HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 609        FILED ON: 1/12/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2228

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to require the use of safety helmets while using non motorized scooters by children under the age of 18..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 85 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:—

Section 11E. Any person seventeen years of age or younger operating a non-motorized scooter on a public way, bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet. Such helmet shall fit the person’s head and secured by straps at times while operating a non-motorized scooter, and shall meet the standards for helmets established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4) or subsequent standards or the Snell Memorial Foundation’s nineteen hundred and eighty-four standard for use in bicycling or subsequent standards. A violation of this section shall not be used as evidence of contributory negligence in any civil action.

SECTION 2. Chapter 85 of General Laws as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:—

Section 11F. Every person engaged in the retail business of selling or renting of non-motorized scooters wheeled vehicle shall display in an area conspicuous to customers of such business a sign containing the following statement: “Massachusetts law requires that a helmet be worn by persons seventeen years of age and under who are operators of a non-motorized scooter.”