Arkansas Lawmaker: Helmetless Motorcyclists Must Have Insurance

December 19, 2008

Helmetless motorcyclists should be able to prove that they have enough health insurance to pay for any injuries they may incur while driving, an Arkansas state lawmaker has proposed.

Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, filed legislation that would require motorcyclists to either wear a helmet or prove that they have at least $10,000 coverage under their health insurance.

Hendren's proposal will likely face the same opposition other restrictions have faced since the state repealed its motorcycle helmet law in 1997. Hendren last year proposed requiring helmets for motorcyclists but his bill was rejected by a Senate committee.

Hendren also proposed another driving restriction he brought up last year, a bill that would prohibit drivers under 18 from using cell phones while driving.

Under the bill, anyone charged with breaking the cell-phone driving ban would be issued a warning on the first offense and have to pay a $50 fine for each subsequent offense. The proposal would also bar the state from using a violation of the cell phone rule to suspend or revoke a driver's license.

Hendren's cell-phone driving ban for teenagers was approved by the Senate last year, but rejected by the House.