If someone wants to ride a donorcycle without a helmet, then let them. I see insurance lobbyists all over this one!

I see common sense back in the game here. Helmets save lifes, period. The romantic, free spirit, reasoning has maybe finally has started to crumble.

I feel its the riders choice as to whether or not they wear a helmet. I have my own bike, and my choice is to wear a helmet. Alot of my friends don't. I've seen accidents where the helmet wouldn't have helped no matter what--and other accidents where they would have. Drivers with permits, and also those newly licensed riders with a year or less should wear one until they become more experienced. My husband and I personally prefer wearing them. I personally feel unsafe without one--especially out on the highway at high speeds. Here in Wisconsin there also is no helmet law. Not only helmets, but leather helps too. Road rash isn't as bad when you have that leather jacket on. You can replace that jacket, gloves or helmet, but you can't replace your head or skin. But...as with most accidents--people think it won't happen to them & only to others. I personally try to not have them and do what I can to protect myself out on the road with cars that don't pay attention to whats around them--let alone a motorcycle they can't see because they are too busy watching other cars or yacking on the cell phone.

I ride and I wear a helmet, thats my choice. Maybe a compromise, if you don't wear a helmet and get into an accident then you can't use public funds to treat the sustained head injury. Choice of no helmet and no coverage. Hopefully everyone riding has health insurance or medicl coverage on their bikes, but we all know thats not true.

I see a new bumper sticker;

Ride free.................. no helments and no condems.

Even as an EMT... what happened to personal choice? Yes, common sense should prevail, but ultimately personal choice. If they wanna crink their cranium, that's their choice. We show up and go "Yup, he's dead."

EMTdude -- do you feel the same way about seat belts?

As a motorcycle rider of almost 30 years I have seen a lot in my travels. And one thing I notice is that every other civilized country in the world, bikers must wear helmets. But then, those other countries also have free medical care....

The problem with the "choice" argument is that most bike riders are young men. And young men like to look manly and if the state says helmets are optional, then only a sissy would wear one right? Dead right. Providing they ride well enough to survive into their 20's, many of these same guys will add a helmet once the babies and mortgages arrive. But hey have to live long enough to mature. It is a strange society that kills its children.

Since you can't drink until 21, why not make helmets mandatory for anyone under 21? It would be a start and save a lot of young lives.

By the way, there are lots of us "mature" bikers in Maine who won't have anything to do with these bike groups because they are all anti-helmet. Just like a lot of gun owners shy away from the NRA's rhetoric. It would be interesting t compare bike ownership numbers with motorcycle group membership in Maine. What percentage do these groups "speak" for? 10% or less, I bet.And even then, there will be many helmet wearers and supporters within them.

And since we are on the subject of motorcycles,speaking as a life-long biker, will someone PLEASE shut up those noisy motorcycles?

it's about time you have to wear a helment. i have to wear a seat belt to go three miles to get my mail, but with a bike i could just wear shorts and shoes . tell me which way would i have more protection going 45mph in my pickup with out my belt on or on my bike with just shorts amd shoes.don't tell me that people don't ride that way for i have seen it and wondered if i'm going to be paying their bills when they wreck.

Don't let them take another Freedom! Instead of the Land of the Free we are the Land of Controlled and Taxed to Death

I've spent many, many hours riding my Harley in the 80"s.....In the beginning I used a helmet and found the helmet impaired my vision and hearing.....I soon opted out of wearing a helmet.....Back then it was almost un-heard of to have a windshield on a Harley.....Sure I ate many June-Bugs and Black Flies....Here in Maine the Black Flies are big enough to knock you off your bike.....Bigger problem then wearing a helmet....Wearing a helmet should be left up to the individual and not be mandatory.....

I have to agree with the people who say it should be personal choice, but Steve P had a good idea about the 21 rule, by that time people should be in the habit of a helmet. I would like to add if a helmet law becomes a law it should also state full coverage helmets not these horse rider helmets. I know this remark will upset a lot of people but if you are going to do, it do it right. I would rather see more speed control and better roads, not to mention basic courtesy on Maine roads. People from MA and New Hampshire have more courtesy than ME drivers.

Benoddway, who compared riding a motorcyle without a helmet and their riding a pick up at 45 miles per hour to get the mail. What? Let's see, I want to compare riding a child's trike while driving on a sidewalk without a helmet and pushing a supermarket shopping basket in a store............hmmmmmmmmmmm, where in the world does that make any common sense? Is it picking up mail that makes these two comparisons reasonable to you? I just don't get it.

Now as to the crux of the matter, a human makes a choice, wear a seat belt or not, a human makes a choice, wear a helmet or not, what the law states and what you do in an ODD Way is up to you.

As long as there are head injuries in cars you should wear a helmet too and you will always get one when the air bag explodes in your face. I think if that law passes I will all out push for people in cars to wear helmets, full faced ones.

Don't the law maker have anything better to do? Insurance rates will not go down- same thing they said when Southern Maine pushed the seatbelt law. Insurance premiums go up, the only difference is the Companies risk goes down.

Individual decision to wear or not wear a helmet.

No to helmets... it should be left a personal choice.

