AMA Commends West Virginia for New Reckless-Driving Law

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) commends West Virginia for enacting a law supporting the goals of the AMA's "Justice for All" campaign.

The Reckless Driving Bill, also known as "Danny's Law" after West Virginia motorcyclist Danny Kneisly, passed unanimously in both houses of the state legislature and was signed into law April 4 by Governor Joe Manchin, himself an avid motorcyclist. The new law increases penalties, including jail time, for reckless-driving violations.

Instrumental in the passage of Danny's Law was ABATE of West Virginia, along with Kneisly's family and other motorcyclist activists.

"West Virginia motorcyclists can be proud, as we are, that their legislators and their governor value justice," said Imre Szauter, AMA Legislative Affairs Specialist. "We urge other states to follow West Virginia's example, and we encourage all motorcyclists to work with the AMA and with state motorcyclists'-rights organizations to change the way the justice system sentences drivers."

Kneisly was killed in 2004 at age 43, less than a mile from his Martinsburg home, when a driver violated his right-of-way by making a left turn in front of him; the driver was fined $20.

Responding to the disturbing nationwide trend of inadequate sentences for motorists who kill or seriously injure other motorists, the AMA launched Justice for All in 2004. The campaign's goals include increasing each state's penalties for violations that result in serious injury or death, as well as incorporating motorcycle-awareness modules in driver-education classes.

West Virginia joins seven other states in passing legislation that supports the goals of Justice for All: Arkansas, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.

For more information about the AMA's Justice for All campaign, visit www.AMADirectlink.com/justice.