Idaho Bill heads for the Senate

Anti-motorcycle profiling legislation has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill, which already passed the House, now goes to the full Senate, and if it passes there, to the governor’s desk.

Committee Chair Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, told the crowd – packed with motorcycle enthusiasts wearing their insignia-decorated leather jackets and vests – to “remember that with a right there is a lot of responsibility, so we expect you to do your part.”

Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, who spoke against the bill and said he didn’t think it was needed, made an unsuccessful motion to kill it.

The bill bans motorcycle profiling by state or local law enforcement, which it defines as “the arbitrary use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle-related paraphernalia as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest or search a person or vehicle.”

Sen. Jeff Agenbroad, R-Nampa, told the committee that he rides “a Harley and wear leathers.”

Agenbroad said he hasn’t been profiled himself, but he’s seen it happen.

The measure was brought by Rep. Robert Anderst, R-Nampa, who also is an avid motorcyclist. It earlier passed the House unanimously, 69-0. Washington has had anti-motorcycle profiling on its books since 2011.