New BC Motorcycle Laws Hilarious

[Twinsport]

Obviously legislation written by someone who has never ridden a motorcycle. Can you spot the mistake in section 2?

"2. Seating Requirements

Motorcycle operators and passengers must be seated with their feet on foot pegs or the floorboards at all times (even when the motorcycle is stopped at an intersection).

The operator is responsible for ensuring passengers younger than 16 years of age are properly seated. Any passengers, including children who cannot reach the foot pegs or floorboards, are not permitted to ride as passengers.

Fines for violating seating requirements range from $109 to $121 or vehicle impoundment, if considered stunting. Failing to use foot pegs and permitting a passenger to be unlawfully seated both come with a $109 fine."

Im not making this up. And the third part on License plate improvements? The older plates with smaller digits could not be read by automated license plate recognition technology. Enjoy.

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/0...ycle-laws.html

[Black Lightning]

I wouldn't necessarily classify the new reg.s as hilarious but it certainly doesn't look like anyone thought them through very carefully. I thought a former minister of highways rode a motorcycle, or is he the minister again? It's hard to keep track. In any case, I'm thinking the lawyers are striking again.

[marconi1956]

Not sure where you read what you read, but I can't see anywhere that says "at all times", even when stopped at an intersection. Even legislators can't be so stupid to think that a bike will stand on it's own, unless of course, it's a Spyder or a trike. Then again, according to some readers of Mojo, a Spyder isn't a motorcylce to begin with.

[Uwe W.]

Not sure where you read what you read, but I can't see anywhere that says "at all times", even when stopped at an intersection. Even legislators can't be so stupid to think that a bike will stand on it's own, unless of course, it's a Spyder or a trike. Then again, according to some readers of Mojo, a Spyder isn't a motorcylce to begin with.

I think the gaff was already corrected. The wording now more clearly identifies that it's the passenger who is to keep their feet on the pegs at all time.

We had similar laws put in place in Ontario that were designed to give the police more bite with stunters. The law doesn't prevent me from standing when riding over obstacles or bad sections of roadway. It might be naive, but I still trust that a cop will use his discretion that standing while riding over railway tracks isn't the same thing as hoisting a wheel into the air.

[Twinsport]

Yes it looks like it was fixed. I had cut and pasted the original. I do wonder what the exact wording says in the act. Funny enough there is a female member ( thats what RCMP call each other ) near here that is ticketing riders for not placing both feet on the ground at a stop sign.

[Twinsport]

Even legislators can't be so stupid to think that a bike will stand on it's own

If the legislators hve never riden a motorcycle or consulted anyone who does ride a bike, you bet they can be that stupid.

[Twinsport]

It will be interesting how the remainder of the new legislation goes pertaining to size of biker for new rider. My thoughts are to follow Britain, but but Im sure legislators know more than a guy that has ridden bikes since he was 10. The main force behind this one is a lady who lost her son the day after he bought a gixxer 1000 for his first bike with his L broke all the rules of his L permit and "failed to negotiat a corner". I do feel that if there was a 400CC cap on new riders for 2 years this young man and one other local boy would still be with us today. With the main "lobby group" in BC being 45 degree Vtwin oriented I dont see them supporting 400CC.

[FROSTIE]

You have alot more faith with the Ontario police than I do read the article in todays Toronto Sun about ticket quotas the police are gloified tax collectors.

[Uwe W.]

It will be interesting how the remainder of the new legislation goes pertaining to size of biker for new rider.

It sounds like they will implement graduated licensing that will have horsepower restrictions associated with it. Even though it's just as easy to crash a 25 hp motorcycle as it is a 125 hp machine, it's a smart move to force learners to start off slow.

The B.C. government's press release did say that they were consulting experts in the industry, so this shouldn't be a case where a bunch of legislators who don't know anything about motorcycles come up with some kooky laws.

I was most impressed with the inclusion of ECE helmets in the law. It's a safety standard that is superior to Snell and should be implemented nationally. There are a lot of really cool helmets on the market that we don't get to see in Canada because of our antiquated DOT and Snell requirements.

[Black Lightning]

Even legislators can't be so stupid to think that a bike will stand on it's own,

I remember back to the distant mists of time a US legislator wanted to include motorcycles in his state's seatbelt legislation. Legislaters are people too, all contrary evidence notwithstanding, and are governed by prejudices just as everyone else is. Most are quite busy too which means they rely on minions to carry out the details of what they are doing. It is really up to citizens who are effected by what they do to point out the errors of their ways. The hard part is to do so in a way that keeps the legislation the issue and not the people pointing out the problems with it.