The Virginian-Pilot
Efforts to repeal a state law requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets are taking a new twist this year. Rather than take the helmet law off the books, opponents are trying to water it down.
HB2585 would allow bikers to forgo helmets on state scenic highways. On all other roads, police would be banned from stopping bikers for not wearing helmets.
They could only cite a cyclist for not wearing a helmet if he or she was stopped for another driving offense, such as speeding.
HB3077 would reduce the maximum $250 penalty for driving without a helmet to $25 and make it a civil offense that does not assess demerit points against the cyclist's driving record.
Both bills passed the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee on Friday, which has approved several measures over the years that would have repealed the helmet law. Those efforts have never survived a vote in the full House of Delegates.
- Warren Fiske
CHERRIX CASE
Panel passes bill that would protect parents
Proposed legislation that would protect parents from being charged with abuse or neglect when they seek alternative medical treatments for a terminally ill child was approved by a vote of 8-5 on Friday in
the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee.
Sponsored by Norfolk Republican Sen. Nick Rerras, SB905 grew out of the case of Chincoteague youth Abraham Cherrix, who has lymphatic cancer.
His parents were taken to court last year because they had removed him from traditional cancer treatment to seek an alternative treatment medicine in Mexico.
Rerras' bill would, in part, allow parents to seek alternative medicines if the youth is mature enough to make the decision jointly with his parents.
However, Dr. Robin Foster told the committee Friday that SB905 would increase litigation because the bill does not clearly define many terms, including "terminally ill."
Such legislation, she said, could erode current protections to children whose families are not truly invested in their children's care, said Foster, who is director of Virginia Commonwealth University's pediatric emergency and child protection team.
Sen. Kenneth Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, said the bill will help families.
"Families know what's best, and we need to give parents and children in this position more control of their destiny," he said.
- Gillian Gaynair
BOATING SAFETY
House gives first OK to exams by 2016
A bill that would require anyone operating a motorboat to complete an approved boating safety education course received tentative approval by the House of Delegates on Friday.
HB1627, sponsored by Del. Kathy Byron, R-Lynchburg, would be phased in so that all boaters would be required to pass the course and an exam in 2016.
The bill, which faces a final vote on Monday, would apply to all waters in Virginia.
Del. Algie Howell, D-Norfolk, who has been a boater for more than 25 years, endorsed the bill.
"Most old guys like myself, we're getting tired of these youngsters riding
through a crowd of us and almost turning us over," he said. "I don't mind going down and taking the test."
- Harry Minium
ODU CLASSES
Committee OKs bill to teach in the Beach
The House Appropriations Committee unanimously passed a bill that would give Old Dominion University the right to offer classes this spring for underclassmen at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center.
The bill, HB3018, previously passed the House Education Committee, but was sent to Appropriations because it might affect the state budget. The committee judged the impact to be minimal.
ODU began offering courses last fall in Virginia Beach but did so without state permission.
Because nearby Tidewater Community College offers essentially the same courses, ODU was required by state officials to move the classes back to its Norfolk campus.
The bill's sponsor, Del. Robert Tata, R-Virginia Beach, said the bill is largely symbolic, in that it would expire in July.
- Harry Minium
NEW JUDGES
Senate adds jurists to Beach, Chesapeake
State senators voted Friday to add a new general district court judge in Virginia Beach and a new juvenile and domestic relations district court judge in Chesapeake.
The legislature this year is considering the addition of four circuit, three general district and two domestic relations judges.
- Christina Nuckols
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Everyone should wear a helmet!
Allowing that enclosed motor vehicle crash and pedestrian accidents account for considerably more head trauma injuries that result in death, let's expand the helmet mandate for all persons. Enact legislation to force each head of household to purchase a $200 helmet for each family member which they would then dutifully strap on before entering a motor vehicle or crossing the street. All helmet law proponents could then sample the frustrating inconvenience of wearing a four pound bucket on an extremely humid day. Imagine the number of lives saved. Of course there would be the annoyance of wearing that sweat producing bucket.
Some of you are missing the point.
