Motorcycle Helmet Bill Approved by Assembly

After being pigeonholed in the Legislature for more than two decades, a bill requiring all motorcycle riders to wear protective crash helmets was passed by the Assembly on Tuesday and sent to Gov. George Deukmejian.

“It’s a miracle. I feel great,” said the author, Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Hawthorne), after the house had passed his bill on a 44-25 bipartisan vote.

Deukmejian has taken no position on the measure.

During the Assembly floor action, Fred Dryer, the former Los Angeles Rams defensive end who now stars in the “Hunter” television series, lobbied against the bill from the rear of the chambers. Dryer, a motorcyclist, said that “putting helmets on people will not stop accidents. We need more education.”

The rebel Democratic “Gang of Five” and some Republicans also tried unsuccessfully to stop the bill with a series of parliamentary maneuvers, contending that government should not intrude so far into peoples’ lives.

Backers of the mandatory helmet bill claim it will protect riders and reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by accidents.

There was no debate on the measure, which had previously passed the Senate by a 23-12 margin. About 150 black-clad Hells Angels and members of other motorcycle clubs had circled the Capitol last year in opposition to the measure.

Existing state law requires a motorcycle rider 15 1/2 years of age and under to wear helmets. The Floyd bill would extend the helmet requirement to drivers or passengers of any age. First-time violators would be subject to a $100 fine.

Meanwhile, in other action, the Assembly voted 57 to 13 to send the governor a bill to add wine cooler bottles to the state’s penny-per-container recycling law. This measure was sponsored by Assemblyman Byron D. Sher (D-Palo Alto).

The lower house also sent to the Senate on a 59-5 vote a measure by Assemblywoman Marian LaFollette (R-Northridge) to reverse a state Supreme Court decision and extend the death penalty to murderers of witnesses in juvenile cases.

The Assembly Ways and Means Committee voted 14 to 3 to approve a bill to impose tighter quality controls on laboratories that process cervical cancer tests, better known as “Pap smears.” Authored by Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-El Monte), the measure now moves to the floor of the lower house.