California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1835


Introduced by Assembly Member Olsen

February 18, 2014


An act to amend Section 38601 of the Vehicle Code, relating to recreational off-highway vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1835, as introduced, Olsen. Recreational off-highway vehicles: helmets: exemption.

Existing law prohibits a person from operating, or allowing a passenger in, a recreational off-highway vehicle unless the person and the passenger are wearing safety helmets, as specified.

This bill would exempt an operator or passenger of a recreational off-highway vehicle from the requirement to wear a safety helmet if the person is 18 years of age or older, the recreational off-highway vehicle has been equipped with a rollbar by the manufacturer, the person is seated in a seat that has been installed by the manufacturer, and the person is wearing a seat belt.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 38601 of the Vehicle Code is amended
2to read:

3

38601.  

begin deleteA end deletebegin insert(a)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insertExcept as provided in subdivision (b), a end insertperson
4shall not operate, or allow a passenger in, a recreational
5off-highway vehicle unless the person and the passenger are
P2    1wearing safety helmets meeting the requirements established for
2motorcycles and motorized bicycles pursuant to Section 27802.

begin insert

3(b) An operator or passenger of a recreational off-highway
4vehicle is not required to wear a safety helmet pursuant to
5subdivision (a) if all of the following apply:

end insert
begin insert

6(1) The person is 18 years of age or older.

end insert
begin insert

7(2) The recreational off-highway vehicle has been equipped
8with a rollbar by the manufacturer.

end insert
begin insert

9(3) The person is seated in a seat that has been installed by the
10manufacturer for the purpose of seating the operator or passenger
11of the recreational off-highway vehicle.

end insert
begin insert

12(4) The person is wearing a seat belt.

end insert


O

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