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New Law: Kids Under 16 Must Wear Helmet Riding A Horse In Public
October 1, 2009
A new law goes into effect today that requires children 16 and younger riding a horse on a public roadway or public property to wear a helmet.
The legislation, called “Nicole’s Law”, creates safety standards to minimize the number of serious or fatal head injuries to Florida youth sustained during equestrian activities and recreation.
“Nicole’s Law” is named for Nicole Hornstein, a 12-year-old girl from Loxahatchee who died after being thrown from a horse in June 2006. This legislation creates safety measures for children who participate in equestrian activities and recreation. It requires a child under age 16 to wear a helmet that meets the current standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials for protective headgear.
Sponsored by Representative Joseph Abruzzo and Senator Dave Aronberg, “Nicole’s Law” applies to children age 16 and younger who are:
- Riding on a public roadway or right-of-way.
- Riding on a public equestrian trail, public recreation trail, public park, public preserve or public school site.
- Riding on any other publicly owned or controlled property.
“Nicole’s Law” does not apply to children under age 16 who are riding while:
- Practicing for, riding to or from, or competing or performing in, shows or events such as rodeos and parades where helmets are not historically a part of the show or event.
- Riding on privately owned land even if the land is occasionally separated by a public road or right-of-way that must be crossed.
- Engaged in an agricultural practice or pursuit.
Comments
3 Responses to “New Law: Kids Under 16 Must Wear Helmet Riding A Horse In Public”
If you wish your child to not wear a helmet, then only ride on private land or in shows, rodeos, parades, etc. The government is in charge of public land so they can do what they want. I do believe that any parent who does not require their child to wear a helmet is doing a disservice to that child. It’s attune to not strapping them into a car seat. I was thrown from my horse and probably got a concussion as I was out cold for a time…helmet was in the tack room and not on my head…so now whenever I think I am going to ride that helmet is on my head. You think you won’t land on your head, but sooner or later you will and you will wish you had a helmet.
It clearly states
Nicole’s Law” does not apply to children under age 16 who are riding while:
Practicing for, riding to or from, or competing or performing in, shows or events SUCH AS RODEOS (caps mine) and parades where helmets are not historically a part of the show or event.
Riding on privately owned land even if the land is occasionally separated by a public road or right-of-way that must be crossed.
Engaged in an agricultural practice or pursuit.
Nicolce was a tragedy and any time a child gets seriously injured or killed it is bad but that doesn’t mean that our legislature needs to freak out and pass stupid laws that will prevent the sport from taking place in some cases. This ranks right up there with a child HAVING to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. Is the parent going to get ticketed for their child not wearing a helmet while riding around the grounds at a rodeo. I feel like this is another way that government tries to put its finger on the citizens and take away more parents rights. If a parent doesn’t put their child in a car seat while riding down the road……do not hesitate and issue them a ticket. Its really stretching it to include horse back riding in this type of law.