Well, it looks like New Hampshire -- one of only four 100% helmet-law FREE states -- will be facing some of the backwash of the Texas compromise, along with a full out attempt at instituting a helmet law in the upcoming session of their legislature.
According to our sources, there are two bills standing at the ready to be introuced into the 1998 legislative term in New Hampshire:
2. HB 1367 - requirement of all pesons to wear protective headgear.
Experience has taught us to just stand back and let the powers that be in some of these rights organizations go ahead and do things their way -- and to some degree, we admit they have a point. But then there are also the members of these various groups who have a right to know what's going on, and a right to understand ALL of their options (not just the ones their leaders want them to consider).
Therefore, we offer the following suggestions to all:
Read up on the "No List? No Law!" attack on helmet laws and see if it doesn't make sense to, along with whatever other things are being done, question the authors of these bills on such things as: "What is a helmet?"; "Who would 'approve' helmets?"; "How can a person prove that a helmet (or 'protective headgear') complies with these proposed laws?"; etc., etc., ad infinitum (without limit).
We at HLDL believe that if these questions are put to the authors of such legislation -- early and often -- and their answers, or lack of same, are presented to the other members of the legislature, that they will all find something better to do with their time than pass another helmet law. At least that's our hope. It certainly makes more sense than making some well-meaning compromise on behalf of the other riders in the state, which is in no one's best interest. (Someone tell me again that the Texas compromise has nothing to do with other states!)
Good Luck NHMRO! We wish you well in this battle. If there's anything we at HLDL can do, please do not hesitate to call on us.
quig