Your Motorcycle And You
THE average motorist on the average two-lane highway -- or any of America's superb turnpikes -- pays little attention to the stream of automobiles which may pass him. He is aware of them momentarily at the instant of passing and -- unless the driver of the vehicle is guilty of some heinous discourtesy -- thereafter they are lost to his consciousness. He may be almost unaware of the scores of cars flashing by, but all his senses come alert at the sound of a motorcycle. The man in the automobile sees as well as hears the motorcycle and his attention is riveted on its driver.There is a legitimate reason for this concentration of attention. The motorcycle is a unique vehicle and is limited as to numbers. It is extremely mobile. At times it is startlingly noisy. The very mobility which enables a motorcycle to weave in and out of traffic may make it seem a hazard to the motorist, particularly if the motorist has witnessed or experienced an accident in which such a two-wheeled vehicle was involved. Indeed, the motorcycle closing in with a roar behind an automobile, moving even, and passing the four-wheeled vehicle, may startle -- and therefore serve as an irritant to -- the usually tolerant motorist.
Any action of the motorcycle operator at this time, whether good or bad, is going to be observed and is going to impress itself on the mind of the motorist. Furthermore, it is going to be reflected in that motorist's future attitude toward those who ride the flying wheel. Simple courtesy is the key to acceptance, and motorcycle clubs, as well as individual owners, by adhering to a rigid code of courteous conduct, can do much to add to the safety of the highway. Such courtesy also permits the owner of the private motorcycle to enter inconspicuously into the normal flow of traffic.
Through our close contact with local law enforcement, the efficiency and utility value of the motorcycle in law enforcement work are well known to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Its use in traffic, handling unusual crowd situations, parades, and funeral processions has long since been recognized. it is of great value in the course of disasters such as fires, when communications may be disrupted, and its psychological effect in suppressing speeding drivers is immense.
The use of motorcycles is, of course, not practical in the enforcement of those Federal laws over which the FBI has jurisdiction. One of these laws, however, places a definite responsibility upon the FBI in connection with the subject of motorcycles. This is true in those instances in which such a vehicle has been stolen and transported interstate. FBI jurisdiction in such matters stems from the law known as the Interstate Transportation of Stolen Motor Vehicle Act. This law provides a maximum penalty of $5,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment for persons found guilty of (a) transparting a stolen motor vehicle in interstate or foreign commerce with guilty knowledge of its stolen character, or (b) receiving, concealing, storing, bartering, selling, or disposing of a stolen motor vehicle which has been transported in interstate or foreign commerce with guilty knowledge of its stolen character. The original statute was amended in 1945 in order to include aircraft.
It should be noted that the definition of "motor vehicle," as set forth in the United States Code, includes "an automobile, automobile truck, automobile wagon, motorcycle, or any other self-propelled vehicle designed for running on land but not on rails."
The popularity of the motorcycle -- both in connection with its use as a sport and as a means of rapid transportation -- makes it imperative that the individual owner exercise every precaution against the possibility of theft. Simple security measures relative to your vehicle should never be neglected.
The care you exercise in handling your motorcycle at all times will add to the safety of our streets and highways. It will also increase the pride and pleasure you take in an activity which, in many instances, is more than just a sport and more than just a hobby.
Publications
Images