Parents will face $25 fine for anyone under 17 who fails to wear helmet on the slopes
TRENTON — Juvenile snowboarders and downhill skiers in New Jersey will soon have to wear protective helmets when they hit the slopes.
The requirement, which takes effect Nov. 1, was included in legislation that Gov. Chris Christie signed Friday. Proponents say the helmets will help reduce injuries and potentially save lives
The parent or guardian of youths who fail to wear helmets would face a $25 fine for the first violation and $100 fines for any subsequent offenses. The helmet requirement applies to snowboarders and skiers who are 17 or younger
The state senate approved the bill last summer, while the Assembly passed it in February.
In January, Morristown Memorial Hospital completed a study of last year’s skiing and snowboarding season, finding helmet usage at Mountain Creek Ski Resort in Vernon lagged behind that of other parts of the nation, at 41 percent and 57 percent, respectively. Young men, especially risk-takers, were least likely to wear helmets, the hospital found.
While helmets won’t prevent serious injuries in high-speed, catastrophic crashes, the hospital’s analysis found the headgear prevents between 30 and 50 percent of injuries in wipeouts at moderate speed.
At the time of the hospital's study, not a single state in the country mandated helmet use on the slopes.
Previous coverage:
• Study finds helmet usage lagging in N.J. among snowboarders, skiers
• N.J. Senate approves bills requiring helmets for young skiiers, snowboarders
• Morris County doctor pushes for N.J. law requiring helmets for young skiers