1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; prohibiting admission 
  1.3             of use of protective headgear by motorcycle operators 
  1.4             or passengers age 18 or older in litigation involving 
  1.5             damages arising from use or operation of a motor 
  1.6             vehicle; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 
  1.7             169.974, by adding a subdivision; repealing Minnesota 
  1.8             Statutes 1998, section 169.974, subdivision 6. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.974, is 
  1.11  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.12     Subd. 8.  [MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE; ADMISSIBILITY INTO 
  1.13  EVIDENCE.] (a) Proof of the use or failure to use protective 
  1.14  headgear by a motorcycle operator or passenger age 18 or older 
  1.15  is not admissible in evidence in any litigation involving 
  1.16  personal injuries or property damage resulting from the use or 
  1.17  operation of any motor vehicle. 
  1.18     (b) Paragraph (a) does not affect the right of a person to 
  1.19  bring an action for damages arising out of an incident that 
  1.20  involves protective headgear that was allegedly defectively 
  1.21  designed or manufactured.  Paragraph (a) does not prohibit the 
  1.22  introduction of evidence pertaining to the use of the protective 
  1.23  headgear in such an action. 
  1.24     Sec. 2.  [REPEALER.] 
  1.25     Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.974, subdivision 6, is 
  1.26  repealed. 
  1.27     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.1      Section 1 is effective August 1, 1999, and applies to all 
  2.2   causes of action arising on or after that date.