[Oregon] House firmly rejects ATV helmet mandate The Oregon House on Wednesday resoundingly defeated a bill that would have made it mandatory for all-terrain vehicle riders to wear a helmet while on public lands.
House Bill 2062 fell by a margin of 34-22. The helmet bill was widely seen as the one ATV safety measure of the five introduced this session with a decent chance to become law. Some of the most vocal ATV activists, who condemned proposed ATV age restrictions and a proposed passenger ban, favored making helmets mandatory.
Eight Democrats, including Speaker Jeff Merkley, D-Portland, voted against the measure.
"It's a question for me of when do you tell people what they can do and how much latitude do you give people in our society to say, 'It's your choice,' " Merkley said.
The vote came 12 days after the death of 18-year-old Allison Brady in an ATV crash. The Oregon City college student was killed in an accident in Idaho. She was not wearing a helmet.
Nationally, ATV deaths and injuries are running at record rates. More than 750 people lost their lives and 135,000 were injured in 2005.
HB2062 was one of four ATV safety bills introduced this session at the request of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The others would prohibit ATV riders from carrying passengers; require all ATVs be titled; and institute mandatory training for ATV riders.
A Parks and Recreation official said the bill's defeat casts doubt on the rest of the department's ATV legislation.
"The political reality of where this leaves us is all three of our House bills are dead," said Jim Myron, legislative coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department. "There just isn't the political will in the House to deal with the ATV issue."
Source: Oregon Live
House Bill 2062 fell by a margin of 34-22. The helmet bill was widely seen as the one ATV safety measure of the five introduced this session with a decent chance to become law. Some of the most vocal ATV activists, who condemned proposed ATV age restrictions and a proposed passenger ban, favored making helmets mandatory.
Eight Democrats, including Speaker Jeff Merkley, D-Portland, voted against the measure.
"It's a question for me of when do you tell people what they can do and how much latitude do you give people in our society to say, 'It's your choice,' " Merkley said.
The vote came 12 days after the death of 18-year-old Allison Brady in an ATV crash. The Oregon City college student was killed in an accident in Idaho. She was not wearing a helmet.
Nationally, ATV deaths and injuries are running at record rates. More than 750 people lost their lives and 135,000 were injured in 2005.
HB2062 was one of four ATV safety bills introduced this session at the request of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The others would prohibit ATV riders from carrying passengers; require all ATVs be titled; and institute mandatory training for ATV riders.
A Parks and Recreation official said the bill's defeat casts doubt on the rest of the department's ATV legislation.
"The political reality of where this leaves us is all three of our House bills are dead," said Jim Myron, legislative coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department. "There just isn't the political will in the House to deal with the ATV issue."
Source: Oregon Live
