Remember how Missouri Republicans prevented this state from issuing federal compliant Real I.D. driver licenses?
Despite George W. Bush’s team creating Real I.D. as a way to make flying safer, our GOPers worried that sharing data with the feds allowed dark, ‘big government’ agencies to track and plot against us.
Yes, even when Missouri residents faced getting turned-away at airports and tourist days at Ft. Leonard Wood, the “protect us from government” principle required defiance against the federal mandate.
Until it didn’t.
With a whimper, Missouri quietly enacted Real I.D. as part of this year’s House Bill 1963, signed into law on July 14 by accidental governor Mike Parson.
Now, like several bills this past session HB 1963 emerged as a Christmas Tree – the official summary runs 14 pages, single spaced! [ https://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills201/sumpdf/HB1963T.pdf ]
Among the provisions, besides Real I.D….
► Authorizing the hyperloop (St. Louis to Kansas City faster than a sitcom episode) demonstration project;
► Special license plates for, among others, St. Louis Backstoppers, electric cooperatives, and, the Central Missouri Honor Flight;
► Memorial highways about the state;
► Changes to Commercial Driver License regulations;
► Clarification on fuel taxes on jet juice; and,
► Gutting Missouri’s motorcycle helmet law.
Yes, if a motorcycle operator is over 26 years old, carries proof of medical insurance or financial responsibility and drives in a safe manner, they don’t need a helmet.
And, from the summary: No person shall be stopped, inspected, or detained solely to determine compliance with these provisions. (Revised MO Statues, 302.026)
In other words, no one of any age really needs to wear a helmet because law enforcement can’t pull you over till you do something unusually stupid.
So, the party of law and order with a former sheriff as governor just handcuffed cops enforcing a traffic law.
Of course, advocates of brains on the pavement talked about the freedom to take responsibility for their own actions.
Back at reality, let’s remember that many motorcycles crash – even when the cyclists does everything right. In a crash a motorcycle rider is more likely to die or suffer severe head injuries:
Despite the fact that less than 3 percent of registered passenger vehicles are motorcycles, motorcyclist fatalities represent about nine percent of all passenger vehicle occupant fatalities….With the repeal or watering down of helmet laws in many states, both the percentage of non-users and the number of fatalities have grown. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/809715
Another reality relevant to Missouri: some motorcyclists who suffer severe head injuries lose their jobs and thence their health insurance. As a result, some become impoverished, their health care covered by MO HealthNet.
With a stroke of his pen, Governor Mike Parson effectively expanded Medicaid a bit.
House Bill 1963 resulted in Missouri Republicans stepping away from two of their principles. Missouri will share data on millions of Missourians with the feds. And, they’ve expanded the number of citizens who will need Medicaid. Progress?
Glenn Koenen