Commissioner Proposes Bill Overturning Md. Scooter Helmet Law
By: Dawn White
Updated: October 25, 2012
FREDERICK, MD - A Maryland law went into effect earlier this month requiring scooter riders to wear helmets, but a county commissioner is already trying to repeal it.
"In Frederick County, we are an agricultural county, so we have a lot of farmers going from the farm to the field riding those scooters. If you're out working in the field all day, the last thing you want to do is put a one-inch piece of insulation on your head when it's 100 degrees and drive back to your farm," Shreve (R) said.
Frederick County Commissioner Billy Shreve, who rides his own scooter to Winchester Hall, is proposing a county bill in the board's legislative package. The bill would exempt county scooter or moped riders from having to wear a helmet.
"If you don't require helmets, more people will ride scooters, especially women," Shreve said. "Everyone's concerned with what their hair looks like. I can ride a scooter right now to a meeting without a helmet, and it looks like I just got our of my car. If I have to wear a helmet, you have helmet head."
Shreve says scooters don't go very fast and shouldn't require safety equipment. He also thinks riders can have heat stroke issues with the helmets.
"You have problems with heat, and you're sitting at a stop light on your scooter, and it's 100 degrees," Shreve said. "You're putting a one-inch piece of insulation on your head. It's detrimental. It's not safe because you actually could black out. It could make it less safe."
Commissioners will vote on whether to include the bill in their legislative package next Thursday, November 1. The bill would then have to get the green light from the Frederick County Delegation.
