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AMA seeks suspension of grant program

Under its Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstration grant program, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will award up to $350,000 in total to be divided among as many as five law enforcement agencies to set up traffic checkpoints that target motorcyclists, according to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

There are a lot of unanswered questions about the grant and until they’re addressed, the AMA has asked the NHTSA to suspend the program.

“How do motorcycle-only checkpoints increase the safety of motorcyclists?” Ed Moreland, AMA senior vice president for government relations, wrote in a letter to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland on Aug. 9. “Where do the selected states draw their authority to conduct” motorcycle-only safety checks?

“Will ‘probable cause’ be required to stop a motorcycle under the terms of this grant program?” Moreland asked. “If so, what will constitute probable cause?”

The AMA urges all riders to contact Strickland and ask that the discriminatory Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstration grant program be suspended until questions raised by the motorcycling community are addressed.

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