Got this Article today
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MIRS BREAKING NEWS: Helmet Bill Revved Up For Gov. -- 12:01 p.m.
www.mirsnews.com/alert.php?alert_id=969
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The Senate today sent Gov. Rick SNYDER the long-awaited bill allowing motorcyclists over 21 not to wear a helmet after lengthy debate on Democratic amendments.
Democrats won a measure to require riders to purchase more insurance coverage.
The vote to concur with the House substitute to SB 0291 sponsored by Sen. Phil PAVLOV (R-St. Clair) was 24-14.
Pavlov said the bill is intended to "offer choice and freedom" to riders and described it as a "fundamental freedom."
Sen. Mo HOOD III (D-Detroit) countered that the bill will mean $129 million in added economic costs to Michigan citizens. He said a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) study shows that un-helmeted riders are 37 percent more likely to be hospitalized, need an ambulance, be impaired and need long-term care.
"This bill could come with a pricetag and potentially a toetag, too," he said.
As MIRS first reported Monday, Senate Majority Leader Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) told the Governor that the upper chamber planned to take action this week, as riding season has arrived (See "Helmet Bill To Roar In This Week," 3/26/12).
Snyder this week declined to say if he would sign the bill (See "Gov. Won't Tip Hand On Helmet Bill," 3/27/12). The Governor had wanted the helmet bill tied into no-fault auto insurance reform (HB 4936) that has been mired in the House.
Members of the American Bikers Aiming Toward Education (ABATE), who support the bill, were up in the gallery.
Democrats had three amendments shot down.
Hood initially won an amendment 22-15 that would up the mandatory insurance coverage rider from $20,000 to $100,000 to "make this legislation reasonable for non-motorcyclists in Michigan."
Sen. Roger KAHN (R-Saginaw) agreed, arguing that Michigan can expect the "cost of medicine to go up and deaths to go up," as well as the shifting of costs for riders' health care to the rest of citizens in the state.
Pavlov said costs have remained stable in other states without helmet laws.
The vote was postponed over Democratic objections and reconsidered. Hood noted that no changes have been made so he questioned why it would be taken up again. The second vote was 19-18 and it passed again.
The vote was then reconsidered a third time after some delay. The third vote was 18-19, so it finally failed.
Sen. Tom CASPERSON (R-Escanaba) argued the amendment was designed to "kill the bill itself" because people in his district have found they couldn't find insurance meeting the stipulation.
Hood said he wasn't "playing games" by putting an amendment on to kill the bill.
"That hurts me to hear that," he said. "That is not the attempt of this legislation . . . I'm trying to make the bill better."
Kahn said that 90 percent of Michiganders want the law to remain as is. He put articles on senators' desks on motorcycle injuries.
"The Hood amendment is the least we can do," he declared.
Sen. Joe HUNE (R-Hamburg) said this amendment showed the need to reform Michigan's no-fault law because there are no cost controls.
"I tell ya, the system we have in place is extremely expensive because of the measures the Legislature has enacted," he said.
But he said the amendment "deserves rejection" until no-fault is changed.
Sen. Virgil SMITH (D-Detroit) said he backed the amendment. But he said that at the end of the day, $100,000 isn't going to do a lot if "someone's brains are splattered on the ground" after a motorcycle crash.
Hood lost an amendment 26-11 that would make it a second offense for not wearing a helmet. He said it's nearly impossible to discern the age of a motorcyclist and would make sure there was "no discrimination by look, by dress, by color" by police officers.
Sen. Vince GREGORY (D-Southfield) lost an amendment that the Secretary of State would conduct a study on motorcycle injuries and the helmet law would have a four-year sunset. The vote was 17-20.
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Just passing along the info to my fellow Mitten Riders. I'm not intending to start a debate here, the subject has been beat to death.
