Helmet Law Proposed in California
Helmet Law Proposed in California
[ January 20, 2010 - 8:03am ]
A California state senator wants to make helmet use mandatory for kids on slopes. But will it fly?
The helmet debate rages on. A California lawmaker has formally introduced legislation that would require all skiers and snowboarders under the age of 18 to wear helmets on the hill. California already has a bicycle helmet law for children; like that law, the proposed ski helmet law would fine parents $25 for helmetless children. “Despite repeated warnings from public health experts, professional athletes, and ski resorts, each winter brings news of hundreds of unnecessary tragedies for the failure to wear a helmet," said State Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) in a press release. The bill will likely be heard in the Senate next month. In related news, over at the New York Times the Freakonomics guys are discussing a recent bike-helmet study that suggests helmet laws actually discourage biking. The study's reasoning? Helmets cost too much, both financially and socially. In other words, helmets are still viewed as uncool. So do similar concerns affect skiers' decisions? (Hey, we lived through skiing's neon era -- surely we can't be that concerned with looking cool.) Once helmets are made mandatory, it reduces the coolness question considerably. If everybody looks like a dork, then ipso facto nobody looks like a dork, no?
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Wow ,just anouther reason not to live in the nanny state of CA. It is so sad that these Liberals think every part of ones life needs to be regulated and redtaped to the point of vomiting.Wow people get hurt going down a mountain. Are we going to require helments and pads for a hike or a trip to the potty? It Is quality politicians like this joker that has lead CAL to be the fastest shrinking economy in the country. Between Cal, New York, and Michigan being nothing more than empty goverment piggybanks we all should take note of what the people of these states have voted the selves into. Also with the State Tax on Income it is a wonder anyone lives there. They punish those who work and the push for this type of legislation, what a joke
Of course! California and New York are always first in the nation for violating individual rights and treating people like mindless slaves. They have no right whatsoever to require anything. If people get hurt, that's their responsibility.
CA has great natural beauty but awful government. Glad I don't live there.
Jeff Montgomery
http://funwithgravity.blogspot.com/