October 26,1999

House Bill 0117 is scheduled to go before the insurance Committee next Tuesday, November 02, 1999 at 3:15 PM.  We need to get busy calling, writing and sending emails to each member of the Insurance Committee asking them to vote yes to send HB0117 to the floor of the House of Representatives.  Remember, because they are committee members you can and should contact each one of them on this issue.  Talk to everyone you know and ask them to help us by calling and emailing the Insurance Committee members.  We had a superb victory in the Judiciary Committee but the war could be lost if we don't get past the Insurance Committee.  If you need help composing a letter then go to the sample letter page to get some Ideas.  Click here for the committee information.

October 25, 1999

If you have been following the progress on HB0117 here then you know I was really concerned about the Judiciary Committee's Staff Analysis of HB0117.  On October 20, I sent an email to Representative Stan Bainter who is not only a cosponsor of HB0117, but also the Chairman of the Insurance Committee.  I asked that he not allow a biased Staff Analysis come out of the Insurance Committee.  The Insurance Committee has revised the staff analysis of the Judiciary Committee.  I can only hope that my email had some effect on the revision.

For the first time ever in a staff analysis, riding without a helmet is presented not to cause more death or injuries than riding with a helmet.  The committee analysis states, "Although the bill does not have a direct fiscal impact on the state, exempting riders over 21 years of age from protective headgear requirements may increase the number of deaths and injuries associated with motorcycle crashes."  That has been the standard language we have seen in in the past.  The analysis goes on to say, "However, the most recent crash data from the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles may not support this statement."  In simple terms, it has not been proven that riding without a helmet will increase the number of deaths and injuries associated with motorcycle crashes.

Not all is good with this analysis.  The discussion of insurance coverage is expanded to include quotes from Progressive Insurance Company.  Here is the expected annual premium range for $10,000 of medical benefits as of March, 1999.  This is for the motorcycle operator only.  Any passenger would also need to carry this similar coverage:
 
 

The report goes on to say that HB0117 could create a market for medical benefits coverage for motorcyclists.  I wonder who this would benefit?  Read the Insurance Committee's Staff revisions to HB0117 by clicking here.  You will need Adobe PDF to view this file

HB0117 received it's 30th cosponsor with the addition of Representative Carole Green of District 75.
 

October 22, 1999

On the Senate side Senator Charlie Bronson is the first Senator to cosponsor SB0126.

Both the Transportation Committee and the Banking and Insurance Committee are scheduled to meet on November 3, 1999.  The agenda for these meeting should be release any day now.  It is possible that both HB0117 and SB0126 will each see consideration during the week of November 1, 1999.  The next battle is coming up so you need to make sure you have contacted the Insurance Committee members in the House of Representatives and the members in both the Transportation and Banking and Insurance committees in the Senate.  I have put together lists to make it easier for you to contact the members of these committees and ask for their support.  You can get ideas for writing your letters from the sample letters page.

House of Representatives Insurance Committee

Senate Transportation Committee

Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
 

October 19, 1999

We now have 29 cosponsors of HB0117 with the addition of Representative DeeDee Ritchie of House District 3.  All is quite now but it will be picking up again soon as we get ready for the Insurance Committee in the House.  They will  meet on Tuesday, November 2, 1999 from 3:30 PM until 5:30 PM. The agenda agenda should be out at the end of this week or some time next week.  During this lull you should be writing and calling the Insurance Committee members in the House and doing the same with your District Representatives in both the House and the Senate asking for their support.
 

October 12, 1999

Representative Adam Putnam of district 63 signed on as a co sponsor to HB0117 increasing our co sponsor number to 28.

The staff of the Judiciary Committee updated their staff analysis of HB0117.  It is H 0117B.  You will need to have Adobe PDF to view this file.  I really didn't notice much of a change in it, but it still makes motorcyclists sound like we're the biggest risk to the pocketbook of society since the income tax.

I'm working on putting together a bulletin board to encourage more discussion.  Until I get the approval from my server, feel free to make your comments on the Voice Your Opinion page.  Also, this site has evolved into much more than I anticipated.  If you find any dead links or errors, please let me know.
 

