Senate Bill 2627 which would require children and small adults to wear helmets when on riding a bicycle and to be fastened in a safety seat if a passenger on a bicycle. 

 

A hearing on SB2627 is scheduled in Capitol Room 212 at 1 PM on this coming Tuesday, February 16th.  We do not know if Senator Silverstein will actually call the bill on Tuesday; so, I am not urging people to travel a great distance or to miss work to go to this hearing.  If we learn for certain that this bill will be heard on Tuesday, I will send out notices immediately asking people to be there.  Meanwhile, it is important that you contact the senators on the committee and tell them why this is a bad bill. 

 

The first item on A.B.A.T.E.’s draft Legislative Agenda for 2010 is:

“Oppose all mandatory helmet legislation whether for child or adult – bicycle or motorcycle.”  We have taken this position for years because bicycle helmet laws for children are a precursor of motorcycle helmet laws for adults.  Such a law would also insinuate government into the role of parents in taking care of their children.  This is a slippery slope, and it is better to have no helmet laws than some helmet laws for some people some of the time.

 

It is also unreasonable and demeaning to require adult passengers to be strapped to a seat just because they are less than 40 inches in height.  I imagine some double amputees would fit into this category.

 

The members of this committee are:

Senate Public Health Committee

 

                                                                                    District Office                 Spfld Office

William Delgado (D-2nd)(Chairman)                              (773) 292-0202               (217) 782-5652

Mattie Hunter (D-3rd)(Vice-Chairperson)                      (312) 949-1908               (217) 782-5966

Susan Garrett (D-29th)                                                  (847) 433-2002               (217) 782-3650

Michael Noland (D-22nd)                                              (847) 214-8864               (217) 782-7746

Jeffrey M. Schoenberg (D-9th)                                      (847) 492-1200               (217) 782-2119

Heather Steans (D-7th)                                                 (773) 769-1717               (217) 782-8492

Dave Syverson (R-34th) (Minority Spokesperson)           (815) 987-7555               (217) 782-5413

Dan Cronin (R-21st)                                                     (630) 792-0040               (217) 782-8107

Chris Lauzen (R-25th)                                                   (630) 264-2334               (217) 782-0052

Carole Pankau (R-23rd)                                                (630) 582-0390               (217) 782-9463

 

SB2627 talking points:

  • Government should not take the place of parents.
  • This is the beginning of the slippery slope toward a mandatory motorcycle helmet law.
  • Bicycle helmets do not protect against the sun or rain.
  • Once this law is in place, it will be simple to ratchet up the penalties.
  • The bill is demeaning to short adults.
  •  Government would impose a significant expense on young riders.

 

George Tinkham
A.B.A.T.E. State Legislative Coordinator
"Helping Democracy Work"