Helmet Protest Article in Annapolis Capitol newspaper

Bikers remove helmets in protest
By VANESSA FRANKO, Staff Writer

Donning a black leather jacket and riding goggles,
Gizmo was ready for the 13th Annual Helmet Law Protest
Run & Rally at Elks Camp Barrett in Crownsville
yesterday.
A lifelong motorcycle rider, Gizmo, like his father
and grandmother before him, has never worn a helmet.

But he can't get a ticket for it.

The 8-year-old Pomeranian-Chihuahua-poodle mix from
Glen Burnie was one of hundreds of avid cyclists who
came out for the protest.

The event was put on by grassroots motorcyclists group
ABATE - A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments
- in protest of the 1992 state law that requires
helmets for riders.

Gizmo's owner, Nick Pensel of Glen Burnie, carried the
dog in a custom leather pouch slung around his neck.

"I don't like being told I have to wear a helmet," he
said.

But Mr. Pensel had to wear a helmet to start off the
ride, as mandated by police.

Other protesters wore T-shirts branded with slogans
like "Let Those Who Ride Decide."

"Our organization is not opposed to helmets. This is
just a rally to oppose the law," said Pat Corcoran
director of the group's Anne Arundel County chapter.

During the last General Assembly session a bill to
repeal the law passed the Maryland Senate by a
26-to-21 vote, but did not make it through the House
of Delegates.

Mr. Corcoran, who is running for the House of
Delegates in District 31, which includes Pasadena,
Brooklyn Park and parts of Glen Burnie, said the
Senate vote gives him confidence about repealing the
helmet law in the upcoming session.

"I understand 16-year-old kids need helmets," said
Phyllis Stumpf, of Brooklyn Park. "But let me, as an
adult, make that decision. I look at it as an iceberg,
people chip away at our freedoms."

Around the country, other states have changed their
helmet laws.

Pennsylvania and Florida repealed their laws in 2003,
following Texas and Arkansas, which did the same in
1997.

Many states have age limits on who is required to wear
a helmet.

David Buck, spokesman for the State Highway
Administration, said Maryland saw an immediate and
dramatic decrease in fatalities since the motorcycle
helmet law was enacted in 1992.

The Maryland Department of Transportation reported
motorcycle deaths dropped 20 percent in 1993 and 30
percent from 1993-1994.

"Strictly from a safety perspective it's clear," Mr.
Buck said.

For this year, county police reported 86 accidents
involving motorcycles in Anne Arundel County through
the end
of September.

Lt. Bill Krampf of the Traffic Safety Section said the
county has had 29 motor vehicle fatalities this year,
with 12 of those on motorcycles.
He said all were wearing helmets, but a few were not
of the approved variety.
Dr. Joel Klein, an emergency physician at North
Arundel Hospital who also has worked at the
Shock-Trauma Center at University Hospital in
Baltimore, said those who do not wear helmets tend to
have worse injuries and longer hospital stays.
Opponents of repealing the law also say taxpayers
would end up covering the medical costs for victims of motorcycle-related head injuries.

Some of those at yesterday's rally disputed those
assertions.
"I have auto insurance and I have health insurance.
Then I pay for that," Mrs. Stumpf said.
But Dr. Klein said many riders who have insurance
often don't have enough to pay the bills that come
with a severe injury.
A portion of vehicle registration fees goes to pay for
The trauma center.
Mr. Corcoran said motorcyclists not only pay
registration for their bikes, but for their cars as
well.
Hog wild

Motorcycles are becoming more popular.
As of February, there were 80,000 motorcycles
registered in Maryland, with 9,793 of them in Anne
Arundel County. The county figure is up more than 20
percent since 2001.
"Everything indicates a lot of baby boomers because
they have the means now," Mr. Corcoran said. "The
empty nesters who are getting them for the first time
or for the first time since they were teenagers."
Before yesterday's ride, the hundreds of riders
greeted old friends, drank coffee and enjoyed the
tunes of bands like Guns N' Roses and the Rolling
Stones.
"There's such a camaraderie," Mrs. Stumpf said.
"Before I started riding I was like 'Oh bikers, oh
this scares me.' There's so much of a myth. We've got
yuppies making $100,000 a year. My husband's
orthopedic surgeon rides."
Just before noon, the throng of motorcyclists headed
to the field where the sea of chrome-plated
motorcycles shone like beacons in the late morning
sun.
After police mandated nobody leave the gate without a
helmet, the motorcyclists put on the headgear. Many
promptly removed the helmets as soon as they were on
the open road to the State House, but police issued no
tickets.
Police stopped traffic for the procession as
pedestrians waved, gave the thumbs up sign and took
pictures.
Motorists honked horns and raised their fists out of
open windows in support as the cycles whizzed under
the Route 50 overpass on Rowe Boulevard.
"It's the next best thing to flying without wings,"
said Bob Ryan of Pasadena.