I was almost squashed by a soccer-mom in a minivan comming back from mdi because she wasn't paying attention as she merged lanes. I barely noticed her in the corner of my peripheral vision, a spot that i cannot see with a helmet on.

Before you ask, I refuse to wear seatbelts aswell. It should also be a personal choice.

sunandclouds,

Many of those "horse rider" helmets you see are DOT approved. If you really want to be that intrusive, everyone should have to wear a full body condom instead of those magnum ones we have to wear now :) As you say, if you are going to do it, do it right.

If you ride a bike you should have to wear a helmet. If I have to wear a helmet on a freaken mountain bike and a seat belt in my car then what makes you guys on a bike so special?

Yup it's their choice as long as they pay for the health costs if they crash.

I believe that the law is fine the way that it is.I have been riding for 40 yrs and I wear my helmet frequently,especially when it is cold.I much prefer to ride without one and believe that it should be my choice.I would rather see the money spent on rider education which is by far a better investment IMO.

The decision to not wear a helmet is just plain stupid. Given that, I think those of us capable of rational thought should help protect our fellow citizens by passing this law.

Katenumbers,

First, sounds like you don't agree with the seat belt law. If this is the case, then why in your eyes would two wrongs make a right. Also, you are giving your age away if the law says you have to wear a helmet on your mountain bike, because I don't. I am not saying this law would be bad, it scares me though when people want the government to make laws just because we have other laws and we all want to be fair. Why do so many people want so many laws written.

Why are we looking to protect a brain that's not functioning enough to know to wear a helmet?

Clearly these organs are already damaged.

If you don't want to wear a helmet, sign some sort of contract that you will not get "free" hospitilization for major heat trauma (ultimately the tax payer comes good for that) or sign a DNR, otherwise, wear a helmet! I don't want to pay for YOU; I'm paying for enough people who have no common sense now.

ooops! head trauma -- type :-(

viper,

Now that is a better argument than Bangorian wanting to protect citizens from themselves. On another note, I have the same argument as you for people who have not held a job in years, I don't want to pay for YOU. Now that Osama is in office, us working people will pay even more for all the deadbeats that don't want to work. I am waiting to see if he throws in a couple more incentives not to work, then I am done working myself. If you can't beat them, you might as well join them.

Yeah right viper13, and if they don't have a helmet, then what, let em bleed out on the side of the road?

I understand that this is a controversial area for folks and this certainly makes more sense than forcing business owners to modify or replace all of their outside light fixtures so a few stargazers can see the big dipper within city limits, but we really seem to be going crazy with the new laws in Augusta! A few days ago they wanted to force everyone to register canoes and kayaks, then it was the mandatory CO monitors, now the mandatory helmets. These are all good, common sense ideas and following that logic let me give these fine law writers some more ideas;

1. Create a law to restrict the number of times a person can eat fast food. Perhaps we could tax ourselves on each visit to the golden arches. that would certainly create revenue and would save the insurance companies money.

2. Start taxing firewood and those that sell it. Don't forget the pellets.

3. What about a tax on car stereos over 50 watts? As surely as some wish to see the stars at night within city limits, I bet there are some that don't like to have their nice quiet evenings disturbed by the thump-thump-thump of a high powered stereo.

4. Maybe we could require people to have to buy a permit to recycle beverage containers? This way the state could get a bit more money.

5. Maybe some laws requiring folks to wash their hands? Spend time with their kids? What if we write a law that requires people to get an annual physical, or exercise a certain amount?

Hopefully you see my point. We are giving away our freedoms one at a time. Every time you turn your head because a proposal to take away one you don't particularly care about (or actually agree with) you are setting yourself up to give one away you do care about. Everyone knows you shouldn't smoke in a car with kids and that they should be in a seat belt, but who doesn't also know that we shouldn't be feeding them chicken mcnuggets every meal of giving them soda? Would you like to see a law requiring you to stop that?

Stop giving away our (your) rights. Stop electing these lawmakers who seem oblivious to the current situation this country is in. Start writing to your representatives at least as much as you write these comments.

jtljcox: Another great way to raise some cash would be to tax long winded posts that lack any coherence. So pay up.

I just will not ride anymore. So here is the benefit to the state. I usually buy a new bike every four or five years, so the state loses the sales tax, the dealers lose the sales, the city loses the excise taxes, the restaraunts and hotels that I would normally travel to in the state will lose my business.

Keep up the good work Agusta.

jtljcox,

Good post, those of us that can read get your point.

Im not sure I understand you people that say wearing a helmet impairs your vision and hearing. I have been riding for ten years now, and have always worn a full face helmet with shield down and earplugs in my ears. I still have yet to be impaired in any way. what are you people trying to hear? in riders safety courses, you are trained to look around and keep your head moving in both directions. I dont understand other than you want to be big and macho on your noise making machine with no helmet on. give me a break. HATS OFF TO THE LAWMAKERS FOR WANTING TO PASS THIS LAW .

