helmetless passengers?

[kgoess]

This has come up for me three times now, in the last three years of riding, so I have to ask about it.

They're all almost exactly the same situation, but here's a good forinstance: I meet my wife after work for dinner at a nice neighborhood restaurant (Juanita and Maude!). I ride there straight from work, she can just walk there, it's an eleven minute walk according to google maps.

After an excellent dinner together she's like, "Can you just give me a ride home on your bike? It would be more fun!" Of course I don't have an extra helmet, and of course she didn't carry one with her when she walked to the restaurant.

I understand it's technically illegal and dangerous and I am religiously ATGATT myself, and yet sometimes I've ridden a couple blocks without gloves, and I think once I rode in street shoes somewhere in the neighborhood, and, well...

If cop pulled us over, as far as I can tell from the internet, it could be anywhere from a $10 ticket to arrest and a year on probation.

So what is *likely* to happen? Does anybody know? Is it even possible to say? Is even considering such a thing so morally heinous that I should just go turn myself in right now for even thinking about it?

 

[Caddywumpus]

This has come up for me three times now, in the last three years of riding, so I have to ask about it.

They're all almost exactly the same situation, but here's a good forinstance: I meet my wife after work for dinner at a nice neighborhood restaurant (Juanita and Maude!). I ride there straight from work, she can just walk there, it's an eleven minute walk according to google maps.

After an excellent dinner together she's like, "Can you just give me a ride home on your bike? It would be more fun!" Of course I don't have an extra helmet, and of course she didn't carry one with her when she walked to the restaurant.

I understand it's technically illegal and dangerous and I am religiously ATGATT myself, and yet sometimes I've ridden a couple blocks without gloves, and I think once I rode in street shoes somewhere in the neighborhood, and, well...

If cop pulled us over, as far as I can tell from the internet, it could be anywhere from a $10 ticket to arrest and a year on probation.

So what is *likely* to happen? Does anybody know? Is it even possible to say? Is even considering such a thing so morally heinous that I should just go turn myself in right now for even thinking about it?

You both get tickets.her for no helmet and you for taking her. Iirc it's about $300 each

 

[Butch]

I have no idea, but recall it is a fix it ticket. Search is your friend, sometimes. Sometimes not.

 

[littlebeast]

no idea either, but recently my SO was fiddling with one of our bikes (some light maintenance) and hopped on it for a spin around the block helmetless. he was met by his wife as he pulled back into the driveway. she (me) was not amused, and vehemently informed him of as much. stupid mindless accidents do happen, and i don’t need him cracking his head open. he could tell by the tone of my voice and the look in my eyes that this subject was not up for debate.

 

[Eldritch]

This has come up for me three times now, in the last three years of riding, so I have to ask about it.

They're all almost exactly the same situation, but here's a good forinstance: I meet my wife after work for dinner at a nice neighborhood restaurant (Juanita and Maude!). I ride there straight from work, she can just walk there, it's an eleven minute walk according to google maps.

After an excellent dinner together she's like, "Can you just give me a ride home on your bike? It would be more fun!" Of course I don't have an extra helmet, and of course she didn't carry one with her when she walked to the restaurant.

I understand it's technically illegal and dangerous and I am religiously ATGATT myself, and yet sometimes I've ridden a couple blocks without gloves, and I think once I rode in street shoes somewhere in the neighborhood, and, well...

If cop pulled us over, as far as I can tell from the internet, it could be anywhere from a $10 ticket to arrest and a year on probation.

So what is *likely* to happen? Does anybody know? Is it even possible to say? Is even considering such a thing so morally heinous that I should just go turn myself in right now for even thinking about it?

When I am riding around the neighborhood because I have been working on my bike, I do it with no helmet pretty regularly. I do not recommend this behavior for mortals, but I also do not recommend riding motorcycles for mortals.

For you, you already know the risks,you already know what could happen. Do the math, it is up to you to decide if it is worth it to play the odds. The odds are very good you both will be fine. The odds of being pulled over are probably low and even if you were, you may or may not get hit with a ticket.

You do the math, you decide if it is worth it. Own any risks you take, you choose your own destiny.

Yet you say this has come up multiple times. I have a lady sized helmet and a bag that it carries easily in for when I am going to be meeting a woman on my bike. Not because I am a gear nazi, but because I am courteous. Consider this as well.

 

[msethhunter]

50+ years ago, my grandfather was out practicing for a desert race. They stopped to take a break. A buddy of his rode over to take a piss. Fell over at <5mph. They all laughed at him. He never got back up.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

You both get tickets.her for no helmet and you for taking her. Iirc it's about $300 each

What I've heard is that if you have 1 helmet and 2 people you let the passenger wear the helmet. That way only the rider gets the ticket; if the rider is wearing the helmet then both of you get a ticket, as caddywumpus indicates...

 

[afm199]

I have no idea, but recall it is a fix it ticket. Search is your friend, sometimes. Sometimes not.

No more fix it tickets.

Fine every time now.

 

[afm199]

This has come up for me three times now, in the last three years of riding, so I have to ask about it.

They're all almost exactly the same situation, but here's a good forinstance: I meet my wife after work for dinner at a nice neighborhood restaurant (Juanita and Maude!). I ride there straight from work, she can just walk there, it's an eleven minute walk according to google maps.

