California Senate Adopts AMA-Supported Anti-Motorcyclist Profiling Resolution

On July 12, the California Senate adopted Resolution 41 which encourages awareness of motorcyclist profiling in order to bring it to an end.

Ultimately the resolution is aimed at opening communication between the motorcycle community and law enforcement in the hopes of stopping this specific type of profiling, which is, at its core, rooted in inappropriate assumptions about people who dress for riding motorcycles and actively ride.

The state Senate unanimously passed Resolution 41. In practice, this means that law enforcement does not have grounds to stop, question, arrest, or search someone because their clothing or vehicle is associated with the motorcycle community. Law enforcement agencies are strongly urged to use written condemnations of profiling in their training materials and policies.

This piece of legislation is not the first of its kind. Washington, Maryland, Louisiana, and Idaho have all taken steps in eliminating motorcyclist profiling, and others may join the cause.

To read more, check out the AMA’s official press release.