Topic: michigan helmet violation

[MickeyX]

In a nutshell, here it is. It would be nice to have a pic or 2 on here of the outside and inside of the helmet for reference. 

Recognizing Approved Helmets

Per the Michigan Administrative Code Rule R28.951, only motorcycle helmets meeting all of the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218 are legal for use in Michigan. The following guidelines are useful in recognizing approved helmets:

 

Labeling:

 

· Manufacturer's name or identification.

· Precise model designation.

· Size.

· Month and year of manufacture (i.e., June 1988 or 6/88).

· The symbol DOT, constituting the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. The symbol shall appear on the posterior outer surface, in a color that contrasts with the background, in letters at least 3/8 inch high, and between 1 1/8 inches and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom edge of the helmet.

    * It is important to note that an approved helmet may no longer bear the DOT sticker if it has been removed, or covered by a custom paintjob. Also, contraband DOT stickers can be obtained for the purpose of applying them to unapproved helmets. The application of a DOT sticker to an unapproved helmet does NOT make it a legal helmet in Michigan.

· Instructions to the purchaser regarding construction and other safety-related information.

 

Other guidelines:

 

· As a general rule, the thickness of the polyfoam inner liner should be at least 1 inch thick. This is the easiest way to detect helmets not meeting federal standards, as most novelty helmets are nothing more than a shell with a very thin liner or pad for comfort.

· Chin straps must be sturdy, thick, and well-riveted.

· Protrusions outside of the helmet shall be limited to those required for operation of essential accessories and shall not protrude more than 2/10 inch.

[scrapvalue]

Is there a DOT sticker on the helmet that is covered by a sticker?
If so, remove that sticker before you go to court or the cop shop.
If he never looked at the helmet, then he can't say it wasn't there.

By the way, my wife and I both ride. So if you and your GF want to venture up this way sometime, feel free.
I can take you on some really nice roads.  Maybe we could come down that way sometime.
 

[le_sterls]

I'd buy some DOT stickers online, slap it on the back of the helmet, than take it into court. 

[MickeyX]

Just go into a biker/leather shop where they sell novelty helmets. They have bins of DOT stickers, usually for free. But, since the Michigan law doesn't require you to show a DOT sticker, but instead requires an officer to check the helmet themselves for the minimum specs, like thickness of interior padding and whatnot, you don't even have to bother getting one.

[a4x4spit]

well I do wear a 35 year old helmet & I ride a 38 year old bike .Im comfortable with its construction  If the law in mi was no helmet I'd probably not be wearing  one a majority of the time ,, to each his own on that  . I compaired her helmet to my 1/2 helmet that i know is dot because thats why i bought it  they both have about the same info on the inside meterial date made size name of a co mine was made in usa hers in Taiwan the foam inside looks about the same  Ive got a beanie around here too but dont know where her helmitis on the left (upside down  pic )and the one with stickers on

[sangyo soichiro]

There's a sticker that says something about helmet laws.  I can't quite read it from the photo.  What does it say?  Just curious.

[a4x4spit]

helmet laws let those who ride decide  it also says" question authority "
on the topwhile i was lookin at the stickers I pealed the one that said on the road again  & look what i found

[sangyo soichiro]

So what do the laws say about a DOT sticker that was covered with another sticker?  I wonder if the cop maybe has a leg to stand on...?   

[MickeyX]

It doesn't even need to have a DOT sticker in MI. It just needs to meet the guidelines. The DOT sticker is just an outside, passing by indication of it meeting those guidelines. Either way, the officer has to inspect it to determine the DOT requirements are met if he wants to give a ticket.

.... But, since the Michigan law doesn't require you to show a DOT sticker, but instead requires an officer to check the helmet themselves for the minimum specs, like thickness of interior padding and whatnot, you don't even have to bother getting one.

[sangyo soichiro]

Ah.  Thanks.   

