Boston Courier Regulationsencourage drunk drivers
- threat to bike messengers!
 

The current Massachusetts law to licensebike messengers in the City of Boston  encourages individuals convictedof crimes such as DUI/DWI to work as commercial messengers, driving carsin the city of Boston.

The operation of a commercial motor vehiclein an urban environment demands a heightened awareness of traffic to ensurethe safety of others. These individuals operate their motor vehicles everyschool day, all day long,  driving all over the city. Strict timeconstraints, traffic congestion, and large packages that may impair visioncomplicate this stressful occupation. The combination of alcohol and commercialmotor vehicles presents a serious threat to public safety.

Bike couriers have a vested interest insafe roads. Professional bicycle messengers spend more than 8 hours perday on city roads. Their lives are put in danger daily through both inadvertentand reckless behavior by motor vehicles, and they cannot afford an increasedrisk from drunk drivers.  Many bike messengers have fallen victimto drinking drivers and some have lost their lives.

Professional messengers advocate an evenhandedapproach to traffic enforcement - one that encourages all road users toconsider the safety of others. This new legislation enacted by the Stateof Massachusetts fails both the principals of equality and safety.

In 1998, the Massachusetts State Legislature,at the request of the City of Boston, enacted a law to amend the licensingrequirements for the City’s bicycle messengers. One of the most seriousconcerns with the new legislation is its deliberate omission of motor vehiclecouriers. It is this omission that encourages drunk drivers to work ascommercial motor vehicle couriers.

The legislation was put forth by StateRepresentative Paul Demakis (D). Considering it involved consultation fromBoston Police Commissioner Paul Evans, many City Councillors and even theMayor Thomas Menino, the only logical conclusion is that the law reflectstheir deliberate intentions.

Under the new licensing process bicyclemessengers must undergo a criminal history background check (CORI) to determineeligibility. “Licensing handled by the Police Department is considereda function of Criminal Justice.  CORI is authorized for these duties,”states Robert Goudreau of the Criminal History Systems Board.

An individual, such as a convicted drunkdriver, who fails the CORI check can be prevented from working as a bikemessenger. However that same individual is free to work as a car courier. Most firms employ both bicycle and car messengers. If one of their employeesis denied a bike messenger license, sometimes the only way for that individualto continue working is to switch to a car.  In addition all of theexisting car messengers are not required to undergo a CORI check, meaningthat any convicted drunk drivers may continue working as commercial messengersin motor vehicles.

This law discriminates against bicyclemessengers in favor of car messengers and because of that discriminationit endangers public safety.  It is more dangerous to have those convictedof drunk driving operating motor vehicles than it would be to have themoperate bicycles.

To restore the safety of its residents,the City of Boston must either:
 

a) Extend all the minimum requirementsof the new bike messenger legislation to include all commercial motor vehicles;or

b) Scrap the entire bicycle messenger licensinglaw in its current form.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at messvilleto@yahoo.com