Washington State recently held hearings on House Bill 2002, "AN ACT Relating to preventing the use of law enforcement profiling on the basis of whether a person is riding a motorcycle or wearing motorcycle-related paraphernalia; and adding a new section to chapter 43.101 RCW."

"This bill is currently running through the House to help start the discussion, and gain physical proof that profiling happens," said ABATE legislative coordinator Rich Bright. "This will hopefully lead to a Biker Anti-Discrimination Bill."

HB 2002 was heard in the House Criminal Justice & Corrections Committee, and states in part:

(1) Local law enforcement agencies shall:
(a) Adopt a written policy designed to condemn and prevent motorcycle profiling;
(b) Review and audit their existing procedures, practices, and training to ensure that they do not enable or foster the practice of motorcycle profiling;
(c) Institute training to address the issues related to motorcycle profiling. Officers should be trained in how to better interact with persons they stop so that legitimate police actions are not misperceived as motorcycle profiling; and
(d) Work with the motorcycle groups in their communities to appropriately address the issue of motorcycle profiling.

The bill also calls for the "Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to coordinate with the criminal justice training commission to ensure that issues related to motorcycle profiling are addressed in basic law enforcement training and offered in regional training for in-service law enforcement officers at all levels."

HB 2002 defines "motorcycle profiling" as "…using the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle-related paraphernalia as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest, or search a person or vehicle with or without legal basis under the United States Constitution or the Washington state Constitution."