Malorie's Law

[cajunito]

http://abc13.com/politics/big-change-for-passengers-on-motorcycles-/456680/

[BF]

     

"The new law "prohibit(s) the carrying of or riding by a passenger on any motorcycle that is not equipped with footrests and handholds for use by the passenger." It's called "Malorie's Law" and changes the state's transportation code.

Malorie Bullock, a 19 year-old college student, was a passenger on a motorbike in Hunt County in April 2010. She was wearing a helmet but died when the driver hit a curve going too fast."


Read some of the comments to that article.  

I guess everyone going to GOTF this year is gonna be going solo.  

[Jess from VA]

Except for stock seat straps (which are mostly not there anymore) (and rarely used by passengers even if they are on there), most bikes do not have any dedicated passenger hand holds.  It seems to me a good sissy bar/pad ought to satisfy this requirement (but it won't).

It may be necessary for people to tie a rope over the seat when taking a passenger.

[BF]

Except for stock seat straps (which are mostly not there anymore) (and rarely used by passengers even if they are on there), most bikes do not have any dedicated passenger hand holds.  It seems to me a good sissy bar/pad ought to satisfy this requirement (but it won't).

It may be necessary for people to tie a rope over the seat when taking a passenger.

Are seat belts, doors and roll bars far behind?

[Serk]

I feel for Malorie's parents but.... found this Facebook page that's cheerleading for the law run by her mother...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Malories-Law/134924106532912

She just can't understand why anyone would be against this silly law...

I've been searching, and thus far haven't been able to find a legal definition of what a "handhold" is supposed to be...

Ugh...

[BF]

I feel for Malorie's parents but.... found this Facebook page that's cheerleading for the law run by her mother...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Malories-Law/134924106532912

She just can't understand why anyone would be against this silly law...

I've been searching, and thus far haven't been able to find a legal definition of what a "handhold" is supposed to be...

Ugh...

Would a muffin top be okay as a handhold?

[3fan4life]

This is a classic example of some of the most dangerous words ever spoken put into action:


"There ought to be a Law".     

[Jess from VA]

IF the law is vague and fails to identify the type of handhold required, any cobbled together handhold will (should) satisfy the law, including a piece of rope tied over the seat.

A long standing rule of statutory construction holds that vague and unclear regulatory laws are construed in favor of those charged with violating them.  People are entitled to clear notice of what they are to be punished for (due process).

I believe the law does require the handhold be affixed to the bike, so handholds affixed to the drivers belt/body will not do it.

[Chrisj CMA]

I wonder if this would be considered a handhold.  What a dumb law!

[Jess from VA]

With no specificity in the law..... I would say YES.

[Lyn-Del]

Next comes the question of what to do if passenger HAS handholds available but doesn't choose to use them all the time?  I know several ladies who spend much of their backseat time shooting pictures....

Though I suspect that it'll only be enforced when an officer needs a reason to stop someone

[bigguy]

How the blazes did this get through? I live in Texrkana, and the first I heard of this legal abomination was this morning on the MOOT board. I'm trying to find out who sponsored it. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts it was Senator Charles Schwertner from the 5th district.
I'm sorry the lady's daughter died, but that doesn't give her the right to tell everybody else in the state how to live. I'll bet she's and anti-gunner also.

ETA:
Nope! Kelly Hancock, District 9. A Republican? Claims to be:
"Courageous Conservative," a "Champion of Small Business" and a "Lone Star Conservative Leader."
This particular piece of legislation sounds awful "progressive" to me.

[Jess Tolbirt]

my bike came with a strap across the seat for a passenger hand hold...its a pain in the butt to get the seat off with it because it has to be unbolted from one side before you can remove the seat,, every one i know removes it because the passenger has the trunk any way to lean against...i havent read the article but i bet it was a crotch rocket that caused all this,,

[Serk]

How the blazes did this get through? I live in Texrkana, and the first I heard of this legal abomination was this morning on the MOOT board. I'm trying to find out who sponsored it. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts it was Senator Charles Schwertner from the 5th district.
I'm sorry the lady's daughter died, but that doesn't give her the right to tell everybody else in the state how to live. I'll bet she's and anti-gunner also.

