Senate shoots down teen motorcyclist helmet law

SPRINGFIELD | Legislation requiring teen motorcyclists under 18 to wear helmets failed in the Illinois Senate Thursday.

On a vote of 19-32, the chamber rejected the measure that supporters said is necessary to help save lives and taxpayer dollars.

Opponents argued the government would be overreaching its bounds. Discretion should be left to parents, they said.

"This is the U.S.A. isn’t it?" asked state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton. "We do have a freedom, we do have a choice, don’t we?"

State Sen. Donne Trotter, a Democrat from Chicago and motorcyclist, sponsored the legislation. He said the measure would help save money on medical costs.

The public pitches in millions of dollars to help cover brain injuries to motorcyclists that occur as a result of accidents, Trotter said.

He also was leery of giving parents the discretion in allowing their children to wear helmets.

"We wouldn’t have the Department of Children and Family Services if every parent out here was responsible," he said. "This is for those individuals who do not have concern about our taxpayer burden that we have to pay to take care of their child for their ... lack of insight.

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, questioned some of Trotter’s statistics, citing a study done by the Brain Injury Association.

"Six percent of brain injuries occur from motorcyclists, whereas 13 percent of brain injuries occur to pedestrians," he said. "When will the pedestrian helmet bill be before the Illinois Senate?"

Illinois is one of three states that has no motorcycle helmet laws.

Trotter has proposed similar legislation that would require all motorcyclists to wear helmets. It has not yet made it to the Senate floor. The legislation is Senate Bill 2536. The legislation applying to teen motorcyclists is Senate Bill 2535.