HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4785CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 4785
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING TITLE VI (POLICE REGULATIONS), OF ORDINANCE NO.
4260 ENTITLED "CODE OF GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY
OF RENTON, WASHINGTON" BY ADDING CHAPTER 26 ENTITLED
"BICYCLE HELMETS."
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Title VI (Police Regulations), of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of
General Ordinances ofthe City of Renton, Washington" is hereby amended by adding Chapter 26,
Bicycle Helmets, which reads as follows:
6-26-1: PURPOSE AND POLICY.
A. This chapter is enacted as an exercise of the authority of the City of Renton to
protect and preserve the public health and welfare. Its provisions shall be liberally construed for
the accomplishment of these purposes.
B. It is the express purpose of this chapter to provide for and to promote the health
and welfare ofthe general public, and not create or otherwise establish or designate any particular
CHAPTER 26
BICYCLE HELMETS
SECTION:
6-26-1:
6-26-2:
6-26-3:
6-26-4:
6-26-5:
6-26-6:
6-26-7:
6-26-8 :
6-26-9:
Purpose and Policy.
Definitions.
Bicycle Helmet Required.
Bicycle Races and Events.
Bicycle Leasing or Loan.
Helmet Sales.
Penalties - Civil Nontraffic Violations.
Enforcement.
Information and Education.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4785
class or group of persons who will or should be especially protected or benefited by the terms of
this chapter.
C. It. is the specific intent of this chapter to place the obligation of complying with its
requirements upon any person falling within this scope, and no provision of, nor term used in, this
chapter is intended to impose any duty whatsoever upon the City of Renton or any of its officers
or employees, for whom the implementation or enforcement of this chapter shall be discretionary
and not mandatory.
D. Nothing contained in this chapter is intended to be, nor shall be, construed to
create or to form the basis for a liability on the part of the City of Renton, its officers, employees,
or agents, for any injury or damage resulting from the failure of any person subject to this chapter
to comply with this chapter, or by reason or in consequence of any act or omission in connection
with the implementation or enforcement of this chapter on the part of the City of Renton by its
officers, employees or agents.
6-26-2: DEFINITIONS:
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated unless every
context clearly requires otherwise:
A. "Bicycle" means every device propelled solely by human power upon which a
person or persons may ride, having two tandem wheels, either of which is 16 inches or more in
diameter, or three wheels, any one of which is more than 20 inches in diameter (RCW 46.04.071).
Within this chapter, the term "bicycle" shall include any attached trailers, side cars, and/or other
device being towed by a bicycle.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4785
B. "Guardian" means a parent, legal guardian, an adult with custody, or temporary
guardian who maintains responsibility, whether voluntary or otherwise for the safety and welfare
of a person under the age of 18 years.
C. "Helmet" means a head covering that meets or exceeds safety standards adopted
by Standard Z-90.4 set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or by the Snell
Foundation, or such subsequent nationally recognized standard for bicycle helmet performance as
the City Council may adopt.
D. "Public Area" means public roadways, bicycle paths, parks, or any right-of-way or
publicly-owned facility under the jurisdiction of the City of Renton.
6-26-3: BICYCLE HELMET REQUIRED.
A. Any person bicycling or riding as a bicycle passenger on or in tow of a bicycle
upon any public area in the City of Renton shall wear an approved bicycle helmet designed for
safety that meets or exceeds the standards adopted in section 6-26-2.C, and shall have either the
neck or chin strap of the helmet fastened securely while the bicycle is in motion.
B. No person shall transport another person on or in tow of a bicycle upon any public
area in the jurisdiction of the City of Renton, unless the passenger is wearing a helmet that meets
the requirements of this chapter.
C. A parent or guardian is responsible for requiring that a child under the age of 18
years wears an approved bicycle helmet while bicycling or riding as a passenger on a bicycle in
any public area in the City of Renton, and has the neck or chin strap of the helmet fastened
securely.
6-26-4: BICYCLE RACES AND EVENTS - HELMET REQUIRED.
A. Any person managing a bicycle race, an organized event involving bicycling, or a
bicycle tour in the public areas of the City of Renton shall require that all participants on or in tow
of bicycles wear approved bicycle helmets.
ORDINANCE NO. 4785
B. The person managing any such event shall include the bicycle helmet requirement
in any promotional brochures and on registration materials.
6-26-5: BICYCLE LEASING OR LOAN - HELMET REQUIRED.
A. Any person engaging in the business of renting or loaning (e.g., "a test drive") any
bicycle for use in any public place in the City of Renton shall supply the persons leasing or using
bicycles with approved bicycle helmets as defined herein, along with the bicycles, unless the
bicycle riders and passengers possess approved bicycle helmets of their own, and offer proof
thereof, for use with the bicycle.
B. The rental papers (contract, agreement, or receipt) must advise the person renting
the bicycle of the bicycle helmet requirements of this chapter.
C. It is a defense to this section for a person wearing an unapproved bicycle helmet
that the helmet was furnished in conjunction with his or her lease of a bicycle by a person engaged
in the business of renting bicycles, and that the helmet was fastened securely while bicycling.
6-26-6: HELMET SALES - SAFETY STANDARDS.
A. No person shall sell or offer for sale a bicycle helmet that does not meet or exceed
the safety standards set by this chapter.
B. It is a defense that the sale or offer for sale was an isolated sale of used
merchandise made by an individual who was not engaged in the business of selling or repairing
recreational equipment, such as a seller at a garage or rummage sale.
6-26-7: PENALTIES - CIVIL NONTRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
A. Any person, including a parent or guardian, violating any ofthe provisions of this
chapter shall have committed a civil nontraffic violation and shall be liable for a monetary penalty
not to exceed $25.00.
B. The court may waive, reduce, or suspend the penalty and clear the notice of
violation as a warning for an individual who has not received a notice of violation of this chapter
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ORDINANCE NO. 4785
within one year, and provides proof that he or she has acquired an approved bicycle helmet at the
time of appearance in court.
C. Each child under 18 years of age not meeting the requirements of section 6-26-3
shall represent a separate violation.
D. Each rental and each event under section 6-26-4 shall be a separate violation.
6-26-8 : ENFORCEMENT.
A. The City of Renton Police Department shall be responsible for enforcing the
provisions of this chapter.
B. For the purpose of this chapter, law enforcement officers may, at their discretion:
1. Enter, during business hours, the premises of a business selling, repairing,
or renting bicycles or selling sporting or recreation equipment to determine compliance with this
chapter;
2. Post notice outside the premises of a business that offers for sale, rent, or
other public use, bicycle helmets that do not meet the safety standards of this chapter, so that the
public is informed; and
3. Stop a bicycle race, an organized event involving bicycling, or a bicycle
tour that takes place in a public area when there is conspicuous disregard for the requirements of
this chapter, involving multiple in fractions.
6-26-9: INFORMATION AND EDUCATION.
A. Information and the need for bicycle helmets, safe helmet use, safe bicycle
operation, and existing bicycle safety programs is available at the City of Renton Police and Fire
Departments.
B. The City of Renton encourages any person engaging in the business of selling
bicycles to include information on bicycle safety and the bicycle helmet requirements of this
chapter with each bicycle sold.
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ORDINANCE NO. 4785
C. The City of Renton encourages any person engaging in the business of selling
bicycle helmets to include information on safe helmet usage with each helmet sold.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall be effective upon its passage, approval, and thirty
days after publication.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 12th day pf July , 1999.
Marilyn J. Petersen, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 12th day of July 1999.
JessVTanner, Mayor
Approved as to^orm:
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
Date of Publication: JulY 16' 1999 (Summary)
ORD.785:6/0S799:as.
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