Is this Legal???

[Woodwerker]

I live in the Philly suburbs and was taking a trip to the local WAWA (google it :-)
Anyway, there was a motorcycle pulled over by two police officers. Nothing unusual there, but upon inspection I notice that the man on the cycle has a 3-4 year old child with him on the bike ... OUCH.... She did have a helmet on, as did he. But is this legal?
To the bikers out there, please pardon me if this is a dumb question, just never seen a child on a bike, not in the side car...

[atgcpaul]

From the American Motorcycle Association website:

http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/l...t.asp?state=pa

Doesn't seem like there is a lower age limit. Maybe it was for another infraction
or the cops were just curious.

I went to college in Philly and lived in the area for most of my life. I do know
what a WaWa is. It will be forever immortalized in the Bloodhound Gang song,
Pennsylvania. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl3jK8NCLFc


Paul

[RodKirby]

In Oz it's simple:

- pillion passenger must be able to reach the foot rests -AND-
- if you're on a public road and riding on 2 wheels (includes bicycles), you must wear an approved helmet.

[MilDoc]

Legal perhaps, but IMHO JPD (just plain dumb).

[Pappy]

I have taken little ones for a ride but at SLOW speeds around a quiet heighborhood. They were sitting in front of me so I had them between my arms and my knees on either side of their legs.

I have been riding for 45+ years on the street and would never carry a passenger that young. She may have had a helmet on but finding an approved MC helmet to properly fit a child that young is doubtful.

Out of couriosity, I checked the Texas laws and there is also no age restriction.

[crokett]

Legal perhaps, but IMHO JPD (just plain dumb).

I saw something even dumber. Minnesota does not have a helmet law and while we were up there I saw a man on a bike, sans helmet. His passenger was I guess his son, maybe 10yrs old, also without a helmet. MN might have a helmet law for kids but either way this kid did not have one on.

[Uncle Cracker]

I try to be live-and-let-live, but a person's rights to do as they please should end when those of others begin. It is endangerment, pure and simple. And who's gonna hate themselves if the kids get hurt? If they're worth puttin' helmets, knee and elbow pads on to ride skates, why not motor vehicles?? It's a mystery to me...

[headhunter636]

I believe that here in the Seattle area, there is no helmet law for motorcycles but there is a helmet law for bicycles.

[jackellis]

Change the subject to aviation and it sounds just like a conversation I had this evening with a bunch of folks visiting town for the Reno Air Races.

Some people understand risk management. Others never will.

[cabinetman]

Florida is a helmet optional state. I have a friend that used to ride a full size motorcycle...with a helmet. He now rides a scooter, no helmet, and flip flops.
.

[Mrs. Wallnut]

I believe that here in the Seattle area, there is no helmet law for motorcycles but there is a helmet law for bicycles.

I thought in Washington that it was a state wide law that helmets were required on motorcycles? Maybe I am wrong about that but when I was a kid my parents had motorcycles and we always wore helmets while riding because it was the law. I also rode a motorbike on our property but didn't wear a helmet all the time. If I was just going to get the mail then I didn't wear one but riding around and climbing one of the hills we had.

[Pappy]

Mandatory helmet laws were passed in every state in the 70's. They were callenged as unconstitutional both because of personal freedom infringement and because of the way the states were forced to pass them. Essentially, the federal DOT said pass them if you don't want your federal highway funding cut off. Same thing was done to implement the 55 mph speed limits. A government agency that did not have a single elected official was dictating laws.

Most states now have some form of helmet law, mostly designed to protect young and/or inexperienced riders. In Texas they are required for riders under 21. Over 21, riders are not required to wear a helmet with proof of successful completion of rider training or $10,000 of medical insurance covering injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident. The second part is to keep the public from picking up the tab for 'individual stupidity'. (My opinion of riders without helments.)

[Richard in Smithville]

A helmet is the law in Ontario. I have a friend who is an experienced rider. Been riding since he was seven or eight. He dropped his bike when he got cut off. He was doing about 40kph and suffered only a few scapes and stiffness but his helmet had many deep gouges cut into the side. Now he never complains about helmets.

[Rand]

I think helmet laws for adults are a bad idea. If you want to risk splattering your brain all over the pavement then go for it. Hopefully you will do it before you reproduce and improve the gene pool.

When I worked for Stanford Hospital they called guys who rode without a helmet heart donors.

What chaps my hide is when I see a guy riding with a cute young girl on the back wearing a helmet, a skimpy top, shorts and sandals. No jacket, no gloves and no boots. If he lays the bike down all that beautiful young skin will be torn off. Not pretty at all.

[milanuk]

I thought in Washington that it was a state wide law that helmets were required on motorcycles?

There is... but you know how the people on that side of the mountains think they're special...

Just funnin' both of ya