AMA wraps up successful Justice for All educational effort in Sturgis

Despite all the distractions at the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakoa that ended August 15, many riders took the time to drop by the AMA's Justice for All booth to show their support for the program that calls for enhanced penalties for car drivers who injure or kill vulnerable road users, including motorcylcists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

"After three days on the road and four in Sturgis, many more motorcyclists now know about the issue of inadequate sentencing for motor vehicle drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists and others," said AMA Public Information Director Tom Lindsay (above).

"Because of the high amount of traffic to our booth, we know that motorcyclists are concerned about the issue in overwhelming numbers," Lindsay said. "Motorcyclists see Justice for All as the road toward a solution to this problem, which affects riders in every state."

Justice for all focuses the public's attention on inadequate sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users. The AMA advocates legislation establishing enhanced penalties when traffic offenses or criminal actions by motorists result in death or serious injury.

Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations who joined Lindsay in staffing the Justice for All booth at Sturgis, said that although the program came out of motorcyclists' reaction to the case in South Dakota where then-South Dakota U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow killed farmer and motorcyclist Randy Scott in a traffic crash, the issue is an important one in every state.

Janklow served 100 days in jail, but there are many examples of car drivers getting away with small fines, including a case in Iowa where a driver killed three motorcylists, seriously injured two others, and was fined $70.

"In Sturgis we had many, many riders come to our booth to get information about the Justice for All program and to sign our petition to show their support," Moreland said. "And many of them asked for materials to take back to their home states to spread the message.

"Sturgis proved to be a great place to spread the word about the program, and the way motorcyclists are embracing Justice for All is fantastic," he added. "Now we need to keep the momentum going as many state legislatures open their legislative sessions next year."

Lindsay thanked the dozens of volunteers and other people who made the AMA presence at Sturgis possible, and the motorcyclists who showed their support.

"We're gratified that these people had a hand in our success at Sturgis," Lindsay said.

Among those who signed the petition to show support for Justice for All was AMA member William Harvey and his wife, Rebecca. Harvey lost his left leg in 2000 after a school bus made a left turn in front of him.

"All I could think of was I didn't want to go under the bus wheels," Harvey said. "The bus driver came out crying and said she never saw me." No tickets were issued.

Harvey now rides a 2003 Harley-Davidson sidecar rig equipped with a thumb air shifter so that he can shift.

"It was a messed up scene, but what can you do?" Harvey said. "You pick up the pieces and then move on."

Now, Harvey and other motorcyclists around the country are also getting involved in the Justice for All program.