Sacramento, May 7th, 1996
After months of touting propaganda of how the under 21 helmet amendment would pass and become law, Assembly Bill 244 went down like the Titanic on a 6 to 2 vote from the Senate Transportation Committee. There was no doubt that the anti-helmet groups were well prepared and put on an excellent presentation, debunking all pro-helmet statistical data, and even ending with testimony from a paraplegic woman who became disabled as a direct result of spinal injuries received from a helmet in an accident.
The pro-helmet group followed. They consisted of medical personnel and state health workers reciting the exact false data already dispelled by the motorcyclists along with a few well meaning but misinformed concerned mothers crying about lost loved ones.
Following some outrageous testimony from a state welfare worker on supporting accident victims and their families, a new twist developed in the proceedings when Richard Quigley, speaking for the Helmet Law Defense League and Bikers Of Lesser Tolerance (BOLT), forced to appear with the pro-helmet law forces, spoke in opposition to the helmet modification bill. Right about the time Quigley began his testimony, helmet-Nazi Quentin Kopp walked in and interrupted the proceedings and demanded to know why the testimony was so slow. It appears Kopp thought Quigley was speaking in favor of the bill and thought that they should have progressed further. Quigley quickly put Kopp in a fluster explaining he was there in opposition to the bill.
A boring and frustrating hearing suddenly came to life as Quigley complained about the lobbying efforts of the CHP at taxpayers expense, the federal injunction against the CHP, and the discriminatory language of the bill which still forced 18 to 20-year-olds to wear helmets. Being steadfastly opposed to helmets in general, and all helmet laws specifically; the Quig explained that AB-244 was a bad bill and could not be supported unless it became a total repeal or was better amended.
Such opposition set Kopp in a mind spin and he quickly called Richard Floyd in, who stated if the committee voted for the bill it would give him something to do for the next couple of years. This really befuddled Kopp who then reminded everyone that these last two speakers were supposed to be against the bill.
The vote was called and it was apparent the minds of the senators had been made up before the hearing, and only Senators Montiff and Kelly voted for the proposal. The bikers in the room left quietly, another lesson learned about how "democracy" works.
Comment:
One would think that the MROs (motorcycle rights groups) would have learned their lesson by now-- that they are never going to get any type of repeal or age modification against the helmet law. While Paul Lax of ABATE was the only supporter who even mentioned that the law was unenforceable and the subject of several court decisions and a federal injunction, he made no presentation of why the law was unenforceable and should be repealed to avoid injustice and lawsuits.
What are these people going to do now? It is obvious their support is diminishing, while the pro-helmet forces are well funded and have a safety-paranoia public behind them.
Perhaps it is time these MROs learn their lesson and support the fight in the courts and in the streets. After all, can anybody tell us how to comply with the helmet law with certainty?
Geoff Smith
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