Seatbelts, helmets, what’s next comrade? Oh yeah, smoking. Can’t wait until salt and fat are banned as well.

Good veto. I also find seat belts confining but I wear them in my car, and I wear my helmet while motorcycling. It’s nice to see reason prevail over political expediency.

Thank you governor for making sure I’m safe. I hope there are cops in my yard making sure I wear steel toe boots when mowing my lawn too.

Good. If they’re going to have seat belt laws, it only makes sense there should be helmet laws as well.

I have been riding my harley around with no helmet for about a month now. Some cop told me that i need to be wearing a helmet. I told him a law passed saying that we don’t need one anymore. That stumped him. Now, good ole Jay is telling me I need to wear one. I’ll tell you what Jay, I’ll take the $25 ticket IF i get pulled over.

C’mon Steve…they’ll never BAN salt and fat. They’ll be rationed by The Party.

Once again Nixon is living in the land of oz…Nixon it’s pronounced “Missour’ee” and it where people should have to right to ride freely. Might be a hard election come 2012 based on his out state policies.

I am sick to my stomach over this! Doesn’t the government dictate enough of what we can and cant do! Its sad that a bunch of people who have never been on a motorcycle have the power to force their will on others. Instead of singling out bikers why dont we worry about all the idots on the highway talking and texting on their cell phones! I bet any amount of money that they will cause a traffic accident quicker than me not wearing a helmet! I guess its just the world we live in………PEOPLE ALWAYS BEING WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM! So I will keep wearing my helmet and you keep talking on your phone in rush hour traffic like a a**hole!

All you tough guys who are dumb enough to ride your bike without a helmet, I hope you like eating through a tube and riding a around in a wheelchair. As you well know, it usually not the bike rider that causes the devastating injury or death, it is another driver. Wear your helmets (good helmets not those skull cap pieces of crap) and live a long and happy life. Someone who knows.

I think it is idiotic if a person doesn’t wear a seatbelt or a helmet while operating a vehicle or a bike. I also think that it is completely up to each individual person to decide whether or not they want to wear one (over 18 I might add, kids should be required because they can’t make that decision intelligently). If someone dies because they didn’t use the safety gear, that has no affect on me. The government has no right to tell you to do something, like putting on a helmet, if not doing it has no affect on the rights of others.

I am 15 year motorcyclist. I am for government out of my life. I will not weep if someone gets themself killed due to thier stupidness (not wearing a helmet). But due to my experence as a RN, the tax payers will have to take care of these knuckel heads who don’t get killed, and scrampled thier heads just because they were not wearing a brain bucket. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars per person that we the tax payers have to foot the bill for. Insurance will only cover so much and so long. In this case, its not a manner of freedom, its a manner of tax payer’s MONEY!!!

dumbest Veto ever… none of the border states around Missouri have helmet laws. I guess its the right thing for Missouri for those folks to just ride around Missouri instead of visiting here. We don’t need no stinking tourism. Nixon is a goof, he could have veto’d it a month ago, I guess the political timing wasn’t right until today. Unless someone wants to buy an $80.00 helmet he is building a wall around the state to keep folks out of his little police state. all the people who fought so hard to get this Bill passed is gonna remember this come election day. Veto= “will of the people” doesn’t count.

It should be a matter of choice period.

“The government has no right to tell you to do something, like putting on a helmet, if not doing it has no affect on the rights of others.”

I agree, but would present this argument, which I am not claiming I think this way, but simply am presenting a possible retort:

It effects me because my insurance rates are impacted. If you get yourself killed, fine, but when you get injured and collect from the insurance company for the rest of your life in a vegetated state, my premiums go up to compensate. Me paying more because people like yourself don’t feel like taking the time to wear a helmet IS affecting my rights.

If you want to get on a high horse about the government dictating what you can or can’t do, consider anti-sodomy laws (Missouri had one until 2006), or banning gay marriage (which Missouri has done). While I agree the government should stay out of things that don’t impact others (smoking outdoors is another example), there are bigger ones out there that seem to take a backseat.

