legislated motorcycle safety

http://tinyurl.com/3x9ksl
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Puerto Rico Passes Strict Motorcycle Law

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Puerto Rico will require
motorcycle drivers to wear protective jackets, gloves, long pants and
boots as part of a strict safety law signed by the governor of the U.S.
commonwealth on Wednesday.

Augmenting an existing helmet law, the new law also sharply lowers the
maximum allowable blood-alcohol level for motorcycle and scooter
enthusiasts below levels tolerated for automobile drivers.

The law's sponsors said it was prompted by a sharp increase in
motorcycle and scooter accidents, but some bikers argued that adults
should be allowed to decide such matters for themselves.

In a last-ditch effort to stop the law, hundreds of motorcyclists on
Monday revved their engines in protest while riding past Gov. Anibal
Acevedo Vila's residence in San Juan.

Puerto Rico, which before had less stringent rider regulations than most
U.S. states, now has the most restrictions of any of the 50 states, said
the Ohio-based American Motorcyclist Association.

"There's really no place under the U.S. flag that has restrictions that
are as strict as Puerto Rico," said association spokesman Lance Oliver.

In addition to the heavy protective gear, drivers of two-wheeled motor
vehicles on the island now must wear reflective vests after dark. The
legal blood-alcohol limit is now .02 percent for bikers, down from .08
percent, which will remain the tolerated limit for car drivers.

It was not immediately clear what the penalties for infractions would be.
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Be interesting to see statistics in a year and see what effect the laws
have (my guess is not as much as they think)