dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6890
Location: Maine6/18/13 2:54 PM |
Interesting new Maine Law
I have not read the law yet, but this summary, from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, of a new Maine law is interesting. I'll be interested to see how the "prima facie" concept is actually implemented in the statute (probably the initial conclusion can be rebutted). But this sounds interesting to me.
>>We have some great news to share: on Friday, June 14, LD 1460, "A Bill To Revise Maine Bicycle Law," became Maine State Law! This bill, introduced by the Coalition and sponsored by Rep. Erik Jorgensen of Portland, marks a major effort to rejuvenate the Coalition's legislative tradition.
Here's what LD 1460 does for you:
• The operator of the bicycle determines where it is safest and most "practicable" to ride on a roadway. This common sense change clarifies that when a bicyclist feels the need to use a travel lane (for example, because a shoulder is not in safe condition), the bicyclist has a clear legal right to do so.
• A collision of a passing car with a bicycle is "prima facie" evidence of a violation of the three-foot law. If the car hits the bike, it didn't give three feet! The Coalition hopes that this change will encourage more citations for violations of the three-foot law, whether or not a collision occurs.
• Cars may not make turns in front of bicycles when doing so interferes with the safe and legal operation of a bicycle.
For the complete text of the law, please check out the Coalition website.<<
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