(6/2023)  Free Motorcycle Safety Course Offered

With today’s bright blue skies, warm temperatures and open roads, many motorcycle enthusiasts are preparing to ‘hit the road.’ Before you do, the Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and motorcycle safety advocates, are reminding riders to be safe. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

PennDOT, PSP and safety advocates are reminding drivers and motorcyclists to drive sober, share the road, obey traffic laws and watch out for one another throughout the riding season. Through the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program, Pennsylvania residents with a motorcycle permit or license can take advantage of the opportunity to earn a motorcycle license or refresh their skills through training to help develop safe riding skills.

Courses cover basic, intermediate and advanced rider levels, as well as a basic course for 3-wheelers. Successful completion of a basic or intermediate course waives the requirement to take a skills test at a PennDOT Driver License Center and automatically earns the permit holder their motorcycle license. PennDOT contracts several third-party motorcycle training providers to offer these safety training classes free of charge to residents with a motorcycle permit or license. To find a local training provider, visit www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Motorcyclists.

Last year, there were about 3,369 crashes involving motorcycles on Pennsylvania roadways, resulting in 217 fatalities. While crashes and fatalities are on the decline, our numbers are still too high, and we must remain vigilant.

Chamber Receives Comprehensive Update on House Activity

I attended the Gettysburg-Adams Chamber of Commerce’s monthly government affairs committee meeting at which I provided an update on legislation that could have a negative impact on businesses and taxpayers. This legislation includes House Bill 299, which would create a state-level agency that would mirror the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) agency.

In my opinion, we need fewer government agencies, not more. This bill would be a drain on businesses across the state. House Bill 1135, which would incrementally increase the state’s minimum wage to $21 by 2028; and the right to organize, House Bill 950. I also explained my "no" votes on four gun bills before the House. (House Bill 338, House Bill 714, House Bill 731 and House Bill 1018), and shared the response by some House members to a recent decision by Fairlife to build a new milk processing plant in New York instead of here in PA. Overregulation and over taxation is why Fairlife chose to go elsewhere.

I also told chamber members about my recent discussion with Shawn Eckenrode, director of Adams County Technical Institute, concerning the need for expansion, and a meeting with Dr. Andrew Hoffman, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, regarding collaboration with Penn State University to create a veterinary assistant program. The program would help address the shortage of large animal veterinarians in Pennsylvania.