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Just one week after a successful lobby day in Madison promoting SB 528, the Road Users Responsibility Act, a public hearing was scheduled before the Wisconsin Senate Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy Committee. On February 1, 2006, the committee members heard testimony from (in order of speaking) Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo, Accident Investigator for Hupy and Abraham, S.C. and Founder of ABATE of Wisconsin; Attorney Michael F. Hupy; Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, Vice-President MRF and Deputy Director of ABATE of Wisconsin; Dave Dwyer, Legislative Chairman of ABATE of Wisconsin.
Each speaker offered testimony on a different aspect of the bill. Sanfelipo explained the right of way violation section and how it provided for stiffer penalties and longer suspension of driver’s license for violators.
Attorney Hupy talked about the problems caused by stop lights that are not calibrated to sense motorcycles and how the bill would allow motorcyclists to proceed through a red light safely under those circumstances.
Willard explained remedial driver education classes and the need for motorcycle awareness in these classes. He also explained the Share the Road program presented by ABATE of Wisconsin and how that should be a part of education for right of way violators.
Dwyer spoke about current law on obtaining a motorcycle operators license, and how a waiver should work for those completing and passing a basic riders course and not be required to apply for an instruction permit. He also explained roadway hazards created in so-called highway improvement plans. The problem is motorcycles are not considered when making those plans.
After some comments by several committee members, the ABATE group assembled back in Senator Zien’s office to work on some subtle language changes in the bill. It appears the bill will move out of the Senate committee with a favorable vote after the language changes. The next hearing will be scheduled before an Assembly committee for similar consideration.