Police officials, however, testified in favor of the helmet laws, saying they would promote safety.

'It started off with the helmet law and it's progressed from there,' he said.

Further analysis may show whether the death rate is highest in states that have eased their helmet laws.

In the last nine years, 19 state legislatures have passed mandatory helmet laws.

Between 1976 and 1980, helmet laws were weakened or repealed in 28 states.

New York is the first state in the nation to adopt the helmet law for skating.

I mean, seriously, does the helmet law protect the public health, safety or welfare?

So it's the insurance companies who pushed that helmet law through to save themselves some bread.

Battle also argued that the benefits of the helmet law were greater than the inconvenience.

Pennsylvania had a mandatory helmet law but repealed it in 2003.