Tom Matanane, president of the Guam HAWGS Motorcycle
Club, reported to the MRF that on March 16,1997, Guam's Governor Carl T.C.
Gutierrez signed into law Bill #7, which gives motorcyclists 18 years of
age and older the right to decide for themselves whether or not to wear
a helmet. The law went into effect at midnight, so on March 17, 1997, motorcyclists
in Guam were able to legally ride without a helmet.
Guam is a U.S. territory, where as they say there, "Guam where America's
day begins." The sponsor of Bill #7, Senator Elizabeth Barret-Anderson,
was extremely successful in moving the legislation through the Guam Senate.
Bill #7 passed the Guam Senate unanimously on a 21 to zero vote. Guam has
a unicameral legislature, so once the legislation passed the Senate it was
sent on to Governor Gutierrez for his signature.
"The Guam Hawgs should take great pride and be commended for bringing
freedom of choice to American motorcyclists," stated Wayne Curtin,
MRF vice president of government relations. Curtin continued by saying,
"This is the second time in a week that legislation repealing helmet
laws for adults has been enacted in a state or territory of the United States.
This shows that with continued perseverance motorcyclists in every state
and territory of the United States have the ability to convince legislators
and governors that freedom of choice for motorcyclists is the best public
policy."
Guam joins Arkansas, whose Governor Mike Huckabee signed into law a helmet
repeal bill for motorcyclists 21 and older on March 13, 1997, as the U.S.
territory and state that have given motorcyclists the right to decide for
themselves on helmet use in 1997.
Arkansas repeals 21 and over helmet law
NEWS
RELEASES & RIDER ALERTS Current issues
News archive Position
papers
EVENTS & CONFERENCES Posters
Registration
Video highlights
MRF REPORTS Current reports
Report archive
REPS PAGE State Reps
About the Reps/Program
ABOUT THE MRF Mission
Core Values
MRF DC Office
Officers/Directors Legislative Agenda
SUPPORTERS
Organizations
Members
MRF PAC
Join the MRF
HISTORY
MRF
LINKS MRF's favorite links
Research sites
Home PRODUCT
STORE