Feb 15, 2010
Olympia Washington
In a monumental and historical vote, the House passed HB2511 -Addressing Motorcycle Profiling by a margin of 96 to 2.
This landslide vote provides an indication that legislators are actually getting the idea Profiling is real and needs legislative relief.
Rep. Charles Ross ® 14th District noted that the lack of opposition during the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (PSEP) hearing was a silent show of support from Law Enforcement. The big surprise during the House floor debate was that again there was no opposition, and after a show of support from prime sponsor Rep. Steve Kirby (D) 29th District, Ross , and Hurst (D) 31st District and the Chair of the PSEP committee, the bill was opened for vote and immediately passed.
It was remarkable to hear the legislators mention the organized and well presented information at the PSEP hearing from the motorcycle community.
This bill has never gone this far in any previous year. Next step – The bill will be read into the record in the Senate and assigned to a hearing committee, most likely Judiciary. Then the process gets real interesting trying to get a public hearing, and to get the support of the majority of the 49 Senators.
Time is not on our side, as there are only about 3 weeks left in this years session before what is know as Adjounment Sine Die (latin for adjounment until next legislative session) on March 11th, 2010.
This has been a very good year for ABATE of Washington and the US defenders of Washington. We have worked together to make this happen, and are truly on the same page.
Donnie ‘Mr. Breeze’ Landsman
ABATE of Washington
Legislative Affairs Officer
360-367-0966