Boston Courier Regulations encourage drunk drivers
- threat to bike messengers!
 

The current Massachusetts law to license bike messengers in the City of Boston  encourages individuals convicted of crimes such as DUI/DWI to work as commercial messengers, driving cars in the city of Boston.

The operation of a commercial motor vehicle in an urban environment demands a heightened awareness of traffic to ensure the safety of others. These individuals operate their motor vehicles every school day, all day long,  driving all over the city. Strict time constraints, traffic congestion, and large packages that may impair vision complicate this stressful occupation. The combination of alcohol and commercial motor vehicles presents a serious threat to public safety.

Bike couriers have a vested interest in safe roads. Professional bicycle messengers spend more than 8 hours per day on city roads. Their lives are put in danger daily through both inadvertent and reckless behavior by motor vehicles, and they cannot afford an increased risk from drunk drivers.  Many bike messengers have fallen victim to drinking drivers and some have lost their lives.

Professional messengers advocate an evenhanded approach to traffic enforcement - one that encourages all road users to consider the safety of others. This new legislation enacted by the State of 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 licensing requirements for the City’s bicycle messengers. One of the most serious concerns with the new legislation is its deliberate omission of motor vehicle couriers. It is this omission that encourages drunk drivers to work as commercial motor vehicle couriers.

The legislation was put forth by State Representative Paul Demakis (D). Considering it involved consultation from Boston Police Commissioner Paul Evans, many City Councillors and even the Mayor Thomas Menino, the only logical conclusion is that the law reflects their deliberate intentions.

Under the new licensing process bicycle messengers must undergo a criminal history background check (CORI) to determine eligibility. “Licensing handled by the Police Department is considered a 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 drunk driver, who fails the CORI check can be prevented from working as a bike messenger. However that same individual is free to work as a car courier.  Most firms employ both bicycle and car messengers. If one of their employees is denied a bike messenger license, sometimes the only way for that individual to continue working is to switch to a car.  In addition all of the existing car messengers are not required to undergo a CORI check, meaning that any convicted drunk drivers may continue working as commercial messengers in motor vehicles.

This law discriminates against bicycle messengers in favor of car messengers and because of that discrimination it endangers public safety.  It is more dangerous to have those convicted of drunk driving operating motor vehicles than it would be to have them operate bicycles.

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

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

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

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