2007 House Bill 4749

Allow helmetless motorcycle operation for $100 annual fee

Introduced in the House

May 15, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Barbara Farrah (D-13)

To repeal the mandatory motorcycle helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who pays an extra $100 annual fee (or $200 for three years), has had a license for two years, and purchases extra insurance with $20,000 personal injury coverage. Passengers would have to pay another $100 (or $200) to ride helmetless. The bill also increases the penalties for riding helmetless without paying the extra fee. Those who have paid would get a license plate sticker indicating this.

Referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform

May 29, 2007

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Oct. 11, 2007

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises various details, but does not change its substance. This version was subsequently superseded by the Farrah substitute, which has substantive changes.

The substitute failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Barbara Farrah (D-13)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that has the same substantive changes as the Farrah substitute that was subsequenly adopted, but which also would have earmarked $1 million of the extra fee revenue to motorcycle safety training programs. The later version does not contain that earmark, but essentially just uses the new money to fund regular State Police operations that would otherwise be paid for with some other state taxes or fees (which will now be used to pay for something else).

The substitute failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Barbara Farrah (D-13)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not require passenger to pay the extra fee to ride helmetless, and exempts out-of-state motorcycle operators who own their cycle from the mandatory helmet law (they would not have to pay the proposed extra fee).

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 69 to 39 (details)

To repeal the mandatory motorcycle helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who pays an extra $100 annual fee (or $200 for three years), has had a license for two years (or takes a safety course), and purchases extra insurance with $20,000 personal injury coverage. Passengers would have to pay another $100 (or $200) to ride helmetless. The bill also increases the penalties for riding helmetless without paying the extra fee. Those who have paid would get a license plate sticker indicating this. Out-of-state riders would not have to buy the permit if they own their motorcycle.

Received in the Senate

Oct. 16, 2007

Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform

Oct. 18, 2007

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Tom George (R-20)

To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 5243, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 5243 would require motorcyclists who choose to ride without a helmet to pay for the unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) required for other vehicle owners under the state no-fault automobile insurance law.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 23 to 15 (details)

To repeal the mandatory motorcycle helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who pays an extra $100 annual fee (or $200 for three years), has had a license for two years (or takes a safety course), and purchases extra insurance with $20,000 personal injury coverage. Passengers would have to pay another $100 (or $200) to ride helmetless. The bill also increases the penalties for riding helmetless without paying the extra fee. Those who have paid would get a license plate sticker indicating this. Out-of-state riders would not have to buy the permit if they own their motorcycle.

Received in the House

Oct. 23, 2007

June 4, 2008

Amendment offered by Rep. David Agema (R-74)

To eliminate the provision that requires motorcyclists to pay a fee to be exempt from the helmet mandate.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 70 to 38 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Vetoed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

June 13, 2008

Received in the House

June 17, 2008