Moses Lake approves helmet law

MOSES LAKE - After more than a month of discussion, the Moses Lake City Council approved an ordinance requiring those 16-years of age and younger to wear a helmet while riding a bike.

According to figures provided by the state Department of Transportation, Moses Lake will join 20 other cities and two counties in the state requiring bike helmets.

Anyone in the age limit not wearing a helmet could be subject to a $25 fine, although Moses Lake Police Chief Dave Ruffin said the department will focus on education rather than punishment.

"There's lots of positive things we can do versus the infraction for a helmet law violation," he said.

Ruffin added the Grant County Health District discussed providing helmets for officers to give to children.

According to the health district, three people were killed and one hurt in bicycle accidents in the past 10 years in Grant County. Administrator Jeff Ketchel said the health district fully supports the helmet requirement. Ketchel added helmet usage among sixth and eighth graders in Grant County is much lower compared to the rest of the state.

According to the health district, 40 percent of sixth-graders and 50 percent of eighth graders in the county never wear a helmet, compared to state percentages at 18 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

Councilmember Karen Liebrecht, who was the only councilmember to vote against the ordinance, continued to argue it should be the parents' responsibility to make their children wear helmets.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 21 states have some form of a helmet requirement, all of which have an age limit ranging from 13 to 17-years-old. Washington does not have a bike helmet law.

The City of Quincy is also discussing voting on a similar helmet law.