What many people seem to not understand is motorcyclists who get into accidents w/o helmets require much more hospital costs than those w/ helmets. Studies have shown that around 40-50% of those who get into accidents don't have healthcare, or have government sponsored health care...since doctors have an obligation to give anyone medical care in emergency situations (and rightly so), the government, aka taxpayers, end up footing the bill. Its the same reason seat-belt laws went into affect decades ago. You can't argue that we're getting taxed too much AND complain about regulations aimed at reducing the tax burden. I'm all for common sense & letting people decide how to live their own lives, but not if it ends up costing me more money b/c people repeatedly make poor irresponsible selfish choices, which as a result infringes upon me being able to choose how to live my own life.

LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE!

Part of our Maine identity is rejecting over-regulation. Last fall, my wife and I were returning from the White Mountains on a beautiful autumn afternoon - a perfect day for riding with the wind in your hair - when we were suddenly first on the scene for a moose collision with a couple on a motorcycle. The first thing we saw were the helmets rolling around route 2. To indicate how bad it was, the moose didn't make it. This couple HAD them, they just didn't think that they NEEDED them on that day. No peripheral safety regulations will substitute for a helmet.

My vote is NO for a mandatory helmet law, but agree with Rep. Emily Cain of Orono, that helmets should be required for anyone under 18, permit riders and those who have been licensed for less than 1 year. One by one these elected do-gooder legislators are picking off our rights and freedom of choice. I ride my bike as many days as the seasons permit. I love my helmet during those cold rides but come mid July when it’s 85 degrees outside and the sun is beating down, you’ll likely see my helmet strapped to my seat to spare myself from almost certain heat stroke. It’s a choice I make and a chance I take every time I ride.

lookinup here and I was involved in an accident many years ago without a helmet on and although I had numerous compound fractures, i have lived a long productive life after my complete recovery. I am certain that after flying through the air for quite a distance and landing squarely on my feet hard enough to break both femurs and right radius and ulna and bringing them out through my clothes, if I had had a full helmet on I would have broken my neck and either died or been paralyzed for life. You make your choice, I don't wear a helmet or a seatbelt and it's a principle with me. By the way, anyone who drives anything with earplugs in should lose their right to operate.

Maybe the answer eeds to be addressed here the same way it's done in places like Germany. NO HELMUT, NO INSURANCE COVERAGE. You ride over there and you can make the desicision to ride with a helmut or without, but, if you wreck without one your insurance won't cover your medical bills. Perhaps that's the way the state should look at it too. Personnally, I've riden a lot of miles both here and in Europe and I've heard the excuse that a helmut affects your hearing and your vision. Well so do bugs in your eyes and wind noise in your ears. If you wish to commit suicide by not wearing one, don't expect me to be symphethic or my insurance money to pay for your poor choice.

All The Gear All The TIME; my choice. Comparing driving a car( cage driving) to riding a motorcycle is not valid. The inherent differences are obvious and the understanding crucial to safe operation of either vehicle.

The isuue of medical insurance can be covered by requiring the rider to be be covered to a level commenserate with the risk of not wearing appropriate protestive gear. If you choose not to "gear up" when you ride; pay up for the additional insurance. I am sure it will not be cheap.

dismayed,

I am dismayed you did not put a little more thought into that stupid law. So, the insurance company does not pay, guess who pay's then, all the taxpayers. We are a civilized country and we treat people inusrance or no insurance. So your idea is setting the taxpayers up for more costs. A better idea is if you don't wear a helmet maybe your insurance company makes you pay for a supplemental insurance, or something like that. I know that idea has holes in it, but your idea does nothing to solve any of these issues being discussed.

I agree with any safety laws that help save lives and in turn save money. Tcosta, Rufus, Davids, Bangorian, Fredrogers, and SteveP have the right idea...and a clue! Jtljcox: you make your points very eloquently. Imagine what would happen to that fine mind if there were no seatbelt laws, or helmets for riding bicycles or motorcycles! Would you be able to write so well then, with your brains splattered on the road or trapped in a vegetative body? I think that many people are reacting like spoiled children. Riding motorcycles and driving cars is much like smoking. All are privileges, not rights. In order to enjoy these privileges, one needs to follow safety rules to protect themselves and/or other people. What is the point behind taking courses in driver training or motorcycle safety if one won't take precautions against serious injury? Not being proactive in motor safety is like having sex without a condom. Why wait till you have to treat the disease when you could prevent it in the first place?

Do you know this lady,Rep. Paulette Beaudoin, D-Biddeford, also tried to get a law passed to cover toilet seats?!! Come on! Lady move on to something that matters to all, Maine's economy. Jeessh, what do they do down there?

And $500 fine. Holy crap! that is simply unreasonable!

Movethen

The idea of no helmut, no insurance means that the idiot pays his/ her own medical bills, period. The taxpayer is not stiffed supporting people who make this type of selfish decision. Right now, if they screwup, we pay for it through higher insurance rates. In Europe at least, if you screwup YOU pay for it, not everyone else. Maybe that's what this country needs is to get away from that damn welfare mentality about caring for the idiots that won't think about anything but their own precious rights that most of them have neither earned or deserve.

