Helmet Law Repeal Passes State Senate

<p><em><a href="mailto:rickp@mprn.org">By Rick Pluta</a></em></p> <p>The state Senate has approved a measure that would allow motorcycle riders to doff their helmets if they agree to carry more personal injury insurance. Governor Rick Snyder has sent word that's the only way he would to sign a helmet law repeal.</p> <p>The Senate bill would require riders to carry $100,000 dollars of additional personal injury coverage.  But helmet law opponent Jim Rhoades says that's not acceptable to him. </p> <p>"Well, it's effectively stopped it," he says. "And if that happens, then you'll see a reduction in the number of riders, and you're not going to see any economic benefit. People will still bypass the state and I will continue to leave the state for my vacations." </p> <p>Governor Snyder says he wants to spend the summer negotiating on a helmet law repeal, but it has to require the additional coverage for riders who want to go bareheaded. </p> <p>"I'd like to look at it as a broader set of reforms," Snyder says. "So in some ways we're having some internal dialogue now, and with some groups out there about what parts of auto insurance we could look at to make it part of a bigger reform package, and I think it's some of the dialogue that will take place over the summertime."</p>