SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION PASSED FOR THE 2012 SESSION!! 

February 15, 2012

We are asking for your help and support to have Mississippi State Legislators pass or introduce the following bills.

It is our contention that these pieces of legislation would significantly aid motorcyclists and assist Mississippi in becoming a more motorcycle friendly state. Please contact your state senator or representative for your county. Click here for a listing of State Senators and Representatives by county.

HB0265---Establishment of Motorcycle Safety Training Program
(click here for more info)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND OPERATOR TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR TRAINING AND TO PROMOTE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS; TO ESTABLISH COURSE REQUIREMENTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO APPOINT A STATEWIDE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY DIRECTOR TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; TO PRESCRIBE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE DIRECTOR AND THE PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS; TO PROVIDE THAT APPLICANTS FOR MOTORCYCLE OPERATORS' LICENSES OR MOTORCYCLE ENDORSEMENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A COURSE UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE MOTORCYCLE LICENSING KNOWLEDGE TEST AND SKILL TEST; TO ESTABLISH A MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND OPERATOR TRAINING FUND.

***It is MoToSteps' contention that this bill will provide better quality, more standardized, and potentially less expensive CERTIFIED training programs. We believe that if this bill is passed it would greatly benefit new and reentry riders***

SB 2029---Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Credit
(click here for more info)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-51-101, 27-51-103, 27-51-105 AND 27-51-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE OWNERS OF MOTORCYCLES TO RECEIVE THE MOTOR VEHICLE AD VALOREM TAX CREDIT; TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO LOWER THE SALES TAX RATE TO FIVE PERCENT (5%) ON MOTORCYCLES THAT CAN BE LEGALLY OPERATED ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE ROAD AND BRIDGE PRIVILEGE TAX IF OPERATED ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-65-75 AND 27-67-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE REVENUE FROM THE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTED FROM THE SALE OF MOTORCYCLES THAT CAN BE LEGALLY OPERATED ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE AND THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THE ROAD AND BRIDGE PRIVILEGE TAX IF OPERATED ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE, SHALL BE DEPOSITED, AFTER pERSION, INTO THE MOTOR VEHICLE AD VALOREM TAX REDUCTION FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

***It is MoToSteps' contention that this bill will lower vehicle registration tag rates for motorcycles. Currently motorcycles are tagged as recreational vehicles...the passage of this bill will allow motorcycles to be charged as passenger vehicles. This would aid in lower tag rates.**

SB 2121---Prohibition of Texting While Driving
(click here for more info)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT TEXTING WHILE DRIVING FOR ALL DRIVERS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; TO PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CELLULAR  TELEPHONES BY ADULTS WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT USING HANDS-FREE ACCESSORIES; TO PROHIBIT ENTIRELY CELL PHONE USE BY CERTAIN MINORS; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND FOR  RELATED PURPOSES.

***It is MoToSteps' contention that this bill should be expanded to include DISTRACTED DRIVING....this would broaden the bill to include any acts that could potentially cause the driver to be distracted while driving to include grooming, eating, leaning into the passenger seat and any other act that would decrease drivers attention while driving. We hold that this would aid in decreasing the number of motorcycle related accidents.***

For more info please contact us by calling (601) 519-4717, emailing info@motosteps.org, or coming by our office at the Jackson Enterprise Center located at 931 Hwy 80 W, Ste 2C-38, Jackson, MS  39204.