[mkramer1121]

I'm not one to stir the pot, but let's look at it this way...You have someone riding with colorful stickers on their helmet, ones that could possibly be taken the wrong way.  You have the cop that saw a 1/2 helmet riding down the road the opposite way.  He tailed her for a good period of time, probably reading the stickers and looking for a DOT sticker.  When he didn't see one, he decided to make an example of this person wearing colorful stickers on their helmet.  To put it another way, if she didn't have all those stickers on her helmet she wouldn't have been pulled over, besides the fact that the DOT sticker would have been showing...Just saying, the whole traffic stop could have been avoided...

On an another note, when did 1/2 helmets become DOT approved?  I could have sworn for awhile there that no 1/2 helmet was...I know it may meet the testing requirements (which are done by each manufacturer, not the Dept. of Highway Safety), but it doesn't mean that it is approved...

[MickeyX]

Some states don't allow 1/2 helmets, some do. It's their preference on what to allow on coverage. The DOT is a guideline, not a test of a particular helmet. It relies on a manufacturer being honest and reporting that it meets the minimum requirements. They don't even test them most of the time, just make them. They put a DOT sticker on so they can sell them legally in a store. If they didn't, they wouldn't sell to the general public. The skid lids don't come close to meeting the requirements and it's immediately obvious when you look at them that you don't have the thickness of material inside. They won't dare advertise them as DOT.

[a4x4spit]

what your saying she was pulled over because of stickers ? no way .  he gave her a ticket for a helmet violation( non dot ) you can Put what ever you want sticker wise or paint wise on your helmet in michigan and if you are following behind someone close enuff to read the stickers on  her helmet you following too dam close we dont live in a heavily populated area so the I doubt he was making an example if that was his plan it wasnt a good one since   her helmet is dot  if he would have inspected it he would have came to that conclusion so the ticket should be dismissed  there is just no way a ticket can stand for non dot helmet when the helmet is dot 

[mkramer1121]

the other possibility is they are told to ticket 1/2 helmets and sort it out later like i said if she didnt have stickers the whole stop may have been avoided

[Duke McDukiedook]

The burden of proof is on you to prove them wrong.
Find their website and print off the page that hopefully shows it is DOT approved.
They are probably banking on the fact that most people wouldn't care to go to court and fight it since it is a non-moving violation.
Nobody wants to take time out of their day to go to traffic court.

Stick it to the man, stick it in his #$%*ing can.  

[sangyo soichiro]

what your saying she was pulled over because of stickers ? no way .  he gave her a ticket for a helmet violation( non dot ) you can Put what ever you want sticker wise or paint wise on your helmet in michigan and if you are following behind someone close enuff to read the stickers on  her helmet you following too dam close we dont live in a heavily populated area so the I doubt he was making an example if that was his plan it wasnt a good one since   her helmet is dot  if he would have inspected it he would have came to that conclusion so the ticket should be dismissed  there is just no way a ticket can stand for non dot helmet when the helmet is dot 

I think what mkramer was saying is that cops are human too.  And sometimes, whether to let something slide, or to hand out a ticket, can be subconsciously determined from something as simple as a sticker.


I think I'm going to put a sticker on mine that says something to the effect of "I support law enforcement officers."   

(I just won't specify that I support them via speeding tickets.)   

[kirkn]

Nope, sorry, I agree with Kramer 100%.

She's wearing a shorty helmet with 'colorful' stickers plastered all over it expressing her strongly-held opinions loudly and proudly.  And some of the stickers (that OTHER people wear, sometimes) are more 'colorful' than others.  So, the cop assumes hers are the 'excessive' variety.

In this example, appearance is the key.  She wants to ride her bike thumbing her nose at 'the man' or 'the law' or whatever, fine, but when the man whips around and follows her based on that thumbing, well, it comes with the territory....

You lay down with dogs, you're going to get up with fleas, and all that.

And when the cop realizes that she isn't REALLY a 'bad girl' but only LOOKS like one, well, he wasn't going to just let her off at that point, and out comes the bogus 'helmet violation' ticket.