I agree with Representative Emily Cain's (Orono) proposal, if legislative change is needed at all, that people who accept personal responsibility for not wearing motorcycle helmuts should be allowed to exercise their personal choice. For nearly forty years, helmut-free motorcycling has been a noticeable and acceptable part of Maine's culture. It's not unlike watching someone out west ride bulls, and they don't wear helmuts if they don't want to. There are valid safety concerns with regard to young and newly licensed riders, which probably justify continuing legislation, in my view. What should definately be legislated, however, is mandatory personal insurance to cover increased medical costs of riders who continue to exercise a personal choice not to wear helmuts which places them at a greater risk of personal injury by such behavior. These increased risks and medical costs should not be born by the public as, again, these are personal financial responsibilities which natrually follow personal choices made not to wear helmuts while motorcycling.

dismayed,

You need to understand my post. This is a civilized society, we do not let people die just because of the choices they make. So, living in this country your suggestion would not work. Can you imagine if someones life could be saved, but society saying he made poor decision, so we are not going to help him. Would never happen in this society. Can you imagine how that would spill over to other decisions. What I said is your suggestion will not work in this society, so come up with something that will.

I think it should be the law to wear a helmet, I have to wear my seat belt in my car which is alot safer than the murdercycle.

astrol64,

If you really believe smoking cigarette's is a priviledge and not a right, I don't want to live in your world.

gw2kpro. Yes I do. I always wear my seatbelt and have since I began riding in vehicles since I was a kid. However, I don't see where it's the gubberment's right to be interfering with personal choice.

dismayed,

example: An uninsured rider not wearing a helmet is injured, has nothing to his name, even his bike has a loan against it. If he is treated, the taxpayers will end up paying. If you don't treat him he dies. You must be able to see why your suggestion would never work in our society. Then you get into the issue of what if his injuries are not head injuries, or maybe there may be some head injuries, but the doctor is not sure.

movethen....I smoke myself. I have no problem with keeping it to myself, and not exposing children or other non-smokers to my exhalations. If you are a smoker (I suspect you are) how on earth did you get by in life breathing only oxygen BEFORE you began smoking? My my....life must have been hell!

Just wait, the health insurance companies, (not auto insurance), are going to have some sort of regulation that will not cover anyone who rides a motorcycle, regardless if they wear a helmet.

Wear it....Dont wear it.....?

I am still gonna respond to your accident regardless. But its make our job easier and the outcome better if you do wear it. But its your choice. The 500.00 fine is a little steep......even speeding 25-29 is a 263.00 ticket. Not sure why they picked 500?

Oh yeah, the $500 fine will fund the toilet seat covers.

Frontier...imagine the bill they would have at the hospital if they did NOT use the helmet?

more laws, more taxes, when will it stop? i don't smoke, but the taxes just went up on those. now, the want a new helmet law. let us decide. i do agree with the new rider havingt to wear one and anyone under 21. seems like all they do in agusta is figure out new ways to tax and new laws to put in, all to get our money and control the hard working people of maine. when will it stop?????

hahahhahah Oont...that was funny!

There is a lot of talk of, it is the person's choice to ride and possibly die from choosing to not wear a helmet. However there are far more people involved when someone is hurt or killed in a motorcycle accident. We are required to wear seat belts and have other safety equipment when riding in/on other vehicles and the same should be true for helmets. Requiring us to wear them will save lives and keep more families together.

thumbs up to you Safireeyz :)

astrol64, I don't smoke. My point was I would believe smoking is a right, not a priviledge. Some people seem to want to give the government way too much power. If I were a smoker and the government outlawed it, do you think I would stop, nope.

evolution finally catching up with maine motorcyclists...........just go with it

Just curious, as a rider for 30 plus years, who is worried about me wearing a helmet when I ride?? If I have a choice to ride a motorcycle, shouldn't I have a choice on what to wear?? I think I should. Let the people that are afraid to ride two wheels keep their opinions to themselves. It is still a free country? or are we going to hell with the joke? Come and do some research on the subject, and don't just look at the stats pulled together by people who do not ride. I have enough sense to put on a jacket when it is cold outside, but should I be told to put on a jacket so I do not get frostbite?? I think we are spending too much time thinking about the wrong problems. Dave Theriault

Being in the Military we have lost a lot of Soldiers to motorcycle accidents.Some of those could have been prevented if they had been wearing their personal protective gear, especially helmets. I personally think that a motorcyclist that does not wear a helmet is simply asking for trouble. I agree with a previous poster that if they require medical attention and were not wearing a helmet then its not at government expense. The Department Of Defense requires motorcyclist to wear helmets regardless of the local or state laws.

Atrol64...I wouldnt want to see that bill. But I am curious what it would cost?

I wonder if I can get a toilet seat cover?

Everday we take risks, getting into the car, buckling, not buckling, no helmets, helmet....sorry folks when your number is up...its up...not much you can do it about.

Frontier....I agree there. I mean, if I should find out I have cancer do you think I will take chemotherapy that will make my quality of life suck? No. I would want to live each day as well as I can. I would want something for pain though. :)

Ride with a helmet or "NO".....Buckle your seatbelt or "NO".....If you smoke or "NO".....Matters not.....Your number comes up and you die.........That's a fact............

...there is a difference though between a personal choice of medication and safety though. I see no harm in regulating where one smokes, for example. If you want to pollute your lungs, it's up to you, but don't pollute those of others. Buckling your seatbelt keeps you in one place while you drive, no matter how fast you drive or turn. If your body is all over the place, how can you control the vehicle and prevent someone else from being hurt?

