At the Chicago Council Meeting on Sept 29th, Alderman Ed Burke proposed a mandatory helmet ordinance for all riders within the city limits. Mayor Daley has expressed his support for this proposal, but the Illinois State Statute prohibits such an act. Effective on 1-1-00, 625 ILCS 5/208 states: "No unit of local government, including a home rule unit, may enact an ordinance requiring motorcycle users to wear protective headgear.". State Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), who has made several unsuccessful tries to pass a state helmet law since 1989, wants the city to go for it. "It's questionable whether [the law stopping towns from passing helmet laws] is legal. I encourage the City Council to pass the ordinance. If it forces the matter to court, and the Supreme Court ultimately has to decide, so be it. The only thing that can happen is we save lives.".