"Statute was legitimate exercise of state's power to preserve and improve public health, safety, morals and general welfare. NRS 486.231, which requires drivers and passengers of motorcycles to wear protective headgear when operating motorcycle on highway, was legitimate exercise of state's power to preserve and improve public health, safety, morals and general welfare." State v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 101 Nev. 658, 708 P.2d 1022 (1985)

"Statute did not violate constitutional guarantees of equal protection of laws. NRS 486.231, which requires drivers and passengers of motorcycles to wear protective headgear when operating motorcycle on highway, did not violate provisions of U.S. 14th amendment or Nev. Art. 4, s 21 guaranteeing equal protection of laws, because statute was rationally related to legitimate state interest in reducing severity of injuries to motorcyclists, protecting public from increased medical costs as result of accidents involving motorcycles and promoting safety on public highways. State v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 101 Nev. 658, 708 P.2d 1022 (1985)

"Statute did not violate right to privacy. NRS 486.231, which requires drivers and passengers of motorcycles to wear protective headgear when operating motorcycle on highway, did not violate defendant's right to privacy under U.S. 9th amendment or Nev. Art. 1, s 20, because right to be left alone did not include right to do as one pleases on public highway." State v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 101 Nev. 658, 708 P.2d 1022 (1985)

Apr 10, 2003 - The bill failed in the Transportation Committee. Unfortunately, NHTSA testified and lied against the bill and the Trans Committee unfortunately was distracted/ignored the main issue that the law is unenforceable as is. Mr. Snodgrass of NHTSA provided stunning half and mis-truths such as:

"California enacted their helmet law ... deaths went down 32%"

Snodgrass neglected to mention that rider-ship was down 40%. Less riders, riding less logically yields less accidents and therefore less deaths. To say/imply that helmets provide safety benefits that result in fewer deaths is a disingenuous lie. It is less rider-ship that reduces deaths. Full transcript at Bolt of Nevada's Website.

We all need to be very clear about what is really going on. Less rider-ship, not helmets, is responsible for reducing death and helmet laws are being used to get/keep bikers off the road. Whether you wear a helmet or not or do and don't want to, if your state has a helmet law, that law is manipulating and curtailing your freedom.

Mar 13, 2003 - SB 274 - Full Helmet Repeal Bill introduced by Senator Shaffer. Email to Senator Nolan from Colonel David Hosmer (NV DPS, Highway Patrol) on the impossibility of enforcing the current law.

In the meantime here's BOLT's angle on this situation: NV's Helmet Fight.

Nov 5, 2002 - Nevada's helmet law is in crisis. The latest published opinion by the Attorney General, unbeknownst to her, spells out that it's impossible to comply and enforce with their helmet law with certainty. Even the Nevada highway patrol agrees. Background | AG's Opinion: HTML | PDF