Interesting in light of recent discussions (income, law, store)

[CrazyDave]

New Hampshire has a clear law in regard to minors wearing helmets cycling

BIKE HELMETS ARE
REQUIRED FOR RIDERS
UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE
violation subject to fine
(NH RSA 265:144X)

Yet though I have seen countless violations of this I have never noted any report of summons given for fines doled out in any of the states papers.

Now I think it silly that the state get involved in what a parent deems is in their child's best interest. I am curious as to why we bother having a law that apparently is unenforced

[Nonesuch]

This law is relatively new, dates back to 2005 when the secretive but powerful bicycle store lobby convinced Governor John Lynch to sign HB118 in order to sell more helmets.

When the bill went into effect, police chiefs across the state announced that enforcement would be random and arbitrary, because it'd be annoying to try to pull over a 15-year old kid on a bicycle; they could slip in between the prongs of a standard spike strip.

[CrazyDave]

Originally Posted by Nonesuch

This law is relatively new, dates back to 2005 when the secretive but powerful bicycle store lobby convinced Governor John Lynch to sign HB118 in order to sell more helmets.

When the bill went into effect, police chiefs across the state announced that enforcement would be random and arbitrary, as it was annoying to try to pull over a 15-year old kid on a bicycle, as they could slip in between the prongs of a standard spike strip.

Ah but that doesn't explain how they pass by a group of young riders and do nothing

[GregW]

They should at least stop and speak with the kids. A fall from a bicycle can result in deadly brain trauma. The bill was not all that cynical.


I just hear that motorcycle raced Nikki Hayden was just killed in a bicycle accident.

[steveusaf]

Originally Posted by CrazyDave

Ah but that doesn't explain how they pass by a group of young riders and do nothing

Instead of police going after kids with no bike helmets, maybe should pay more attention to catching the texting drivers sharing the roads with those kids before those idiots hit one of those helmetless kids.

If the amount of texting and non-hands-free talking I see on the roads is any indication, there is no enforcement of those existing laws either. People just do not seem to care.

[KCZ]

I sincerely doubt that our current numbers of law enforcement personnel could go after the huge volume of texting drivers even without their other duties. And it's pointless unless those drivers lose their license for some period when they're caught and prosecuted, otherwise they just go back to drexting.

[CrazyDave]

Originally Posted by steveusaf

Instead of police going after kids with no bike helmets, maybe should pay more attention to catching the texting drivers sharing the roads with those kids before those idiots hit one of those helmetless kids.

If the amount of texting and non-hands-free talking I see on the roads is any indication, there is no enforcement of those existing laws either. People just do not seem to care.

Seems to me it is far easier to catch someone who is violating the former than the latter

[KCZ]

Undoubtedly catching a bicyclist without a helmet is easier than catching a texting driver. OTOH, the former isn't going to hurt anyone else. Distracted drivers kill >3000 people in this country every year. Parents need to make sure their kids are wearing helmets and let law enforcement concentrate on preventing carnage on the road.

[flyonpa]

The problem of enforcement is once the kid is allowed to go beyond the parent(s) view. It's impossible for the parent to be in control of what the child does.

So if you site the child, you are really fining the parent, since its rare for a child to have any income to pay the fine.

Education "Community" service would be better impact on the "Child" then charging them the $44 + (I'm sure a bunch of court fees and other charges),

If the child is younger in the parents control, Fine/Fees are waved if you show you purchased a helmet (or got a "Free" one from one of the sources that do them.) within 10-20 days of the ticket. Would better towards the goal of protecting the Kids Heads.

[steveusaf]

Originally Posted by KCZ

Undoubtedly catching a bicyclist without a helmet is easier than catching a texting driver. OTOH, the former isn't going to hurt anyone else. Distracted drivers kill >3000 people in this country every year. Parents need to make sure their kids are wearing helmets and let law enforcement concentrate on preventing carnage on the road.

My point exactly