Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/703695
88
nAugust 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS
Daniel's Law
Recently the Pennsylvania House
of Representatives unanimously passed
a bill (HB 853) known as Daniel's
Law. The legislation was introduced
by Representative Jaret Gibbons in
memory of Daniel Gallatin who was
hit from behind and killed while riding
his motorcycle on May 7, 2013. Dan
was turning into his daughter's drive-
way when he was hit from behind by a
driver who was texting. Under current
Pennsylvania Law that is illegal, but
the maximum sentence for the offense
was a $50 fi ne plus court costs and
other related fees. The guilty driver
did receive jail time for an additional
charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Currently no points are assigned to
a non-commercial driver guilty of
texting and driving in Pennsylvania.
The new legislation calls for tougher
penalties for distracted driving. For
comparison purposes, I know plenty of
Pennsylvania drivers including myself
who have worked off points for speed-
ing tickets.
I had met Dan just a few weeks
before his tragic death at a local bike
blessing where he was volunteering
and I know several riders and friends
in common who counted Dan as a
friend. All of us honored his memory
by riding in his funeral procession.
Dan was many things before his life
was cut short at 68: a godly man, hus-
band, father, fi re chief, Navy veteran
and biker among them. He was the
kind of man you'd want living next
door to you. The funeral procession
was also fi lled with fi rst responders,
fi refi ghters and the New Castle Honor
Guard representing much of what Dan
stood for in life.
Though Daniel's Law still needs
to get through the state Senate and the
governor, it has already drawn atten-
tion to the cause for distracted driving.
ABATE has been instrumental in lead-
ing the call for change in Pennsylvania
law regarding distracted driving since
Daniel's death. It does my heart good
to see hometown people have a hand
in changing state laws that may actu-
ally have a positive impact on drivers
driving in our state.
At a time when many of us are
frustrated with the government it's
easy to throw up your hands and walk
away from the process. These people
chose to roll up their collective shirt
sleeves and go to work, learning the
system, who to talk to, when to talk
to them and how to make a differ-
ence. It's been three long years since
Daniel's death and the law carrying his
name has still not passed. But during
that time ABATE of Pennsylvania,
beginning with Lawrence County
ABATE, Daniel's hometown chapter,
has made an impact.
As you might expect, the charge
for reform has been led by Daniel's
daughter, Michelle Gallatin-Baughman,
and her husband Jamie and Daniel's
widow Mary Lou. With support from
Lawrence County ABATE President
Big Bob Russell and his legislative
coordinator and close friend to Daniel,
Jim Connor, ABATE enlisted the help
of State Representative Jared Gibbons.
Representative Gibbons serves several
counties in Pennsylvania District 10
including part of Dan Gallatin's home
county and mine, Lawrence.
HB 853, Daniel's Law, is available
for review in its entirety at www.legis.
state.pa.us. Once you're there just click
the "General Assembly" tab and enter
"HB 853" in the quick search.
It isn't often that you get to
observe a call to action from the
ground fl oor, but the passion and sup-
port from motorcyclists and legislators
in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania,
has gained national attention. Recently,
Daniel's Law was even the subject of
some discussion on a network televi-
sion broadcast and has also gotten the
attention of the AMA. As our society
tries to come to grips with the changes
and demands of being plugged in at
all times through all manner of mobile
devices we need to remember that
lives are at stake and our actions have
consequences that may not always be
punishable by law but could have a
devastating impact on our lives or the
lives of people around us. It is time to
change not only the penalties for seri-
ous distracted driving accidents, but to
change our attitudes.
Until our cavalier attitude toward
texting and driving changes, tangible
change due to tragic events like the
one that took Daniel's life will be slow
in coming. Please join me in helping
to change that attitude by saying some-
thing to any driver who holds your life
in their hands by texting and driving.
It is the absolute least we can do to
honor a fallen brother and the family
and friends he left behind.
Hopefully, Daniel's Law will pass
the Pennsylvania Senate and be signed
into law by the governor this year.
I also hope other states will support
similar legislation to deter distracted
driving and I hope all of us can learn a
little something about helping to bring
about change through our legislative
process. One man really can make a
difference and inspire others to make a
difference too.
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