New Texas helmet laws effective 9-1-2009

[speed]

The Texas Legislative Session is over and we now have new helmet laws, yay. I like helmet laws about as much as I would like sniffing a wet fart, but these are actually in our favor as bikers. Either someone in Austin was listening, or they are just sympathetic, either way the new laws that became effective as of September 1, 2009, are in my opinion, a blessing. Here's a link to the states website and the page that details all of the new changes. 81(R) SB 1967 - Introduced version - Bill Analysis. I want y'all to read this because it also has other changes as well, they just don't apply to this article.

The old laws basically said that a biker could go without a helmet if he either (1) Had completed a motorcycle safety course, or (b) Had 10,000 dollars of health insurance coverage to counter the cost of any accident related injuries, then that rider could purchase an exemption sticker. As revised now, a biker can "legally" go without a helmet only if he has 10,000 of insurance, and they did away with the exemption sticker. The Motorcycle Safety course is no longer an exemption, it's required to receive a new license. Notice I said, new license. If yours lapses, and you go to get the "M" endorsement again, you have to take the course, just like any snot-nosed kid right outta high school, or anyone else for that matter, will have to do the same thing to get his or her first motorcycle license.

So, how is johnny-law gonna know you have enough insurance without an exemption sticker? Is he gonna have to pull you over to find out? NO! The new law also PROHIBITS a peace officer from stopping or detaining a rider for the sole purpose of finding out if said rider is helmet exempt. The State will also issue a card or something saying that you have enough insurance. So here's the scenario: Biker Bob is out riding. It's a wonderful day, and he's sure enjoying his ride. He hits the city limit sign and doesn't slow down in time for the posted 45 MPH zone. Officer pulls him over for speeding, not because he ain't got a skid lid. At this point in time, if Biker Bob has the required insurance coverage, and has requested and received his whatever-the-state-is-going-to-issue card, the officer can look at that and be content to allow Biker Bob to continue riding without a helmet. If Biker Bob doesn't have the required card, he's in a heap of cow-pies, and on his way to traffic court.

So in a way, this is a victory in my mind. My biggest worry was that the police forces would have to intrude on my right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. I think that every biker has to make the choice for himself, weather or not to wear a helmet, and I encourage everyone to wear a helmet. I hear all the time about a biker who died of head injuries that could have been avoided, but hey, that's his life and his choice. If they die, they died with the liberty to make that choice for themselves, the way it should be. It may not be right, it may not be wrong, either way it's OUR right. I also do not believe it is our right to intrude on anyone else's rights or tax dollars, so if I have to supply insurance to cover my own tail, so be it. Why should the tax payers have to pay for my trip to the ER Hilton while the doctors try to re-attach my scull to my spine, all of which without the monetary assistance of insurance? This is serious stuff we do out here, and you have to live, or die, with the choices you make everyday. I just like to ensure that we have that right to make our own choices.

In a cage, things are different. The mistakes you make can seriously affect many lives out there on a superslab. On a scooter, WE deal with the mistakes that all of the cage riders make on the daily, and rarely harm anyone in the process of our social diss-order. These "laws" that have been enacted may cause police forces to amp up the mundane traffic stops like not using a blinker, or something, to hassle us over not wearing a helmet, but we have to take the good with the bad. Rome wasn't built in a day, and we as bikers have to stay vocal about what we feel is right. Hell, we as Americans have to be vocal about what we want or don't want. And by no means do I think everyone feels the exact same way I do, but no matter your view, be vocal. Cuz if a tree falls in the woods, and doesn't make a huge crash, and break a bunch of stuff on the way down, it gets turned into a law that violates our constitutional rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Click here for the original source of this story.

Cheers,
Speed

[FATboy05]

Thanks!!

[BubbaJR]

Hey speed.... thanks for the new info! Gotta stay updated on laws for when I come home!