The Utah Senate narrowly rejected a proposal Friday that would have allowed dirt bike and off-highway-vehicle riders to wear safety flags on their helmets instead of on a long pole on their vehicles when at sand dunes where such banners are required.

Sen. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley City, proposed SB19 to allow riders an alternative. It would allow riders to put a flag on an 18-inch rod on the back of the helmet. He said the vehicle flags, which must be 8 feet from the ground, don't necessarily increase safety because they can whip back toward the ground and out of view when the vehicle moves fast.

Sen. Jon Greiner, R-Ogden, argued for continuing to require the longer flag poles. He said they help riders avoid hitting parked vehicles, while a helmet flag would be removed with the rider.

The Senate voted 13-10 in favor of Goodfellow's bill, but with three absences, it failed to win a majority of the 29 possible votes.

Brandon Loomis