Assembly OKs Mandatory Helmet Bill

After being sidetracked in the Legislature for more than two decades, a controversial bill to require all motorcycle riders to wear safety helmets was approved by the Assembly on Monday without a vote to spare.

A 41-29 vote, the exact majority required, was cast on the measure, which was the first mandatory motorcycle helmet bill to clear either house of the Legislature.

It next goes to the Senate where it can be expected to generate the same high emotions it did at an earlier Assembly hearing when hundreds of Hells Angels and other burly motorcycle club members converged on the Capitol in protest.

An opponent, Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach), temporarily held up transmission of the bill to the Senate by serving notice that he would seek reconsideration.

Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Hawthorne), author of the legislation, said he believes his bill has a good chance of passing in the Senate. He also charged that opponents of the measure “are afraid of people with long hair and earrings who look mean” when they should be concerned about voters who favor the bill.

During the Assembly debate, Floyd argued that taxpayers are picking up a $65-million annual tab for taking care of helmetless motorcycle riders who are injured in accidents.

Floyd said the helmets can be purchased for as little as $29.95 and must by federal law be able to withstand a direct impact of at least 13 m.p.h.

“I know that doesn’t sound like a whole lot but a 1 m.p.h. direct impact on the human head will destroy you,” said Floyd, who argued that motorcycle riders should want “something between their skull and the pavement.”

According to the California Highway Patrol, there were 801 fatalities and 27,325 injuries from motorcycle-related accidents on state highways in 1985. However, no one is sure of the exact cost of caring for the victims.