Kids' Bike Helmet Laws in Ventura County, California

Bicycle accidents were responsible for 141 fatalities in children age 14 and younger in 2002, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Additionally, each year more than 300,000 children under the age of 14 visits an emergency room due to a bicycle-related incident, the NHTSA reports. As of 2013, 22 states and municipalities have enacted bicycle helmet laws to reduce the chance of injury or death in the event of a bicycle accident, including California.

  1. The Law

    • Ventura County -- and all counties within California -- requires that any child under the age of 18 must wear a bicycle helmet when riding on a bicycle. The law extends to any public path, road, bikeway or trail. The bicycle helmet must meet current safety standards of the American National Standards Institute and must remain properly fastened at all times when operating a bicycle.

    Passenger Laws

    • In addition to the law governing the helmet use of the operator of a bicycle, passengers must also wear a helmet and must ride on a separate seat attached to the bike. Passengers cannot ride on pegs, handlebars or any other part of the bicycle not meant for passengers. If you are carrying a child under the age of 4 on the bicycle in a seat or trailer, the child must wear a bicycle helmet and sit in a seat with proper restraints to prevent the child from falling out of the seat in the event of a crash.

    Safety Features

    • Bicycle helmets sold in the United States after March 10, 1999, must have safety features, including: impact protection; increased helmet and head coverage for children age 1 to 5; helmet stability; allowance for peripheral vision; and standard chinstrap length and strength. When you buy a helmet, check for the label that indicates the age for which the helmet is approved, and a separate label indicating that the helmet meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.

    Fines

    • A violation of California Vehicle Code section 21212 will result in a fine of no more than $25. Parents and guardians of minors are responsible for the violation of the helmet law. Each fine collected for a violation of the bicycle helmet law is divided between going into a fund for bicycle helmet education and covering administrative costs.

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