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THE holiday rush may not be over for parents who gave their children bicycles for Christmas. A new statewide law that kicks in on Jan. 1 requires bicycle riders under the age of 16 to wear bicycle helmets.
Young bicyclists must wear helmets;
contractors get a tax breakTeen-agers rush to beat driver's-ed rule
By Pat Omandam
Star-BulletinThe parents or legal guardians of those caught without the protective headgear face fines of $25, which is about the average cost of a new helmet.
The helmet law is among a handful of state laws that go into effect this new year, but is one that many people will notice.
Bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by up to 85 percent, and universal helmet use could prevent an average of 500 bicycle-related deaths each year, according to the National Bicycle Safety Network.
Jayne Kim, manager of Eki Cyclery, said the longtime Kalihi business has seen a 30 percent increase this year in the sales of children's helmets. Kim said most parents who buy bikes know about the new law and think it's a good idea. The prices of the helmets at the store range from $20 to $35.
"I think it's great," she said last week.
Fay Saiki, owner of The Bike Shop, said there's been a noticeable increase in the sales of children's helmets."I don't think it's causing a particular rush, but I think that parents realize that kids should be wearing helmets," she said.
Both stores report the sales of bicycles are slightly up this year.
Kim and Saiki said while the helmet law is needed, they question how it will be enforced. For example, most children don't carry identification so it will take more time for law enforcement officers to determine who the parents or guardians are so they can issue the citations.
So far, at least 14 states have regulations that require those under the age of 16 to wear helmets while riding bicycles. In some states, the age restriction is lower. For example, in Massachusetts, those under 12 must wear helmets, while in New Jersey, the age is 14.
Nearly all of those states with bicycle helmet laws require the headgear to conform with nationally recognized standards.
Capt. Bryan Wauke of Honolulu Police Department's traffic division said the state Department of Transportation has been conducting an education campaign about the mandatory use of bicycle helmets since the law was passed earlier this year. He said police support the law not because it could generate revenue for the state, but because helmets save lives.
While citations can be issued on the spot to youths, their parents or guardians will be legally responsible to pay the $25 fines, he said.
"Like any other law, we hope everyone would comply on their own," Wauke said.
CHILDREN'S THERAPY
Another Jan. 1 law makes the state Department of Education, not the state Department of Health, responsible for the occupational therapy and physical therapy programs of exceptional children in the public-school system.
CONTRACTOR RELIEF
Contractors in the construction industry will be able to choose next year whether they want to pay the general excise tax on sales on a cash basis or on the current accrual-based accounting system. The law is intended to provide tax relief to the construction industry. Currently, a contractor must pay the GET on sales accrued even if the contractor hasn't been paid for his work.
HEALTH-CARE DIRECTIVES
Finally, Hawaii drivers on Jan. 1 will be able to designate on their driver's licenses and state identification cards if they have any advance health-care directives.
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