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Puerto Rico Passes Strict Motorcycle Law
AP ^ | 10/10/2007 | Rebecca Banuchi

Posted on 10/11/2007 6:07:27 AM PDT by cll

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Puerto Rico will require motorcycle drivers to wear protective jackets, gloves, long pants and boots as part of a strict safety law signed by the governor of the U.S. commonwealth on Wednesday.

Augmenting an existing helmet law, the new law also sharply lowers the maximum allowable blood-alcohol level for motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts below levels tolerated for automobile drivers.

The law's sponsors said it was prompted by a sharp increase in motorcycle and scooter accidents, but some bikers argued that adults should be allowed to decide such matters for themselves.

In a last-ditch effort to stop the law, hundreds of motorcyclists on Monday revved their engines in protest while riding past Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila's residence in San Juan.

Puerto Rico, which before had less stringent rider regulations than most U.S. states, now has the most restrictions of any of the 50 states, said the Ohio-based American Motorcyclist Association.

"There's really no place under the U.S. flag that has restrictions that are as strict as Puerto Rico," said association spokesman Lance Oliver.

In addition to the heavy protective gear, drivers of two-wheeled motor vehicles on the island now must wear reflective vests after dark. The legal blood-alcohol limit is now .02 percent for bikers, down from .08 percent, which will remain the tolerated limit for car drivers.

It was not immediately clear what the penalties for infractions would be.


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: antibikernazis; motorcycles; puertorico
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Contrary to what the article states, the heavy jacket requirement was eliminated.
1 posted on 10/11/2007 6:07:39 AM PDT by cll
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To: martin_fierro

Ping


2 posted on 10/11/2007 6:08:40 AM PDT by cll (Carthage must be destroyed)
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To: rrstar96; AuH2ORepublican; livius; adorno; TeĆ³filo; wtc911; Willie Green; CGVet58; Clemenza; ...
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.


3 posted on 10/11/2007 6:10:17 AM PDT by cll (Carthage must be destroyed)
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To: cll

it is about time someone had a flash of common sense when it comes to requiring protective gear on motorcycles.

Riding a bike, like driving a car, is a privilege granted by the state you live in and therefore that state has the right to set standards as to the conditions you must ride under.

you cant drive a car with out seat belts if the car was manufactured with them, or air bags, or a wind shield, doors, or lights, or seats. Every one of those items are designed to help keep you alive in a crash. Nothing designed into a bike can say the same thing. So requiring safety equipment is not out of line.

Before anyone grips about my stance, I am not looking to ban or restrict the riding of bikes at all. I have had too many family members and friends injured and killed on bikes. One thing I know is that there is risk involved in riding, but I also know that anyone that doesn’t wear the safety gear is a sever injury or death looking for a place to happen.


4 posted on 10/11/2007 6:31:00 AM PDT by Biggs of Michigan
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To: cll

That certainly is better than having drivers paying attention!


5 posted on 10/11/2007 6:37:50 AM PDT by jjones9853
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To: cll

ahh equal protection (assuming puerto rico has it) would be violated by the lower BAC level.

Do they use FMVSS 218 as the standard? Then the helmet is only rated to 14 mph.

If helmets are required for bikes then the MUST be required for cars with the higher head injury levels.

footnote: there are ZERO standards for the neck when it comes to helmets. NONE zip nada.


6 posted on 10/11/2007 6:41:49 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: cll
Contrary to what the article states, the heavy jacket requirement was eliminated.

I'm glad you added that....

I'm the biggest advocate of safety gear amongst my motorcycling friends, but just damn - it's HOT in PR. I think the BAC level argument is great; I did that once when I was a kid and it was the scariest ride of my life. I won't do that again! I won't ride even if I just have to take an anti-histamine.

The reflective requirement is just common sense, but the average rider doesn't think about trivial things like "visibility".

My moto: ATGATT - ALL THE GEAR, ALL THE TIME. It could save your life.

