Two bills address Motorcycle Helmet Laws this session. One has already crashed.
Rep. Hansen's HB 158 attempted to raise the age mandating motorcyclists wear helmets to 21, that bill died in committee.
Rep. Menlove's approach is a little bit different. If a motorcyclist receives a ticket while wearing a helmet, their fine would be reduced by $10. It's the incentive route.
I'm going to say something unpopular here, so if you are going to get all riled up about it stop reading now, and I mean right now, because here it comes: ALL MOTORCYCLISTS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO WEAR HELMETS. Just make it a law and stop tip toeing around the issue. I know there will be whining, gnashing of teeth and probably a good deal of swearing at first. But people will get over it, and you'll save a significant amount of lives in the meantime. Let the incentive not be: if you break the law riding your motorcycle we'll make it a little cheaper for you, let's make the incentive: you get to live if you crash, or at least sustain less brain damage.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I like the incentive idea. I think it's interesting that you think everyone should be required to wear a helmet. (*Grin* - thanks for the lesson on disagreeing.) It's one thing if you've got your kid on the back and don't put a helmet on them, but your own life is your own life. They aren't endangering anyone but themselves. If they think their life isn't worth putting a helmet on, so be it.
More and more I feel like legislators have to come up with something to legislate, just because they are up there meeting and need something to show for it. Is there a point when we can say, "Okay, we have enough laws! Let's work with what we've got!"
the problem with thinking that one is endangering only himself (or herself) by not wearing a helmet is that society (which means all of us) bears the burden for emergency responders and health care and such when things go wrong for someone without a helmet. i agree with you, karen: all motorcyclists should be required to wear helmets.
Post a Comment