Proposed legislation that would exempt those wearing religious or cultural headdresses, such as a turban or patka, from wearing a helmet while driving

on

a motorcycle has been approved by the California State Senate.

Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), who introduced the bill, said he had been approached by bikers in the Sikh community who said they wanted the opportunity to practice their religious beliefs while riding their motorcycles.

Helmets don’t exist to There are no helmets that

put on headgear.

They just want to be able to practice their faith without discrimination, and the constitution allows us to do that, Dahle said Friday.

About 211,000 Sikhs live in California, almost half the number of Sikhs

to land

whole community

live in the country

according to the most recent US Census data.

The bill passed the Senate

on

Wednesday, and now goes to the Assembly.

Eighteen states, including California, have passed universal helmet laws since a federal safety penalty was repeated in 1995.

The California Highway Patrol enforces universal helmet law and violations are punishable by a fine of up to $250 and/or one year of probation. Dahle said the rule doesn’t intentionally discriminate against religions, but it limits how certain communities can engage in their customs.

The turban I tie is about 7 meters. It’s not just a head covering, a member of the Sikh community said at a Senate Judiciary hearing. We are unable to cycle and practice our religion.

According to the Sikh Rehat Maryada, a code of conduct for orthodox Sikhism, men must wear a turban as a symbol of humility and children wear patkas, a cloth head covering tied with strings.

They’re not just trying to get an exemption because they didn’t want to wear a helmet, Dahle said. It is very personal to them and their faith.

The Automobile Club of Southern California opposes the legislation, citing concerns that it would weaken the state’s universal law on motorcycle helmets.

The Auto Club supports helmet laws because they save lives and reduce serious injuries in traffic accidents involving motorcycles, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Everyone has the right to self-expression, including while riding a motorcycle or any other means of transport, but rider safety must always remain a priority.

More than 5,500 motorcyclists were killed and more than 180,000 injured in 2020

by

in motorcycle accidents, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Helmets were found to reduce the risk of head injury from crashes by 69%.

The County Health Executives Assn. of California also opposes Dahle’s legislation, Senate Bill 847.

“CHEAC understands that the wearing of turbans and patkas are extremely important religious expressions, and we encourage innovation and equity in helmet design to allow for head coverings rather than weakening existing helmet laws and compromising the safety of these riders. bring,” Michelle Gibbons, the association’s executive director, wrote in an email.

Dahle acknowledged his concerns about road safety, saying motorcycles generally don’t offer much protection, but said his bills focus on freedom of religious expression.

“It’s an opportunity to give them the freedom of their beliefs and let them live the American dream and ride a motorcycle without having to wear a helmet that doesn’t go over a turban,” Dahle said.

He said his office has been discussing methods to distinguish motorcyclists who qualify for the exemption, such as a mark on their driver’s license or a box to check the driver’s application.

According to an analysis of the bill, Sikhs or other groups are not exempt from helmet laws in other states because of religious practices. Several provinces in Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, exempt Sikhs from helmet laws. Exemptions have also been granted in the United Kingdom and India.