[kirkn]

Stick it to the man, stick it in his #$%*ing can. 

But then you'd better shut yer trap when he sticks it back, after facing that attitude in EVERYone he deals with during traffic stops...

[a4x4spit]

well I dont agree that the stickers had anything to do with her getting stopped  now... the 1/2 helmet probably did   she treated the cop politly didnt argue or give him any crap complied with everthing he wanted . the fact is her helmet is dot aproved and he didnt inspect it  he threatened her with impound which really upset her since she wasnt doing anything wrong except getting some wind in her face I know cops can have bad days but you dont take that out on lawabiding citizens no mater what stickers  or or coat or style of legal helmet . we get the " look like a biker get treated like a biker "reasoning  but I dont know how you go from wearing a 1/2 helmet to thumbing her nose at the man she wears gear thats legal & apropriate for riding she was suprised by the ticket because she thought her helmet was legal

[MickeyX]

I have a feeling that deliberately covering up the DOT sticker or taking it off for no real reason could get you pulled over and questioned. He turned around to follow her for a reason though, whether or not it was the helmet. Cops don't just spin around in the road like that for nothing. She changed how she was riding or something when he was behind her, because he waited for a while to pull her over. Then, in the end, she was ticketed for the helmet. But the fact remains, he picked her out going the opposite way for a reason. The ticket for the helmet is just what she ended up with. You can fight that one though. She needs to think closely on what would have gotten his attention in the 1st place, if it wasn't the helmet. 

[a4x4spit]

the cop said he pulled her over because of the helmet if she was doing some other traffic violations the state police around here would have ticketed her for them. I wasnt there but Ill take her word she was not speeding or doing anything illegal  he probably was figuring that most of those beanie helmets are covered with stickers (Ill concede that) saw her and assumed hers was illgal too but he should have done more than assume  a couple min with her helmet & I found out it was a dot helmet & Im no trained police officer.

[kirkn]

 he probably was figuring that most of those beanie helmets are covered with stickers (Ill concede that), saw her and assumed hers was illegal too

That's all I'm tryin to say...

He ASSUMED, but he didn't spend the 30 seconds needed on her helmet.  Now, it'll cost him the lost case, because I fully think you can beat it in court.

[cb650]

I just pulled out my old Bell 1/2 helmet.  No dot sticker BUT a dot tag sewn inside.    Never did wear it mich.  The padding still looks almost new.   


As for other stickers on the helmet isnt that a "freedom of speech" issue?  Maybe it wasnt the right speech?

[scrapvalue]

Nope, sorry, I agree with Kramer 100%.

She's wearing a shorty helmet with 'colorful' stickers plastered all over it expressing her strongly-held opinions loudly and proudly.  And some of the stickers (that OTHER people wear, sometimes) are more 'colorful' than others.  So, the cop assumes hers are the 'excessive' variety.

In this example, appearance is the key.  She wants to ride her bike thumbing her nose at 'the man' or 'the law' or whatever, fine, but when the man whips around and follows her based on that thumbing, well, it comes with the territory....

You lay down with dogs, you're going to get up with fleas, and all that.

And when the cop realizes that she isn't REALLY a 'bad girl' but only LOOKS like one, well, he wasn't going to just let her off at that point, and out comes the bogus 'helmet violation' ticket.

There is no way he could tell what any of those stickers said without actually picking up the helmet and reading them.
He is a state cop, not superman!
I see a lot of half helmets with stickers on them every day. So it is not something the cop doesn't see everyday.

Like the one sticker you have states, "question authority".

Take your case to them in a peaceful, civilized way and see what happens. Just ask questions.

[kirkn]

Well of course he couldn't read them.  But I'm tellin' ya, if I see a helmet go by with a bunch of those "clever saying" stickers on it, I'm betting that they're of the "thumb your nose at the man" variety rather than "Jesus saves" or "Have a lovely day".