Florida Repeals the Helmet Law

2579 Views 21 Replies 19 Participants Last post by Tippmann, Sep 19, 2003

F3CBRocket

Discussion Starter · Jun 19, 2000

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It's now the law... NO HELMETS for Florida bikers.
The next time you come to Florida for Bike Week or Biketoberfest you won't have to wear a helmet!!!

On Friday, June 16, 2000, Governor Jeb Bush signed the House Bill 1911 that repeals Florida's helmet law for riders 21 and older
who have a minimum of $10,000 in medical insurance, and will become a law effective July 1, 2000.

"I believe government oversteps its legitimate role when it excessively interferes with personal freedom," Bush said in a statement. "That interference includes regulating an adult's decision about his or her well-being if such decisions do not endanger the life or safety of others.

"Reasonable adults should be trusted to make reasonable decisions," the governor said. "For example, we have no laws requiring an individual to exercise, to eat a healthy diet, to get regular check-ups or to avoid excess exposure to sun - even though failure to comply with these habits reflects known health risks and potential public health costs."

Florida's bikers have fought for years to get the state to join other states that repealed helmet laws after the federal government ended sanctions against the states without helmet laws. Florida becomes the 27th state that does not require helmets for adult bikers.

James "Doc" Riechenbach III, President and Lobbyist for ABATE of Florida, received a personal phone call from Governor Jeb Bush on Friday, June 16, to tell him that he'd signed their helmet law repeal bill! Doc, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), said, "It's been a long time coming, 31 years, and we'd just like to thank our ABATE members, NCOM and every state that helped us win our freedom!"

"The Bush brothers have now set two states free," exclaimed Doc, referring to Jeb Bush's brother and Presidential hopeful, George W. Bush Jr., who as Texas Governor signed a similar bill in 1997 to allow freedom of choice for responsible adult Texas motorcyclists.
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"I live with fear everyday...sometimes SHE lets me race!"

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1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Tristan

· #2 · Jun 19, 2000

Cool- I predict next year's bike week will be the biggest ever because of this. There goes the market for those idiotic "pudding bowl" helmets!

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'98 Superhawk

wi-vtr

· #3 · Jun 19, 2000

Hey, those helmets rock!! My dad and I go to Daytona every year. Last year we traded our new Arai helmets for a "pudding bowl" helmet. We traded them straight up!! Man, that vendor got ripped off!!

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Cosmo

· #4 · Jun 19, 2000

Whoopee! The Natural Selection Process just got a human helping hand! Quote from Squidly Squidworth, wanna-be sportbike rider: "I don't need me no sissy-helmet! I kin ride jus fine widout one. It's jeest two darn hot outside to wear one of them sissy-hats". Ride on Bubba, ride on. Just stay faaaar away from me.

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Cosmo
'97 Katana 750

RedNinja

· #5 · Jun 19, 2000

I'll second that Cosmo!
nuff said.

Will

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Will Darton
Sportbikeworld Co-Admin
http://azsportbike.net
<A HREF="http://redninja.sportbikeworld.com" TARGET=_blank>
http://redninja.sportbikeworld.com</A>
99ZX-6e

HondaNut!

· #6 · Jun 19, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Aril, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cosmo:
Whoopee! The Natural Selection Process just got a human helping hand
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree with that Cosmo!

But I also REALLY Like:

"I believe government oversteps its legitimate role when it excessively interferes with personal freedom," Bush said in a statement.

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Kyle J.-
email:[email protected]

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SpeedPhreak

· #7 · Jun 19, 2000

"I believe government oversteps its legitimate role when it excessively interferes with personal freedom," Bush said in a statement.

NUFF SAID

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High_Perf_Cam

· #8 · Jun 19, 2000

While I believe in the right to make our own decisions I can't stand the fact that all the sqids will now be able to go without a lid to macth their t-shirt and flip flops.

There's nothing like 120+ degree asphalt to smooth your complection.

Cam

Be safe

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It's Mind over matter... If I don't mind it don't matter!

Robert

· #9 · Jun 19, 2000

While I'm happy the helmet law is gone. I still do not like the fact about the proof of $10,000 health insurance.

Why do you ask? This only reafirms the publics view of riders as a hazard. Are you required to have $10,000 in health insurance to drive a car in the state of Florida?

P.S. While I always wear my helmet I think it should be an individuals *choice* and not tied to anything else including how much health insurance you have.

