Motor vehicle doors; drivers and passengers to wait for a reasonable opportunity to open. (SB225)
Introduced By
Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Opening and closing motor vehicle doors. Requires drivers and passengers to wait for a reasonable opportunity to open vehicle doors on the side adjacent to moving traffic. A violation constitutes a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $100. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/03/2014 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14100388D |
01/03/2014 | Referred to Committee on Transportation |
01/16/2014 | Impact statement from DPB (SB225) |
01/22/2014 | Reported from Transportation with amendment (12-Y 2-N) |
01/23/2014 | Impact statement from DPB (SB225) |
01/24/2014 | Constitutional reading dispensed (34-Y 0-N) |
01/27/2014 | Read second time |
01/27/2014 | Reading of amendment waived |
01/27/2014 | Committee amendment agreed to |
01/27/2014 | Engrossed by Senate as amended SB225E |
01/27/2014 | Printed as engrossed 14100388D-E |
01/28/2014 | Passed by for the day |
01/29/2014 | Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 12-N) |
02/06/2014 | Impact statement from DPB (SB225E) |
02/07/2014 | Assigned Transportation sub: Subcommittee #3 |
02/07/2014 | Placed on Calendar |
02/07/2014 | Read first time |
02/07/2014 | Referred to Committee on Transportation |
02/07/2014 | Assigned Transportation sub: Subcommittee #2 |
02/24/2014 | Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 4-N) |
03/04/2014 | Left in Transportation |
Comments
Preventing someone from opening a car door in front of moving traffic has no downsides for transportation and therefore should not be held up by the transportation committee. If you want bikes off the roads to facilitate other forms of transportation, removing us by attrition and fear is not the proper way.
Without this law I could be killed or seriously injured by a motorist and have no recourse in tge lae. I think my wife and daughter deserve better than indifference on the part of Va Justice.
Thank you for consideration,
Mark Brewer
An important law that gives cyclists a safety measure to address inattentive city motorists who carelessly open doors without ever looking in their mirror.
Just this past year, this very thing happened to a Navy Captain while riding his bike home from work. He landed in the hospital with broken ribs and other injuries. He missed over 3 weeks of work. He is lucky it was not worse.