Fine for not wearing a bike helmet?

**MummaBear03** · 09-11-2009 15:25

The kids next door just got home from school on their bikes, and their dad went off at them for not wearing a helmet. He said it's now a $175 fine for parents if children are not wearing a helmet on their bikes. I haven't heard anything about this, and was wondering if anyone knows about it.

**MermaidSister** · 13-11-2009 22:13

Well i know adults can be fined by the cops for riding without a helmet, that law's been in place for a while. It is def enforced where i live in the inner city too as i know plenty of people who have copped it! So i imagine in the case of a helmet-less child the same would apply to their legal guardians. Not particularly fair as i know we used to just take our helmets off as soon as we were out of sight of mum & dad, but oh well.

**MummaBear03** · 13-11-2009 22:19

I guess what I'm thinking of is the fact that these kids were wearing a helmet to school in the morning, they decided to carry the helmet in their hands on the way home from school and as soon as they came into the street the parents saw them and told them off. I do think that parents should be held accountable for the actions of their children to a degree, but how is that something the parents can control?

**our little treasures** · 13-11-2009 22:54

I am not sure one the amount or where you live, however in Vic there have been news laws in regards to helmets, car seats etc etc..

I know you now need to wear helmets for any recreational wheeled item, like scooters and skateboards etc. It is a larger fine now..

I guess it's a bit like the new laws with passengers wearing seat belts. They state anyone in the car (no longer just under 18's ) without a seat belt the DRIVER will be fined.. Tough one now.

**MummaBear03** · 13-11-2009 23:00

Originally Posted by our little treasures

I am not sure one the amount or where you live, however in Vic there have been news laws in regards to helmets, car seats etc etc..

I know you now need to wear helmets for any recreational wheeled item, like scooters and skateboards etc. It is a larger fine now..

I guess it's a bit like the new laws with passengers wearing seat belts. They state anyone in the car (no longer just under 18's ) without a seat belt the DRIVER will be fined.. Tough one now.

That's fair enough because if you're driving a car and someone in the car takes their seatbelt off, you can pull over until it's back on or just tell them to put it back on if they're older. It's a bit different if the parent is not physically there to make them wear it, when the parents have obviously provided the helmet for the kids to wear.

**Veritas** · 13-11-2009 23:39

I think it's quite fair for the most part....

If these kids can't show that they can responsibly ride a bike, including wearing a helmet ALL the time, utilising foresight, riding safely, judging traffic, etc, then they simply shouldn't be riding unsupervised.... in that instance it should be the parents responsibility to ensure that they are able AND willing to undertake these things and abide by the appropriate rules, or remove the privilige...

All too often, particularly near my home (as there is a skate park nearby).... there are young kids, riding helmetless in the middle of the road with no regard or awareness of traffic around them.... I find it terribly concerning....