Legislation giving some motorcyclists in Michigan the right to ride without a helmet in Michigan passed in the state Senate this morning 21-14 and is on its way to Michigan's Gov. Rick Snyder.
Under the new law riders 21 and older who purchase an additional $20,000 insurance rider would not be required to wear a helmet.
Snyder has in the past stated that he would consider signing a bill to repeal the state’s current helmet law, but Snyder also said he wanted the issue addressed in the context of broader changes to the state’s no-fault auto insurance law, which is not the case with this measure. Snyder spokeswoman Geralyn Lasher was noncommittal about Snyder's plans for the bill Wednesday, saying "We will review the bill when we receive it and the governor will determine whether it will be signed."
If signed into law, Michigan would join 27 states that allow some riders to go helmetless. Twenty require helmets on all riders, while three — Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire — have no helmet requirement.
Advocates for repealing the law say safety training is more important than head protection. People in Michigan’s hospitality industry also support the repeal. They say there will be more Michigan motorcycle tourism without the helmet requirement.
While opponents of the legislation argue that it would lead to increased motorcycle injuries and deaths, and higher costs to the state and tax payers.
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