MOTORCYCLE HELMET EXCEPTION S.B. 291:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 291 (as introduced 3-24-11)
Sponsor: Senator Phil Pavlov
Committee: Transportation
Date Completed: 6-6-11
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow a person to operate or ride a motorcycle without a crash helmet if he or she were at least 21 years old; and had been licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least two years or had successfully completed a motorcycle safety course under the Code.
The Code requires a person operating or riding on a motorcycle, and any person under 19 years old operating a moped on a public thoroughfare to wear a crash helmet on his or her head. Under the bill, the helmet requirement would not apply to a motorcycle operator or rider if the specified conditions were satisfied.
MCL 257.658 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
To the extent that the bill would exempt certain people from wearing a crash helmet, it could decrease the number of civil infraction determinations for violations of this section, thereby decreasing fine revenue dedicated to public libraries.
If the passage of the bill led to more head injuries, Medicaid costs for the State could potentially increase.
Fiscal Analyst: Matthew Grabowski
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb291/1112