OFF THE WIRE
MYRTLE BEACH - A helmet law is back up for debate - this time for the entire state of South Carolina.
Senator Ralph Anderson from Greenville pre-filed a bill that requires all bikers to wear helmets in South Carolina.
The move comes less than two years after Myrtle Beach lost its fight for helmet regulations.
Myrtle Beach biker Jack Melesh chooses to wear a helmet and thinks bikers should have that choice.
"I think everyone should wear a helmet but I don't want to impose that on people if they feel they don't need to wear one," said Melesh
Biker and motorcycle magazine publisher Mark Infield believes most bikers feel the same way.
Infield is also a member of ABATE, a group that opposes strict government regulation on groups like bikers.
"We’re adults. You choose what shoes you put on. You wear rubber boots or something when its raining. You wear flip flops in the summer," Infield said.
"Government needs to get out of the mandates,” said state representative Thad Viers, (R) – Horry County. “I mean we don't like government mandated health care. I don't know why would substitute government mandate helmet use."
Lawmakers that support the bill say to look at the numbers.
For the first time since 2007 the number of people killed on South Carolina roads is up and that's, in part, to more motorcycle related deaths.
Vehicle crash related deaths are down.
82 people died riding a motorcycle in 2010 and 102 people died riding a motorcycle in 2011.
"I know people that swear that their helmet saved their life and I’m not arguing with that, but the point is and the argument is that as adults we should be free to choose whether we wear or whether we don't wear a helmet," said Infield.
He and other ABATE members will take that message to the state house Tuesday for the first day of the session where they, and some lawmakers feel, they'll have success getting the bill struck down after its proposed.
"In all my town hall meetings not one person has brought up, ‘Hey, let's do helmet laws’,” Viers said. “So I think it’s misguided and I hope it dies in the legislature."
In 2007 the state formed a motorcycle safety task force to look at ways to lower fatalities.
That group did not recommend a mandatory helmet law.
Myrtle Beach city declined to offer comment about the pre-filed helmet bill.
(VIDEO AVAILABLE AT )
http://www2.scnow.com/news/grand-strand/2012/jan/04/myrtle-beach-biker-group-will-protest-prefiled-hel-ar-2983999/
