Download the new Commercial Appeal app for continued updates Motorcycle helmet bill stalls in Tennessee legislature NASHVILLE — The bill allowing motorcycle riders 21 and up to ride without helmets was delayed again in a House committee Tuesday evening by the bill's sponsor, who more or less acknowledged he doesn't have enough votes in the committee for passage. But the sponsor, Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, said he's still working on answering his colleagues' questions about the measure and that he won't pronounce it dead for the year, even though he took the bill "off notice" in the House Finance Committee. That's a procedural step that means there will be no further consideration of the bill unless he asks to bring it back up. Similar legislation has been filed almost annually for 20 years and has occasionally passed the Senate, only to fail in various House committees. The finance committee is the furthest the bill has ever advanced in the House, which gave motorcyclists who support the bill hope that it might pass this year.

Tennessee is one of 19 states plus the District of Columbia with a mandatory motorcycle helmet law for all riders, regardless of age. The law was enacted in 1967. Twenty-eight states require only underage riders, under either 18 or 21, to wear helmets. And Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire have no laws at all requiring helmet use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Reedy's House Bill 700 would allow anyone 21 and up with medical or health insurance other than TennCare to ride without a helmet on Tennessee streets and roadways. It also prohibits police from stopping motorcyclists solely because they're not wearing a helmet, but Reedy said he was willing to amend that portion of the bill. The state Department of Safety and the Department of Health both oppose the bill, along with AAA, the Auto Club. Concerned Motorcyclists of Tennessee is the leading proponent of the bill. Haslam: Learning Tennessee history ‘critical’ for students

Bass Pro Pyramid sales fall slightly as honeymoon ends 201 Poplar renovation project making progress Trump tax revelation punctuates week of political challenges Memphis council to vote on pot decriminalization Civil rights milestones could be dropped from Tennessee school lessons Griz experiment with lineups in preseason opening win over Magic Memphis drug lord fearful of Mexican cartel: "Wherever you put me, they'll kill me"Contact Us Now: (800) 431-2768 Tennessee Injury Lawyer Blog The Future of Tennessee’s Motorcycle Helmet Law Tennessee is one of a significant number of states that currently have a mandatory motorcycle helmet law.  This law requires that all drivers and passengers of motorcycles wear a helmet while the motorcycle is in operation, for their own safety and the safety of others. The law, Section 55-9-302 of the Tennessee Code, requires not only that passengers and drivers wear a helmet, but also that the helmet comply with the federal safety regulations and standards for helmets.  

Certain individuals are exempted from Tennessee’s mandatory helmet requirements, including people riding on a motorcycle with an enclosed cab or one on which three wheels are touching the ground.  In all other instances, a failure to wear a motorcycle helmet can be charged as a class C misdemeanor, resulting in fines or up to 30 days in jail.motorcycle dealers near puyallup The reason for Tennessee’s motorcycle helmet law is fairly straightforward. best full gauntlet motorcycle glovesHelmets help save lives during sudden and unexpected accidents. moschino biker jacket purseAccording to the Centers for Disease Control, Tennessee’s helmet law helps to save an average of 46 lives each year, and over $94 million in health care and emergency-related expenses that would otherwise be incurred as a result of accidents.  motorcycle tyres bmw r1200gs

However, despite such benefits, Tennessee’s helmet law is currently being questioned.  A recent bill, proposed by Republican Representative Jay Reedy, would relax Tennessee’s helmet law requirements and allow greater numbers of Tennessee motorcycle drivers and passengers to travel Tennessee’s roadways while not wearing a safety helmet.motorcycle for sale longmont The Bill, House Bill 700, would specifically allow drivers and passengers over the age of 21 to decide whether they want to wear a helmet or not. bobber for sale georgiaThe only exception would be for those individuals currently under the coverage of TennCare, Tennessee’s version of Medicare. According to sponsors and supporters of the bill, Tennessee’s current motorcycle helmet laws interfere with the freedom of drivers and riders to choose to wear a helmet or not, and they are an intrusion of the government into personal affairs.

Opponents of the bill note that helmets have clear safety benefits for people on motorcycles, and the relaxation of motorcycle helmet requirements has historically led to greater injuries and deaths in states that have relaxed such laws.  For instance, according to the American Journal of Public Health, Pennsylvania saw a 66 percent increase in deaths due to motorcycle accidents after it relaxed its helmet requirements. For this reasons, organizations like the American Automobile Association have testified in support of the current law and against the relaxation of the restrictions, arguing that helmet laws are an important element of public safety. The House is set to vote on the bill on February 23rd, after postponing a vote scheduled for February 17th.  A relaxation of helmet requirements might lead to an increase in motorcycle accidents, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities and, correspondingly, an increase in personal injury lawsuits for people hurt while on motorcycles.