Delegate L. Preston Bryant, Jr. (R) of Virginia introduced new legislation that allows the use of auxillary lights on motorcycles.

HB26 adds the following text to the State's existing law on motorcycle lights...

Motorcycles may be equipped with low-voltage, low-intensity, steady-burning lights no larger than one-half inch in diameter, provided such lights may be of any color except red or blue.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. The law already allows motorcycles to have up to two passing lamps on the front, so, this new text doesn't address that. The best I can tell is there may be an issue with bikers running their fog lights continously throughout the day.

Or, it could be that bikers are running engine LEDs colored in blue and red, and causing confusion with other motorists thinking they're being followed by a cop.

Thoughts anyone?

Labels: Legislation, Lights, Virginia

The Virginia House of Delegates voted 51-46 against legislation that will repeal the State's mandatory helmet law.

There were several statements made for and against the measure:

"There is a valid public safety issue here," said Republican Del. John O'Bannon, a Henrico County neurologist. "We don't let people with bad vision drive, we don't let people with bald tires on their cars drive, and this is in that same category. ...This is a no-brainer."

I think this is a bad analogy. Folks with bad vision or bald tires are a danger to other drivers. But bikers who don't wear helmets are not a danger to other drivers. I don't see how this argument flies.

Labels: Helmet Laws, Virginia