Helment Law Crackdown
Banned
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 3
From: Fugitive from justice
RE: Helment Law Crackdown
Well.......the fed's secretary of transportation is RIGHT NOW insisting all states enact helmet laws.....she also wants to divert funds from motorcycle safety training.....Let me guess-those diverted funds would then be used to enforce helmet laws, right?....States and localities could then hire a 'helmet posse'
I'm thinking training wheels are next
I'm thinking training wheels are next
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Helment Law Crackdown
Interesting how some 'mandatory helmet states' are aggressive in enforcing their helmet laws, and others more or less let it slide.
Myself and a few others had to make a trip into Missouri on Tuesday which consisted of over 300 miles on their highways (mainly Interstate 44), and Missouri is one of the 'mandatory helmet states'.
Myself and 2 others weren't wearing helmets, and although we were passed by a few LEO's, we weren't stopped or questioned by any of them. (Bikes were running OK and KS tags, and helmets aren't required in either of those states). Maybe it's because our bikes weren't tagged in Missouri, I don't know..
But even so, the maximum fine you can receive in Missouri for violation of their mandatory helmet law is $25.00 (with no court costs), and there is no point system here, so it's not a big deal.
Myself and a few others had to make a trip into Missouri on Tuesday which consisted of over 300 miles on their highways (mainly Interstate 44), and Missouri is one of the 'mandatory helmet states'.
Myself and 2 others weren't wearing helmets, and although we were passed by a few LEO's, we weren't stopped or questioned by any of them. (Bikes were running OK and KS tags, and helmets aren't required in either of those states). Maybe it's because our bikes weren't tagged in Missouri, I don't know..
But even so, the maximum fine you can receive in Missouri for violation of their mandatory helmet law is $25.00 (with no court costs), and there is no point system here, so it's not a big deal.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 2
From: Fort Worth, TX
RE: Helment Law Crackdown
Yeah, and Mary Peters is a RIDER, too! I think education works a lot better than any mandatory helmet law. Sure, I wear helmets most of the time. I have four of 'em. All DOT approved, and one of them is even SNELL approved. Today I wore my orange and white Harley ball cap! My insurance, my choice.
Texas does have a helmet law, btw, but it's so weak it's effectively non-existant. Any rider under 21 is required to wear a helmet, no exceptions. A helmet is required UNLESS
1)they have successfully completed a motorcycle safety course
OR
2)are covered by a health insurance plan providing $10,000 minimum in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident.
A helmet exemption sticker may be obtained for 5 bucks from Austin. To get a sticker you have to prove either of the above two requirements. One thing I think is rather boneheaded is the stickers "are serialized and may not be transferred from one motorcycle to another." It's the RIDER who's exempt from the helmet law, but only for the particular bike? "Persons operating, or riding upon, a motorcycle with a helmet exemption sticker displayed on the license bracket are presumed to meet the training or insurance requirements for riding without a helmet." I call this the "no harassment clause". Pretty cool, huh? But it also means if I get a sticker and sell the bike, the new owner will be presumed to meet the exemption requirements when I'M the onewho is actually exempt! Honestly though, Ihaven't even SEEN the sticker, so I don't know what it looks like! I have the application, though, which is where I got my info from.
Oh, and the punishment for"violating" the helmet law in Texas? A fine of not more than $20!!!! And they CANNOT stop you simply for not wearing a helmet. It must be incidental to another violation.
So, come to Texas, ride without a lid, and the law won't mess with you.[8D]
Teek
Texas does have a helmet law, btw, but it's so weak it's effectively non-existant. Any rider under 21 is required to wear a helmet, no exceptions. A helmet is required UNLESS
1)they have successfully completed a motorcycle safety course
OR
2)are covered by a health insurance plan providing $10,000 minimum in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident.
A helmet exemption sticker may be obtained for 5 bucks from Austin. To get a sticker you have to prove either of the above two requirements. One thing I think is rather boneheaded is the stickers "are serialized and may not be transferred from one motorcycle to another." It's the RIDER who's exempt from the helmet law, but only for the particular bike? "Persons operating, or riding upon, a motorcycle with a helmet exemption sticker displayed on the license bracket are presumed to meet the training or insurance requirements for riding without a helmet." I call this the "no harassment clause". Pretty cool, huh? But it also means if I get a sticker and sell the bike, the new owner will be presumed to meet the exemption requirements when I'M the onewho is actually exempt! Honestly though, Ihaven't even SEEN the sticker, so I don't know what it looks like! I have the application, though, which is where I got my info from.
Oh, and the punishment for"violating" the helmet law in Texas? A fine of not more than $20!!!! And they CANNOT stop you simply for not wearing a helmet. It must be incidental to another violation.
So, come to Texas, ride without a lid, and the law won't mess with you.
