YOU ARE HERE: LAT HomeCollectionsCalifornia -- Laws Orange County law enforcement officers will start pulling over motorcycle riders today if they are caught violating the state's new helmet law, which went into effect at midnight.But whether riders get a ticket or just a warning will depend on which agency stops them.In Costa Mesa, officers will issue written or verbal warnings to helmetless riders over the next two weeks, Police Lt. Alan Kent said."This law will put the folks on notice to get helmets or answer to a judge in a court of law," Kent said.The Orange County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department also will hold off meting out citations for up to 90 days.In Newport Beach, however, there will be no grace period."We want to save lives as quickly as possible, so we are going to enforce (beginning Jan. 1)," Sgt. Andy Gonis said. "Being a beach community, we still get a lot of riders without helmets, so we are going to be issuing citations when appropriate."

The California Highway Patrol initially planned to observe a grace period, but officials now say that the agency will crack down right away."We believe that the law has the potential to prevent great human tragedy and we will begin enforcing it at one minute after midnight," CHP spokeswoman Alice Huffaker said.motorcycle sale pakistan olxThe mandatory helmet law requires motorcyclists to strap on proper headgear when riding or face fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $250 for a third. excelsior motorcycle for sale ebayCitations will not be considered moving violations that would result in points being accumulated toward suspension of the rider's license.motorcycles for sale craigslist oregon coast

A legal effort to delay enforcement of the law was denied by the 4th District Court of Appeal about 12 hours before the helmet requirement was to take effect. On Feb. 26, however, a judge will consider arguments in a suit to overturn the law.dirt bikes for sale hullMotorcyclists fighting for the right to choose to wear a helmet contend that the law abridges their freedoms of expression and religion, and discriminates against those with a medical handicap that precludes them from wearing a helmet.motorcycle tires langleyAuthorities agree that the trend among motorcyclists has been toward wearing helmets and that the law will encourage those many riders who ride with their heads exposed on short jaunts to protect themselves."joe rocket honda leather motorcycle jacket

If you don't give leniency, then some lives could be saved," Santa Ana Police Lt. Felix Osuna said. "Coming into work this morning, I saw four or five cyclists and most are wearing helmets. used yamaha motorcycles perthYou don't see helmets strapped to the sides of bikes anymore and I think it is because of the law."Proponents of the law cite CHP statistics showing that of the 19,148 motorcyclists injured or killed in accidents during 1990, those without helmets suffered head injuries at twice the rate of those who wore helmets, and six times as many not wearing helmets died of their injuries.CHP officials also cite studies that they say invalidate the arguments of helmet law opponents who contend that a rider's vision and hearing can be hampered by helmets.A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that approved helmets limit peripheral vision by 3%, thus allowing for a 210-degree field of vision.

And a University of Utah study concluded that bareheaded riders are at no advantage for hearing horns and sirens over helmeted riders.Kent said the only helmets that hamper hearing and vision are those that are not properly fitted."I have been riding motorcycles for 25 years; I've never put on a helmet that hindered me from hearing," Kent said. "But the enthusiasts want to feel the wind in their hair, but when you weigh the feeling of freedom versus safety and long-term health, you will surely choose the latter."Times staff writer Catherine Gewertz contributed to this report. Seizure Led to FloJo's DeathHis 104 scores make his caseRestaurant review: South Beverly GrillBrutal Murder by Teen-Age Girls Adds to Britons' ShockComaneci Confirms Suicide Attempt, Magazine Says Enter your email address and zip code to receive the latest news, insights and trends from across the powersports industry.NEWSLETTERS Receive the latest local updates in your inboxAfter a YouTube video of an LAPD officer pulling over and ticketing a bicyclist with little cause on the Venice Beach bike path went viral, the ticket was canceled and the officer's conduct is under investigation.

In the 10-minute clip, a cyclist turns on his helmet camera and records the interaction, which drew a handful of onlookers who protested that the cyclist had done nothing wrong and that the officer needed to address serious crime in Venice.The bicyclist, who identifies himself at 34-year-old Chris Jackson of Venice, was posted after Thanksgiving weekend, when he was ticketed for speeding after telling a motorcycle officer was blocking the popular bike-only path.On Friday, Detective Gus Villanueva of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section said that the "ticket had been canceled in the interest of justice." The department is conducing a personnel investigation into the conduct of the officer involved and would not comment further, Villanueva said.In the video, Jackson states that he had passed the officer's motorcycle and complained that the vehicle was blocking traffic. The officer, identified only by his surname, Gravey, pulled him over shortly after, according to the description of the video, which was posted by user AnarchisticGringo.Several minutes of back-and-forth with Gracey follow, during which Jackson argues with the officer that he hasn't broken a law by crossing the path's dotted yellow line, and points out other cyclists riding on the wrong side

, and pedestrians illegally walking on the bike path.He tilts his camera down to show the red-and-white beach cruiser he is riding -- a bicycle designed for stability and a slow, easy ride.The officer finally settles on giving Jackson a ticket under California Vehicle Code 22350, the Basic Speed Law."Listen to me, sir. The reason why I'm going to write you for unsafe speed is because you are arguing with me," Gracey says. "This is a catch-all, 22350. Because you're riding on the wrong side of the back path, you're looking at me, and you're complaining because my emergency vehicle is on the bike path. And that's unsafe speed. Looking in the wrong direction, traveling in the wrong way, that's unsafe."During the interaction, a small group of onlookers gathers around Gracey and Jackson, pictured at right."This isn’t the kind of police work that we need help with here," states another cyclist who stops to opine. "People are getting robbed. I get robbed about a month ago … We'd love to have you out here protecting us, not harassing us."