Sponsored by "Hancock"

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=HB3838

There's a link to a PDF listing who voted how there too...

[bigguy]

How the blazes did this get through? I live in Texrkana, and the first I heard of this legal abomination was this morning on the MOOT board. I'm trying to find out who sponsored it. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts it was Senator Charles Schwertner from the 5th district.
I'm sorry the lady's daughter died, but that doesn't give her the right to tell everybody else in the state how to live. I'll bet she's and anti-gunner also.

Sponsored by "Hancock"

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=HB3838

There's a link to a PDF listing who voted how there too...

Thanks Serk. You posted while I was editing.
Isn't this guy in your district?

[Gryphon Rider]

From the owner of the above-linked facebook page:

"I hope that our Angels death was not in vain and that someone somewhere learned from her death to not get on one of those death traps."

[BobB]

So was the bike the daughter was riding on not equipped with passenger foot rests?  Minnesota requires them.  The handhold thing does not make any sense, but we've already stated that.  When a bike goes off the road in a curve, I'm not sure I want to stay with the bike.  They tend to catch a peg and flip.

We will have to see how this new law is enforced.  The Texan's amoung us will have to keep us posted.

[Serk]

Isn't this guy in your district?

I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know who my state congress critters are off the top of my head, but I looked him up, no he appears to be the western part of the Dallas Metromess... I'm dangling off the eastern edge of the place, not in his district...

[Jess Tolbirt]

ok i went and read the article and it says She was wearing a helmet but died when the driver hit a curve going too fast.

my question is, how would hand holds help in this situation? when Bev and I went down i had handle bars to hold onto and it didnt help me none,,

[..]

Another great example of a politican with the reasoning power of a stale fart.

[old2soon]

More "knee jerk" reactions. I'm truly sorry that young lady died. Does any EXPERIENCED rider here BELIEVE "hand holds" for passengers are going to be any help at all when you go down? People CHOOSE to ignore and bypass seat belts.  Did any body-law enforcement-look into experience level of the operator of the machine she died on as a result of riding? My I/S does have a strap over the seat towards the passenger. Trying to figure out how small the hands would have/need to be to get ones fingers under strap to use as a "hand hold"??   Thought fer SURE this law would have been passed by eastern seaboard or caliphony liberals!   For the republic of Texas to pass this!       RIDE SAFE.

[Gryphon Rider]

Alberta's law actually requires a passenger handhold.  I've never heard of this being enforced, and our motorcycles are no different in this respect than those in the rest of Canada or the U.S.

[3fan4life]

Thought fer SURE this law would have been passed by eastern seaboard or caliphony liberals!   For the republic of Texas to pass this!       RIDE SAFE.

It just goes to show that idiots are found everywhere. 

[Gryphon Rider]

The new law is at least better than the one originally proposed, summed up by the petition:

Petition for Malorie’s Law

Malorie Elise Bullock, a 19 years of age Honor’s College student at Texas A&M University of Commerce, tragically lost her life April 8th 2010, while a passenger on a light weight motorcycle (crotch rocket).  This petition is to help prevent further injury or death as a result of being a passenger on light weight motorcycles.

Riders and passengers of light weight motorcycles are required to obtain a permit for carrying a passenger or being a passenger on these motorcycles.  Riders carrying passengers may only be experienced riders with the knowledge of changes and adjustments which are needed to carry passengers.  A knowledge written test and rider’s skills test will be required, with a passing score, to obtain a passenger permit.

Riders and passengers will be ticketed when either one or both do not have a permit for passengers while riding on the light weight motorcycles.

