BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

Sincerely,
Blair Lee III
Acting Governor

House Bill No. 1096 - Motorcycle Helmets

AN ACT concerning

Motorcycle Helmets

FOR the purpose of requiring only minors to wear protective
headgear when operating or riding on a motorcycle.

May 29, 1978
Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 1096.

This bill repeals the requirement that a person who is
operating or riding or a motorcycle must wear protective
headgear. Instead, House Bill 1096 would apply this
requirement only to an operator or rider who is a minor.

This law was originally enacted by the 1968 Maryland
General Assembly. At that time, the statute also required
the wearing of a face shield or goggles. That portion of
the law has since been repealed. However, the Maryland
mandatory helmet law has survived. I believe it has done so
because it offers a practical and needed protection. I
believe that there is solid evidence of its need.

However, in the past three years, the trend in State
capitols has been to repeal similar helmet laws. At one
time almost every State had a mandatory helmet law; now many
have acted to repeal such laws. This trend, I believe,
ultimately is reflected in and contributes to the nationwide
pattern of increased traffic accidents and deaths.

The State of Maryland has an enviable record of traffic
safety for all classes of motorists. I am proud of this
record. But the record itself is not important; it is the
safety of the motoring public which is important.