This isn't about safety. Even the person who posted a story about living through an accident has got to know that wearing a helmet is safer than riding without. The point is that bikers don't want you or our legislators holding our hands and letting us know what is best. If the reason is health care and insurance costs then fine people for smoking or eating at McDonalds. The costs associated with "stupid" people over-eating far outweighs bikers without helmets. If it's about safety, get rid of swimming pools. Hundreds of kids drown every year. Please! No more laws. I am going to have to hire an attorney just to leave the house in the morning!
A Darwinian approach
I say we let motorcyclists choose whether or not to wear a helmet. Natural selection will do the rest.
Wind tunnel logic at work
I guess motorcycle sales will be on the rise now since they want to let you go without a helmet. But those that want to pass this, bust have had their heads turned side ways while riding one, and a big wind tunnel came into place. Let's see, in an enclosed vehicle you have to wear a seat belt or get a ticket. But you can ride a motorcycle out in the open without any protection now. Makes about as much sense as grabing a light socket and stepping into a water puddle barefooted.
Typical polotics
Instead of just doing away with helmet laws altogether, like many other states, Va has to put all kinds of twists and stipulations on this law. Just quit being big brother, let the individual decide and be done with it! As far as you people crying about insurance, hospital stays, highway safety ect... Hate to pop your bubble,but most motorcycle accidents are caused by people like you, driving around in your Suv's talking on your cell phones.Leave bikers alone and mind your own business.
Do any of you ride a motorcycle?
Heres one for you. I ride and have ridden motorcycles for 30 years. I own a business, pay taxes, and yes, I have insurance. I believe riders should be the ones who decide. I was riding one day in '84 and had the pleasure of an innattentive driver pull out in front of me. He said he didn't notice the high beam on during the day. I hit his front end, flew for 90 feet, and hit a bridge abutment. I wasn't wearing a helmet, and didn't sustain any head injury. If I had 3 or so pounds of helmet strapped to my head, I might have had a broken neck. I've ridden with and without helmets and would rather take my chances without. For those of you complaining about folks not wearing them, how many ride? I thought so, now how many smoke? thought that too. Now are you overweight from cheeseburgers? That's a burden on our system, I'd like to see what you do when I try to legislate your choices because you're not intelligent enough to do so yourselves.
Do some research. Give me my freedom.. bon apetit
Let Those Who Ride, Decide
Out of the 78% of the people who think a motorcyclist should be ticketed, i wonder how many of them even ride.
Probably not a 1.
Some chose to ride without a helmet, some Cages (that would be a car for those of you that dont ride but insist you know whats best for those that do) like to yak on there cell phones while there truckin down the highway. I thank you all so much for caring so much for us bikers. maybe i can care as much about you and support banning radio's in cars, cellphones, smoking, chewing gum, eating. See how silly it all sounds.
If it dont affect you, leave it be. Let those who ride, Decide
Rediculous
What kind of message is that sending? "If you don't wear a seat belt, we'll hunt you down and give you hundreds of tickets because we're so worried about safety....but on a bike you can do what you want!" This is ****. Highway safety just went out the window.
exactly!
yes sam exactly,head trauma will be up, in already overcrowded,hospitals.i do not now what state legislators are thinking,but bad idea!
No Helmet...No insurance
Insruance rates are too high. And the stupidity of people make them higher. You don't wear a helmet there should be no insurance payments, no welfare, and no free health care. Stupid is as stupid does!
How dumb is that?
Who the world was dumb enough to sponsor a bill to allow motorcyclist to not wear helmets? I wonder how many of these motorcyclist would also not have hospitalization? I guess that means the rest of us would be responsible for their 24/7 care if their mangled bodies still have a beating heart but they are brain dead. If you pass this, you're going to have to do away with the seatbelt laws for cars, and why bother to make children be in car seats. Even a minor bike accident can turn major with a hit to the head, this is totally rediculous. Keep the helmet law just like it is.
No Helmets Spill Soft Brains
The legislator wishing to soften the motorcycle helmet law evidentally played football too long without a helmet.