Olympia — A bill introduced by state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, would allow adults ages 18 and older to ride a motorcycle without a helmet in Washington.
Senate Bill 5198 received a public hearing before the Senate Transportation Committee earlier this week. In a released statement, Benton said he introduced the bill because he supports “personal freedom and individual responsibility.”
Currently, Washington law requires all people riding motorcycles, motor-driven cycles and mopeds to wear motorcycle helmets. Washington is one of 19 states with similar “universal helmet laws” requiring all people riding motorcycles to wear one. Twenty-eight states have laws requiring some riders to wear a helmet, usually on the basis of age. Three states have no helmet requirement.
Benton’s bill has three other co-sponsors: two Democrats and one Republican. A similar bill was introduced in the state House of Representatives.
