Almost 1,000 Texas motorcyclists rode into Austin Monday, hoping to lobby lawmakers to change some laws that affect the biker community.

KVUE News

They want tougher penalties for those who injure or kill motorcyclists and a looser helmet law.

"We need to do this," said Shawn Elmore, who rode in for the event from Comanche.

Current Texas law does not require adults over the age of 21 to wear helmets, but to go without, riders must have proof of safety training or special insurance. Bikers want to do away with those restrictions altogether.

"To where anyone over 21 can ride freely without a helmet if they choose to do so without being stopped and questioned unfairly," said Austin biker Corbin McMillan.

So far, no bills have been filed to make the changes for which the bikers are lobbying. But McMillan said that's exactly the reason he and the hundreds of other bikers showed up.

"All the bikers in this state are together," he said.

Together they swarmed under the dome and into Capitol hallways to meet with representatives and senators.

"I'm glad you're here. You're always welcome in here," Austin Senator Kirk Watson said to a visiting group.

"He's a nice guy," Paul Landers, biker, said. "He's local and he realizes the importance of the motorcycle lobby in the state."

And the motorcycle lobby's riding high on the strength of its people.

"We're all united, we're willing to go together and voice a loud voice," McMillan said.

Representative Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville, has said he plans to file a bill calling for looser helmet laws. So far the bill has not yet been filed.