New Jersey mandates helmet-wearing for minors

Well, it's not like any NJ resort (are there even that many) will call the cops for every infraction.

I don't see the problem from here, I think pro-helmet advocates would happy and think of this as a benchmark for other states to follow.

i will be on the helmet police squad

i'm not a minor but i wear one anyway. so... this is a good thing anyway.

damn sucks for nj thugs finna look ignant

damn sucks for nj thugs finna look ignant

In Quebec, you have to wear a helmet if you go into the park, any age.

Here's the article: N.J. law mandates helmets for minors EmailPrintComments By Matt Higgins ESPN Action Sports Archive Christian Pondella/ESPN Images Shaun White sporting a helmet at Winter X Games 15. Minors at ski resorts in New Jersey will be required to wear helmets beginning next winter under a new law that is the first of its kind in the country. Governor Chris Christie signed the bill April 6 and it will become effective Nov. 1. The law applies to skiers and snowboarders under the age of 18, and aims to reduce head injuries and save lives. "I think it's very important to protect youngsters from injury," said State Senator Anthony Bucco, the bill's sponsor. "We protect them on bikes with helmet laws. Why not protect them on ski slopes?" Bucco, a Republican from Boonton in the northern part of the state, had introduced similar legislation for a decade without success. He became a proponent of the helmet issue following lobbying from Dr. Norman San Agustin whose daughter Nicole died in 1988 after she was struck in the head by another skier at Hidden Valley Ski Resort near the Pennsylvania border. Bucco said fellow lawmakers finally supported the legislation this time following high-profile incidents of fatalities due to head injuries, and new language that relieves resorts of liability. Under the law, the burden of enforcement will be on police, not resort personnel. The parents or guardian of youths who fail to wear helmets will be fined $25 for the first violation and $100 for subsequent infractions. The law in New Jersey is the first by any state to mandate helmet use on the slopes, although other states have attempted to implement their own. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill last year that would have required minors to wear helmets and impose a $25 fine for parents. But the measure died when Schwarzenegger vetoed a companion bill that called for ski resorts to submit safety plans and reports to state officials. In New York, a state senator is sponsoring a bill that would require skiers and snowboarders under 14 to wear a helmet. Parents of those who fail to comply would be fined $50. Voluntary helmet use has been on the rise, according to Geraldine Link, a spokeswoman for the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), an industry group. She said about half of all skiers and snowboarders wear helmets. Of those under age 9, about 87 percent wear helmets. Still, there has been no corresponding drop in ski resort fatalities, which have averaged about 40 annually for the past 20 years. Link told ESPN before the New Jersey bill became law that the NSAA supported the legislation because it placed responsibility on parents and enforcement with police. Yet she said helmets are no substitute for skiing and riding in a responsible manner. "You can't just say, 'Everyone wear a helmet,' and expect slope safety to improve," she said. "You have to have that core message of individual responsibility to improve core safety. That's our view. It never changed." "I'm not suggesting that people shouldn't wear helmets," Link said. "Our message from day one: Go ahead and wear one, but don't ski and ride differently. Act as if you're not wearing one."

its not like its a bad thing, helmets may not look that cool but they do their job, i think the older ppl on ski patrol are gonna enforce this too the fullest and the younger ppl on ski patrol aren't gonna care as much

Mandating this in New Jersey is the bad thing.  I think helmets should be outlawed, the less joeys the better..........

New Jersey should mandate wearing helmets while driving motor vehicles.

HAHA SUCKS TO BE A MINOR!

idk, seems like if your already skiing, you could pry spring for the helmet. hell, a bike helmets better than nothing

HERES THE DEAL... if your not wearing a helmet, you deserve to knock yourself retarded anyways... this isnt bicycling, a helmet is actually very important. i dont care how good you think you are, WE ALL FALL, and we all hit our heads. especially if your jumping. after cracking 2 helmets and 3 concussions from skiing, I WILL NEVER jump without a helmet.

Really? Biking is horrible if you fall. Compare hitting snow to hitting concrete. Helmets should be required for both.

HA!

i mean if you fall while riding a bicycle... i dont think theres any damage left to be done. downhill and bmx aside

good, maybe they will be able to build bigger park features now that all the dumbass's have helmets to protect their thick heads. I dont see why people wouldnt wear one...

you guys wouldn't understand...it's a jersey thing

K+

i would assume that if you can afford a jacket, snowpants, skis and boots(rental or not), and an expensive lift ticket that you could afford a helmet... especially for a state like NJ.

This is a good thing, I know a kid that was a sophomore in my high school who fell without a helmet, hit his head on a tree, and died quickly. I completely think it's up to the person, but they have a good reason and it's not really that big of a deal.

This is a good thing, I know a kid that was a sophomore in my high school who fell without a helmet, hit his head on a tree, and died quickly. I completely think it's up to the person, but they have a good reason and it's not really that big of a deal.

Helmet police will be ill!!!

I heard about this....Why New Jersey? There is like 3 resorts and I do not think anything has every happend here. I'm 15 and im a ski instructor, not saying that im gonna but why should I wear a helmet when i'm teaching kids on a magic Carpet. Also I am willing to bet that they are not going to enforce this. Who would? are resorts gonna call the cops when kids arent wearing helmets? Or is it gonna be like ski patrols responsability

Also i'm not completely against this because i wear a helmet when I am doing things that I can get hurt but I just think there should be exceptions

its because new jersey straight up sucks....literally everything about new jersey is terrible. There are some nice parts but for the most part its such a dirty place, full of rediculous people, and just overall weak vibes. From when you go over the bridge to pennsylvania or any other part you exit jersey, there is a huge noticable improvement in surrounding areas. New jersey is staight up the buthole of america

oh

nj sucks? no way I leave into pa and its nothing but farmland and rednecks nj is sick!!

Well, i wont be sleeping anytime soon...

well their is only three resorts in nj so it isn't all that bad

this is from the article:

The law applies to skiers and snowboarders under the age of 18, and aims to reduce head injuries and save lives.

"I think it's very important to protect youngsters from injury," said State Senator Anthony Bucco, the bill's sponsor. "We protect them on bikes with helmet laws. Why not protect them on ski slopes?"


18 and youger is maddd stupid, so now we can drive wherever we want but are forced to wear helmets on ski slopes??? doesnt make any sense!! 14 and younger would be better

and why do they refer to 18 and younger people an "youngsters" when at 18 you are usually close to the best people on the mountain and you heal fastest and are more durable??

they should make older more vonerable folks do this

i thought Republicans were supposed to maximize individual freedoms with less government interference. Hmmm ... maybe minors don't count when it comes to this.

time to buy stock in NJ helmet companies, huh?! gonna be rollin' in cold hard casheesh.

yes!

could you get any more arrogant? i live in a suburb of pittsburgh that is the complete opposite of farmland. at least we can fill up our own gas tanks...

Im totally for helmets, i always wear a helmet and don't see why anyone wouldn't. but I don't think it's the governments place to make you wear a helmet skiing.

It's pretty good considering that in new jersey we don't have snow. Just solid ice.

He is reffering not to the cities like Philly and Pittsburgh, more so the area in between.

Yeah, seriously. I have always skied like this and never thought about not wearing a helmet. Helmets are a good thing, skiers look a lot better wearing them and they protect your head.

who gives a shit. your a tart if your not wearing a helmet in the park or you suck too much to need one

ha ha sucks to be from new jersey...let's be real here

you forgot the picture!