BTW: If the law passes, I'm still wearing my Helmet. I really don't like to be hit in the face by an 80mph June-bug, plus my Mom is a Nurse, she hates that I ride.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MIRS BREAKING NEWS: Helmet Bill Revved Up For Gov. -- 12:01 p.m.
www.mirsnews.com/alert.php?alert_id=969
-----------------------
The Senate today sent Gov. Rick SNYDER the long-awaited bill allowing motorcyclists over 21 not to wear a helmet after lengthy debate on Democratic amendments.
Democrats won a measure to require riders to purchase more insurance coverage.
The vote to concur with the House substitute to SB 0291 sponsored by Sen. Phil PAVLOV (R-St. Clair) was 24-14.
Pavlov said the bill is intended to "offer choice and freedom" to riders and described it as a "fundamental freedom."
Sen. Mo HOOD III (D-Detroit) countered that the bill will mean $129 million in added economic costs to Michigan citizens. He said a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) study shows that un-helmeted riders are 37 percent more likely to be hospitalized, need an ambulance, be impaired and need long-term care.
"This bill could come with a pricetag and potentially a toetag, too," he said.
As MIRS first reported Monday, Senate Majority Leader Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) told the Governor that the upper chamber planned to take action this week, as riding season has arrived (See "Helmet Bill To Roar In This Week," 3/26/12).
Snyder this week declined to say if he would sign the bill (See "Gov. Won't Tip Hand On Helmet Bill," 3/27/12). The Governor had wanted the helmet bill tied into no-fault auto insurance reform (HB 4936) that has been mired in the House.
Members of the American Bikers Aiming Toward Education (ABATE), who support the bill, were up in the gallery.
Democrats had three amendments shot down.
Hood initially won an amendment 22-15 that would up the mandatory insurance coverage rider from $20,000 to $100,000 to "make this legislation reasonable for non-motorcyclists in Michigan."
Sen. Roger KAHN (R-Saginaw) agreed, arguing that Michigan can expect the "cost of medicine to go up and deaths to go up," as well as the shifting of costs for riders' health care to the rest of citizens in the state.
Pavlov said costs have remained stable in other states without helmet laws.
The vote was postponed over Democratic objections and reconsidered. Hood noted that no changes have been made so he questioned why it would be taken up again. The second vote was 19-18 and it passed again.
The vote was then reconsidered a third time after some delay. The third vote was 18-19, so it finally failed.
Sen. Tom CASPERSON (R-Escanaba) argued the amendment was designed to "kill the bill itself" because people in his district have found they couldn't find insurance meeting the stipulation.
Hood said he wasn't "playing games" by putting an amendment on to kill the bill.
"That hurts me to hear that," he said. "That is not the attempt of this legislation . . . I'm trying to make the bill better."
Kahn said that 90 percent of Michiganders want the law to remain as is. He put articles on senators' desks on motorcycle injuries.
"The Hood amendment is the least we can do," he declared.
Sen. Joe HUNE (R-Hamburg) said this amendment showed the need to reform Michigan's no-fault law because there are no cost controls.
"I tell ya, the system we have in place is extremely expensive because of the measures the Legislature has enacted," he said.
But he said the amendment "deserves rejection" until no-fault is changed.
Sen. Virgil SMITH (D-Detroit) said he backed the amendment. But he said that at the end of the day, $100,000 isn't going to do a lot if "someone's brains are splattered on the ground" after a motorcycle crash.
Hood lost an amendment 26-11 that would make it a second offense for not wearing a helmet. He said it's nearly impossible to discern the age of a motorcyclist and would make sure there was "no discrimination by look, by dress, by color" by police officers.
Sen. Vince GREGORY (D-Southfield) lost an amendment that the Secretary of State would conduct a study on motorcycle injuries and the helmet law would have a four-year sunset. The vote was 17-20.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Just passing along the info to my fellow Mitten Riders. I'm not intending to start a debate here, the subject has been beat to death.
BTW: If the law passes, I'm still wearing my Helmet. I really don't like to be hit in the face by an 80mph June-bug, plus my Mom is a Nurse, she hates that I ride.