October 07, 1999

The next house committee to hear HB0117 will be the Insurance Committee.  The Insurance Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, November 2, 1999 from 3:30 PM until 5:30 PM.  While the bills that are to be discussed at this meeting are not posted yet, there is an excellent chance that HB0117 will be heard at this time.  So you know the drill.  Start contacting the committee members now and ask them for their support.  Committee members want to hear from everyone, not only their constituents.  You can click here to get the committee members information and click here to look at some sample letters.  We are somewhat fortunate in this committee since we already have five co sponsors of HB0117 who are on the committee.  Last year the Insurance Committee did not consider our bill.  Speaking of co sponsors HB0117 now has 27 co-sponsors.  Two were added yesterday.  Is your House Representative one of them??  Ok, let's get busy writing and calling.

On the Senate side SB0126 has been referred to only two committees; Transportation and  Banking and Insurance committees.  No committee has be selected for action as of yet.
 

October 6, 1999 5:00 PM

House Bill 0117 passes the Judiciary Committee 8 to 1

Reading the Staff Analysis of HB0117, I find some very interesting comments.  I urge you to read this analysis and form you own opinion.  You will need to have Adobe PDF to view this file.  I know this committee meeting is over and we won but we will see similar writings at future committee meetings.

Here are some excerpts from the analysis:

"Although the bill does not have a direct fiscal impact on the state, exempting riders over 21 years of age from protective headgear requirements may increase the number of deaths and injuries associated with motorcycle crashes. Generally, costs associated with traffic deaths and injuries are passed along to others through insurance premiums, taxes and fees."

"wearing helmets could increase the number of deaths and injuries associated with motorcycle crashes. These costs could be passed along to others through higher insurance. The bill creates an 'out of the box' market for motorcycle insurance."

"Because of the potentially expensive nature of head injuries associated with avoidance of
the helmet requirement, the insurance requirement of this bill might be increased to more
effectively offset the costs associated with such injuries.

This last one really gets to me and I have to comment.  The staff has determined that all of the above is true.  They start with "potentially", "may" and "could" and then, recommend to the committee that they should consider raising the amount of the insurance requirement in HB0117.  When was it proven that riding without a helmet leads to more crashes, costlier crashes, head injuries and increased costs?  And what's with the "avoidance of the helmet requirement" language?

Even though we passed in the Judiciary Committee, these are the kind of things that makes me ask the question:  Are we doing the right thing by accepting a modified helmet law?  I would really like to hear what your point of view is on this.  You can use the opinion board to let me and everyone else know what you think.
 

October 6, 1999 12:00 Noon

We are over the first hurdle.  Getting by this unknown committee is a big victory.  We can relish in the victory for awhile but we still need to stay focused.  This is only the first hurdle of several hurdles to come.  Right now we need to write letters or send an email to all of the members of the Judiciary Committee.  Thank those who voted for HB0117 and ask for their continued support.  Ask them to co sponsor HB0117.  Ask them to continue their support of HB0117 by voting yes when it comes to the House floor.  You can also write to Representative Peaden to thank him for his time in considering HB0117 and ask him what his objection are and what you can do to help change his opinion.

We need to also be contacting our House District Representatives asking them to support and co sponsor HB0117.  If you haven't contacted them yet, do so now.  All the information you need to contact them is here on this site.  There are even sample letters for you to copy and paste or maybe give you some ideas.

Share this information and this website with your family friends coworkers and neighbors.  This website is geared mainly to Internet users but many people are not on the net.  Let these people know what is going on and what they need to do.  Give those that are on the internet this website address so they can become more aware of the issues and what needs to be done.  Remember you don't need to have a motorcycle to be concerned about personal freedoms.

We now have  co sponsors listed on HB0117.   Contact these co sponsors and thank them for their Support.  The bill also now shows Representative Dave Russell as the Sponsor and Representative Nancy Argenziano as a co sponsor.
 

October 5, 1999, 3:45 PM

House Bill 0117 passes the Judiciary Committee 8 to 1

The Judiciary committee sent H0117 on with a favorable recommendation.  The vote was 8 yea, one no.  There were no amendments added on the bill.  The lone no vote came from Republican Durell Peaden, Jr. of District 5.  The Judiciary Committee was unknown territory for the bill since it hasn't had to be heard in that committee in the past.  More to come later.