Chapter 9.30
MANDATORY HELMET REQUIREMENTS
Sections:
9.30.020 Approved protective helmet required.
9.30.030 Parental responsibility.
9.30.040 Bicycle races and events – Helmet required.
9.30.050 Bicycle leasing or lending – Helmet required.
9.30.010 Definitions.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
A. “Approved protective helmet” means a head covering that meets or exceeds safety standards adopted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), or the Snell Memorial Foundation (Snell), or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or the Shell Foundation, or such subsequent nationally recognized standard for bicycle helmet performance as the City Council may adopt.
B. “Bicycle” means every device propelled solely by human power upon which a person or persons may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels, either of which is sixteen (16) inches or more in diameter, or three (3) wheels, any one of which is more than twenty (20) inches in diameter. Within this chapter, the term “bicycle” shall include a bicycle with training wheels, or any attached trailer, side car, and/or other device designed to be, and being, towed by a bicycle. The term bicycle specifically excludes tricycles.
C. “Electric-assisted bicycle” means a bicycle with two (2) or three (3) wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an electric motor. The electric-assisted bicycle’s electric motor must have a power output of no more than one thousand (1,000) watts, be incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than twenty (20) miles per hour on level ground, and be incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power is applied to propel the device beyond twenty (20) miles per hour.
D. “Roller blades” or “roller skates” means a skate with at least four (4) wheels, for skating on surfaces other than ice.
E. “Skateboard” means a short, narrow board to which roller skate wheels are attached.
F. “Public area” means public rights-of-way, streets, roads, alleys, bicycle paths, parks, publicly owned facilities, or privately owned property open to the public as invitees or for recreational use. (Ord. 99-1011 § 1)
9.30.020 Approved protective helmet required.
A. Any person one (1) year of age or older bicycling, skateboarding, roller blading, roller skating or riding as a bicycle passenger on or in tow of a bicycle upon any public area in the City of SeaTac shall wear an appropriate protective helmet which must be equipped with a neck or chin strap which shall be fastened securely while the bicycle is in motion.
B. No person shall transport another person on or in tow of a bicycle upon any public area in the City, unless the passenger, if one (1) year of age or older, is wearing a securely fastened protective helmet. (Ord. 99-1011 § 1)
9.30.030 Parental responsibility.
A parent or guardian is responsible for requiring that a child under the age of eighteen (18) years wears an approved protective helmet while bicycling, skateboarding, roller blading, roller skating or riding as a passenger on a bicycle in any public area in the City. The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 99-1011 § 1)
9.30.040 Bicycle races and events – Helmet required.
A. Any person managing a bicycle race, an organized event involving bicycling, or a bicycle tour in the public area of the City shall require that all participants on or in tow of bicycles wear bicycle helmets.
B. The person managing any such event shall include notice of the bicycle helmet requirement in any promotional brochures and on registration materials. (Ord. 99-1011 § 1)
9.30.050 Bicycle leasing or lending – Helmet required.
A. Any person engaging in the business of renting or loaning any bicycle, skateboard, roller blades, or roller skates for use in any public area in the City shall supply the persons leasing or using such bicycles, skateboard, roller blades, or roller skates with approved protective helmets unless the renters and passengers possess approved protective helmets of their own.
B. Any rental papers, including contracts, agreements, or receipts must provide notice to the person renting the bicycle, skateboard, roller blades, or roller skates of the approved protective helmet requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 99-1011 § 1)
9.30.060 Penalties.
A. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter commits a nontraffic infraction and shall be liable for a monetary penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each infraction.
B. The court may waive, reduce, or suspend the penalty, or require community service or bicycle or skating training, and clear the notice of violation as a warning for an individual who has not received a prior notice of violation of this chapter and provides proof that he or she has acquired an approved protective helmet at the time of appearance in court.
C. Each rental and each event under SMC 9.30.050 shall be a separate infraction. (Ord. 04-1013 § 6: Ord. 99-1011 § 1)