CD: Helmet ordinance hearing draws mixed reaction

TIM PRATT

The first of two public hearings on a proposed child safety helmet ordinance drew mixed reaction Tuesday night from Starkville citizens, aldermen and former city officials.

Several residents and aldermen said they were in favor of new rules which would require persons 16 and younger to wear a helmet while riding bicycles and other alternative forms of transportation, while others liked the concept but were concerned with how the measure was written.

As it stands, the ordinance doesn’t specify who would be allowed to issue citations to violators of the ordinance. It says “any authorized agent” of the city can issue citations.

The ordinance also states a parent or legal guardian of the violator must pay a $15 fine for a first offense, although it gives the parent or legal guardian the option to purchase a helmet in lieu of paying the fine.

Mayor Parker Wiseman said only city police officers and code enforcement officers can issue citations. He also said the ordinance “isn’t meant to punitive” because its goal is to get people to purchase and wear helmets while riding bicycles and other alternative forms of transportation.

“I think, in most cases, what this ordinance is aimed at and what it will do is require a helmet to be worn,” Wiseman said.

Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas doesn’t like the idea of a police officer or code enforcement officer stopping a child without a helmet and issuing a citation.

“So if my 10-year-old is out on her bike and she gets a ticket, are they going to ask for her driver’s license?” Dumas said to a round of laughter.

Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver had a similar concern.

“Everybody laughs about this … but if my son comes in at 6 years old with a ticket, I’m going to have a major issue with that,” Carver said. “There’s going to be all kinds of profiling issues and identification of children and things like that.”

“Half of them don’t know their street address,” Carver added.

Carver also suggested the ordinance be revised to specify that only police and code enforcement officers can issue citations. He also suggested looking into ways to enforce the ordinance without a monetary fine.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.