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Robert Basil
It ain't easy being green - Kermit the frog
But it sure is fun! - Robert Basil

RCjohn

· #10 · Jun 19, 2000

Good one Robert, you beat me to it.

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Ride Hard!

John

Csilva

· #11 · Jun 19, 2000

I can't wait till July 1st...Now I just need to find some cool glasses to wear...Check out this informative helmet law site.http://home.tampabay.rr.com/ourplace/Biker/tracking.htm

I also want to invite you to join your fellow bikers in a celebration of freedom in an inaugural "Freedom of Choice Run" at midnight on July 1, 2000. The run will leave from Tampa and end at Indian Shores near Clearwater. Check site for details.

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Cosmo

· #12 · Jun 19, 2000

I'll be on the shoulder of I95 selling saline solution and tweezers. For those budget-minded squids, I'll have it all neatly prepackaged in a ziploc baggie and labeled the "One-eyed Squid do-it-yourself foreign-object-in-eye removal kit". $49.95 plus tax. Also, I will have the new on the market "Little MD brand", do-it-yourself skin graft kit. Comes with a scalpel and duct tape. No helmets! No jacket! Flipflops!! Freedom of Choice! Stinkin' beaurocrats!!!! Rock on Wayne! Rock on Garth!

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Cosmo
'97 Katana 750

Robert

· #13 · Jun 19, 2000

Cosmo,

I'm acually blind in my left eye (honest, and no it didn't happen because of a motorcycle) Do I get a discount?

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Robert Basil
It ain't easy being green - Kermit the frog
But it sure is fun! - Robert Basil

Cosmo

· #14 · Jun 20, 2000

Oh my....sorry about that Robert. Didn't know. Wasn't poking fun or anything like that....I was anticipating the resulting eye injuries that are going to occur when all the squids ride w/o helmets and eye protection. Peace.

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Cosmo
"May I please, remain in this space, for darts......"

AZ Scott

· #15 · Jun 20, 2000

Robert, I agree completely with your point about the Health Insurance provision! I think it sucks. I would bet that if you ask the AMA how they feel about Florida's decision, they will be pissed!

All these years, the AMA has been fighting for repeal of helmet laws, without any strings attached! But the ABATE IDIOTS are too short-sighted to see this for what it is. They'll agree to anything, as long as we don't have to wear them damn helmets!

Think the Beef industry would agree to a provision that in order to purchase red meat, you had to show proof of health insurance? Hell, no!

Or the tobacco industry? You can smoke as many damn cigarettes as you want, as long as you are 18! All it takes is a little warning label on the box, which nobody reads anyway! (At least, I don't think anyone does -- how could you put a cigarette in your mouth if you DID read those warnings???) But if you made every smoker carry proof of health insurance, there would be holy Hell to pay!

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"If you want to keep working here, Son --- stay off the drugs..."

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Boogeyman

· #16 · Jun 24, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Aril, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Why do you ask? This only reafirms the publics view of riders as a hazard. Are you required to have $10,000 in health insurance to drive a car in the state of Florida?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In fact, Florida is one of the few states to require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for auto drivers... But they do not require ANY insurance if you ride a motorcycle WITH the helmet on. I do carry insurance, but I also DO wear my helmet...

Personally I don't care if the law was repealed or not... Way I see it, it will get more people out of my way when I need a clear road to ride on!!!

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Ken
"Boogeyman"
http://www.boogeyman.org

colin409

· #17 · Jun 24, 2000

ABATE's plan is to have the $10,000 insurance requirement repealed at a later date after it is proven that motorcyclists are in no way a burden to tax payers. It worked in Kentucky, it will probably work in Florida as well. If you read the law you will see there are no provisions for penalties, so in my opinion nobody actually expects it to be enforced. It seems the $10,000 requirement is just to keep voters happy. I may be wrong, we will just have to see. By the way, I will always wear my helmet.

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Colin
FloridaSportbikers
My Home Page

Ivyleague

· #18 · Sep 17, 2003

how long

if in florida is so easy than why try it over there. cannot be so lightr when driven motorcykle and no helmet

Y2K1 6R

· #19 · Sep 18, 2003

HAHA!!!!

isnt that odd... a guy named IvyLeague brings a post back to life after a 3 year haitus<sp?> and to top it all of it makes NO sense....LOL

I suggest you change your name....

EdgeRanger

· #20 · Sep 18, 2003

Its funny that some states will allow you not wear a helemt on a bike. but you still have to wear a seatblet in a car?? What happend to person freedom??

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