The only ones who are pushing for this are insurance and legislators looking for a quick revenue increase. Helmets do not always save lives. Basically, unless you are riding under 40 around town, a helmet won't do much good. If you're cruising and get in an accident, a helmet is not going to help you. And anyone bellyaching about wearing a seatbelt should be fighting to repeal THAT law, not trying to get another one passed that takes away more of our freedom. We have to stop letting government legislate every single action and area of our lives. For those who like the 18 rule or 21 rule, if you give an inch, pretty soon you'll have to give up a mile. Don't be gullible and let the government make you think "it'll just be for a few" or "it'll just be for a little while", etc. I agree with some of you others that it is better to spend money on educating bike and car drivers. Hey, I just had an idea. Instead of all these "laws", let's just suspend all personal rights and every morning, before getting out of bed, call the government, let them know what you have planned for the day, and they'll tell you what you can and cannot do and adjust your schedule accordingly. Riding your bike? Someone will drop off a helmet at your house prior to your departure. Going out to eat? Someone will check your medical file, time of your meal, what you recently ate, current vitals, and provide the appropriate menu. Going outside to play with your kids? Someone will investigate your backyard for any hazardous materials and/or objects and will provide the appropriate toys and directions while they chaperone to make sure everything is done accordingly. Man, we are allowing government way too much authority. People need to get a backbone back and start using some common sense, instead of having common sense dictated to them.

Oh yeah, give me a choice between no helmet or no insurance. THANKS!!!!!!!! I choose no insurance. Save a LOT of money! Also, there already is a law that you must wear a helmet if you have a permit and during the first year of your license.

astrol64 - I just read your post, if you're not wearing a seatbelt and your body is all over the place while you are driving a car, you need to lose your license. You're either driving too fast, or you've got a problem that prevents you from driving safely. Get off the road!

If you're driving a car, you wear a seat belt. If you get into an accident without wearing a seat belt, the injuries are worse, and it's more expensive to make you better. If you don't have insurance and you can completely pay the cost on your own, that doesn't affect the rest of us. If you have insurance or you can't pay the cost to fix your injuries, it affects all of us.

If we weren't a society and individual actions did not affect everyone, I wouldn't care if you wore a helmet of not. It's like smoking. It doesn't affect just you. We all pay the cost of others' ill informed decisions.

As a motorcyclist since I was 14 (now 57) I always wear a full face helmet when I ride, even though they are a bit uncomfortable during the hot summer months. I learned that habit from racing motorcycles in motorcross as a teen ager. The habit saved my life, or at least probably saved me from a permanent vegitative state, when I was hit broadside by a woman in a big Chrysler Imperial who ran through a yield sign back when I was 17. My Bell hemet was broken through where my head (right temple) smashed the curb after flying 30-40 feet through the air. With that said, I still believe it should be one's choice to wear a helmet or not .... but with the following three sensible exceptions:

1. Those under 21 .....The overwhelming majority of teenage riders ride on adrenaline and testosterone and aren't yet fully capable of making intelligent decisions on this subject. It used to be that inexperienced motorcyclists often started with smaller motored used bikes and gradually moved up to faster, more powerful bikes as they gained experience. But in the times we live in now, any 16 year old with enough money (or parents with more money than brains) goes right out and buys themself a repli-racer liter bike capable of doing 180 mph right out of the box. I'm in favor of making those under 21 have to wear helmets to protect themselves from their potentially ill-advised testosterone fueled teenaged decisions.

2. Past DUI offenders ... Enforce a (10 year from date of conviction) mandatory helmet law for any motorcylclist of any age who has been convicted of driving under the influence - regardless of whether they did that in a car or on a motorcycle. The reasoning here should be obvious.

3. Inexperienced riders .....Riders of any age should have to wear a helmet for the first 12-24 months that they have their motorcycle license.

Just one guy's thoughts on this topic.

ChrisM .... you wrote "unless you are riding under 40 around town, a helmet won't do much good. If you're cruising and get in an accident, a helmet is not going to help you." Where did you come up with the logic for that statement? That has no basis in any scientific studies ever done on helmet protection. I guess those professional motorcycle racers who are paid millions of dollars a year are just wasting their time strapping on their helmets because at 180 mph they're way over your "magic" 40 mph mark. How can you expect anyone here to take your comments seriously when you start off with such a ridiculous statement?

Northwoods,

good post, I do have one issue with #2. Are you using this as a punishment or for safety reasons. If you are using it as punishment, leave that up to the judge. If for safety, then it is only for the safety of him. Him not wearing a helmet does not affect anyone elses safety. If it is because you think he may ride drunk, then there is already enough laws that can take care of that. This is my whole concern, laws ontop of laws when we already have laws to deal with it. So the DUI thing in my book does nothing for anyone.

The painful part is when you get out of the hospital seven months later, and are given the bill for about $1.5 million worth of healthcare. There goes the "Ride Free" part of the slogan. Helmets should be mandatory for all riders. At least you would be able to comprehend how you could pay the debt.

I had a accident years ago if I had been wearing a helmet I would have broke my neck. Helmets cover your ears distract you. LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS ! ITS ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON. LEAVE IT ALONE .

