NJ Democrat proposes licensing bicycles.

[StudEbiker]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/01/13/nj-politician-proposes-license-plates-for-bicycles/

I guess insurance and emissions checking won't be far behind.


PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If a proposed bill becomes law in New Jersey, bicyclists will have to pay to register bikes or face a fine. The bill, introduced by Democratic New Jersey assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker of Essex, requires owners to register bikes with the Motor Vehicle Commission for $10 dollars a piece or face fines up to $100. A license plate would be issued and will have to be displayed when riding on public roads. Plates would be valid for two years. John Boyle with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is against the proposed bill. “Her office has an issue with bicyclists on the sidewalks,” he said. “We are asking our New Jersey members and people in the state of New Jersey to contact their state assembly representatives and ask them to oppose this legislation,” Boyle said. Boyle says the enforcement will be almost impossible. He believes it would also be a drain on police resources and a financial burden to some.


Reported by John McDevitt, KYW Newsradio

 

[Lessss]

Sounds like it's time to cull the politician herd.

 

[gogo]

If licensing would include my bike under the felony "tampering with a motor vehicle" type laws, I'd be for it.

 

[spinningmagnets]

If this passes, it wouldn't be long before the web is used to organize a few "critical mass" rides to shut down traffic.

 

[def215]

they also proposed this law in philadelphia too, where im located. it scares me because im just across the river from them. a law like that is just bs and is probably there just to make revenue. also, i just wonder how they know everyone has registered their bikes, besides the license plate system.

 

[Lessss]

SHUT UP SLAVES AND GIVE US YOUR MONEY

sounds like the response should but bang bang

 

[SamTexas]

What's the name of that assemblywoman? Is it Cleopatra frocker?

 

[StudEbiker]

If this passes, it wouldn't be long before the web is used to organize a few "critical mass" rides to shut down traffic.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd start practicing some civil disobedience if something like this ever passed. I don't think the politicians realize how close to the boiling point people are over crap like this. The good news is that all our current bikes should be grandfathered in. :?

 

[MattyCiii]

The good news is that all our current bikes should be grandfathered in. :?

Grandfathered? I doubt it.

Critical Mass? Fun, highly recommended. But it polarizes people - I would not start one before this thing goes before a vote, but after? You betcha

 

[amberwolf]

They still have such a law on the books here in Phoenix, but when someone at AzBikelaw.org checked with the police about it, the police had no idea what they were talking about. There is no department to take care of it, nor any paperwork available, etc. So it has already been done and discarded, probably for lack of capability to enforce it. FWIW, one of the big/tall bike frames I have here (given to me by a friend) has a license sticker on it from back when it was still enforced, more than 20-30 years ago, I'd guess.

 

[Lessss]

It sits there awaiting the day some cop needs an excuse for something them WHAM, arrested for not having the plate etc..

 

[amberwolf]

Since they have no way of issuing the plates/tags, and no way to take registrations, then they cannot ticket or arrest anyone for not having them, either.

 

[michaelplogue]

The NJ proposal got Yanked. The idiot who drafted it is now claiming that his reasoning was for "senior pedestrian safety."

Was probably a knee-jerk response to some older constituents almost getting hit by a bike.........

 

[StudEbiker]

The good news is that all our current bikes should be grandfathered in. :?

Grandfathered? I doubt it.

Critical Mass? Fun, highly recommended. But it polarizes people - I would not start one before this thing goes before a vote, but after? You betcha

Yeah, I was kinda being sarcastic there, but I'd sure make that case for any bike that I had ridden before the law took effect. I'd document that the bike was ridden on the roads before the law was passed.