Indiana legislator wants to require kids to wear helmets on bikes, scooters, skateboards

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)  — An Indiana lawmaker wants anyone under 18 to be required to wear a helmet if they’re riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or a pair of skates. 

The bill proposed by State Sen. Jim Merritt, a Republican from Indianapolis, would allow police to impound children’s bicycles, scooters or skateboards if they are riding without a helmet.

“This legislation is really for the under-18 set. This is a message to children and young adults that are under 18 that they have got to wear helmets if they are gonna ride a scooter or have skates on, ride a bike,” said Merritt. 

The bill would not require Jessica Hemesath, who was riding her bike to class Tuesday afternoon, to wear a helmet, but she said she wasn’t a fan of the proposal. She said been riding the streets of Indianapolis for 10 years without a helmet and there is a certain thrill to riding a bike without a helmet.

“But I think it is good to encourage people to wear helmets,” said Hemesath. 

Marcus Grelle, who makes deliveries by bicycle, said his company requires him to wear a helmet, but he would anyway.

“I think that just because you should wear a helmet doesn’t mean the government should tell you have too. I think that you should because you should but I don’t think it is the government’s business to mandate that or penalize you if you don’t do it,” said Grelle. 

Merritt said that while he expects some push back from members of his own party, 21 states and Washington D.C. have some kind of helmet law for kids on the books.