[MP]

ok i went and read the article and it says She was wearing a helmet but died when the driver hit a curve going too fast.

my question is, how would hand holds help in this situation? when Bev and I went down i had handle bars to hold onto and it didnt help me none,,

I think it is an action to limit motorcyclists, NOT to actually do any good.  IF she had fallen off the back, one could make an argument for it.  However, as stated, she was wearing a helmet, and they went down "in a curve going too fast".

We all know that a "handhold" would have done ZERO good.  But, Mom wants retribution, not safer MC's.

MP

[MP]

The new law is at least better than the one originally proposed, summed up by the petition:

Petition for Malorie’s Law

Malorie Elise Bullock, a 19 years of age Honor’s College student at Texas A&M University of Commerce, tragically lost her life April 8th 2010, while a passenger on a light weight motorcycle (crotch rocket).  This petition is to help prevent further injury or death as a result of being a passenger on light weight motorcycles.

Riders and passengers of light weight motorcycles are required to obtain a permit for carrying a passenger or being a passenger on these motorcycles.  Riders carrying passengers may only be experienced riders with the knowledge of changes and adjustments which are needed to carry passengers.  A knowledge written test and rider’s skills test will be required, with a passing score, to obtain a passenger permit.

Riders and passengers will be ticketed when either one or both do not have a permit for passengers while riding on the light weight motorcycles.

Keeps referencing "light weight" motorcycle.  Would our Valks, or the big HD's, be exempt, because they are NOT "light weight" MC's?

MP

[Jess from VA]

More laws = more safety.

The above statement = more bullshit!!

About the only time I can see handholds being a very good idea is when a rider goes over speed bumps at a high rate of speed (or some other high bump road condition where they could exit the bike upwards*).  Other than that, they are often found comforting by new passengers before they get used to being passengers.  

FWIW, I cannot ride on the back of anyone's bike because it scares the hell out of me.  

The law does not say they have to be used, only that they have to be in place on the motorcycle when you carry a passenger.

So cobble something up (and be prepared to defend it as adequate).  I think a bungee cord across the seat would not cut it.  If you duct tape them to the bike, that's going to draw unwanted attention and incorrect conclusions.  

This reminds me of all the guys decades back who used to put a dentist mirror on the left handlebar to comply with a mirror requirement (one mirror).  I like mirrors.  

I don't have to worry about passenger amenities, I take none.

*This gal has hold of the bars, and still comes off. (Nicely demonstrating Newton's Three Laws
of Motion in the process  )  

FAT WOMEN FALLS OFF DIRT BIKE!! FUNNY!!	powered by Aeva

[Otus]

My question is... if you are driving or riding in an older car that was built before seat belts were required you don't have to have a seat belt. Would this apply to motorcycles that were built before this law?

[Jess from VA]

My question is... if you are driving or riding in an older car that was built before seat belts were required you don't have to have a seat belt. Would this apply to motorcycles that were built before this law?

I doubt it.  BUT it would be a very good argument in court to be able to point out that your bike has every safety feature that came on it from the factory and DOT approved when sold new. (and nothing saftey-wise has been removed... like a seat strap)

I do not know if TX has annual safety inspections for bikes (like VA), but if you pass an annual safety inspection, that is also a very good defense to subsequent equipment violations  (not counting bulbs or things like that).  IF TX does have annual safety inspections, I would expect this would be where the rubber meets the road on passenger hand holds.

[Lyn-Del]

We do have annual inspections. The guy who does my inspections is out of town, but I'll ask him when he gets back if it was added to equipment required.

All my bikes have rear pegs... Heck, I use them on long rides just to get my legs moved for a bit. But not all of my bikes have rear seats.

The Gold Wing does have rear handholds, come to think of it. Wizard cussed 'em every time the seat had to come off!

[Gavin_Sons]

So in a nut shell.  Every new bike sold in the state of Texas will be required to have these grab bars.

