RTP in Congress

[b3h]

This may be worth supporting then make DAMN sure the MD DNR uses the $ to fund statewide riding areas:

Washington, D.C.: Renewed funding for motorized trails and a ban on funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints are included in a major federal transportation bill being considered by a key U.S. House committee. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has passed a transportation funding authorization bill -- H.R. 7, the "American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012." The measure would go to the full House for a vote before moving to the Senate for consideration.
Since the Senate has its own version of the bill, the spending plan would eventually end up in a House-Senate conference committee where differences would be worked out before going back to both chambers for final approval.
The House measure includes $85 million a year through fiscal year 2016 for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which provides money to states to develop and maintain trails. Federal lawmakers had been looking at eliminating the dedicated funding for the program, which threatened to end the RTP.
Funds for the RTP come from the federal Highway Trust Fund and represent a portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use. In other words, taxes generated by fuel used for off-highway vehicle recreation -- by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles and off-highway light trucks -- fund the RTP.
Besides including RTP funding, the House measure bars the U.S. transportation secretary from providing grants to states and local governments for motorcycle-only checkpoints, which are opposed by the AMA. The AMA has been tracking the disturbing development of motorcycle-only checkpoints since they first appeared in New York several years ago.
The House bill also provides funding for state motorcycle safety programs. The AMA has long promoted motorcycle rider education and motorist awareness programs as essential strategies to prevent motorcycle crashes.
Full story: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/New ... oints.aspx

[frogman1981]

Motorcycle only checkpoints? WTF!!! When will Marysland start this? What are they checking?

[phoo]

It doesn't say they are going to do this in Maryland.

Last year (or the year before), in NY and/or CT they stopped bikes that were heading to a rally in an effort to find people who were not in compliance with the law whether it be for lack of papers/license/registration/motorcycle endorsement, non-EPA exhaust, etc.

The issue is that the checkpoints were ONLY stopping motorcycles, not ALL vehicles.


~Patrick

[frogman1981]

It doesn't say they are going to do this in Maryland.

Last year (or the year before), in NY and/or CT they stopped bikes that were heading to a rally in an effort to find people who were not in compliance with the law whether it be for lack of papers/license/registration/motorcycle endorsement, non-EPA exhaust, etc.

The issue is that the checkpoints were ONLY stopping motorcycles, not ALL vehicles.


~Patrick

I understand what is going on. If there is Federal money to be had, MD will do it. Most states will.

[b3h]

[/quote]
I understand what is going on. If there is Federal money to be had, MD will do it. Most states will.[/quote]

And if they do (MD) we are gonna have to fight to get our share of RTP funds to use for new riding areas.