Bill Description: House Bill 13 would clarify that the state's motorcycle helmet requirement for minors does not apply to minors who use UTVs that are equipped with a roll cage and seat belts.

Rating: 0

NOTE: The Senate Amendment to House Bill 13 unnecessarily complicates the bill and the statute it amends by adding multiple new subsections mandating the use of safety restraints and adding enforcement provisions. The bill rating has changed from (+1) to (0) due to the amendment.

Does it directly or indirectly create or increase penalties for victimless crimes or non-restorative penalties for non-violent crimes? Conversely, does it eliminate or decrease penalties for victimless crimes or non-restorative penalties for non-violent crimes?

As written, Idaho law generally requires minors to wear helmets when riding in Jeep-like UTVs equipped with safety equipment including roll cages and seat belts. This requirement is likely an artifact from a prior era when UTVs were more rudimentary.

House Bill 13 would amend Section 49-666, Idaho Code, to say that the helmet requirement for minors does not apply to "UTVs that are equipped with a roll cage and seat belts."

(+1)

House Bill 13 (as amended in the Senate) would add a new subsection requiring that "any operator or passenger in a UTV equipped with safety restraints who is sixteen (16) years of age or younger shall wear a safety restraint that is properly fastened about such operator's or passenger's body at all times while the vehicle is in motion."

It would further say that citations may be issued to "any occupant of a UTV who is sixteen (16) years of age or younger and who fails to wear a safety restraint while such vehicle is in motion" and "any person who operates a UTV if any occupant of such UTV who is sixteen (16) years of age or younger fails to wear a safety restraint while such vehicle is in motion."

It says, "A person who is issued a citation pursuant to this section shall be subject to a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00)."

(-1)