N.J. Senate approves bills requiring helmets

[WWF-VT]

It's a new revenue stream. No helmet? Sorry, you can't ski unless you rent one from us.

Unless the numbers are a lot different in NJ than nationally it doesn't look like much of a revenue stream:

2008/09 NSAA National Demographic Study shows that:

• 77 percent of children 9 years old or younger wear ski helmets;
• 66 percent of children between 10 and 14 wear ski helmets;

 

[gmcunni]

It's a new revenue stream. No helmet? Sorry, you can't ski unless you rent one from us.

wonder how much $$ in damages i can get for filing a "wrongful head lice" lawsuit

 

[legalskier]

you are free to NOT ski in NJ

Note that the article goes on to state: "The bill heads to the Assembly for consideration." So the dialog is far from over and the bill probably will undergo significant revisions. Even if it passes both houses, it's still subject to the veto of our Republican (read: pro-business?) governor.

 

[jaywbigred]

Posit what mandatory children's helmet laws would do to insurance rates. Might offset the cost of providing rental helmets at affordable rates (some of which will of course be passed on to the consumer).

I have no problem with this law, and I think it will generally protect both kids and law abiding ski resorts. If its mandatory for biking and skateboarding, I don't see why skiing should be different, especially with today's park rats and all the metal rails.

 

[nycskier]

Welcome to America. Please leave your personal freedoms in the bin by the door.

Agree!

While I think kids should wear helmets when they ski having a law that fines ski resorts is a bit of an overkill.

Why not do something productive to encourage helmet wearing instead of making it a crime to ski without it.

Why not offer a sales tax waiver on helmet rentals & purchases. Instead of forcing they could try encouraging and taking steps to make skiing and skiing safer cheaper for everyone.

 

[SkiDork]

Agree!

While I think kids should wear helmets when they ski having a law that fines ski resorts is a bit of an overkill.

Why not do something productive to encourage helmet wearing instead of making it a crime to ski without it.

Why not offer a sales tax waiver on helmet rentals & purchases. Instead of forcing they could try encouraging and taking steps to make skiing and skiing safer cheaper for everyone.

LOL. Good one. I also like to visit fantasyland from time to time.

 

[4aprice]

Debate the freedom issues all you want. , all employees of Mountain Creek were supposed to be wearing a helmet when they were on the slopes. (helmets) when

I have no problems with Mountain Creek making their employees and/or customers wear helmets. The state on the other hand. I think there more pressing issues for them.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[drjeff]

I have no problems with Mountain Creek making their employees and/or customers wear helmets. The state on the other hand. I think there more pressing issues for them.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Sure there are, however with a law like this, the cost to the state is essentially just the piece of paper that it's being printed on, it will make legislators "feel good" since they'll all think they're passing a law that will save 1000's of kids lives and if some parent chooses not to put a brain bucket on their kids head, the state gets a little $$ too. This law, to a legislator, is a win-win-win

 

[bobbutts]

Sure there are, however with a law like this, the cost to the state is essentially just the piece of paper that it's being printed on, it will make legislators "feel good" since they'll all think they're passing a law that will save 1000's of kids lives and if some parent chooses not to put a brain bucket on their kids head, the state gets a little $$ too. This law, to a legislator, is a win-win-win

Think there's any chance enforcement will cost more than the amt collected?
Who pays the ski area helmet police?

 

[bvibert]

Think there's any chance enforcement will cost more than the amt collected?
Who pays the ski area helmet police?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[drjeff]

Think there's any chance enforcement will cost more than the amt collected?
Who pays the ski area helmet police?

More than likely a token enforcement issue. Basically if there happens to be a blatant violation that some ski area staff sees (i.e. a 3 or 4 year old, where there's not a doubt in the world that the kids is under 18) and a patrol, instructor, or mountain ambassador type person sees them, while they're not doing anything else, I'd bet that they'd kindly let the parent know of the law.

If you've got a good sized 8 or 9 year old, one who while wearing a ski coat/ski pants/etc *could* pass as a small 14 year old, then my guess is you won't see any area personel bothering with them if they're not wearing a helmet.

I'd bet that this is one of those laws where you'll see a token newspaper shot and/or 30 second local news clip within a week of opening day with a couple of helmeted kids, the laws sponsoring legislator(s), and a few admins/patrol folks from a New Jersey ski area or two, and that, baring some agregious violation and/or a rogue employee having a bad day and feeling like harrassing a bunch of guests, you won't hear much about it.

