Motorcycle helmet bill fails in Arizona House committee

OFF THE WIRE
PHOENIX - Motorcyclists convinced an Arizona House committee Wednesday that a helmet mandate would infringe on their rights despite pleas from the medical community that requiring protective equipment would dramatically limit traumatic brain injury and death.

Democratic Rep. Randall Friese proposed that violators of his measure could be fined $500, with $300 going into a fund to pay expenses for motorcycle head injury patients. Riders who paid a fee would be exempt from the mandate.

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted unanimously against the measure.

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