Motorcyclists to continue crusade to repeal Nebraska's mandatory helmet law

Off the Wire News - Biker Rights Issues Written by Anna Ripa, NewsNetNebraska
Monday, 15 February 2010 22:12
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The Nebraska Legislature shot down a bill to allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet. Photo: Andrea Vasquez, NewsNetNebraska
Even though the repeal of the helmet law failed once again in the Legislature, some Lincoln motorcyclists say they will continue to fight for what they see is their personal choice.

LB200, introduced earlier in the session by Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont, would have repealed the mandatory helmet law, but the effort fell short by six votes on Feb. 11.

Part of the legislative debate focused on health insurance costs. The bill would have required riders 21 and older who chose to ride without a helmet to obtain at least $1 million in health insurance. But the bill didn't include a penalty, and without that, some senators questioned whether the bill would be enforceable.

But many Nebraska motorcyclists remain undaunted in their efforts to get the mandatory helmet law repealed. Ever since it took effect in 1989, they have been vocal in their protests. They say wearing a helmet violates their personal freedom and makes driving more unsafe. And while they think the suggested increase in insurance rates would be unreasonable, many are willing to pay more for their choice.

John Amdor, 44, a member of the Rollin Plains Motorcycle Club Omaha, said he supported the bill because it would have allowed adults to decide for themselves. Many of the club's members probably would continue to wear a helmet regardless of what happened to the repeal.

"That's the great thing about it is that it doesn't keep you from wearing a helmet, but it allows you to make that decision yourself," he said.

Dave Fischer, 58, who has owned Frontier Harley Davidson in Lincoln for 23 years, prefers to ride without his helmet for enjoyment and because he feels it's sometimes safer. He can better hear trucks and cars approaching him, and it's easier to turn his head to check blind spots without the heavy helmet.

"There is an irony there where I sometimes feel safer when I don't have a bucket on my head," he said.
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Contrary to some of its neighboring states, Nebraska requires all motorcyclists to wear a helmet while riding. Photo: Andrea Vasquez, NewsNetNebraska

And there also is some irony in the ultimate helpfulness of helmets, he noted. Fischer said that while some of his customers say they were glad they were wearing a helmet, a helmet can't protect the rest of the body during impact.

"At 70 mph, if you crash on a motorcycle, that helmet is not going to make any difference," he said. "Something bad is going to happen to you regardless."

While Amdor said he enjoys taking off his helmet to experience the weather and smells of the seasons, he acknowledges that a helmet is necessary in some cases.

"It protects against fallen debris, there's a lot of rocks and sand in the spring time," he said.

Many riders often remove their helmets once they cross Nebraska's borders because surrounding states -- Iowa, Kansas, the Dakotas and Colorado -- do not have helmet laws, Fischer said.

In fact, one of Janssen's reasons for introducing the repeal was to help tourism. He said riders often avoid the state of Nebraska when they attend biking events.
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Motorcyclists hoped for a repeal of the helmet requirement, which would have left the choice up to them. Photo: Andrea Vasquez, NewsNetNebraska
Mike Heller, a 37-year-old motorcycle salesman at Frontier Harley Davidson, said he agrees with Janssen's views on tourists spending their money elsewhere. Heller, who used to work in the hotel industry, said bikers choosing to stay elsewhere affected sales.

"If they are staying the night they are going to go down to the restaurant in the hotel to eat and drink," he said.

Original article...

http://www.newsnetnebraska.org/component/content/article/28-news-cojmc/872-motorcyclist-support-the-helmet-law-repeal