 

[4aprice]

The New Jersey Senate is not known for their great law making abilities. Here's one that hasn't gone as planned.

nj.com/index.ssf/2010/08/nj_senate_approves_6-month_rev.html

Let's just say the more time they spend on vacation the better.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[riverc0il]

Its been debated on here before. I couldn't resist some of these though...

:uzi: :flame: uke:

 

[skiNEwhere]

I thought the role of the government was to govern the country not protect people from themselves. Just cuz you can pass a law doesn't mean you should. Like someone earlier stated why not make everyone wear helmets all the time? It would save lives for sure, but that would be crossing the line. Problem is that "line" keeps moving further and further from the liberal side

 

[catskills]

While I think kids should wear helmets when they ski having a law that fines ski resorts is a bit of an overkill.

Why not do something productive to encourage helmet wearing instead of making it a crime to ski without it?

Lawyers would love to make the ski areas responsible for kids wearing helmets. Lawyers will be salivating by sides of the trails waiting for a child to get injured not wearing a helmet. We are now talking 10s of millions of dollars for just one child injury being paid out by the ski area because somehow this child was skiing down the hill without a helmet and its the ski areas fault for letting it happen. Employees at the mountain could get some very nice finders fees just by calling lawyers when they know of a child that is hurt while not wearing a helmet.

If you think a ski areas insurance costs would change with this bill, your probably right it would change. It would be an increase not a decrease in ski area insurance cost.

 

[skimore]

not saying the ski resort needs to foot the bill for outfitting everyone with a helmet but they could require one before allowing access. i think they "require" (but perhaps don't enforce well) brakes or retaining straps on skis/boards, is this so different?

Sure, the individual without braked or straps could pose threat to others.The person without helmet.....not so much

 

[RootDKJ]

See how much fun an August Helmet thread can be? :blink: It's been awhile since we've had one of these and I couldn't resist posting it up. :dunce:

Welcome to the Peoples Republic of New Jersey. I was an employee of Hidden Valley when a girl got killed from being hit by another skier. Her father was a prominate doctor in Morristown and really pushed hard for a law requiring children to wear helmets skiing. Probably how the reps from Morris County got involved. I wouldn't ski without a helmet now but forcing it on people? Typical NJ. At least PA is still somewhat free.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

There was another story on NJ.com about a Morristown doctor pushing this law. Didn't bother to read it fully.

i wonder if ski areas support this type of law? i'd assume the ski area is the target of the lawsuit when someone gets hurt and having that helmet requirement could be in their best interest.

not saying the ski resort needs to foot the bill for outfitting everyone with a helmet but they could require one before allowing access. i think they "require" (but perhaps don't enforce well) brakes or retaining straps on skis/boards, is this so different?

They probably aren't even aware of it.

Good point. I'll have to alert Root.

"Dear Root,
I live in CT...and still haven't made it to Sundown. I'm going to have to cross off any Jersey ski days this year. But I probably wouldn't have made it anyways.

Fondly,
Tansville Wallingford"

Lol. Don't sweat it man, I don't ski in this state either.

It's a new revenue stream. No helmet? Sorry, you can't ski unless you rent one from us.

Great...another question people will be asking about at the lift ticket windows.

Q:How much to rent a helmet?
A: $50/day
Q: How much does the helmet cost?
A: $50

wonder how much $$ in damages i can get for filing a "wrongful head lice" lawsuit

In NJ...lol. There's a good chance someone might just get a chance to test that one out:smash:

Posit what mandatory children's helmet laws would do to insurance rates. Might offset the cost of providing rental helmets at affordable rates (some of which will of course be passed on to the consumer).

I have no problem with this law, and I think it will generally protect both kids and law abiding ski resorts. If its mandatory for biking and skateboarding, I don't see why skiing should be different, especially with today's park rats and all the metal rails.

Good point on the rails...didn't think about that one.

I have no problems with Mountain Creek making their employees and/or customers wear helmets. The state on the other hand. I think there more pressing issues for them.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! NJ should be focused on the important stuff, like getting their medical cannabis program off the ground and operational.

Think there's any chance enforcement will cost more than the amt collected?
Who pays the ski area helmet police?

I'd like to understand how that's going to work also. I think I'll write my representatives and ask them that very question.

 

[millerm277]

Also, as I am not a helmet user while skiing (I do for MTB), don't ski helmets have the same issue as bike helmets that would prevent them from being rentable? I was under the impression that if it's ever sustained any sort of serious impact, you're supposed to replace it. How would a ski area possibly rent them?

 

[bigbob]

So the Dr that supposedly initiated this bill needs a law to tell him to put a helmet on his child! And I thought Dr's were smart!

 

[dmc]

There's a special place in hell for shitty skiers that sue ski areas.