7 posted on 10/11/2007 6:43:03 AM PDT by paulcissa (The first requirement of Liberalism is to stand on your head and tell the world they're upside down)
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To: Biggs of Michigan

LOL! You’re a Scrappleface writer aren’t you?


8 posted on 10/11/2007 6:49:03 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: cll
This is just WRONG. The Boricua should consider themselves lucky to live so close to Florida, where helmets are OPTIONAL.

How can you folks tolerate such idiotic politicians? Then again, the same can be said of Louisiana and New Jersey.

9 posted on 10/11/2007 6:52:59 AM PDT by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
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To: paulcissa
My moto: ATGATT - ALL THE GEAR, ALL THE TIME.

AMEN! I see kids riding rice rockets all the time in t-shirts, shorts and flipflops. They are begging to donate skin to the DOT......

10 posted on 10/11/2007 6:54:00 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (Thinking of voting Democrat? Wake up and smell the Socialism!)
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To: Biggs of Michigan
Riding a bike, like driving a car, is a privilege granted by the state you live in and therefore that state has the right to set standards as to the conditions you must ride under.

States don't have rights. People have rights. States have power, but that power comes from, and is limited by, the people.

Sounds trivial, but in fact, it marks a great, great, great big difference.

11 posted on 10/11/2007 6:54:55 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Biggs of Michigan
Let those who ride decide. Personally, I wear a helmet. If Johnny Crotchrocket wants to go commando, so be it.
12 posted on 10/11/2007 7:01:36 AM PDT by yobid
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To: Thermalseeker
AMEN! I see kids riding rice rockets all the time in t-shirts, shorts and flipflops.

I see old men on Goldwings wearing the exact same garb.

13 posted on 10/11/2007 7:05:16 AM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Biggs of Michigan

You sound like a democrat.


14 posted on 10/11/2007 7:08:34 AM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: cll
I strongly disagree with these laws and the helmet law, when applied to adults. Requiring minors to wear a helmet makes some sense, but an adult must accept responsibility for his own safety.
15 posted on 10/11/2007 7:10:20 AM PDT by TChris (Cartels (oil, diamonds, labor) are bad. Free-market competition is good.)
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To: TChris; cll

Louisiana used to have a helmet law, but it was repealed several years ago during the administration of Governor Mike Foster (a motorcycling enthusiast himself).


16 posted on 10/11/2007 8:10:29 AM PDT by Ebenezer (Strength and Honor!)
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To: Biggs of Michigan
it is about time someone had a flash of common sense when it comes to requiring protective gear on motorcycles.

Do you, personally, have the right to go over to your neighbor and dictate to him what he wears?

17 posted on 10/11/2007 8:13:26 AM PDT by TChris (Cartels (oil, diamonds, labor) are bad. Free-market competition is good.)
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To: cll

This is what to wear in the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgfWUXsbr7w&mode=related&search=


18 posted on 10/11/2007 8:24:42 AM PDT by US_MilitaryRules (All my bullets are dipped in PIG fat. How about yours?)
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To: Biggs of Michigan
Riding a bike, like driving a car, is a privilege granted by the state you live in and therefore that state has the right to set standards as to the conditions you must ride under.

At best, you sound like a liberal democrat of the Hillary ilk. At worst, a Stalinist. Also, if that many of your family and friends are getting injured or killed riding, you might want to suggest the rest either quit riding or attend a MSF class or two.

19 posted on 10/11/2007 8:26:28 AM PDT by pt17
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To: Thermalseeker

Most riders I see in such garb around here are on Harleys or Harley clones. Most don’t wear helmets (optional here). Their head, their choice I figure.

After a summer weekend ride passing close to 100 other bikers, I can usually count on 1 hand the number wearing helmets, never mind jackets. Usually I only see 1 or 2 with any other protective gear (other than myself) and they are usually on sport bikes (aka rice rockets).

I don’t really care what other riders do, I’ll wear my gear. But having more nanny state laws isn’t something I support.


20 posted on 10/11/2007 8:27:28 AM PDT by Betis70 (Da Whale)
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