He also wears a motorcycle helmet because it is the law in Maryland, but he doesn't want to. [Steven Sanner], 38, is among thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts across the state hoping the General Assembly will pass legislation this session that would eliminate the helmet requirement for adult riders. A similar bill had the support of the House last year but was narrowly defeated in the Senate.

Most countries require riders to wear helmets, but such laws have always been controversial in the United States, experts said. Twenty states and the District have laws that require anyone on a motorcycle to wear a helmet -- down significantly from 30 years ago when most states had universal helmet laws, said Russell Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Maryland passed its first helmet law in July 1968, requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet. The law was amended in 1979, to limit helmet use to riders younger than 18.