Motorcycle Helmet Law Repeal

[ita]

Nebraska lawmakers pass repeal of motorcycle helmet mandate

Erin Bamer

Soon, motorcycle riders in Nebraska will no longer be required to wear a helmet while they're on the road.

The Nebraska Legislature passed Legislative Bill 138 in a 41-0 vote Wednesday, sending it to Gov. Jim Pillen's desk for his signature. Under an amendment added to the bill last week, the legislation includes a repeal of the state's motorcycle helmet mandate.
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The helmet amendment to LB 138 would allow any motorcyclist or passenger over age 21 who has completed a basic certification course by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation to ride without a helmet, starting on Jan. 1, 2024.

Riders from other states could also ride without a helmet in Nebraska if they have taken an equivalent course and carry proof of completion. The bill would require riders and passengers to wear protective glasses or have a windshield on their bikes.

The amendment would make helmet law violations secondary offenses, meaning that law enforcement could only ticket riders for helmet violations if they are stopped for some other traffic offense.

A repeal of Nebraska's motorcycle helmet law has been attempted for years without success. Members of American Bikers Aiming Toward Education of Nebraska watched the measure pass from the Legislature's balcony.

The head of that group, Todd Miller, said he has waited 34 years for the change. He said adults deserve the choice to ride a motorcycle with or without a helmet, and said removing the requirement will improve the experience of motorcycle riding for many.

"No one would buy a convertible if you had to wear a helmet," Miller said.

[Louie]

Just stupid.

[almighty_tuna]

Nebraska: Where you don't need a class to carry a concealed weapon, but have a required education class and must carry proof of completion to not wear a motorcycle helmet.

Seems legit.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Stupid to repeal. However, who I most feel sorry for is the emergency responders who will have to clean the brain guts off the street from the people who decide they're better off without proven life saving head protection.

I guess they forgot about the time an anti-seatbelt advocate and Nebraska college student was in a car crash where he was both the only one unbelted and the only one who died: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/seat- ... te-killed/.

"No one would buy a convertible if you had to wear a helmet," Miller said.

Many convertibles come with both seat belts and roll bars. Motorcycles have nothing.

[Louie]

I was a legislative page while in college, and I remember listening to the arguments for this (its been up almost every year, glad to see where some senators priorities are). But one of the biggest takeaways (apart from safety) was the ramifications on other drivers. We've all been in a fender bender, but what if that fender bender was with a motorcycle? The chances that a helmet-less rider falls and hits their head and ends up with permanent brain damage or worse just skyrocketed with this bill.

[orangeboots]

As a resident of Iowa I am glad to see this. You can have all the crazy bike poker runs and idiots weaving in and out of traffic Western Iowa is a favorite for Omaha bikers to flock to evenings and weekends..

[Louie]

As a resident of Iowa I am glad to see this. You can have all the crazy bike poker runs and idiots weaving in and out of traffic Western Iowa is a favorite for Omaha bikers to flock to evenings and weekends..

Crazy how poker runs are a celebrated version of drunk driving...

[ricko]

I wish insurance companies would crack down on some of these unsafe life choices, like they do with smokers. No helmet, pay through the nose; no vaccines, ditto. Let the actuaries figure it out.

[bigredmed1]

I wish insurance companies would crack down on some of these unsafe life choices, like they do with smokers. No helmet, pay through the nose; no vaccines, ditto. Let the actuaries figure it out.

Vaccines have side effects and are allergens so a small but not insignificant number of people can't take them. In the case of COVID, a lot of people wanted to wait till the clinical trials were done, but that wasn't allowed (was it?) And now the side effects are happening. So I would drop that example.

The helmet law should have been replaced by a law allowing riders to not use them only in the condition that they purchase a $20M bond to cover their long term care.

Otherwise I agree with you.