CA Bicycle helmets. Is it a requirement to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle in California (Palm Springs)?

Neither Re

Answer
The short answer is yes if you are under the age of 18.

The current law in California regarding bicycle helmets applies only to those under the age of 18. Even so, I have taken a couple of spills off of a bicycle in my adult years and I am glad I was wearing a helmet.

Here is the section from the Vehicle Code:

21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a
bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear
in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized
scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as
defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any
other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a
properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards
of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or
the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or
standards subsequently established by those entities. This
requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while
in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer
towed by the bicycle.
(b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and
passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or
in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance
with the standard described in subdivision (a) which shall
constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms
to the applicable safety standards.
(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an
operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard,
or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet which is not of a type
meeting requirements established by this section.
(d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the
person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against
the person is the first charge against that person under this
subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the
charge is not the first charge against the person.
(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this
section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than
twenty-five dollars ($25).
The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an
unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be
jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the
fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other
provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this section
shall be allocated as follows:
(1) Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall
be deposited in a special account of the county health department,
to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line
and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income
families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under the
age of 18 years, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may
contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the
extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child
passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.
(2) Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be
deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to
administer the program described in paragraph (1).
(3) If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the
amount collected shall be transferred to and deposited in the
treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an
unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used
pursuant to paragraph (1).

Bicycle Helmets and what you think?

Matt E

So, Just wondering what you all think of them? The helmet safety standards are very wierdly tested and helmets dont really protect you from a side hit like a hit from center of the top. Anyhow, if its a law in some states for children up to 16 and in other states, that even adults have to wear them, why are they not standard with the bicycle that you buy? I mean, cars automatically come with safety belts because they have been proven to help with safety during accidents, and because its the law to wear them so why arent bikes not fitted with a free helmet voucher? Besides the whole companies trying to make extra money do you know why this is not a law yet?

Answer
Helmets are NOT like seatbelts in cars, they are separate and vary widely in design and price. Furthermore, there is no national law saying every bike rider must wear a helmet. The manufacturuer of the bike isn't the manufacturer of the helmet, so how do costs get assigned? How much does the voucher cover? Does the helmet manufacturuer get paid if the bike buyer doesn't want a helmet? etc, etc.

It makes more sense the way it is. If the law says helmet everyone picks what they want/can afford (all have to meet safety standards despite cost differences). If they don't have to have one/choose not to there is no extra cost. To do otherwise puts costs up for everyone.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

CA Bicycle helmets. Is it a requirement to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle in California (Palm Springs)?

Neither Re

Answer
The short answer is yes if you are under the age of 18.

The current law in California regarding bicycle helmets applies only to those under the age of 18. Even so, I have taken a couple of spills off of a bicycle in my adult years and I am glad I was wearing a helmet.

Here is the section from the Vehicle Code:

21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a
bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear
in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized
scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as
defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any
other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a
properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards
of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or
the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or
standards subsequently established by those entities. This
requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while
in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer
towed by the bicycle.
(b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and
passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or
in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance
with the standard described in subdivision (a) which shall
constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms
to the applicable safety standards.
(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an
operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard,
or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet which is not of a type
meeting requirements established by this section.
(d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the
person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against
the person is the first charge against that person under this
subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the
charge is not the first charge against the person.
(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this
section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than
twenty-five dollars ($25).
The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an
unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be
jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the
fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other
provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this section
shall be allocated as follows:
(1) Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall
be deposited in a special account of the county health department,
to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line
and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income
families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under the
age of 18 years, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may
contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the
extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child
passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.
(2) Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be
deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to
administer the program described in paragraph (1).
(3) If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the
amount collected shall be transferred to and deposited in the
treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an
unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used
pursuant to paragraph (1).

Bicycle Helmets and what you think?

Matt E

So, Just wondering what you all think of them? The helmet safety standards are very wierdly tested and helmets dont really protect you from a side hit like a hit from center of the top. Anyhow, if its a law in some states for children up to 16 and in other states, that even adults have to wear them, why are they not standard with the bicycle that you buy? I mean, cars automatically come with safety belts because they have been proven to help with safety during accidents, and because its the law to wear them so why arent bikes not fitted with a free helmet voucher? Besides the whole companies trying to make extra money do you know why this is not a law yet?

Answer
Helmets are NOT like seatbelts in cars, they are separate and vary widely in design and price. Furthermore, there is no national law saying every bike rider must wear a helmet. The manufacturuer of the bike isn't the manufacturer of the helmet, so how do costs get assigned? How much does the voucher cover? Does the helmet manufacturuer get paid if the bike buyer doesn't want a helmet? etc, etc.

It makes more sense the way it is. If the law says helmet everyone picks what they want/can afford (all have to meet safety standards despite cost differences). If they don't have to have one/choose not to there is no extra cost. To do otherwise puts costs up for everyone.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

How much is a ticket for not wearing a bicycle helmet in California?

bicycle helmets safety standards image

Felipe

I was riding my bike to school without a helmet and I was given a ticket. The officer told me that I would be fined $50 and I would receive a ticket in the mail in 3 weeks. I finally received it and the fine said $197. I went online to the official website of California, SKIP DOWN TO PART E. So what is the deal with this huge fine, when it clearly states a ticket cannot be or $25?

(a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

(b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a) which shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable safety standards.

(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet which is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.

(d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person under this subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not the first charge against the person.

(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25).

Answer
Your fine is $25. However, California places all sorts of assessments upon fines, which raises the cost of a $25 fine to close to $200. (If the officer had been right that the fine was $50, that would have cost almost $300.) However, if you can honestly declare in court under penalty of perjury that you have never been cited for this offense before, the charge must be dismissed.

Is there a difference in bicycle helmets?

c_schumack

I am looking through a bicycling catalog and the prices range from $25 to over $150 for bicycling helmets. I would assume they all have to meet guidelines for protecting your head - surely the more expensive ones will not protect it 5 times better. There seems to be a thing about the number of air vents. I notice the weight between them all is nearly the same. Other than air vents, what advantages would I notice as a user if I went with a mid priced helmet over the cheapest helmet?

Answer
Weight, venting, and marketing make up the biggest differences in the cost of helmets. Helmets must meet the same standards, so the function of all the helmets is presumably equivalent. However, one way that manufacturers make some models less is expensive is to make less sizes. For example, using 2 molds instead of 3 saves the company development, manufacturing, and distribution costs, but it means less size options for you to get a helmet that fits well.

When it comes to comfort and safety, a good fit is the most important factor. More expensive helmets tend to come in a larger variety of sizes with more control over chin strap and back-of-the-head adjustments. I have found helmets with tensioning systems on the back of the helmet to be the most comfortable and to have the most secure fit.

Definitely go to a bike shop with lots of models and sizes in stock, and then try on a wide variety of options to see what fits your head and your wallet best.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers