Legislative Update

MRF E-MAIL NEWS
Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff@mrf.org (e-mail)

July 22, 2006

#06NR13 - MRF Announces Federal Motorcycle Safety Grant Program Users Guide

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to announce the finalization of the National Highway Traffic Administration's (NHTSA) Motorcycle Safety Grant Program.

This program is the direct result of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, the supporting State Motorcycle Rights Organizations (SMRO's) and all the individual motorcyclists who have lobbied for this program over the past four years.

This program will provide much needed federal dollars from the Highway Trust Fund to the individual State's to help fund motorcycle safety programs. The grant program runs annually through 2009 and sets aside $25 million dollarsto be spent at $100,000.00 a year per State.

In order to be eligible for the funds The States must meet one of six criteria and two the second and subsequent years. The criteria are that the applying State must have:
1. A motorcycle rider training program
2. A motorcycle awareness program
3. A reduction in fatalities involving motorcycles
4. An effective impaired driving program
5. A reduction in fatalities and accidents involving impaired motorcyclists
6. Use of fees collected from motorcyclist for motorcycle programs must be used for motorcycle programs

The MRF is also pleased that the final program retains all of the same intents set forth by Congress in the original legislation.

For a complete guide to the program and all of the specifics on how, where and when to apply visit: http://www.mrf.org/pdf/Grantguide.pdf