First thing this morning HB320/Don’t Pass Vehicles Stopped at a Crosswalk was tabled by a 12-10 vote, with 3 R’s Rust, Minchew, & LeMunyon joining the 7 D’s in voting AGAINST Tabling. That kills the bill for this session.

The more you look at that bill, the more you see how little it would change the existing section of Code, but it was an attempt to more clearly give a law enforcement officer something specific that they could charge an offender with.

Then most of the rest of the morning was spent with Del. McQuinn and others in trying to work up acceptable language for HB 542 the Mask bill. Originally designed to stop the KKK from parading with masks on, as well as to prevent hold ups by masked people, if you look at the language, going to a masked ball and wearing a medically prescribed mask were exempted. With temps outside in the low teens, it was common to see motorcyclists, bicyclists, and people waiting at a bus stop wearing masks, all of whom were technically committing a felony.

As we met with Del. Todd Gilbert, the Chair of the House General Laws Committee, it was obvious that he saw the problem and was looking for help in developing the proper language that would prevent the KKK (or anyone else) from marching with hoods on, meet the Retail Merchants strong demand that Masked people be discouraged from entering banks and commercial establishments, yet not make Cyclists, Motorcyclists, Hunters, Trick or Treaters, or anyone in the general public wearing a mask to protect their face from the cold a felon. The language we are working on includes a prohibition on wearing a mask for the purpose of concealing one’s identity, as opposed to for protection from the cold. (The motorcycle rep reported that they occasionally wear masks in warm weather to protect their faces from bugs and flying sand) Also included would be a requirement that anyone wearing a mask to protect their face must remove it prior to entering a bank or commercial establishment.

If you would like to be involved in drafting a piece of legislation, print the existing HB542 from the Legislative Services Website and send me any suggestions for language ASAP as we are trying to get this passed as early as next week.

Also in order ASAP are calls to your Delegates supporting HB82, the Following Too Closely bill, which has been Carried Over for the weekend, so that it will be Debated on Monday, and Voted On on Tuesday.

Help us get this legislation passed. Please email or call your delegate and senator, and ask them to support these bills. If you don’t know who they are, use the Who’s My Legislator page.

A quick note stating your name, address, that you are a constituent and to please support the following bills is all that’s required. Just mention the bill number and what it’s about.

SB 97, three foot passing: in 22 states and the District of Columbia, motorists are required to leave three feet of clearance while passing people on bikes. In Pennsylvania, it’s four feet. Virginia, only two. (Yikes!) This bill changes one word in current law, from “two” to “three”. Passed by the Senate, will cross over to the House.

SB 225, dooring: “No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side adjacent to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so.” Currently there is no law to stop anyone from opening a car door into the path of a cyclist, or find them negligent for injuring a cyclist while doing so. Passed by the Senate 1/29, will cross over to the House.

HB 82, following bicycles too closely: striking “motor” from the text makes it illegal for motorists to follow non-motorized vehicles too closely — including people on bikes. Passed by the House 1/28, will cross over to the Senate.

HB 542, wearing of masks in public: changes current law to make it only about using a mask to facilitate committing a crime. Currently, it’s a class 6 felony for a cyclist to wear a mask for cold weather protection. Reported out of Courts of Justice Committee 2/7/14, full House vote likely Mon. 2/10/14.

HB 1250, Sunday hunting: would allow landowners to hunt on Sundays on their own land. Of course the bullets don’t know where the boundaries are. Currently, with hunting prohibited on Sundays, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy one bullet-free day a week in the woods. We’re against this bill. Awaiting vote by the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.

Despite the snow, ice and cold temps, it was business as usual at the General Assembly building.

HB 1250, the Sunday Hunting Bill was attended and testified at in opposition by Champe Burnley as I was unable to make it. He reported a number of people testifying as usual, with a vote to table being narrowly defeated, followed by a move to Report prevailing by a narrow 12-10 vote. It should be noted that this is NOT an all out permission of Hunting on Sunday, but only by a Landowner or his family, or people with their permission, on THEIR OWN property. I think a number of Delegates support the bill for this reason, who would not support full scale Sunday Hunting.

SB 225, the Dooring Bill sailed through the Senate Transportation Committee, on a voice vote, with no opposition that I could hear, after several of us spoke on its behalf..

It did surprise me a bit that none of the Senators opposed it, which is a good sign as it now goes on to the Senate Floor.

Calls to your Senators to Support SB 97 & to your Delegates to Support HB 82 Don’t Follow Too Closely which will be voted on in House in the next day or so are definitely in order RIGHT NOW.

Also up tomorrow in the House Courts of Justice Committee is HB 542 where we are trying to get an exception for cyclists from the current law which makes it a serious felony to be wearing a mask. With the weather being as cold as it is, we ought to be able to show the Delegates the need for such an amendment to the long standing law that goes back to the 1960’s and the Ku Klux Klan.

Sen. Chap Petersen’s dooring bill, SB225, is on the Senate Transportation Committee docket for Wed., Jan. 22. “No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side adjacent to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so.” Currently there is no law to stop anyone from opening a car door into the path of a cyclist, or find them negligent for injuring a cyclist while doing so.

Use the Who’s My Legislator page to find who your senator is.  If they’re on the Transportation Committee, listed below, please send them a note before the meeting at 2 PM on Wed.  Click on their name for contact info.  You can email them or call.

• Sen. Steve Newman (R-Forest) Chair
• Sen. Henry Marsh (D-Richmond)
• Sen. John Watkins (R-Midlothian)
• Sen. Phil Puckett (D-Tazewell)
• Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach)
• Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath)
• Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Mechanicsville)
• Sen. Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke)
• Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke)
• Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach)
• Sen. Chuck Colgan (D-Manassas)
• Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson)
• Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington)Sen. Kenneth C. Alexander (D-Norfolk)

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