Sad to think how backwards MO is that having to wear helmets makes people so mad but banning people’s ability to wed someone they love doesn’t raise many eyebrows.

ECF ~ EXCELLENT!

I’ve been waiting a long time to ride my bike without a helmet in MO. This again is government not listening to the will of the people. It should be the motorcyclist who choose not those who don’t ride or the governments. Nixon would serve us well to be 4 and out!

Three cheers Jay!

I ride motorcycles, always wear a helmet and wear my seatbelt in my car too. I do not want my insurance rates to go up, because of people on Harley’s! They are only group of motorcyclists who oppose wearing helmets, by the way. They think it looks cool to not wear a helmet. In reality the worst handling motorcycles on the road are Harley’s and if anybody should be forced to wear a helmet, it should be Harley riders. LOL

thanks to all that have tried to get this bill passed. There are many reasons why people do and dont wear helmets, just as there are many who bungee jump and those who dont. There are many who drink wine and ride thier bicycles and those who dont. There are many who like to ride horse’s and there are those who dont. I could care less eitherway, my helmet goes on and off with my mood, just as a skydiver stays on the ground when he doesnt want to jump. Mind your own business, its better that way.

Nixon did the right thing. I would only support overturning seat-belt and helmet laws IF we went to no-fault insurance in the state. Then, if you want to be an idiot and ride a motorcycle w/o helmet then YOUR insurance pays. It’s all about liability, folks. Your “right” (as if) to not wear a helmet ends when my insurance company pays to have them scrape your brains off the concrete with hopes to stuff it back into your head.

This is fantastic news!!! To those who say that wearing a helmet only affects you: What about those family members you leave behind? Or, those loved ones that have to care for you when you’re too brain damaged to do it yourself? Oh yeah, your crash wouldn’t impact these folks at all… not to mention my tax dollars that are spent to care for you when your insurance is expended and you lose your job because you can’t return to work.

Not wearing the right safety gear (helmet, armored jacket and pants, gloves, boots, eye protection) is only being “selfish” because you ultimately just want to look cool and be a weekend warrior seen by all your buddies. Maintaining this law is a good move and will save lives! From a rider with years of experience… consider increasing the fine for not wearing a DOT compliant helmet (instead of those fake helmets that have no impact absorbing material in them to help prevent brain injury) to a FINE ($250?) that is more likely to change behavior! Thank you Governor Nixon!!!!!

Great, now comrade Nixon should require helmets in cars, trucks, scooters, and bicycles as all of these vehicles have elevated head injuries that are costing us money. All could be avoided by requiring helmets.

In addition, the greatest cause of injury are improperly constructed roads. Perhaps comrade Nixon’s time and efforts would be better off fixing our roads.

So Governor Nixon knuckled under to the medical professions bag of tricks and the NHTSA’s list of inflated motorcycle injury data and the all rider helmet law in Missouri remains in effect. Well they have their agenda and I have mine: as I crisscross the country on my Gold Wing in late July thru September, I’ll be spending my money for lodging, fuel and food in Kansas and in other helmet free states. Missouri will not see one dime of my vacation money.

Brian-”Instead of singling out bikers why dont we worry about all the idots on the highway talking and texting on their cell phones! I bet any amount of money that they will cause a traffic accident quicker than me not wearing a helmet!”

Umm, are you sure you haven’t already had an accident without your helmet on? I don’t recall ever hearing or reading about anyone claiming helmets cause traffic accidents.

Mr. R,

Did you fail to read the paragraph in which Mr. Rahn references a “survey that said Missourians overwhelmingly want motorcyclists to wear helmets.”?

Yours on a crotchrocket,
JPinSTL

cophater69: Apparently you hated Civics class too. A bill passed in the legislature is not a law until it is signed by the governor. And, thank heavens Governor Nixon is going to use his veto in this case!

