I love it when the government legislates my attire.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 12-710 of Title 47, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A bicyclist shall wear at least one item of reflective outerwear apparel, such as a reflective vest or jacket when operating a bicycle on the highways of this state.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2015.
Oklahoma House Bill 1761
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: Introduced on February 2 2015 - 25% progression
Action: 2015-02-03 - Second Reading referred to Public Safety
At least it only states “highways.” I don’t know the nomenclature in Oklahoma, but in Texas, there are a lot of roads with multiple lanes and high speed limits that are named something else. Some large FMs (farm to market) come to mind around Austin. Maybe they’re only targeting the really major roads. Any Oklahomans on here?
This bill is not improving. The committee amendment is as follows:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 12-710 of Title 47, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A bicyclist shall wear at least one item of reflective outerwear apparel when operating a bicycle on the highways of this state. As used in this section, “reflective outerwear apparel” means reflective vests, jackets, shirts, jerseys or any other kind of apparel or accessary (sic) that has reflective stripes or neon colors.
B. If a bicyclist operates a bicycle on a state highway without wearing reflective outerwear apparel, as required in subsection A of this section, and is involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, the operator of the motor vehicle shall not be liable for any damages claimed by the bicyclist as a result of the accident unless said accident was caused by the willful, wanton or malicious acts of negligence or gross negligence by the operator of the motor vehicle.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2015.
Oh, and “highway” means pretty much any public road under Oklahoma’s Title 47.
Definition is “the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.”
i would wager that most jerseys and bibs and suits these days have some sort of reflective strips built into them. Even if they are discrete/subtle, they are still there.
i would wager that most jerseys and bibs and suits these days have some sort of reflective strips built into them. Even if they are discrete/subtle, they are still there.
The way the law is written, it is open for interpretation. Although you think that little reflective strip on the back of your jersey is enough does the cop also think so? But I’m a little confused, is there any penalty for not wearing reflective gear other than a motorist not being liable for hitting you?
I bought a snug-fitting reflective vest a few years ago to wear biking if I needed reflective gear, but I still wouldn’t want to wear it in a race.
I don’t get it. . . .All it does is shift the burden so that if you get hit by a car and don’t have on reflective gear that you have to show recklessness. Don’t get hit by a car and you don’t have to wear anything reflective OR be safe and not an idiot and wear something reflective when you’re riding on busy roads anyway since you know it’s safer and you should be doing it anyway.
The law would fall under a huge list of requirements for various vehicles, and any violation of these requirements is a misdemeanor with a maximum $500 fine and 10 day jail sentence. 47 OS 17-101.
However, for practical purposes, it would most likely be lumped under the “vehicle equipment violation” category of traffic citation schedule with a penalty of roughly $200 in fine and costs. Think broken tail light.
FYI, Oklahoma law already requires a bicycle to have front and rear lamps, rear reflectors, and “reflective material” (whatever that means). However, a bike can **not **have a “siren”. So don’t even try it.
I love it when the government legislates my attire.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 12-710 of Title 47, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A bicyclist shall wear at least one item of reflective outerwear apparel, such as a reflective vest or jacket when operating a bicycle on the highways of this state.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2015.
Oklahoma House Bill 1761
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: Introduced on February 2 2015 - 25% progression
Action: 2015-02-03 - Second Reading referred to Public Safety
Is that materially different than the state requiring you to wear a seat belt? Or the law that requires children under 8 be in a car seat? Or even the laws that require you to wear any clothing while in the public?
Oklahoma is on a roll. Earlier this week they were working on banning AP courses in high schools because they don’t like the “outside world” telling them what to do, but not they are going to tell cyclists what they need to wear to protect themselves.
I always use a rear flasher when training even in bright daylight. Adding reflective clothing would be pointless.
I believe a reflective sticker on the back of the helmet could be adequate. They don’t clearly define clothing of total area of reflective material.
I could also see a market for reflective socks.
A simple option is a reflective bank over your ankle.
Unless they define reflective clothing this is a stupid law but then again it is Oklahoma. I was going to comment on the general intelligence but most of the people I work with from there are pretty dang smart. Guess they are the outliers.
I always have a blinker on me when riding as well and as others stated a lot of gear have a tiny bit of reflective stuff on them already.
