It does seem, at first, to be a rediculous law to enact. After all,
if inacted by a single state it would be like the "smog" statutes of
some states. It would apply only to residents of North Dakota who own
and operate touring bikes (how many would that be?) and anyone who
showed a driver's license or other legal identification proving they
were residents of another state that did NOT have a bicycle
registration law, they should be off the hook if only passing through.

I suspect this is a bogus law and impossible to enforce legally.

Fred (not a lawyer or a lawmaker) Meredith

At 2:49 PM -0600 2/1/03, Ken Kifer wrote:
>The following message was sent to touring@... on Saturday, February 1
>(today), by Carl Barrentine:
>
>==>
>
>Five of our North Dakota legislators are hoping to pass a Senate
>Bill, as early as 6 February 2003, to register touring and racing bicycles
>used on roadways/highways outside the city limits.
>
>Of particular interest to touring cyclists is proposal to add SECTION 4 as
>part of Senate Bill No. 2391. This section reads as follows:
>
> 1. “An individual may not ride a bicycle upon any highway outside of the
>geographical boundaries of a city without displaying evidence of
>registration required by this section. This section does not apply to a
>bicycle with under three gears or a bike being ridden by an individual
>fourteen years of age or under. In addition, this section is limited to a
>bicycle intended to be ridden for long distances, including a cross-country
>racer, cruiser, touring bike, or racing bike.”
>
> 2. “The operator of a bicycle shall register the bicycle with the
>department and the department shall issue upon payment of fifty dollars a
>decal for placement on the bicycle as evidence of registration. A
>registration is effective for two calendar years.” (The proposed penalty
>for violation “may be assessed a fee not to exceed thirty-five dollars,"
>according to the SECTION 1 AMENDMENT, Section 39-210.1-01 of the North
>Dakota Century Code.)
>
> This legislation seems rather cumbersome, as well as potentially
>unfriendly to touring cyclists. If this Bill passes (on 6 February), it
>seems very likely that unregistered (resident and non-resident) cyclists
>found pedaling the rural roads and highways of North Dakota will be in
>violation of the law, and subject to a $35 fine. Weird!
>
> Phreds, is this legislation enforced in other States? If so, I sure
>would like to know. Thanks! --carl (the Trek 520 guy from North Dakota)
>
><==
>
>Has anyone heard of this? It seems to me that such a law would be illegal.
>Otherwise, you could pass a law requiring everyone wearing a green shirt
>traveling in a Toyota pickup to pay a special fee.
>
>Does anyone have information on how to write emails to North Dakota
>legislators?
>
>Ken
>--
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>
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>
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>
>
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--
When in doubt ... ride your bike (or at least write about it).

More Bikin' Fred and Nancy at: http://2merediths.org