Helmet required to ride a bike???
Today I was riding a bike down a pathway along the water, when I thought I’d take a quick break to enjoy the view of a passing ferry. I was straddling the bike, just minding my own business, when a motorcycle cop stopped to ask me where my helmet was? I explained that I did not have one. He said, “how come? It’s a law that you must wear one while riding a bike.” Mind you, at that moment I was not actually “riding” a bike…merely straddling one. The officer proceeded to ask me for identification, which I replied, “I do not have ID on me sir.” “Why do you not have identification on you,” he said? “Well officer, I did not know I was required to carry an ID with me at all times,” I replied. “Sir, what is your name?” He asked. “With all due respect officer, I know you’re just trying to do your job, but I’d like to evoke my 5th Amendment Constitutional right not to answer that.” Frustrated, the officer began to move on…with these parting words…”you need to get a helmet.”
I don’t typically write about political topics on “Mike’s Road Trip,” but in this case I felt compelled as I think I can draw a “travel-related” conclusion.
I’m bothered by this issue for several reasons—first, as a visitor to the Seattle area, how on earth am I to know that there is a law that requires bicyclists to wear a helmet? Second, what self-righteous, power hungry bureaucrat thought it would be a good idea to introduce, then see such a law passed? Why are individual choices being taken away at such a rapid rate? Scratch that…why are we giving our rights away so easily? Once freedom is taken away, it’s extremely difficult to win back. It’s much easier to defend freedom than to fight for it.
Perhaps I’m making much ado of something that most may find benign. I would however challenge those who think this way…this is a very big and valid issue that we face. I believe the massive increase in laws is meant to appease special interest groups, and, budget deficits. In other words, these laws are making criminals out of us all—the fines generated help support the veracious and uncontrollable appetite of government.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “ignorance is no excuse for the law.” Well, that may have been the case when we were a society of (mostly) common sense laws, but that’s not the case anymore. God forbid that I ever find myself in front of a judge, but if I do, I will absolutely argue that ignorance is a valid defense!
The ironic thing here is that the officer who confronted me was on a path where motorized vehicles are prohibited. So, he himself was breaking a law, but because he’s an “officer of the law” he does not have to abide. It’s a slippery slope when our laws do not apply to elected officials and law enforcement officers.
To my travel-related conclusion…if cities like Seattle continue to pass laws that, in this case, unduly target ignorant visitors of ridiculous local laws, tourists and travel-related businesses may take their tourism dollars elsewhere.
What say you? Agree, disagree or don’t care? Additional question…if you feel this law is just, what do you think is a fair fine amount? What if I told you it was $81? I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Mike Shubic
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10 Comments
I disagree with helmet laws 100%. Here is why:
1) If someone chooses NOT to wear a helmet, then the only person they might hurt would be themselves. Helmets don’t protect OTHER people. Same goes for smoking laws, seat belts laws, large coffee laws, … oh wait – maybe we should send Seattle a single and outlaw Coffee all together. Not so unrealistic you know… imagine a Mitt Bloomberg ticket.
2) I believe forcing people to do something by law reduces their natural survival instincts (more on this later)
3) Many laws ARE the result of interest groups. In this case, gut tells me that helmet laws are likely the result of some great lobbying by the HELMET manufacturers. (more on this later)
So – this story not only arouses my libertarian (Go Ron Paul – or Gary Johnson) roots, it reminds me of some research I found several months ago.
I have three kids – and have always made every one of them wear helmets. I have seen my kids NOT RIDE because they didn’t want to wear a helmet. As it turns out, there are studies that show that, statistically, people are better off riding without a helmet, than not riding at all. Furthermore, there are studies that argue that wearing a helmet makes riders feel safer and take larger risks that result in deaths and injuries (see Point 2), and drivers feel like they can get closer to bike riders – when they are wearing helmets – resulting in more injuries and deaths (see point 2).
There have also been studies that show that EARLY STUDIES were biased – the likely result of manufacturers funding “scientists” to conduct studies, that they knew would result in headlines that would sell helmets. (See point 3).
And of course, there are studies that indicate that helmets to nothing for safety whatsoever.
So why on earth would these laws be so prevalent? Why would people feel like helmets are an absolute must? This is a perception that the helmet manufacturing and retail industry has been pushing for years and it now seems like science. (Point 3).