I think that this law should be struck down for the simple fact that it should be a matter of choice whether or not to wear a helmet. I will continue to wear one in Missouri since I live here, and continue to take it off (if I choose) when I hit the state line of KS/OK and AR. I don’t think this is a communist state, or that our Governor is Hitler/Stalin-like, or even retarded–this is one issue in a sea of many I’m sure he deals with…but that being said, this is an issue that directly affects ME. To make it quite simple, either pass it while in office, or lose my $$ support and eventually, my vote. Is either important to him?

Mr. P,

How selfish of you.

Yours in the voting booth,
JPinSTL

Good veto. I also find seat belts confining but I wear them in my car, and I wear my helmet while motorcycling. It’s nice to see reason prevail over political expediency.
— Clyde Farris
2:09 pm July 2nd, 2009

Good for you. That should be your CHOICE not the law. I don’t need the government to protect me from me. I also wish the politicians would start quoting the amount of revene generated from these “Safety Laws” as we all know thats really the reason the law sticks around. While were at it, can we blow $33k of tax payers money to determine how much safer we would ALL be with a law banning cell phone usage while on public road ways?

I should have known that all you bleeding heart, gay pride liberals would have to chime in on something that you know nothing about. You deserve Nixon. Let him lead you to the slaughter like the cattle you are! Women can decide if they want to have a baby but “harley guys” cant make a choice on wearing a helmet! Par for the course!

I am 15 year motorcyclist. I am for government out of my life. I will not weep if someone gets themself killed due to thier stupidness (not wearing a helmet). But due to my experence as a RN, the tax payers will have to take care of these knuckel heads who don’t get killed, and scrampled thier heads just because they were not wearing a brain bucket. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars per person that we the tax payers have to foot the bill for. Insurance will only cover so much and so long. In this case, its not a manner of freedom, its a manner of tax payer’s MONEY!!!

You are assuming that the helmet will save us when little Suzy is texting away and ends up T-boneing us in the intersection. Spend that “Tax Payers Money” banning the things that make the road dangerous for bikers (i.e cell phone useage, make-up applications, reading the paper while drving to work and all the other utterly stupid, YET LEGAL, activities that the cagers do on a daily basis). Once there are laws that promote SAFE DRIVING then we can look into laws that promote safe wrecks.

When you have an accident without a helmet and become a vegetable, you will become a ward of the State. Then my tax dollars have to pay for your choice. That isn’t fair to me!

Also, what happens when you have an accident with someone else and are killed. That other person could be haunted by your death even if the accident was your fault. Even if it was their fault, it could be your fault that you are dead. Yete they may suffer for the rest of their life because of your choice. That isn’t fair to them!

Driving is not a God given right. Therefore, the government has the right to make reasonable rules to make it fair for society as a whole, not for each individual.

+1 vote for nixon.
I’m sorry that you want the wind in your hair. I’ve never hit a motorcyclist and hope that I never do. I’m not a perfect driver and neither are you. I try to be safe, but crap happens. I don’t want my life ruined(and yours) if I have accident with you and you wind up dead, brain dead, or paralyzed and I get sued to cover all the medical bills over and above my insurance coverage that you would not have sustained if you were wearing a helmet and the same goes for seatbelts.

If these motorcycle riders make the unfortunate choice not to wear a helmet and are involved in an accident I would hope NO tax dollars will go towards their healthcare. Whether they have no insurance or their insurance runs out because they have such severe head trauma and end up in a nursing home. I don’t want my taxes to pay for such a stubborn, not to mention, stupid decision.

To cophater69- I hope it is that cop who has to scrape your scalp off the road and then go tell your relatives that you were either killed or in a trauma unit and will most likely be a vegetable the rest of your life. I don’t think he should have to change any of your diapers though.

But talking on the phone and texting is legal???? I never saw a motorcyle rider swerve into other lanes like a drunk because he wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Yes because every motor cycle rider ends up brain dead or is killed while riding. Just like every gun owner eventually walks into a mall and shoots people.

