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A push to repeal Nebraska’s motorcycle helmet law is going to a vote in the Legislature despite opposition from senators who say the requirement saves lives.

The repeal measure would lift Nebraska’s restriction on motorcycle helmets for riders who are at least 21 years old. Operators would still have to wear eye protection.

Lawmakers adjourned for the day on March 20 without taking action after a morning-long debate. A vote is expected today.

Sen. Dave Bloomfield, of Hoskins, said he introduced the measure as a matter of personal liberty. Nebraska had more than 97,000 licensed motorcycle operators last year.

Supporters of the current law say it helps control insurance and Medicaid costs by preventing many serious injuries.

Motorcyclist groups have been trying to repeal the law for more than two decades. Nebraska is one of 19 states that require helmets for all riders. If the law passes, it would join the 28 states with a “partial helmet” law that include exceptions for certain riders. Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire are the only states with no requirement, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said he supported the bill although he questioned the wisdom of riding helmetless.

“If riding a motorcycle without a helmet makes one a fool, a person has a constitutional right in America to be a fool,” Chambers said. “If people choose to do that, then there is nothing that I can do to stop them. There’s nothing I will try to do to stop them.”

Among Nebraska’s border states, only Missouri requires riders to wear helmets.

Nebraska motorcyclists testified in a hearing last month that the state provides the most direct route to the world’s largest motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, but thousands of riders avoid Nebraska because of its helmet law. With an estimated 700,000 riders expected this year, they argued that Nebraska is losing millions in gas station and lodging business.

The bill is LB 31.

Topics Auto Legislation