Chapter 8.15
VEHICLE HELMETS

Sections:

8.15.010 Requirement that minors wear certified protective helmets.

8.15.020 Fines schedule.

8.15.010 Requirement that minors wear certified protective helmets.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person under eighteen (18) years of age to operate or ride upon in-line or roller skates, skateboards, scooters, coasters, toy motorized vehicles, bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, or any similar vehicles on any public property or private property that is open for public use within the city, including highways, streets, roads, bikeways or trails, or rights-of-way, unless that person wears a certified protective helmet that is properly fitted and that is properly fastened. This requirement also applies to any minor who rides in a restraining seat, trailer, backpack, or similar child restraining device, used by someone operating in-line or roller skates, skateboards, scooters, coasters, toy motor vehicles, bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, or any similar vehicles.

B. A certified protective helmet is a helmet containing a manufacturer certification that it meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), or the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). [Ord. 04-02 § 3.]

8.15.020 Fines schedule.

A. A nonemancipated minor under eighteen (18) years of age shall be jointly and severally liable with the parents or legal guardians for paying a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25), who violates BMC 8.15.010 by either not wearing a properly fitted certified protective helmet, or by not properly fastening the certified protective helmet.

B. Any emancipated minor under eighteen (18) years of age shall be liable for paying a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25) who violates BMC 8.15.010 by either not wearing a properly fitted certified protective helmet, or by not properly fastening the certified protective helmet.

C. The fine shall not be more than twenty-five dollars ($25) if the minor fails to wear a properly fitted certified protective helmet, fails to properly fasten the certified protective helmet, or both.

D. The fine shall be suspended for a violator issued a citation for failure to wear a properly fitted certified protective helmet in violation of BMC 8.15.010, who, subsequent to being issued a first (1st) citation and before the date the fine is due, provides proof to the Bethel police department of purchase or acquisition of a certified protective helmet that is properly fitted for the violator.

E. The fine shall be suspended for a first- (1st-) time violator issued a citation for failure to properly fasten a certified protective helmet, in violation of BMC 8.15.010.

F. The fine shall not be suspended for a violator who is issued a second (2nd) or any subsequent citation for failure to wear a properly fitted certified protective helmet, or for failure to properly fasten a certified protective helmet, in violation of BMC 8.15.010.

G. The fines provided for in this section shall not be enforced until forty-five (45) days after the effective date of the ordinance enacting this chapter. [Ord. 04-14 § 2; Ord. 04-02 § 3.]