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Georgia may utilize federal grant for motorcycle-only checkpoints during Daytona Bike Week again

Georgia may utilize federal grant for motorcycle-only checkpoints during Daytona Bike Week again

For the second consecutive year, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is cautioning riders traveling through the state of Georgia that the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) may mobilize several motorcycle-only checkpoints (MOCs) before, during and after Daytona Bike Week.

Last year, the AMA cautioned riders traveling through the state of Georgia that the GSP may mobilize a MOC during Daytona Bike Week. On March 9, 2011, the GSP did just that on I-95. To view a video of the MOC in operation, click here.

Georgia was the only state to receive a federal grant in the amount of $70,000 from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration program to create MOCs. The grant is to be used to conduct one or more roadside motorcycle-only checks.

The AMA believes that strategies to promote motorcycle safety must be rooted in motorcycle crash prevention, and don't include arbitrarily pulling over riders and randomly subjecting them to roadside inspections.

The issue of motorcycle-only checkpoints has created considerable concern at the national level. On March 3, 2011, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) introduced H.R. 904. This bill would prohibit the U.S. transportation secretary from providing grants or any funds to states or local governments to be used for any program to create MOCs. H.R. 904 was included in the transportation funding authorization bill -- H.R. 7, the "American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012."

Efforts to end MOCs are also occurring at the state level. On Feb. 28, Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia signed a bill into law which prohibits motorcycle-only checkpoints. For more information, click here.
Similar laws have been enacted in New Hampshire and North Carolina.

Please submit photos and/or videos of any MOCs you encounter to the AMA by email at grassroots@ama-cycle.org. Thank you.