I like how people who know nothing about riding a bike stick their noses into the issue of helmet laws. The issue of whether I wear a helmet has nothing to do with anyone but me.

Maybe the Governor can find a way to tax the people that dont wear helmets, another way to tax the people that do wear helmits and lets not forget the non residents tax them double and turn the money over to the DIWF.

Betterdays, wrong. If you get in an accident and injure yourself, unless you are paying the entire expense out of pocket and not using insurance, we all pay. It has everything to do with all of us.

You my friend are wrong. I've paid for my health insurance for the past 20 years. I pay for it now. If I end up having to use it some day, so be it. It really isn't a concern of yours how I end up having to use it.

Betterdays,

I'm not trying to be rude to you and I'm glad you have good health. Your injuries would probably be more serious without a helmet. Most people's insurance rates are going up. There are things we can do to protect ourselves and cause less stress to insurance rates. I'm glad you haven't had to use insurance in twenty years. Most people cannot say the same. More expensive medical care causes rates to go up. That's how it affects me.

I can't stand the argument that helmets are needed because if someone gets into an accident then others will have to pay for their medical care. This helmet issue is big brother. The real issue is: I shouldn't have to pay for someone elses medical care....Let's concentrate on abolishing that and leave peoples freedoms alone.

68rain, if we all pay, then shut your trap. Motorcyclists are also car owners. Just pay your share and shut t f u. Motorcyclists aren't lobbying to keep cars off the road. Mind your own business.

If more expensive health care is the driving force behind instituting a helmet law, I think our polititians could make a greater impact putting their efforts into outlawing smoking. I know your not trying to be rude, you're just misguided with regard to what really effects the heath care costs. Whether I wear a helmet or not has such little effect on the global health care cost that it's comical to even talk about it when you can walk into any store in the state and purchase a carton of smokes. And you folks are happy as long as we're wearing our seat belts and putting our helmets on... I just shake my head...

Hey EdwardSmith, lets tax them as the come into the state. Oh, you are wearing a helmet?, please pay the helmet tax before you ride on our roadways that are torn up because the tax we charge for maintaining these roads goes into pockets of the goverment officials who want to raise more taxes by sitting around Agusta thinking up new ways to tax the already overtaxed!

Now we are getting somewhere. 1)We don't like being a welfare state and paying for other people 2)What are the real factors driving the cost of insurance up

I agree that motorcycle accidents are a very small percentage of the overall costs. Amazing that some people latch onto one little tidbit and run with it. How about the argument smoking should be banned because my insurance rates are higher because of the smokers. Same with Alcohol, fast food, etc. I think a larger percentage of our money for insurance goes towards this. I understand this is not automobile insurance, but my health insurance sure costs a lot more than auto insurance. If what 68rain is saying is what he really believes, then let the finger pointing begin. It's probably another instance of throwing rocks in a glass house.

Betterdays, Thanks for an intelligent comment. I mean that. You're right that the total impact to global health care costs is little. You're also right about smoking. I do recognize that it takes alot more effort to give up smoking than put on a helmet. What is hard for me to understand are people who think their actions only affect themselves. Now I'll sign off so people can say FY to me. Cheers.

68train,

No FY from here. I do think that people realize there actions affect others, that is with almost everything we do in this world, that is why this argument is a slippery one. I find it hard to understand why people want so many laws and so much regulation. When this happens, not only do we lose more of our freedom, it is costly to all. Whenever the government gets there fingers into something, it might as well be our pockets.

Dbaker why the hell would you strap your helmet to your bike if its 85 degrees out? Wear it or leave it at home. 85 degrees gives you heat stroke? We ride out here in Arizona at 110 degrees, I've never had heat stroke. If anything the sun stays of your head with a helmet on. Any good helmet is ventilated, or if you still are a hot head by a cool liner. Wet it put it on and the evaporation keeps your heat cool. Heat stroke that is a lame excuse not to wear a helmet.

I can see the argument for increased cost of healthcare to a point. But I'm sure that those of you that use that argument do things that have an inherent risk that maybe others don't. Where do you draw the line. Maybe we should all never leave our homes, and that will reduce the risk of injury and reduce healthcare costs for all.

I think that most people wear helmets, and do so out of responsibility for themselves, but at what point do you sacrifice safety for freedom? I have not worn a seatbelt since the law passed. I will not wear just because insurance companies or doctors lobby the state to say that everyone should, It is about freedome of choice. I choose not to wear it and that is my decision, not someone else's....PERIOD!

Totally agree with astrol64's 10:05 am post. "Not being proactive in motor safety is like having sex without a condom."

What we need is legislation requiring anyone looking for federal welfare assistance or government-subsidized abortion to fill out forms under penalty of perjury indicating that he/she used protection when the child was conceived...if they did and the protection failed, the applicant would be granted aid. If they didn't, then tough toenails (and they'd be subject to a $500 fine).

Likewise, anyone who contracted AIDS via unprotected sex or illicit drug use would be completely on their own and subject to the same penalties. Matter of fact, all risky behavior should be addressed this way.

Do I hear any champions on the left stepping up to ensure responsible behavior across all cross-sections of society?

Gotta love liberal logic.

