Changes in New Jersey's helmet laws for teens could be coming soon

TRENTON, N.J. -- Changes in New Jersey's state helmet laws for teens could be coming soon, as legislators consider a new bill raising the requirement age and including new activities.

On Thursday, the New Jersey Senate Law and Public Safety Committee discussed increasing the helmet requirement age for bikers, roller skaters and skateboarders from 16 to 17. The law would also require ice skaters and non-motorized scooter riders to wear helmets for the first time.

Figure skaters involved in organized competition would be exempt.

If a child is caught doing any of these activities without a helmet, it can cost parents $25 for the first offense and up to $100 for the second offense.

"It makes sense while you're responsible for them to make sure that they're doing the right thing," mother of two Karen Kelly said.

Ebony de Jesus, a mother of three, admitted it is hard to get her children to always wear their helmets. She said she would be upset about a $100 fine.

"When they ride the bike around in front of the house, I try to make sure they put their helmets on," she said. "But most of the time, I'll be honest, they don't."

Now, parents could have that struggle year round, with more activities covered by the law.

"We do go ice skating, and they didn't have to wear (a helmet) last winter," Kelly said.

Although 16-year-old kids may not be excited about having to wear a helmet a year longer, parents find the added measure of safety comforting.

"It'll be a good way to enforce the law across the board and make sure every parent puts a helmet on their child," de Jesus said.

A similar bill was drafted in 2013 but failed to pass. If the bill is approved this year, the new law could take effect as soon as July 1. Similar legislation also passed an Assembly committee.