Maine House rejects two motorcycle bills under consideration this week

MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAWS (H 3428) - The House rejected legislation repealing the current state law requiring all motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets. The bill would require only those under 21 to wear helmets.

MOTORCYCLES IN BREAKDOWN LANE (H 3493) - The House rejected a bill that would allow motorcyclists to use the breakdown lanes when heavy traffic causes vehicles in regular lanes to slow down to ten miles per hour. The cyclists would be limited to traveling 20 miles per hour and required to yield to emergency and disabled vehicles.

Both of these proposed bills would have greatly impacted bikers in Maine if they would have passed. While the helmet law is always a hotly debated topic, allowing motorcycles in the breakdown lane is not usually a hot topic. But it would have greatly increased the popularity of motorcycles if people were able to bypass standstill traffic during rush hour every day on their commute.  Many bikers already do this in many states and would rather risk a ticket than having their motorcycle breakdown because of overheating since many are just air cooled.

Source article ” Beacon Hill Roll Call (Jan. 25)”

Source: www.wickedlocal.com