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PrintJEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Jay Nixon has vetoed legislation that would have relaxed Missouri's mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders.
Nixon said Thursday that he rejected the bill because keeping the helmet requirement was the "safe and cost-effective choice for Missouri."
The legislation would have allowed people 21 and older to ride without helmets on all roads except interstate highways.
After the measure was approved by lawmakers, it became the focus of an intense lobbying campaign.
The governor's office received more than 1,000 letters and e-mails, many urging Nixon to sign the bill. The Missouri Department of Transportation commissioned a poll in an effort to persuade Nixon to veto it.
Comments
This veto is not right. We motorcycle riders enjoy the freedom of the open road and deserve the right to choose if we wear a helmet or not. Motorcycles are more dangerous than cars because the people driving those cars pay no attention. I am just one of the riders that feel we should have a choice. We are the only state in the four state area that require you to wear a helmet. I climb on my bike and put my helmet on only because i am required to but i know when i ride i feel free but restrained because of the helmet. I would like to see us have a choice. People that dont agree should wear one if they want but why make the ones that do not want to have to. I feel that is a disrespect to me who would like to have a choice.
Feel free not to wear your helmet on your own, private roads.
Nixon is a liar, plain and simple. He told the MROs (Motorcycle Rights Org) that he would let it go into effect without signing it. I will do everything in my power to lobby against him when he is up for re-election.