Helmet repeal loses once again

Erin Neff

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 9:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assemblyman Don Gustavson casually took the microphone Wednesday and proposed an amendment to a minor Senate transportation bill.

Several lawmakers began to chuckle while looking over the printed yellow copy of the amendment. They realized what Gustavson, R-Sun Valley, was doing.

"This makes various changes to traffic laws," Gustavson said.

True. But the amendment proposed changing those laws to allow people 21 and older to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.

"That's basically all this does," Gustavson said, immediately drawing requests from the Democratic leadership for a recess.

Gustavson has tried several times to repeal the state's helmet law. During this session, Assembly Transportation Committee Chairwoman Vonne Chowning held a hearing on his bill, but she adjourned her panel abruptly on the eve of a deadline to prohibit a vote.

On Wednesday, he got his vote.

"The ayes have it," said Speaker Pro Tem Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, who was filling in for Richard Perkins, who had taken his seat to make public comments for Peace Officer Memorial Day.

But Perkins didn't think the ayes had it and asked for a "division of the house." He asked those who voted "yes" to stand. He repeated the process for the "no" voters. The entire Assembly did not rise, but the chief clerk counted more no votes. Consequently, Gustavson again ended up on the losing side.