British Columbia Bicycle Helmet Law
MOTOR_VEHICLE_AMENDMENT_ACT_(No.2),_1995
11. Section 120 is amended
(a) in subsection (1) by adding the following paragraphs:
(b.1) that a person operating or riding as a passenger
on a cycle on a path or way designated under
paragraph (b.3) must properly wear a bicycle
safety helmet that
(b.2) that a parent or guardian of a person under the
age of 16 years must not authorize or knowingly
permit the person to operate or ride as a
passenger on a cycle on a path or way designated
under paragraph (b.3) if that person is not
properly wearing a bicycle safety helmet that
(b.3) for the designation of paths or ways within the
municipality, other than paths or ways that are
highways or are located on private property, for
the purposes of a bylaw made under paragraph
(b.1) or (b.2);
(b.4) for the exemption of any person or class of
persons from a bylaw made under paragraph (b.1)
or (b.2) and prescribing conditions for those
exemptions; , and
(b) by adding the following subsection:
(1.2) Despite subsection (1) (s), a municipality may not
impose imprisonment or a fine of more than $100 for
the contravention of a bylaw made under subsection
(1) (b.1) or (b.2).
22. The following section is added:
Bicycle safety helmets
185.1 (1) A person commits an offence if that person operates
or rides as a passenger on a cycle on a highway and
is not properly wearing a bicycle safety helmet that
(2) A parent or guardian of a person under the age of 16
years commits an offence if the parent or guardian
authorizes or knowingly permits the person to
operate or ride as a passenger on a cycle on a
highway if that person is not properly wearing a
bicycle safety helmet that
(3) A person who is convicted of an offence under
subsection (1) or (2) is liable to a fine of not
more than $100.
(4) The superintendent may make regulations as follows:
(5) Regulations made under subsection (4) (b) may adopt
by reference, in whole or in part, standards or
specifications published by a national or
international standards association, as amended from
time to time.
(6) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make
regulations as follows:
(a) providing for and requiring the identification
and marking of bicycle safety helmets;
(b) exempting any person or class of persons from the
requirements of this section and prescribing
conditions for those exemptions.
Note: In 2000 the University of North Carolina conducted
an evaluation project for this law. It showed substantial increases in helmet use after the law was passed.
This page was last revised on: August 25, 2006.
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