| 10/05/2001 | North Carolina's new helmet law went in effect last week. The new law requires rides under 16 to wear helmets when riding bicycles on public roadways, is part of a campaign to promote safety awareness.
"This is not a punitive measure or an enforcement measure," Gov. Mike Easley said during a kick-off event. "What we can do with this bill and others like it is create an opportunity for parents and children to be safe so that at the end of the day, parents will have to accept responsibility for the safety of their children."
The State Department of Transportation has awarded more than $280,000 in federal safety funds through the Governor's Highway Safety Program to 222 state and local law enforcement agencies to be used toward the purchase of bicycle helmets for safety awareness programs.
The new law, narrowly approved by the General Assembly in June with a final 25-23 Senate vote, is expected to decrease the number of deaths and head injuries among youngsters.
Moms and dads who knowingly allow their children to ride without a helmet would be guilty of an infraction and fined up to $10. The fine could be waived on a first offense.
At least 17 states and several North Carolina municipalities — including three in Pitt County — already were enforcing helmet requirements for young people.www.dot.state.nc.us
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