Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Legislation Federal Helmet Law

The AMA has posted news on an attempt by Democratic U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey to introduce legislation to require national mandatory helmet use as a prerequisite for obtaining federal highway funds.

Follow the link for more information and you can go to the AMA legislative website to immediately send a canned message to your elected representative. You do not need to be an AMA member to use the links (although this is another example of the AMA working for you, whether you're a member or not, and whether you support the position or not).

My personal views notwithstanding, I feel those affected by the law (YOU) should know of it, and voice their (YOUR) opinion.

The article:
http://www.ama-cycle.org/news/helmet_law.asp

The Rapid Response page:
http://www.ama-cycle.org/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp

I sent the AMA a comment to the email I recieved regarding this issue. Within 2 hours of hitting the send button I received a response that was personal, lengthy, and educational.

What is Frank Lautenberg thinking? Maybe some of New Jersey brothers and sisters can help us understand where Lautenberg is coming from.

Just sent mine....

I really hate dumass politicians.....

Did a little research on our friend and protector; Mr. Lautenberg- this isn't the first time he introduced this type of legislation. It was voted down before, but I would urge every one to send the e-mails to your Senators. I doubt I will hear back from my Bozo Senators, but we have to make sure they hear our voices.
As a side note,a few years ago, our buddy Frank Lautenberg was injured in a skiing accident while wearing a helmet and received brain surgery (maybe this explains Lautenberg).

When the founding fathers charged congress with the task of establishing a federal road system, they didn't say anything about using it to blackmail the states into passing laws that the federal legislature is not allowed to.

Greybeard... buddy... there was a LOT of stuff they didn't mention.

Humm?

I'm one of those people that believes strongly in the concept of "local ownership". In that Town/City/County government knows the people's needs better than state government, and state government is closer to the people than Federal government. Federal government definitely has it's responsibility for the good of the nation, but I don't think some of this stuff fits that picture.

Only vaguely related note (I'm ranting now), it seems like we are becoming a nation of "sameness". When I travel to Utah or Texas or Idaho or Wisconsin I like to feel the uniqueness. There's mutual strength in culture and variety. Plus it makes going those places much more interesting.

Oh, and the Federal government held our highway funds a bay a few years ago until we adopted a uniform speedlimit. "Reasonable and Prudent" didn't fit into the Federal box. I don't know for sure if I was in favor of "reasonable and prudent", but I felt the decision should rest here either way.

My Opinion.

This just in:
The Lautenberg Amendment has been defeated with a vote of 28 Yea and 69 Nay and 3 not voting.

The Yea's were in favor of the amendment, the Nay's were against the amendment.

The wonderful Dem Senator's from Michigan voted one for (Levin) and one against (Stabenow).

Frank Lautenberg loses again.

bikerbob - where can I see who voted which way?

Here you go:
Helmet law vote

another small victory against the safety nazis....

Glad to see both my morons voted nea.

Pat, at least your morons voted. NEITHER of mine even bothered to vote!!!

..Article, and how they voted

http://motorcyclecruiser.com/newsandupdates/ushelmet/

These sort of proposed laws where those in their lofty perches are going to save us from ourselves really pi$$es me off, and I'm an ex-cop. I take a lot of pride in that I never wrote anyone a seatbelt ticket or one to a biker for not wearing a helmet. Laws are there to protect you from me, not to protect you from yourself. Can you imagine if 150 years ago some politician decided that too many people were falling off horses and sustaining head injuries and tried to pass a law requiring them to wear helmets. He'd have probably been lynched. I know, the taxpayer shouldn't have to pick up the tab for those who didn't wear a helmet and are now semi-permanent members of the local "Honda Ward" at the hospital. I couldn't agree more. But, to have the State enforce this is ridiculous. Let the insurance companies do it. Pretty sensible here in Texas, you have to have a certain amount of insurance to go sans helmet. OK, I'm off my soap box....

Roy:

I agree with you 100%
Here in Florida, though motorcycle insurance is not required, an additional $10K in medical coverage is required to ride w/o helmet - plus rider must be at least 21. Personally, I always wear a lid (just as I always wear my kevlar while working)...otherwise my wife would tell me to cook my own dinner!
I am disappointed that our junior senator Martinez (whom I voted for) voted yea. I wish our politicians would spend more time on something useful - like getting the approx. 50% of unlicensed and/or uninsured drivers off Florida roads.
Yeah, right.

Palmer

Dick Durbin is an idiot. At least Obama voted nea. I wouldn't have expected that. I hope Illinois can keep its right to choose.