Senators from New Hampshire, Wisconsin and West Virginia have introduced legislation to end federal funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints.
The bill introduced on Wednesday is sponsored by New Hampshire’s senators — Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Kelly Ayotte — along with Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson and West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin. The bill would prohibit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from issuing grants to states to set up checkpoints where motorcycle riders are targeted by police to check that their vehicles meet state standards for noise, tire condition and other requirements.
The senators argue that the checkpoints are discriminatory, and they note that motorcycle riders already are subject to state registration, inspection, licensing and helmet laws and must stop at sobriety check points like all other drivers.