As an American constitutional advocate, born in Maine and a registered voter, I am reminded that the powers of government are limited by the Constitution and all powers not specifically given over to the government by the Constitution are RESERVED to the people. There is no law against people who risk climbing and hiking Mount Katahdin's knife edge. A person has the power and a right to do it. Personal injury insurance is available to cover such risks. I may, personally, find this behavior too risky to practice myself, but that gives me no right and I should exercise no power to prevent someone who chooses to climb that mountain. I believe that the same reasoning applies with regard to those who choose to motorcycle without a helmut. II, basically, believe that rights we enjoy were earned as a result of a hard fight, and we should'nt allow them to be taken or slip away without one.

Someone earlier poster a comment about having to wear a helmet on mt. bike, so motorcyclist should as well. What's the difference? was the question.

Simple answer really. MPH If you have an accident with a mt. bike, it is lower speed, and therefore the helmet proves to be an effective noggin saving tool. With a motor cycle at higher speeds, the helmet sometimes does just the opposite by adding weight to your noggin. Hence the physics lesson of " an object in motion , stays in motion until stopped by an equal opposite force" sometimes causing spinal separation. If you crash a bike, helmet is hit or miss.

AmbroseBear that was very well put and I completely agree.

The picture says it all. If the state makes bikers wear helmets they will wear any old piece of plastic on their head to satisfy the law but actually provides very little protection anyway. It won't help enough to be worth it.

93 posts and not a single statement for "no helmet" that wasn't moronic...

I love the one "I will just stop riding".....excuse us, did you think you were talking to someone that gives a damn whether you ride or not?

the anti helmet folks are making a very loud statement to us - There is nothing up there between them ears worth protecting!

no helmet? real macho, but absolute insanity.

BTW - been riding over 50 years, never got on a bike without a helmet, never will.

I say let them ride without a helmet if they want to. How is it any business of mine if they don't want to wear it?! I have ridden before, and personally wouldn't ride without a helmet on, I don't trust my skills enough, but if someone does trust themselves that much, its their business not mine. I do, however agree with requiring anyone up until the age of 18 to wear a helmet. And before anyone asks, i also stand apposed to seat belt legislation, even though i choose to wear one. I know several people who were in accidents while not wearing seatbelts, that would have ended up fatal if they were wearing them.

some people are to stupid to realize how important wearing a helmet is.

Thats what this law is for..........to protect the stupid from themselves

kowalski, sounds like you are part of the problem, just leave it alone, it will grow.

When Bobby Orr scored that Stanley Cup winning goal in 1970, he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Now every player in the NHL wears one.

Progress? Or an unconscionable assault on the freedom of hockey players? You decide.

hankwilliams..

When Bobby Orr scored that Stanley Cup winning goal in 1970, he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Now every player in the NHL wears one.

Progress? Or an unconscionable assault on the freedom of hockey players? You decide.

and the relationship is???????

I wonder how many people who choose to comment on this issue actually ride a motorcycle. taxedtodeath1 writes that insurance lobbyists should be all over this one. The fact of the matter is that Helmet laws don't decrease the number of accidents. They protect the scull and the brain in the event of a low speed accident. Insurance company's, being a for profit entity will probably put their money into Driver's Education and Biker Awareness Campaigns. They get more bang for their buck.

Government as we all know are prolific money spenders. The return for this "Helmet Campaign" is simply not worth the effort, but what do they care. When they run out of money they'll just tax us more. People will still get injured, they will still have closed head injuries and broken bones. The possitive impact helmet laws have made on the target issues that caused their creation nationwide is unremarkable.

How many in favor of helmet laws smoke cigarettes or drink liquor. I choose to do niether, but I ride without a helmet. I suggest you smokers and drinkers are driving health care costs up more so than my desire to ride without a helmet. But that's my opinion and what the hell do I know.

You Mainers are stupid, lets make it a law to wear a seat belt in a car but not wear a helmet on a bike. I work in emergency services and every year I see more serious injuries due to not wearing a helmet. Most of the injuries could have been avoided if the knuckle-dragger would just put one on, what you tough Herley guys think it ruins your image? Afraid to mess up your skullet? I'd rather live to ride another day than to have my brain splattered across the pavement. I'll bet your families will be happy to see you dead than just hurt, think of someone else for once. Besides if you do survive the crash it will take you longer to recover, so that means less time riding. The reason we need a law is because you people are to stupid to do it for yourselves.

Hey "commonsence" you are the type that is the problem too, if you don't ride, you don't get to decide! Thanks for the "stupid" comment, need to work on your spelling to look a little bit more intelligent. Your opinion does NOT count, crawl back in your hole.

You don't need to catagorize all Mainers, Commonsence. It has less to do with intelligence than it does with the freedom of choice. I question whether you actually work in the Emergency Services field however, but I wont bother explaining why I think that. I think most people understand and agree that wearing a helmet will protect your scull to a certain degree in the event of a crash.

I choose not to wear one, not because I'm a tough guy or because I have an image to protect. I simply don't like wearing it. I'm not a stupid person, I know what the risks are. I also know that my chances of being involved in a crash are not effected by whether I wear a helmet or not. I like the fact that at this time it's my choice to wear one or not.

