Calif. Ski Helmet Bill Awaits Governor's Signature

[Black Phantom]

At least they are not worrying about going bankrupt in CA...

SACRAMENTO (BCN) ―

A bill aimed at ensuring the safety of children shredding the California slopes was sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday after it passed through the Legislature on a bipartisan 22-11 vote.

Senate Bill 880, authored by state Sen. Leland Yee, would mandate that all persons under the age of 18 wear helmets while skiing or snowboarding. It would also require resorts to publicize the law on signs, trail maps, websites and other locations.

If signed by Schwarzenegger, SB 880 would allow parents to be fined up to $25 if their children violate the law.

The legislation was inspired in part by statistics on children hurt in accidents on the slopes, said Adam Keigwin, spokesman for Yee.

"The California Psychological Association came to us and presented several studies that showed that, while in terms of percentage there may not be a lot, there are in fact thousands of head trauma injuries per year," he said. "Helmets would severely decrease that number."

"Senator Yee, as a child psychologist, understands brain development and how malleable the child brain is," Keigwin said.

Keigwin compared the helmet bill to other safety laws affecting minors that have become almost second nature.

"Even seat belt use, which we now consider common sense, was at one time was debated in the Legislature," he said. "Car seat laws, seatbelt laws, and bicycle helmet regulations all ensure public safety, and we expect this particular law to do the same thing."

Yee is also collaborating with Assemblyman Dave Jones to address ski safety with Assembly Bill 1652. AB 1652 would require the development of ski resort safety plans and the submission of fatality reports to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

That bill is also headed to Schwarzenegger's desk after being approved by the Assembly on a 51-22 vote.
http://cbs5.com/health/ski.helmet.safety.2.1882770.html

 

[catskills]

The good news here is maybe politicians will stop being pestered by people that think there must be a helmet law. A $25 fine clearly defines that the safety of the child is the PARENTS responsibility. I like that part.

At least the California law doesn't make the lift attendant or the ski patrollers responsible for making sure kids are wearing a helmet.

Its the parents responsibility. I like that.

Who and how is this going to be enforced. Who pays for the enforcement? Who gets the $25. fine money. Does a parent and child have to show up in court like a speeding ticket?

Do to patient confidentiality and HIPA laws, I don't think ski patrollers should be the ones to enforce any helmet laws. A teenage patient with a head injury walks into a first aid room with their parent, they are going to tell you he was wearing a helmet if they think they are going to have to go to court or be fined for not wearing a helmet. A ski partoller knowing the child was not wearing a helmet when he hit the tree could be the difference between life and death for that child. MOI or mechanism of injury is a critical indicator in determining EMS patient care outside the hospital.