SIOUX CITY, IA -
Bikers in town this weekend for Awesome Biker Nights beware: if you cross into Nebraska, you had better be wearing your helmet, because it's the law.
The Cornhusker State requires all bikers and passengers to wear a helmet, otherwise, you could be looking at a $50 ticket.
"I look at it as a cheap insurance policy, wearing a helmet," said biker Garrett Soldati.
Soldati knows safety comes first. He's a part time employee at Albrecht Cycle Shop, and a full time firefighter. Simply said, he sees it all.
"Traumatic brain injury is very debilitating condition, it affects a lot of people, it can result from any number of things but obviously, speed and blunt injury to the head is one that can cause significant brain injury," said Soldati.
And with an event like "Awesome Biker Nights", which attracts close to 30,000 people a year, Nebraska state troopers are cracking down on the helmet law.
"Once in a while we'll see a few people that don't realize they have crossed into Nebraska, if we see them without a helmet we usually stop them and have contact with them," said Sgt. Jim DeFreece with the Nebraska State Patrol.
Now pair not wearing a helmet with alcohol. Garrett knows that's a bad combination.
"It takes a lot of discipline. Obviously you know, the law's the law, it's well known drinking impairs your motor functions and slows everything down, so your reaction times are slower," he said.
On a bike or in a car, that's why Nebraska law enforcement agencies also plan on having more officers out this weekend, to catch drunk drivers.
If you get pulled over for a DUI, you could be facing a $500 fine, a 60 day restriction of your drivers license, and a court-required ignition interlock for your car, so make sure you stay while on the road.
If you haven't checked out "Awesome Biker Nights", come on down to Historic Fourth Street in Downtown Sioux City. The event runs through Saturday night.
