Senate Bill 276, aka the Fuzzy Dice Bill, passed the Michigan Senate unanimously.
According to the Detroit News:
Fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror would no longer be outlawed under a bill that won passage in the Senate today.
The chamber voted unanimously for a measure that strikes down a law that says items dangling from the rearview mirror are a no-no.
“We understand there are many distractions in cars, such as cell phones or GPS systems, but we did not feel that a rosary or air freshener was in the same league,” said Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, sponsor of the bill. “This will help make it legal to do what thousands of Michigan residents already do — hang a memento from their mirror.”
Great job!
Now let’s look at some bicycle safety bills the Michigan Senate has not passed or voted on.
- Senate Bills 529 & 530 which “enhance penalties for moving violations causing physical injury or death to bicyclists and other vulnerable roadway users” according to the League of Michigan Bicyclists.
- Senate Bill 531 which stipulates that driver education “shall include information concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles and shall emphasize awareness of the operation of bicycles on the streets, roads, and highways of this state.”
Bicycle advocates in the state of Washington are also pursuing a Vulnerable User Bill. (Seattle PI via How We Drive)
Advocates for a new law argue that families of those killed or maimed deserve greater sense of justice than a traffic ticket brings. However, a conviction for negligent driving doesn’t carry much steeper punishment. Typically, a first-time offender gets probation or a deferred sentence.
“Do they need an automatic license suspension or do they need driver retraining. These are the questions that we should ask,” Hiller said. He noted that people who don’t control their vicious dogs face more criminal culpability than drivers for negligence behind the wheel.
We’re not sure if that last sentence is true in Michigan.
But, if the Michigan House and Governor follow the Senate’s lead, fuzzy dice will be safe again Michigan.