: increasing penalties for drivers who injure motorcyclists and other road users, and requiring motorcycle awareness training as part of driver education curriculum.

The new law in Wisconsin increases penalties for right-of-way violations, requires that Share the Road — a motorcycle awareness class — be taught in all driver education classes, and requires a person who violates the right-of-way of a motorcyclist and causes a crash to attend a Share the Road class.

The law also allows motorcyclists to proceed through a vehicle-actuated red light after 45 seconds when the signal fails to recognize the motorcycle and allows a graduate of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse to get a motorcycle endorsement without holding an instruction (learner's) permit.

ABATE of Wisconsin took the lead in lobbying for this legislation at the grassroots level. The law takes effect October 1.

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.

Other laws consistent with the Justice for All campaign have recently been passed in Georgia, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Iowa, and West Virginia.

© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association