Lamotte

For several years, Delegate Lawrence A. LaMotte, D-Carroll, Baltimore, worked with motorcycling and recreational riding organizations in an effort to reach an acceptable compromise for legislation regulating all-terrain vehicles.After some fine-tuning, LaMotte said it seemed that the motorcycling groups were becoming more conciliatory toward a proposal designed to reduce damage caused by ATV riders who trespass on private and public lands and to improve safety for the riders.Over the last five years, the bill has died for a variety of reasons -- among them, motorcycling groups' objections to a metal licenseplate and complaints that ATV owners had no place to ride.

Two Carroll lawmakers will be pivotal participants on opposite sidesof the battle over abortion this week as legislators prepare to tackle the controversial and emotional issue.Delegate Lawrence A. LaMotte, D-Carroll, Baltimore, is one of two primary sponsors of two abortion-rights bills to be introduced in the House of Delegates. Opposing him will be Sen. Larry E. Haines, R-Carroll, Baltimore, one of a host of senators co-sponsoring two Senate bills restricting abortions.The House and Senate will conduct a joint hearing from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday in the Legislative Services Building to hear testimony on a handful of abortion bills.