First and foremost this posting is for info only. Do not post your opinion of the helmet law and or those that ride with or without one..
SB202 as written was passed and sent to the Gov. for his signature
Current Bill Summary
SCS/SB 202 - This act provides that operating a motorcycle, in and of itself, shall not be considered evidence of comparative negligence. The act also provides that when investigating an accident or settling an automobile insurance policy claim, no insurer, agent, producer, or claims adjuster of an insurer shall assign a percentage of fault to a party based upon the sole fact that the party was operating a motorcycle in an otherwise legal manner. This provision is similar to SB 505 (2007).
This act also exempts persons 21 years of age or older from wearing protective headgear except when operating or riding motorcycles or motortricycles upon interstate highways. The motorcycle helmet exemption expires on August 28, 2014 (Section 302.020).
This act is substantially similar to SB 1067 (2008), SB 252 (2007), SB 635 (2006), SB 12 (2005), SB 744 (2004), SB 226 (2003), SB 646 (2002), SB 18 (2001), SB 610 (2000) and SB 294 (1999).
Amendments to Missouri motorcycle helmet laws heads to Governor for signature
April 30th, 2009
After decades of legislation and years of political arguments it appears Missouri's motorcycle helmet law will be changed.
Passed by the House with a vote of 93-65, the bill to amend the 'Show me' State's helmet laws is on its way to the Governor for the final signature. The bill would allow people at least 21 years old to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet as long as they're not traveling on an interstate highway.
The amendment would change a mandatory helmet law that advocacy groups have tried to change for decades. Much of the bills successful passage has been attributed to lawmakers adding the helmet provisions to a larger bill regarding motorcycle insurance.
The bill the helmet provision is attached to would permanently prohibit insurance companies from assigning fault to someone in an accident based only on the fact that the person was riding a motorcycle, while the added helmet exemption would expire in five years.
According to an Missouri newspaper the Belleville News- Democrat, A study completed by researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville found motorcycle death rates increased by an average of 12.2 percent in states that repealed universal helmet requirements. The study analyzed the effect of helmet law changes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 1975 through 2004.
With all the controversies over previous proposals to amend Missouri's motorcycle helmet laws, it was noticeable how little debate the successful legislation received this year, from either chamber.
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