Louisiana Senate

Senate approves bill to reinstate motorcycle helmet law


By The Associated Press
The Louisiana Senate overwhelmingly agreed Wednesday to reinstate the
motorcycle helmet law, removing compromise language that would have allowed
certain motorcyclists to ride without helmets and sending to the House a bill
it already rejected.
Sen. Joel Chaisson, D-Destrehan, pleaded with senators to keep his bill intact,
with language allowing motorcyclists who are 21 or older to ride without
helmets if they take an approved safety course and obtain the proper driver's
license. Chaisson said that was the only way the bill could pass the House.

"If you don't support my amendment, in effect what you're doing is killing my
bill. It's that simple," Chaisson said.

But the Senate refused, and lawmakers argued that helmets would save lives and
save the state money from paying for the treatment of costly injuries that
could have been reduced with a helmet.

"It's only consistent with the law that says when you get in a car, you must
wear a seatbelt," said Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, who sponsored the
changes to require all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.

Marionneaux's amendment was approved 26-11. The bill was approved 30-9 and sent
to the House, where a similar bill fell eight votes short of what it needed to
pass on the House floor earlier this session.

It's an election year. Look for more things like this to change in the name of safety while what is actually happening is your right to choice is being limited.

Ok folks time to go to work! Need everyone to send emails and make your voice heard. Sputnik has told me "Until the final gavel falls the law remains as is. I believe the House will defeat this Bill again" It's not over yet! Feel free to contact the bills author at http://house.legis.state.la.us/H-Reps/members.asp?ID=39 on HB109

Reps not in attendance :
larep092@legis.state.la.us,larep026@legis.state.la .us,
larep027@legis.state.la.us,larep098@legis.state.la .us,
webreps@legis.state.la.us, larep065@legis.state.la.us,
larep005@legis.state.la.us, larep003@legis.state.la.us,
larep068@legis.state.la.us, larep036@legis.state.la.us,
larep041@legis.state.la.us, ahoney@legis.state.la.us,
larep038@legis.state.la.us, larep064@legis.state.la.us,
larep029@legis.state.la.us, larep010@legis.state.la.us,
larep004@legis.state.la.us, larep021@legis.state.la.us,
larep061@legis.state.la.us, larep099@legis.state.la.us

Fell free to email them to vote against HB109

>In their infinite wisdom whilst trying to put helmets back on the
>heads of all mc riders in the state of LA the Senate Fouled up.
>
>I quote from section A page 4 of the Times Picayune Newspaper 6/4/04
>
>Helmet Headache
>
>Due to a drafting error, a bill approved Wednesday to require
>helmets on all motorcycle riders might actually do the opposite. As
>it came up for debate on the floor, Senate Bill 29 by Sen. Joel
>Chaisson II D-destrehan, sought to raise from 18 to 21 the minimum
>age at which motorcyclists could legally ride without a helmet.
>Senators added an amendment by Sen. Rob Marionneaux Jr., D-Livonia
>to make the helmet law apply to all riders and then passed
>overwhelmingly. But, the amendment leaves a provision in the bill
>that says anyone can ride without a helmet if they have a $10,000
>health insurance policy that covers bodily injuries. "It did not do
>what I intended it to do," Marionneaux said. "There was an error in
>the drafting of the amendment." Marionneaux said he'll try to get
>the bill corrected as it heads to a House committee for further
>debate.
:cow:

That's not so bad a compromise. That makes it similar to the Florida Law if it passes.

>Subject: HB 109, SB-29 Alert!!!
>> >Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 21:10:29 EDT
>> >
>> >Tomorrow Rep. Baudoin is going to reintroduce HB 109 in the full House
>>for
>> >another attempt to get it passed and on to the Senate! It is imperitive
>>that
>> >everyone call their Representatives tomorrow morning (preferably before
>>9:00 AM)
>> >and let them know how you feel about this Bill! Two phone calls, twenty
>> >minutes at the most to try to ensure our freedoms!!!

Ok folks, need to hit them again! Here is a sample letter to send :

Dear Representative
I write today to urge your oppostion to Louisiana Senate Bill 29, introduced by Senator Joel T. Chaisson II. This bill would revoke my right as an adult motorcyclist to make my own decision with regard to motorcycle helmet use. It would also make motorcycle rider education mandatory for all motorcycle or “M” endorsement applicants in addition to the state motorcycle test.

The issue is freedom of choice, not safety. As an adult, I am best equipped to make the decisions necessary to ensure my own personal safety. Current law grants me that right with respect to motorcycle helmet use.

Voluntary rider education works because students are motivated to seek out training. Mandatory motorcycle rider training for all motorcycle or “M” endorsement applicants is simply not practical. Rider education programs in Louisiana trained over 2,000 novice riders in 2002. Overloading these programs with thousands of applicants is not in the best interest of students or the state.

The proposal to add an “M” sticker to each motorcycle license plate owned by an endorsed motorcyclist beginning in January, 2005 has the potential to become a bureaucratic nightmare. With nearly 80,000 registered motorcycles and operators in the state, requiring “M” stickers to be issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles does little to promote safety. Resources spent to make this program work would be better spent on additional rider education training classes for interested novice riders.

I respectfully request you vote “NO” on SB-29.

Sincerely,

Emails : larep092@legis.state.la.us,
larep026@legis.state.la.us,
larep027@legis.state.la.us, larep098@legis.state.la.us,
webreps@legis.state.la.us, larep065@legis.state.la.us,
larep005@legis.state.la.us, larep003@legis.state.la.us,
larep068@legis.state.la.us, larep036@legis.state.la.us,
larep041@legis.state.la.us, ahoney@legis.state.la.us,
larep038@legis.state.la.us, larep064@legis.state.la.us,
larep029@legis.state.la.us, larep010@legis.state.la.us,
larep004@legis.state.la.us, larep021@legis.state.la.us,
larep061@legis.state.la.us, larep099@legis.state.la.us