[8D]Teek
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: katy, tx
RE: Helment Law Crackdown
ORIGINAL: SpursDarkrider
I live in the Houston area. What little sticker are you talking about?
I live in the Houston area. What little sticker are you talking about?
you have to be class m, have insurance (thats a given) as well as a certain amount of life insurance (so im told) and then you go down to dps office and apply to be helmet exempt.
once granted they give you a lil green or blueish sticker that says helmet exempt and you put it on your license plate
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: katy, tx
RE: Helment Law Crackdown
ORIGINAL: Teek
Yeah, and Mary Peters is a RIDER, too! I think education works a lot better than any mandatory helmet law. Sure, I wear helmets most of the time. I have four of 'em. All DOT approved, and one of them is even SNELL approved. Today I wore my orange and white Harley ball cap! My insurance, my choice.
Texas does have a helmet law, btw, but it's so weak it's effectively non-existant. Any rider under 21 is required to wear a helmet, no exceptions. A helmet is required UNLESS
1)they have successfully completed a motorcycle safety course
OR
2)are covered by a health insurance plan providing $10,000 minimum in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident.
A helmet exemption sticker may be obtained for 5 bucks from Austin. To get a sticker you have to prove either of the above two requirements. One thing I think is rather boneheaded is the stickers "are serialized and may not be transferred from one motorcycle to another." It's the RIDER who's exempt from the helmet law, but only for the particular bike? "Persons operating, or riding upon, a motorcycle with a helmet exemption sticker displayed on the license bracket are presumed to meet the training or insurance requirements for riding without a helmet." I call this the "no harassment clause". Pretty cool, huh? But it also means if I get a sticker and sell the bike, the new owner will be presumed to meet the exemption requirements when I'M the onewho is actually exempt! Honestly though, Ihaven't even SEEN the sticker, so I don't know what it looks like! I have the application, though, which is where I got my info from.
Oh, and the punishment for"violating" the helmet law in Texas? A fine of not more than $20!!!! And they CANNOT stop you simply for not wearing a helmet. It must be incidental to another violation.
So, come to Texas, ride without a lid, and the law won't mess with you.[8D]
Teek
Yeah, and Mary Peters is a RIDER, too! I think education works a lot better than any mandatory helmet law. Sure, I wear helmets most of the time. I have four of 'em. All DOT approved, and one of them is even SNELL approved. Today I wore my orange and white Harley ball cap! My insurance, my choice.
Texas does have a helmet law, btw, but it's so weak it's effectively non-existant. Any rider under 21 is required to wear a helmet, no exceptions. A helmet is required UNLESS
1)they have successfully completed a motorcycle safety course
OR
2)are covered by a health insurance plan providing $10,000 minimum in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident.
A helmet exemption sticker may be obtained for 5 bucks from Austin. To get a sticker you have to prove either of the above two requirements. One thing I think is rather boneheaded is the stickers "are serialized and may not be transferred from one motorcycle to another." It's the RIDER who's exempt from the helmet law, but only for the particular bike? "Persons operating, or riding upon, a motorcycle with a helmet exemption sticker displayed on the license bracket are presumed to meet the training or insurance requirements for riding without a helmet." I call this the "no harassment clause". Pretty cool, huh? But it also means if I get a sticker and sell the bike, the new owner will be presumed to meet the exemption requirements when I'M the onewho is actually exempt! Honestly though, Ihaven't even SEEN the sticker, so I don't know what it looks like! I have the application, though, which is where I got my info from.
Oh, and the punishment for"violating" the helmet law in Texas? A fine of not more than $20!!!! And they CANNOT stop you simply for not wearing a helmet. It must be incidental to another violation.
So, come to Texas, ride without a lid, and the law won't mess with you.
[8D]Teek
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 2
From: Fort Worth, TX
RE: Helment Law Crackdown
Officially, it's the HEB area of Hurst, Euless and Bedford. I fondly refer to them as "Hurt, Useless, and Deadford". It's a good area, and I damn near live at the juncture of the three! A half mile from Bedford, I live in Euless, and actually park my bike in Hurst, within sight of my apartment window!
Back on topic...yes, I personally believe wearing a helmet is safer than not wearing one, but it's the rider's choice. What I think is kinda funny in an ironic way, is why the hell do people wear novelty helmets in this state? I mean, what's the point? Either wear a DOT approved helmet for the safety factor, or just let your hair fly in the wind or use a headwrap. A novelty helmet is pointless, IMO in states that allow lidless riding. Can someone shed some light on this?
Teek
Back on topic...yes, I personally believe wearing a helmet is safer than not wearing one, but it's the rider's choice. What I think is kinda funny in an ironic way, is why the hell do people wear novelty helmets in this state? I mean, what's the point? Either wear a DOT approved helmet for the safety factor, or just let your hair fly in the wind or use a headwrap. A novelty helmet is pointless, IMO in states that allow lidless riding. Can someone shed some light on this?
Teek
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