Does anybody know whether you can be stopped and fined $150.00 for not wearing a N.Z standard safty motorbike helmet,and where I can check my rights on this.
My partner and I were stopped buy a cop one Sunday, with the usual license and rego check, fined my man $150.00, over his helmet.The cop would not allow him to ride the rest of the distance on the bike. I gavemy man my helmet and had to go the rest of the distant in the cop car, not impressed,anyone got any ideas on this.
2006-07-10 19:06:54 · 9 answers · asked by nn_grwn 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
By the way I live in Auckland, New Zealand.
2006-07-10 19:32:39 · update #1
You need to say where you're from. Is N.Z. New Zealand ? I imagine it varies by locale. They made helmets optional in Pennsylvania a while ago, but the safety nazis are on the warpath again since some famous football dude went windsheild diving off his Hayabusa. Personally, I always wear a helmet, but I'm a big supporter of personal choice as well as personal responsibility.
Good Luck !
2006-07-10 19:17:05 · answer #1 · answered by Raffy_AdAstra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, its hard to say since laws vary from state to state here in the U.S. and I'm sure are greatly different in another country but, speaking from what I know about the laws here, it depends on the state law. Some states have MANDATORY helmet laws ( such as here in Virginia ), other states have DISCRETIONARY helmet laws, "Riders' choice" ( Pennsylvania for example ) while other states ( such as Texas ) have NO helmet law. You can ride all you want in, say Pennsylvania, without a helmet right to the state line, then you have to put your helmet on. My opinion on that is, motorcycling is dangerous enough WITH a helmet and, if you get a comfortable helmet, its not THAT much of an inconvenience to wear.
Better to have had it on and not needed it than needed it and not had it on !
It will only take ONE time for you to bounce your head off the pavement at even SLOW speeds for you to end up spending the rest of your life ( IF you live ) wishing that you had worn a helmet that day.
Didn't mean to get side-tracked in this answer. As for your question, pay the ticket and wear an approved helmet. As for checking whether your area has a helmet law ( and I'm sure the cop wasn't just wasting his time giving you a ticket if there was no helmet law ) Check with your local Motor Vehicles Department ( where you get your license and vehicle tags ).
2006-07-11 03:26:30 · answer #2 · answered by jcalaz2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing you might try; if the cop says your helmet is not of an approved type, ask him if he can provide or produce a list of approved helmets. You probably won't win the roadside debate, but a friend of mine won in court when the neither the cop nor the court could produce said list. Also, I got stopped once for having my helmet on my arm. The cop said he was writing the ticket for me for not wearing a helmet. I took the ticket and won in court,since the law stated that I had to wear the helmet but not where. It made for an interesting day in court. The judge even laughed when he said case dismissed.
2006-07-14 08:26:11 · answer #3 · answered by preacher55 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know what we say in the States: "If you have a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet".
Sorry to hear about your ticket, I truly am, but if your helmet is substandard then by all means consider the $150 your cheapo wake up call.
It's all a joke like it was to a friend of mine until he woke up one morning in the hospital, realizing he was screwed for life. And yeah, it wasn't his fault but so WHAT?
Ride safe, smile at cops whether you mean it or not, and get a good helmet---that's my two cents from an old biker.
2006-07-11 09:15:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to check wording of the particular law. It may say of comparable quality/standard. If so, your covered, have a day in court. If it states a particular standard, (BSI, Snell, etc) your SOL
BTW, not all cops 'know' the law, sometimes they bend it a bit, knowing that you know less than them (and attitude goes a long way in getting a ticket)
2006-07-11 06:57:56 · answer #5 · answered by 1crazypj 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what kind of helmet laws they have in New Zealand, but I bet the police do. If you were not in compliance with the law then your rights weren't violated.
2006-07-10 23:24:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think so when my dad travels or just goes and rides he never wears a helmet and if he does its a harley helmet not a n.e safety one
2006-07-10 19:12:30 · answer #7 · answered by ~*BER-BER*~ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently, bikers all over the world have the right to be harassed by cops.
2006-07-10 21:40:21 · answer #8 · answered by Hillbillies are... 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
abate.com and click on your state
Out of the US, your on your own. Sorry!
2006-07-17 17:45:52 · answer #9 · answered by cindy1323 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