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From: Imre Szauter, AMA Government Relations Manager [mailto:iszauter@ama-cycle.org]
To: Bruce Arnold
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 2:36 PM
Subject: Florida Legislation

03/02/2009 Action Alert -- Important Bills Filed in Florida Legislature

Two bills in the legislature should be of interest to all motorcyclists in Florida.

Senate Bill 968...

http://tinyurl.com/c4omg6

...sponsored by Senator Rudy Garcia...

http://tinyurl.com/b7zaqq

...(R- Hialeah), was filed on January 26 and referred to the following Senate committees on February 5: Criminal Justice; Judiciary; Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations; and Rules. SB-968 provides enhanced penalties for anyone convicted of a moving violation that causes or contributes to causing serious bodily injury to, or the death of, a person riding a motorcycle.

House Bill 1161...

http://tinyurl.com/bk53rw

...sponsored by Representative Greg Evers...

http://tinyurl.com/c7cznq

...(R-Baker), was filed on February 25. HB-1161 provides criminal penalties for anyone who commits a moving violation that causes serious bodily injury to, or causes or contributes to the death of, a person operating or riding in a motor vehicle or operating or riding on a motorcycle.

The penalty provisions in SB-968 and HB-1161 are the same.

Anyone convicted of causing serious bodily injury would be subject to:
* a fine of not less than $500,
* a minimum of 30 days of incarceration,
* mandatory attendance in a driver improvement course,
* revocation of the offender's driver's license for not less than 30 days.

Anyone convicted of causing death would be subject to:
* a fine of not less than $1,000,
* a minimum of 90 days of incarceration,
* mandatory attendance in a driver improvement course,
* and revocation of the offender's driver's license for not less than one year.

Take a few minutes to contact your state representative and senator to show your support of these bills. Use the "Find Your Legislators" feature on the Florida Senate website to obtain contact information for your elected officials:

http://tinyurl.com/cxoo42

When contacting your elected officials, consider the following talking or message points:
* All roadway users, but especially motorcyclists, pay a significant price for the distracted, inattentive, negligent, or careless driving behaviors of other vehicle operators.
* Current penalties are not tough enough to deter or punish violators who injure or killed other roadway users.
* Law enforcement, prosecutors and the courts need new tools such as SB-968 and HB-1161 in their fight to reduce preventable traffic crashes.

Make your voice heard by supporting SB-968 and HB-1161 NOW -- contact your elected officials TODAY!

Source: http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert/?alertid=12822606

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