After an excellent dinner together she's like, "Can you just give me a ride home on your bike? It would be more fun!" Of course I don't have an extra helmet, and of course she didn't carry one with her when she walked to the restaurant.

I understand it's technically illegal and dangerous and I am religiously ATGATT myself, and yet sometimes I've ridden a couple blocks without gloves, and I think once I rode in street shoes somewhere in the neighborhood, and, well...

If cop pulled us over, as far as I can tell from the internet, it could be anywhere from a $10 ticket to arrest and a year on probation.

So what is *likely* to happen? Does anybody know? Is it even possible to say? Is even considering such a thing so morally heinous that I should just go turn myself in right now for even thinking about it?

Up to you. I wouldn't do it. I used to ride without one. All the time.

Among other things, the legal liability is huge.

 

[Abacinator]

I wouldn't risk it, OP. But you do you.

 

[Map8]

Moved to LEO forum.

 

[TheRiddler]

So what is *likely* to happen?

Ticket for the passenger, roughly $250.

 

[bojangle]

I'd say that IF an officer were to see it, compared to other violations out there, there's probably a high probability of getting stopped and getting a ticket (at least for the passenger). In California there is a pretty high compliance rate with wearing helmets. Granted, many cruiser helmets out there might not be legal, but not wearing anything will get an officer's attention.

 

[Maddevill]

I once rode around the neighborhood with my daughter on the back. She was wearing a bicycle helmet. Got pulled over, a ticket and I had to call her mom to come pick her up.

Mad

 

[sckego]

I once rode around the neighborhood with my daughter on the back. She was wearing a bicycle helmet. Got pulled over, a ticket and I had to call her mom to come pick her up.

Mad

Oof. Man, I give my kids rides around the neighborhood all the time. That sucks...

 

[Shaggy]

§ 27803. (a) A driver and any passenger shall wear a safety helmet meeting requirements established pursuant to Section 27802 when riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle.
(b) It is unlawful to operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle if the driver or any passenger is not wearing a safety helmet as required by subdivision (a).
(c) It is unlawful to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycles, or motorized bicycle if the driver or any passenger is not wearing a safety helmet as required by subdivision (a).
(d) This section applies to persons who are riding on motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or motorized bicycles operated on the highways.
(e) For the purposes of this section, "wear a safety helmet" or "wearing a safety helmet" means having a safety helmet meeting the requirements of Section 27802 on the person's head that is fastened with the helmet straps and that is of a size that fits the wearing person's head securely without excessive lateral or vertical movement.
(f) This section does not apply to a person operating, or riding as a passenger in, a fully enclosed three-wheeled motor vehicle that is not less than seven feet in length and not less than four feet in width, and has an unladen weight of 900 pounds or more, if the vehicle meets or exceeds all of the requirements of this code, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and the rules and regulations adopted by the United States Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(g) In enacting this section, it is the intent of the Legislature to ensure that all persons are provided with an additional safety benefit while operating or riding a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle.

Like every other violation, it all depends on the cop that stops you. I’m not a traffic guy, so if you were polite, had a valid DL, and not on probation or parole I’d probably give you a warning.

Every officer is different.

 

[Shaggy]

I once rode around the neighborhood with my daughter on the back. She was wearing a bicycle helmet. Got pulled over, a ticket and I had to call her mom to come pick her up.

Mad

Oof. Man, I give my kids rides around the neighborhood all the time. That sucks...

I take my toddler for rides on my scooter around the neighborhood all the time. He stands on the floorboard between my legs without a helmet. We don’t go above 5-10 mph, and usually stay in the court.

:dunno

 

[ST Guy]

So....do you actually love and cherish your wife or is that just something you say?

I have to ask that because anyone who really loves and cherishes someone wouldn't even consider riding them without a helmet. All kinds of things could happen.

JMHO

 

[littlebeast]

Like every other violation, it all depends on the cop that stops you. I’m not a traffic guy, so if you were polite, had a valid DL, and not on probation or parole I’d probably give you a warning.

Every officer is different.

I take my toddler for rides on my scooter around the neighborhood all the time. He stands on the floorboard between my legs without a helmet. We don’t go above 5-10 mph, and usually stay in the court.

:dunno

regardless of whether you are a traffic guy or not, as a LEO, surely you are aware that even the most benign circumstances can quickly change and result in unexpected and catastrophic consequences. why anyone would risk it with a loved one - especially a child, and especially when prevention is so obvious and easy, is beyond my comprehension. some forms of ‘it’s only whatever...’ laziness or poor judgement are recoverable. others are permanent. it only takes a split second for things to go south. i don’t handle regret well at all. and very actively anticipate and avoid all possibility of it.

 

[orbframe]

regardless of whether you are a traffic guy or not, as a LEO, surely you are aware that even the most benign circumstances can quickly change and result in unexpected and catastrophic consequences. why anyone would risk it with a loved one - especially a child, and especially when prevention is so obvious and easy, is beyond my comprehension. some forms of ‘it’s only whatever...’ laziness or poor judgement are recoverable. others are permanent. it only takes a split second for things to go south. i don’t handle regret well at all. and very actively anticipate and avoid all possibility of it.

Sometimes life is fun when you take a little chance. I squirt around the front of my house without a helmet when I’m tuning and listening for things.

Also an LEO. We risk our lives daily as it is...