More important to the greater cause at this point is the economical condition of our Country and what's being done to future generations by the Government through huge spending. When you compare the two issues, wheather I wear a helmet or not seems more like a personal choice rather than an issue you need to be concerned about.

I take issue with UBM believing that they represent all motorcyclists in Maine. They are a HARLEY group with a few others mixed in. I paid dues for one year, and let my membership lapse after I realized what the group was all about.

There are motorcyclists and bikers, motorcyclists are those like myself who wear full protective gear including boots, over-pants, kevlar jacket, gloves and a HELMET and ride from snow out, to the first snowfall in every type of weather. Bikers are irresponsible riders who ride with loud exhausts, no helmet, minimal gear and complain about regulation.

Riding on the roads is a privilege, NOT A RIGHT. A helmet does not limit visibility and if bikers were concerned with being seen, perhaps they sould invest in an Icon Milspec vest, or an Aerostich Darien in High-Viz.

Betterdays: So you didn't have a problem when the state made it a law to wear a seat belt? I guess I dont understand the logic behind the "my choice" argument. Just let me know what your bike looks like so I know who I'm scarping off RT 1A this summer. You are right that during this economical challenging time that there are more important things to worry about but this is just a matter of commonsense.

Datheriault: Who said I didn't ride? I'll see you at the ER, in pieces.

I just think that if you need to wear a seat belt you need to wear a helmet. I wear mine everytime and I laugh at all the "tough Harley bikers" that need to protect their image. I love scaping them off the ground. The "my choice" argument is just lame. Get over it you don't have a choice about much these days.

Commonsence, you are most certainly inappropriately named. There is great confusion in your head with regard to exactly what helmets do. The simple fact that I choose not to wear one does not increase my chances of becoming involved in an accident. Please stay fucused on the issue if you're going to try and argue this intelligently. Helmets offer some protection to your head when/if it hits something. It will not keep you from becoming involved in an accident. That having been said, no one is arguing with you that in the event that I become involved in an accident a helmet would be a good thing to have on for protection.

Now whether I ride an american made motorcycle or a motorcycle made by a foreign owned company makes little difference in the event that I'm involved in an accident. The basic engineering principals of a motorcycle provide very little protection in the event of a crash whether the bike is a Harley or a Yamaha.

I'm thinking you're probably more like a part-time fire fighter or perhaps the driver of an ambulance rather than a person who has hands on reponsibility at the scene of an accident. I can go into detail with regard to why I think this if required... But somehow I don't think it will be for most of us.

Adam Paul.. I'm so glad you set us all straight on the definition of a motorcyclist. I so want to be like you now....

The angle,

I am not required to wear a seat belt in a passenger car in maine that wasn't origanally equiped, antique auto.

Enorder to retain estectics A motocycle date of manufacture and the safty requirements for the date of that manufacture, grandfathering under antique motorcycle historical preservation at the time of manufacture

Betterdays: When did I say that helmets prevent accidents? I know that wearing a helmet doesn't prevent accidents, but when a stupid driver talking on a cell phone, eating a sandwich, and yelling at their kids in the back pulls out in front of you. Chances are you'll land on your head when you flip over the car. Like I said if you have to wear a seat belt in a car you should have wear a helmet on a bike.

You're right I did stereotype a little against the Harley riders, but to me they seem to be the one who put up a big fight when this argument arises.

Now in defense of myself, I might be a volunteer firefighter, now, but who are you to say that I don't have hands on responsibility at a scene? I have been doing this for 14 years and have moved my way up the ranks in 3 different departments in 3 different states. I've been more than just the driver in the ambulance. I've also been the one in the back treating a fractured scull of a motorcyclist who misjudged his cornering speed. He would have just had a broken arm and road rash, but instead he cracked open his noggin.

My argument stands, seat belts are the law and they save lives, helmets should be law and they greatly increase the chances of walking away from an accident.

Commonsence,

You lost my friend.... I hope you enjoy scraping up all those brains off the road you talked about. I'll honk as I go by, while your sweeping up the broken glass off the road....

haha...

Hey scoop the guy up with a loader, but that should be his decision not yours or mine. Why do other people worry about what someone else is doing. Nosey????

Fine, whatever. I don't care anymore. But if you think you won this argument think again. We'll see what Augusta does this time. I hope you will think of your comments here when, god forbid you have an accident.

Hey "commonsence", you don't make alot of sense. Just drop it, I ride safe enough to not see you in the ER in pieces. I am not worried about image, I just love motorcycles and have great respect for the dangers of motorcycling, just none for you.

Stevey.... I think I'll use something from your post if you don't mind.... "commonsence" AKA Scoopy.... Scoopy according to you I'll have nothing left to think with in the event of an accident... Which is probably right, but in either case...

Have a nice summer chasing ambulances. I mean driving them. Oh yeah thats right you only sweep up broken glass and maybe if you're lucky they might let you direct traffic for a couple minutes. After that you get to fold hose and re stock the supplies... I could be wrong, but we both know I'm not.

Maybe you and Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton should get together and write a bill... On second thought you guys have probably already hammered out the one he just put before the Legislature. Perhaps you guys should stay the heck away from one another...