I guess one can make figures tell you whatever you wish. There is no way that my wearing, or not wearing, a helmet (or seat belt) can make one whit of difference to state taxpayers. Except for the fines such a stupid law might generate if those who are stopped pay the darn fines. I’m not a bike rider (motor or self-propelled) but it is my life, not yours, therefore it should be my decision, not yours and, most definitely, not the politicians, who need to butt out of our lives. The same holds for seat belts, and for all other restrictive measures passed into law over the past several years. And to all you cities who have cameras at stop lights, and who harass people by making indiscriminate license and DUI checks, go to Hades (or somewhere equally as hot). I don’t smoke, but if I wanted to, it should be my right, the same as if I want to salt or pepper my food. You liberals need to move to some socialist country and leave us rednecks alone.

If I have an accident and become a vegetable, it won’t be the state (or the U.S. government) who pays for my hospitalization. And it won’t be you, or any of your family. It’s none oif your damn business what I do. Stay out of my life and I’ll stay out of yours.

Brian:

Your last name wouldn’t happen to be Nieves, would it?

(Only the politically astute will likely get that one)

Seatbelts, helmets, what’s next comrade? Oh yeah, smoking. Can’t wait until salt and fat are banned as well. - Steve

Sugar… toy forgot sugar Steve

“If I have an accident and become a vegetable, it won’t be the state (or the U.S. government) who pays for my hospitalization. And it won’t be you, or any of your family. It’s none oif your damn business what I do. Stay out of my life and I’ll stay out of yours.” — Ray 5:26 pm July 2nd, 2009

Well said Ray… but you know, if that happens you’ll have to become a Democrat and (likely) write for the Post

God save us from those who try to protect us by taking away our rights! The riders will always have the right to decide. Gov Nixon, you’ve taken away our right to be free but not our right to vote. We will be heard on election day!

Pete 2:47 pm July 2 - quit Harley bashing and stereotyping. Wear your helmet if you choose, but that’s what it should be, a choice! I would wear my helmet regardless, AND I ride a Harley. Not all Harley riders are only concerned with looking cool. . . We look cool even WITH helmets. Now go buy a Harley; it’ll help with your stereotyping.

I will go along with this law when they pass a law that NO public funds will be used to provide healthcare or long term healthcare for these idiots who don’t take every safety precaution. If you want to endanger your life and health, go right ahead. Just don’t expect me to back you up because you become disabled for the next 40 years.

I want to know when they are going to make condoms mandatory?! Look how much money the state would save in abortions, childcare, welfare, healthcare, courts, etc. Oh wait…even the legislators would be required to wear one so I guess that means it’s not going to happen…(unless of course we get a majority of women in the house and senate) LET THE RIDER DECIDE!

Wonder how much money this cost Bell helmets and other helmets manufactors?? Also a state survey shows that only 37percent of riders wearing helmets in an accident end up with no head injuries. Let me have my freedom. Why do we have to wear seat belts in cars and helmets on motorcycles but you dont have to wear a seat belt in a boat? Its a motorized vechile isnt it? Why dont you have to wear a helment on a jet ski? its a motorized vechile isnt it? And the best for last why do i have to have a helment, insurance, and a drivers licence that also has to have a M on it for motorcycles but you dont have to have them on a 49cc toy????

that is what you get for voting in a Dem.

As a trauma nurse, I support common sense. As an American, I also support freedom of choice. Educating the public on safety issues such as smoking, seat belts, helmets, and diving into shallow water is my job, not the government’s. The government needs to stop micromanaging the public and let the people make a choice.

Anyone who wants to ride without a helmet should be allowed to. They should also be prepared to pay higher insurance rates in support of their behavior, and the insurance companies should be allowed to charge them higher rates. In addition, in the event they are have an accident and suffer a head injury while riding they should not have any of their healthcare or rehab cost paid for with state or federal funds. As a tax payer I don’t want to pay for anyone’s irresponsible behavior — in this case something as simple as wearing or not wearing a helmet.

Compare helment expences to the money that is spent on HIV infected people and the lives are taken from AIDS but condoms are still a choice….