[Romeo]

Damn Texans, gots laws for everything!

[Moonshot_1]

I AM the hand hold.

[BF]

Isn't this guy in your district?

I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know who my state congress critters are off the top of my head, but I looked him up, no he appears to be the western part of the Dallas Metromess... I'm dangling off the eastern edge of the place, not in his district...

And people talk about Florida.       

My question is... if you are driving or riding in an older car that was built before seat belts were required you don't have to have a seat belt. Would this apply to motorcycles that were built before this law?

Don't know what the law says, but back when they first started enforcing seat belt laws in these parts and on base, my old Jeep J10 truck didn't have any seat belts...factory or otherwise. 

I got stopped at the gate on the way to work and they checked me and my truck. 

They told me I could proceed to work because my truck didn't come with any seat belts, but if they saw me again without belts I'd get a ticket. 

Went and bought some aftermarket belts and bolted them in the truck before going back to work the next afternoon.  Got stopped the at the base's gate going to work the very next day....they checked me and the truck again.  They said they stopped me because they couldn't see that I had a belt on (an over the shoulder belt)....BUT, I did have a lap belt on and that's all the law required. 

Again, that was on base...I don't know what state law would have said. 

[98valk]

again marxist liberal emotions trump basic human strength and science.
nobody has enough grip strength to hold on when their body weight is going another way.
nothing more than a money maker for the state and the mother's organization,
and like somebody else wrote a stepping stone to more marxist laws.

[MP]

again marxist liberal emotions trump basic human strength and science.
nobody has enough grip strength to hold on when their body weight is going another way.
nothing more than a money maker for the state and the mother's organization,
and like somebody else wrote a stepping stone to more marxist laws.

One cannot hold a baby in your lap in a wreck.

So, if you cannot hold 15#, how can you hold ALL of your weight?

MP

[Jess from VA]

But now that I think about it, TX passenger hand holds are only required with a passenger aboard.

So I cannot see it being added as an annual safety inspection checklist item; many/most riders never take passengers.  

Don't take a passenger to the inspection.

With no specificity in the law, I still think a simple removable strap (like a seat strap) would be the thing to do (when you have a passenger).  

[Chrisj CMA]

Isn't this guy in your district?

I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know who my state congress critters are off the top of my head, but I looked him up, no he appears to be the western part of the Dallas Metromess... I'm dangling off the eastern edge of the place, not in his district...

And people talk about Florida.       

My question is... if you are driving or riding in an older car that was built before seat belts were required you don't have to have a seat belt. Would this apply to motorcycles that were built before this law?

Don't know what the law says, but back when they first started enforcing seat belt laws in these parts and on base, my old Jeep J10 truck didn't have any seat belts...factory or otherwise. 

I got stopped at the gate on the way to work and they checked me and my truck. 

They told me I could proceed to work because my truck didn't come with any seat belts, but if they saw me again without belts I'd get a ticket. 

Went and bought some aftermarket belts and bolted them in the truck before going back to work the next afternoon.  Got stopped the at the base's gate going to work the very next day....they checked me and the truck again.  They said they stopped me because they couldn't see that I had a belt on (an over the shoulder belt)....BUT, I did have a lap belt on and that's all the law required. 

Again, that was on base...I don't know what state law would have said. 

Bruce,  I was told that in Florida a little before my arrival in the sunshine state the law said all cars had to have safety belts.  So, (believe it or not) trucks, even P/U trucks were exempt.  that was shortly rectified, but for a time I was told you could have legally driven that old truck OFF-Base without problems because the law said CARS.

[WilliamRS]

my stock 2000 Valkyrie standard has a passenger 'grab rail' that runs along each side of the seat

[Serk]

And people talk about Florida.       

Uh, yeah... You think Florida is phallic looking? Ever looked at a highway map of the Dallas Metromess? We got Florida beat in that department... I'm on a pubic hair off the map on the east...