But free men LOVE the Internet. All it takes is one search on the Internet to know WHO is pushing wearing a bike helmet and WHO is pushing back.
It was a few months ago that I found this site, which seems to be very independent, and seeking truth. The truth they find is that bike helmets don’t really save lives.
http://cyclehelmets.org
Of course, if you do a search, there are a ton of “industry” sites pushing bicycle helmet use. But one in particular stands out. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. The seem independent like cyclehelmets.org, but when I searched for their sources of funding – I could not find anything. One thing I did find, was their location – Arlington, VA. (http://www.bhsi.org/index.htm#services). That says it all to me. They are in the BUSINESS of making laws to sell helmets. You’ll see this a lot. Associations and non-profits of all kinds, somehow end up somewhere between Philadelphia and Washington DC – never more than 2 hours from Congress. I wonder why?
As I wrote this, I thought – better check CycleHelmets.org. Guess who I found supporting/leading the effort? A bunch of scientists – I mean REAL scientists. http://cyclehelmets.org/1121.html
So, while I don’t think that bicycle laws should be created or enacted, I suppose they are the norm. Apparently that is what people want, or at least they don’t care enough to fight it. With that said, I think I am going to go into the business of SHOE BUMPERS, and throw a bunch of money at congress to enact a law that forces people to where shoe bumpers so that they don’t stub or break a toe.
Right on corporatism!
Wow, what an awesome and thoughtful response Sean! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Love the “Shoe Bumper,” idea/comment! 🙂 Cheers, Mike
I sometimes think these types of measures and their enforcement are more about revenue collection than promoting public safety, but since he didn’t ticket you, I’ll give the officer the benefit of the doubt.
Hey David…yep, I agree. Well, he wasn’t really able to give me a ticket as I did not give him a way to do so. And, since the infraction was so minor, he wasn’t very well going to press the issue by arresting me. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Cheers, Mike
If you have a ten dollar head, all you need is a ten dollar helmet, but the choice should be yours, not some bureaucrat.
Thank you Ed…my point exactly! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
I AGREE! This is so frustrating to me. I understand that this law is there to protect the cyclist. But if he (eh-hem Mike) should opt not to wear one, it would be his own head that is endangered. This law frustrates me because I believe we are choosing to vote in laws simply on how they are spun to us. “Wouldn’t you want to protect yourself & potentially your children’s heads?” Naturally we all say yes. We would never wish ill of our own kids. But a law? Come one now. I think that this is something that should be left to instill our own children as they grow. My mother certainly never let me leave the house without one.
Also, our freedom is endangered. I recently moved to Washington from Florida. As a native to Washington I was so excited to return home and explore the city again. My experience: My girlfriend & I are crossing the road and she waits at a ‘no walk’ sign, no cars, no people, its the dead of night. I think to myself, now that shes done this multiple times, I am tired, its late and I see now reason why I cant exercise my own judgement and see that its safe to cross. Lame! To my surprise, Seattleites have given this right of judgement away to the government that now fine me, if I walk on a ‘No Walk’ sign. You have got to be kidding me! I immediately felt like I was 12 years old, in the city, without a chaperon. Apparently I cant think for myself.
In conclusion, Mike, use exercise better judgment… but I couldn’t agree more.
OMG Trisha…you’re speaking my language! I like you! 🙂 I need to add an update to that post…you’re not going to believe this, but while I was in Vancouver, B.C. just a few days after I wrote this post, I was stopped again for biking without a helmet. Of course, I was able to get out of it because I refused to provide any ID.
I regularly ride without a helmet when commuting to work here in Yakima, so I totally get the idea of not wanting to wear a helmet. There are zealots everywhere that want to have everyone wearing helmets. Even Copenhagen, that bicycle town of my forefathers, has a contingent trying to force people to wear them.
I have lost someone close to me as a result of a hit and run while we were riding. She was wearing a helmet, but it came off as a result of the impact and was killed as result. As I was being airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seatlle, the EMTs told it was because she didn’t have it fastened securely.
My point here, is that the law erroneously presumes that people wear the helmet effectively, when there is plenty of evidence all around that many many don’t.
Hi Arnie…thanks for sharing your thoughts/experience. And, for your concluding point. Cheers, Mike