Cyclists Roar Into Capital to Protest Helmet-Use Bill

Motorcyclists clad in leather roared up to the state Capitol on Sunday for a noontime rally to urge Gov. Pete Wilson to veto a hotly disputed bill that would require them to wear safety helmets.

The governor is expected to sign the bill into law today. Former Gov. George Deukmejian vetoed two mandatory helmet-use bills.

State police estimated that the crowd was 500 at the peaceful rally, which was sponsored by two groups formed to oppose helmet regulations--ABATE (American Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education) and BAM (Bikers Against Manslaughter).

A similar rally the previous Sunday at Los Angeles City Hall drew an estimated 4,000 motorcyclists.

ABATE state coordinator Paul Lax urged the Sacramento bikers to register to vote in order to remove lawmakers who voted for the bill and reelect those who voted against it.

“We will run a massive voter registration drive,” Lax said. “We will let people know exactly how their assemblyman and senator voted. We will put more of our friends in the Legislature and try to repeal the law. No matter what happens, one place we are not going to go is away.”

Lax also said the two groups plan to file a civil lawsuit to challenge the helmet requirement if the bill is signed. Meanwhile, other motorcyclists passed out flyers urging their colleagues to refuse to wear helmets, not sign tickets, be taken to jail, and clog the courts by requesting trials.

“They did it in Connecticut back in 1976 and the governor finally said: ‘We aren’t going to enforce the helmet law here anymore,’ ” said Mike Keller of Chico.

“He (Wilson) is starting a war if he signs that bill into law.”

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia now require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.

Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Carson), the author of the helmet bill, spoke with the protesters on the Capitol steps afterward. They booed him and shouted remarks such as, “We’ll vote you out of office” and “You should represent Moscow.”

Asked why he showed up at the rally, Floyd said: “It’s a nice day with a lot of sunshine and I wanted to hear the speeches. We have a little disagreement, that’s all. I want them all to stay healthy and safe and alive.

“If they want to try to vote me out of office, let them try. They’ve tried it before.”

The bill calls for a $100 fine on the first offense for failing to wear a helmet, with higher fines for subsequent violations. The law would go into effect Jan. 1. State law now requires only motorcycle riders 15 1/2 and younger and all-terrain vehicle riders of all ages to wear helmets.

Proponents argue that the legislation would save California taxpayers up to $100 million a year in medical and other costs for cyclists who are injured while riding without a helmet.

Opponents claim that it restricts their freedom of choice to ride without a helmet, which they say can reduce vision and hearing and cause accidents.