More Victimless Crimes in Vancouver?

The city of Vancouver is considering passing a helmet law. Originally the law was to be for persons under the age of 18, however, they intend to amend that to include adults. The ordinance below reads as originally set up. A city council meeting will be held February 11th at 7:00 pm and a second meeting is scheduled for February 25th at 7:00
pm.

City Hall
210 East 13th Street, 3rd Floor
Vancouver, WA 98660

AN ORDINANCE requiring helmets be used by persons under the age of 18 when operating or riding on bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, unicycles and scooters in a public area within the City of Vancouver; providing for savings, severability and an effective date.

Summary:

The City of Vancouver is currently one of the few jurisdictions in Washington State that does not have an ordinance requiring use of helmets for at least bicycles if not other human powered vehicles. In August 2007, the Clark County Board of Commissioners asked the Clark County Youth Commission to develop a proposal for bicycle helmet
regulations. The Youth Commission presented their recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on November 28 and Vancouver City Council on December 3. The majority of those recommendations are incorporated in the City’s ordinance, including requiring the use of a helmet not just for bicycles but also scooters, skateboards, roller skates, unicycles and roller blades.

Helmets would be required for any person under the age of 18 operating or riding on bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, unicycles and/or scooters in a public area within the City of Vancouver. Penalties for violation of the helmet law would be a civil fine not to exceed $50, which gives the Police Department limited
discretion in determining the level of the fine. There is also a provision for the court to waive, reduce or suspend the civil penalty if the violator provides proof that they have acquired a helmet. The proposed helmet ordinance would be enforced by the Vancouver Police Department as part of their regular duties.

In 2008, $5,000 is set aside for a public education campaign about the new helmet law and for purchase of additional helmets to be made available to low-income youth. Funds are available in the 2007-2008 general governmental budget.

Action Requested:

Subject to second reading and public hearing, approve the ordinance. (Jan Bader, Program and Policy Development Manager, 735-8870)

Letter from a concerned citizen:
Dear Mayor Pollard and City Council Members,

I recently was told that Vancouver was considering passing a helmet law for cyclists of all ages with a fine up to $50.

As a homeowner, business owner and cyclist, I would like to voice my opposition to this law. I am curious as to the motivation behind this. I could possibly understand a law that would require helmets for children, but for adults? I am unaware of a rise in cyclist accidents in the city of Vancouver, is there one? I have also been informed by
other cyclists that there is no evidence that cyclist accidents/fatalities were reduced as a result of helmet laws in other cities. In fact, there is more evidence to support that bike safety increases as more cyclists are on the road (helmets or not).

I ride my bike rather than drive a car on many occasions, mostly because I live and work in close proximity. Most of my trips are short and within the neighborhoods around which I live and work and I rarely wear a helmet. I choose to wear a helmet when I am riding distances and crossing major, high traffic streets. I am a safe cyclist and have never been in any accidents, with only the exception of falling off my bike as a child. The idea that a police officer could pull me over on my bicycle and ticket me for not wearing a helmet seems ridiculous.

I have read that there will be funds alloted for low-income cyclists, however, I think it will ultimately be unfair to that population as many use bikes as their only mode of transportation. Requiring them to get helmets, keep helmets and wear helmets will be a problem and only increase their interactions with law enforcement.

I strongly believe that this is excessive government and not something worth the use of our police officers to enforce. I realize that other cities in Washington have these laws on the books, but that doesn’t mean that Vancouver must follow suit.

Again, considering that there is no evidence that Vancouver has a problem with non-helmet wearing cyclists and that there is little evidence to support a decrease in accidents or fatalities when these laws have been implemented, I strongly oppose a helmet law for adults in the city of Vancouver.

Thank you for your consideration of this information.

Sincerely,
Chris Jochum

For more information on wearing helmets and helmet laws visit:

http://cyclehelmets.org/

If you would like to contact the City Council and have your voice heard on this issue, please email them and/or show up for the council meetings on February 11th and 25th.

Mayor Royce E. Pollard, mayor@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Councilmember Pat Jollota, pat.jollota@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Councilmember Pat Campbell, pat.campbell@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Councilmember Jeanne Harris, jeanne.harris@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Councilmember Jeanne Stewart, jeanne.stewart@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Councilmember Tim Leavitt, tim.leavitt@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Councilmember Larry Smith, larry.smith@ci.vancouver.wa.us