The state Senate plans to vote Wednesday to repeal Michigan’s motorcycle helmet requirement for riders who are 21 and older. The Senate vote would likely send the measure to Governor Rick Snyder to sign or veto.
Repealing the helmet law is a very popular idea in the Republican-led Legislature, but the measure has not moved in many months because Governor Snyder linked the issue to making changes to Michigan’s no-fault insurance law.
Those changes would limit medical benefits to injured people, and have proved to be controversial. State Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville says repealing the helmet law should not get caught in that stalemate.
“It didn’t seem right to be penalizing a group that’s been waiting for a long time and now, especially with the weather and the way that it’s been changing," he says. "People are out on their bikes already, and I’m thinking this would be a good way to celebrate the new riding season.”
But Governor Snyder remains non-committal on what he’d do if and when it reaches his desk. He only says he’d review it.
