Mich. House Passes Controversial Motorcycle Helmet Repeal Bill

June 7, 2006

  • June 20, 2006 at 10:52 am
    Allan says:
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    Anyone making the comment helmets are dangerous are either truly ignorant of the facts or have already suffered irreversible head trauma. I suppose there is no need for helmets for any other type of activity either.

  • June 25, 2006 at 2:22 am
    Capt. Bly says:
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    Ok, I’ve read what is here and suppose we have two areas where the state can hold everyone accountable for their actions.

    I know that some cage drivers might not like the accountability but here goes.

    CIVIL LIABILITY; — the best way to save the state money, to reduce the drain on taxpayers, while supporting victims rights is to set minimum insurance requirement high enough to cover the reasonably expected trauma. If it is reasonable and ordinary for medical and lost time charges to be $ 1,000,000.00 then set that at the minimum. If a loss of this level seldom occurs, the insurance companies will take that into setting the rate. The victim should never have to cover any gaps between a perpetrators insurance and cash or assets, nor should the state be on the hook.

    I suggest establishing guidelines for CRIMINAL PROSECUTION for negligent actions such as inattentiveness.
    1. The charges; in the worst case, vehicular manslaughter down thru simple vehicular assault. Whether I get hit with a SUV, a bat, or machete I get hurt by the person\’s actions. The crime and punishment rendered should relate to the ‘contributing actions and results’ not the weapon use to inflict the injury. I could be just a dead from the discharge of your .38 as I would be from how you drove your 4-door SUV. People have to be equally accountable when either type of weapon is not keep under control.
    2. Maybe we need a table of consequences for failure to maintain adequate insurance. If you don’t have adequate insurance there must be a deterrent greater than “don’t do it again”. Mandatory driver’s license suspension at a minimum. 3 weeks of incarceration for a second offence?
    3. Maybe we need to consider “I didn’t see” as an admission of criminal guilt when the outcome is dire to the victim. No matter what the punishment is, the fear of having a criminal record will prompt most into taking a second responsible look before action is taken.

  • June 25, 2006 at 1:08 am
    David Rivard says:
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    Just checking out the viability of the name. I\’m following ABATE on this one. The Governor better hope that the insurance companies have more votes than the motorcycle riders of Michigan.

  • June 26, 2006 at 9:22 am
    larry says:
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    Right on. never mind that other americans are trampling all over basic freedoms, now the canadians are doing it to us too ! Never been a democrat, but if it was the other way around, I would vote for a democrat that wanted to repeal this stupid law. Stop trying to protect me from myself!

  • June 26, 2006 at 10:03 am
    Bigguy says:
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    I am a life long democrat that is now sending a check to the DeVos for Governor Committee and will volunteer my time to defeat Granholm. She evidently doesn\’t believe that the adult citizens of this state are competent to exercise their constitutional rights and is honoring her responsibility to the states insurance and health care companies.

    The Hurt Report and my 40 years of riding experience show that the majority of bike accidents to sober, legal, and adult riders are caused by the driver of another vehicle running into them.

  • June 30, 2006 at 11:02 am
    Dean Whittier says:
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    I\’ve just come from Indianapolis yesterday. And on my way home I counted 7 motorcycle accidents in IN before crossing the MI/IN border. These accidents were all a separate locations. I can\’t say how many were killed of injured, but there was noticable amounts blood at each accident site that I saw. Now after seeing this carnage I\’d have to say that MI needs to strengthen it\’s helmet laws, and take action to discourage people from considering these machines as transportation or recreation. The state could start by limiting the number of motorcycle registrations and then reducing the limit year by year untill there are no more registered and lisenced motorcyles in this state.
    Good work Governor Grandholm!!!

  • July 1, 2006 at 10:26 am
    CAPT. BLY says:
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    It appears that Mr. Dean Whittier is another person penalizing the victims, because we know that the primary cause of crashes are incompetent car and truck drivers.
    Note, I did not say \”accident\”. Driving your car so as to injure another smaller than you should be considered the act of bullies and/or the incompetent.
    Dean should spend 40 hours on the road on a bike. He’ll then ‘get’ the real and overpowering knowledge that they ‘are out to get you’ Your not paranoid, the car drivers, as a group, must be treated as if were either 1) aggressive & deadly or 2) nearly comatose. I believe that if every cage driver had to pass a motorcycle exam and have those 40 hours of experience things would improve. Maybe cutting the crashes in half.
    Don’t like that solution. How about this? Don’t restrict of the bikes, toss the offending drivers in jail for 6 hours, 6 weeks, six month or six years for any avoidable collision. See how they like to look for a job with a conviction on their record. I believe that with in six years the worst offender will be off the road and the problem will be solved.
    Do I know what I’m talking about, maybe I’ve been driving bikes and cars since 1965, had two of my bikes exceed 200,000 miles of use, and had zero moving violations and zero self induced ‘offs’. I was hit when stopped at a light (not seen), pushed of the road when a cage ‘almost’ missed an exit, and had to abandon the bike when a cage appeared going UP my down ramp.
    CARS ARE 80% OF “THE PROBLEM” SO THEY MUST BE KEPT UNDER CONTROL.

  • July 9, 2006 at 8:11 am
    John Burgeson says:
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    Well, if motorcyclists want the right to ride without a helmet, I should have the right, as a taxpayer, to let them lie by the side of the road until they get better.

  • July 13, 2006 at 9:36 am
    Archie says:
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    I should be forced to wear a helmet because I might, maybe, someday, at a uncertian date in the future be injured. However by girlfriend can terminate my sons life thru abortion and never even let me know what is going on.

    If women can choose, so should I have the same right.

  • July 18, 2006 at 11:44 am
    jim says:
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    Mr Bly is quite eloquent. Rob is naive to say the least about insurance if he does not realize that premiums don\’t pay claims;returns from investments with those premiums pay claims but no they don\’t feel they have to put up with risk.
    Mr Whittier, who so clearly notes blood at accident scenes and does not seem inclined to help is obviously one of those rubbernecking ghouls that cause further risk on the highway gawking instead of driving responsibly.
    Like Bly I\’ve been riding since the mid 60\’s. Unlike Bly I\’ve seen an improvement, although self serving, in the way we are viewed by \’cage\’ drivers. They know now they might be running down their favorite doctor so more care is key.
    This improvement, I have to admit, could be limited to Florida. In tune I think with Bly but more specifically the hemets are not the issue. When did driving become \’a RIGHT\’? We treat it like one. We cherish it with more fervor than we do most of our spouses and we allow for it with a yearly death toll of upwards of 50K. If you use a gun on someone; intentionally or negligently you face criminal prosecution. In those states where you can carry a gun you face a \’real\’ background check, pertinent training and join a part of the population that commits .01% of violent crimes,has negigible accident rates and gun ownership is a \’RIGHT\’. Our legislators will not wake up on their own. Insurance companies and Commisioners will not police themselves. it is surely a shame that the only motorists who are proactive on the subject of highway safety make their statement by accepting further risk to themselves, daring those who won\’t to stand up and be responsible.
    Let those who ride decide!!



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