how to tell if a helmet is DOT or not
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,416
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I ran into one between Cherokee and Robbinsville NC on my way to the Dragon at the intersection of US 74 and NC 28 the second week in August .... just after I purchased a leagl DOT helmet for the trip. I'd been wearinf a skull helmet for many years in Michigan and had never had a problem .... I guess it was worth the purchase price after all.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 868
Likes: 1
From: Trenton,N.J.
Was out riding with some friends yesterday in a pretty popular area of North Ga yesterday and we came to a police checkpoint. They were doing a license and helmet check. When it came time to check my helmet the cop told me it was not legal, I told him under one of my stickers in the back showed the DOT endorsement and when I purchased it, it was advertised as DOT approved. He looked at the tag on the inside of the helmet and told me he wasn't sure at that point and it was "arguable" at best? That confused me, I played stupid and he told me after Jan 1st I could receive a ticket even though he honestly didn't know if it was legit or not. Then he went on to say that all novelty helmets all have the DOT sticker on the back of the helmet which I just listened and played dumb at that point.
I looked on the inside of the helmet and it says nothing about being DOT approved on the label. So I looked at my wife's helmet and once again hers has a sticker on the back but nothing on the label, cop never said anything about hers not being DOT approved. Then he told me to compare how thick my helmet was compared to one of my buddy's helmets and told me mine wasn't thick enough. I checked 2 other DOT helmets I have here and neither of them have DOT on the inside of the helmet either. I know when I used to drag race my helmets would either have a sticker on the back of the helmet or label on the inside of the helmet.
Now I am kinda pissed and not wanting to buy another helmet. Anyone have any experience or advise about this situation?
I looked on the inside of the helmet and it says nothing about being DOT approved on the label. So I looked at my wife's helmet and once again hers has a sticker on the back but nothing on the label, cop never said anything about hers not being DOT approved. Then he told me to compare how thick my helmet was compared to one of my buddy's helmets and told me mine wasn't thick enough. I checked 2 other DOT helmets I have here and neither of them have DOT on the inside of the helmet either. I know when I used to drag race my helmets would either have a sticker on the back of the helmet or label on the inside of the helmet.
Now I am kinda pissed and not wanting to buy another helmet. Anyone have any experience or advise about this situation?
Last edited by arealinvestor; Oct 23, 2011 at 06:48 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Oklahoma
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Fall Branch, TN
If I am not mistaken, the DOT cert on a helmet says it meets the Federal DOT standard. And I also read somewhere that the foam padding had to be a minimum 1" thick to meet that cert along with some other tests.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 432
Likes: 2
From: la porte, texas
move to a non-commie state. sorry, but it sounds like a motorcycle only checkpoint, am i right? no way can that be legal, to hell with the state, its the feds. that would be like setting up a checkpoint to only stop minivans, not gonna fly.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 2
From: Canton, Ga
Does the helmet look DOT with the thick styrofoam? Or like a shell bennie? I can see some not liking labels on outside but getting to point were the inner label stuck to the foam should be left alone. Most void warranty when pulled and leave the label void still on after pulling off. And what ever you do do not DOT a non DOT. I know in NY the fine goes from a few hundred to a $1000.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 2
From: Canton, Ga
I sent them an email this afternoon stating my situation. I asked them to provide paperwork for the helmet in a nice way, we will see if they respond.
There is no way the DOT can be peeled off of the back of the helmet, I checked this as soon as the helmet arrived at my house.
I'm just going to remove the sticker that covers it and ride with the damn thing. If I get a ticket, I will gladly goto court and fight it. Basically Ga law says you have to have protective headgear and eye coverage.
I will also stop by some cycle shops and look at their helmets and the labels inside them and see if they say anything about being DOT approved.
There is no way the DOT can be peeled off of the back of the helmet, I checked this as soon as the helmet arrived at my house.
I'm just going to remove the sticker that covers it and ride with the damn thing. If I get a ticket, I will gladly goto court and fight it. Basically Ga law says you have to have protective headgear and eye coverage.
I will also stop by some cycle shops and look at their helmets and the labels inside them and see if they say anything about being DOT approved.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 2
From: Canton, Ga
So basically they were waving the cars thru and pulling the bikes to the side of the road.