09:55 AM MDT on Monday, July 17, 2006

Associated Press

LEWISTON -- Idaho is one of the few states in the region where bikers can let the wind whip through their hair.

That's why so many come to Idaho to ride motorcylces without helmets on the state's miles of scenic blacktop.

Over the years, several attempts to rev up momentum for a helmet law have failed.

Last year, Republican state Representative Tom Trail tried, but his bill was bottled up in committee.

He said the law would have saved lives and money spent to cover catastrophic injuries of uninsured bikers.

Plus a helmet law would allow Idaho to collect several million dollars in additional federal highway dollars.

But defenders of say it's an issue of freedom.

Republican state Senator R. Skipper Brandt said if the government wants to protect people, lawmakers should just ban motorcycles and force people to drive reinforced Suburbans