Interesting sidecar comment

[Alan_Hepburn]

So, Sandy and I were tooling around in the sidecar recently (actually she was in the sidecar; I was on the bike!) and we stopped for a break. Some guy came over to us and was checking out the rig when he saw that we have a seat belt installed in the sidecar. He then made the comment that if the sidecar has a seatbelt then the occupant does not need to wear a helmet :wtf

I know the rules are strange concerning sidecars - it's registered as a motorcycle, can be in carpool lanes like a motorcycle, but you don't need an M1 endorsement on your license - but I've never heard of not needing a helmet in the chair if you're wearing a seatbelt. Any thoughts on this from our traffic guys here?

 

[Junkie]

I believe that used to be the case, but the law was changed.

27803(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.

I believe that law mostly applies to meter maids

 

[bojangle]

I believe that used to be the case, but the law was changed.

27803(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.

I believe that law mostly applies to meter maids

The change was that it used to be that parking enforcement had to wear helmets driving those meter maid vehicles. The exemption you posted ended that requirement, but it wouldn't apply to a sidecar, as a sidecar is not fully enclosed.

 

[Aware]

The change was that it used to be that parking enforcement had to wear helmets driving those meter maid vehicles. The exemption you posted ended that requirement, but it wouldn't apply to a sidecar, as a sidecar is not fully enclosed.

Sidecars can be fully enclosed, though. They just typically are not.

 

[bojangle]

Sidecars can be fully enclosed, though. They just typically are not.

Well, right you are. I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild, but Google images gives me lots of examples.

And then I came across this monstrosity.

Holy hell! :laughing

So I guess if the sidecar met all the requirements set forth in 27803(f) V.C., the passenger should be exempt from wearing a helmet.