I was pulled over today in Hillsdale, Michigan for a Helmet violation. I was wearing a novelty helmet with a DOT approved sticker on it (bought it at a swap meet). I received a ticket also, can’t wait to see how much that is going to cost. I have a Harley Davidson helmet however it feels huge on my head.
Can someone suggest a store to buy a small, light and DOT approved helmet?
Thanks for your time.
Sorry to hear that. Michigan has been pretty laid back about novelty helmets in the past.
I've heard that's starting to change.
Just curious, who issued the ticket, state boys, or local.
I haven't heard of any helmet tickets over here in the far east side of the state. [St. Clair county]
How big is your melon? I have a large helmet from carbonfiberhelmets.com and its a bit too small for me. If youre interested in the specifics, please PM me. Its never been used.
So you mean if I put a fake DOT sticker on my fake novelty helmet, the cops are too dumb to figure out that it's really a novelty helmet? They won't be able to tell the difference? Sounds like a brilliant idea. :duh?:
Heard they are cracking down in the communist state of Maryland for non-DOT helmets. Talked to a guy in a bike shop that got a ticket that was over $200 and one point. He took another helmet to court that was DOT and the fine was reduced and he didn't get the point. Guess it's an easy way for depts to make extra money in these difficult financial times.
He said he borrowed a DOT helmet from a buddy and took that helmet to court. Showed the judge the DOT helmet "he was now wearing" and his fine was reduced, he didn't get the point on his license, but he still paid a lower fine and court costs. I saw him in a bike shop in August when he told me this. Guess it would be like getting a ticket for speeding and telling the jugde I won't speed any more.
I just bought a ACC Helmet this year. I find going highway speeds its always being pulled off my head and I am constantly having to adjust it. I have even tightened it so its about to squeeze my head off and it still does it. Low speeds I dont even feel like I have one on. Any suggestions on what to do?
California hits you with a point on your DMV for that along with Apes that are too high now. Plenty of places on the net to buy a helmet HJC is not bad for the price. They make a half lid. Use the Zip in part to keep it snug and keeps it from pulling off your head at higher speeds. I don't care about the safety end of it as you probably don't as you were wearing a fake one in the first place.
I see lids on C list all the time BTW!
Also did the cop take a picture of the lid? If not bring a legal one in and ask for dismissal as you are a confused citizen and the new helmet you got was the same one you got popped with and is the Cop a helmet expert? JM2cents
Calif allows apes to be 6" above the shoulder. It is pretty hard to understand how anyone would ride around that high, but maybe on a hardtail(or softail) where you are leaning back with your arms at 90 degrees to your back, it could happen.
i dont wear a helmet on my harley but bugs hurt going 175 on my ducati -just got a new arai profile helmet for that -had it fitted at a good helmet shop-doesn't bother me at all riding like the old ones i had tried -sort of pricey
I was stopped for a non-DOT helmet violation a few years ago and the cop seized my fake one as evidence for court. I had to call a friend to bring me a real helmet so i could get home.
The difference between a DOT and non-DOT helmet is pretty obvious ..... even to a cop who can't spell motorcyckle helmut. DOT helmets have a shock absorbing liner that is at least 3/4" thick or more and make you look like the mushroom head your little sister always said you were. The non-DOT helmets have less than 3/4" of shock absorbing material .... most are those "novelty" half helmets with absolutely no lining .... which make me look cool like the one hanging on the mirror of my Electra. The shock absorbing liner material is what saves your pumpkin from getting smashed. Here is a link to state helmet laws ..... and the amount of the legal fine. http://www.bikersrights.com/states/washington/default.html
the cops are def not dumb when it comes to my helmet. i had a non dot helmet and we were on a divided highway. he actually turned around at dusk pulled me over. measured the thickness of my helmet and gave me the ticket.. so trust me guys. if you honestly think the cops are to dumb to notice a skin tight black helmet on your head over a thicker one.. your mistaken.. carbonfiberhelmets.com nuff said.. i love mine
If you do a goggle on the topic, there are plenty of sites discussing how to tell the difference between a DOT and non DOT helmet. Even the Navy has issued a memo on it telling their officers how to spot a non dot helmet. Anynew DOT helmet made in the last few years is going to have a sewn in tag, maybe not visiabel (as in under the liner) verifying that it is DOT compliant. And yes, there are very few Dot helmet that don't make ya look like that chartoon character.
My choice of helmet is a SEER, but then I have been wearing their helmets since 1974. My OL wears an ACC DOT Polo style.
I'm not gonna preach on eather to wear one or not, it's your melon, but many juristictions are getting picky about enforcement.
I think it is more like Gazoo from the Flinstones :redrolf: The one I wear...
But I like to have a face mask to keep the grunk off me face. I would think those Carbon fiber sleek design with a snap face mask option would get my money. Used not wear one at first but after I used it for a run I had second thoughts about it as with a visor and the one from HD catalog the cut of the shield cut down on those damn gamma rays. But I gotta agree those Carbon fibers look like the beenies of yesteryear/
My question is ,how would the cop know if the helmet is truly DOT approved or not?? If the helmet had the DOT sticker how would he know if it's not DOT approved???
DOT approved Helmets have the DOT notice stitched inside the Helmet as well as the sticker. If the LEO thinks that the helmet you are wearing is a Non-DOT helmet, he has Probable Cause to stop and investigate.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
V-Twin Forum
2.7M posts
145.8K members
Since 2001
V-Twin Harley Davidson forum. Discussion on V-Twin Harley Davidson motorcycles including Dyna, Electra Glide, Softail, Sportster, and more.