DOT homologation laws?

[oneirix]

I was interested in buying a helmet from overseas, but the helmet is only ECE approved and not DOT. The helmet is the exact same model as those available in the US, it's just that the graphic is not available in the US. Would it be legal for me to wear it?

I'm told that the helmet law is vague enough that as long as it says DOT on the back, it's legal; there's a guy in San Jose who has DOT stitched into the back of a beanie and every time he gets a ticket he's able to get it excused in court. Could I just literally write DOT on the back of a British helmet and that be kosher?

[Junkie]

Odds of you having any issues wearing a helmet that's not DOT approved are very low, especially considering that it's a real helmet.

[Steve Stansb]

I know helmets are expensive, BUT, just ask yourself this question, "how much would it cost to replace my head, brains, eyes, mouth, tongue, so on and so on. I just had an accident the day before Thanksgiving. I am told by the other 2 riders, I was with, that I tried to go "airborne" but only made it about 30'. I landed on the backside of my head, one of the most vulnerable places to land. All I have is one broken rib, a stiff neck and a few bumps and bruises. Both Trauma Dr's. I saw, 1 and orthopedist Surgeon, the other a NeuroSurgeon, said my helmet saved my life!! What kind of Helmet?...$700.00Shoei! Will I buy the same type again? ABSOLUTLY!! My leather jacket and pants did alot to keep me from getting any road rash. NOPE, No Road rash at all! I also discovered that due to a medical condition I have. I will not be riding anymore. Ohh, the bike came out with only cosmetic damage, under a thousand $$. I will be selling one great bike, 2000 Kawi Vulcan Classic 1500FI, but I will also be enjoying my life of 55 years and my life with my wife of 32 yrs and children and grandson. That is PRICELESS!!! My question to everyone is, "just how much is your life worth"?

[Junkie]

Are you saying that you'll be buying a helmet even though you won't be riding anymore? :laughing

sorry to hear about the accident, but I'm glad you came out of it with so little damage (especially to you). too bad you won't be riding anymore.

[oneirix]

I know helmets are expensive, BUT, just ask yourself this question, "how much would it cost to replace my head, brains, eyes, mouth, tongue, so on and so on.

I'm really glad to hear that you came out of that alright! That's a rather intense crash, and it's awesome to know how much a helmet can do for you. Thank you! Although I AM getting a properly rated helmet, my question was more along the lines of how legit getting an ECE approved one would be compared to a DOT approved one.

Odds of you having any issues wearing a helmet that's not DOT approved are very low, especially considering that it's a real helmet.

Yeah, I figured if I ever got pulled over the police would only check my helmet if I was rude to him/her or something. Thanks! :)

[SLOW10R]

Are you saying that you'll be buying a helmet even though you won't be riding anymore? :laughing




:rofl

[Traq]

Technically it would not be legal. Realistically, if it looks like a legit helmet, you will never run in to any problems.

[eeeeek]

I know helmets are expensive, BUT, just ask yourself this question, "how much would it cost to replace my head, brains, eyes, mouth, tongue, so on and so on. I just had an accident the day before Thanksgiving. I am told by the other 2 riders, I was with, that I tried to go "airborne" but only made it about 30'. I landed on the backside of my head, one of the most vulnerable places to land. All I have is one broken rib, a stiff neck and a few bumps and bruises. Both Trauma Dr's. I saw, 1 and orthopedist Surgeon, the other a NeuroSurgeon, said my helmet saved my life!! What kind of Helmet?...$700.00Shoei! Will I buy the same type again? ABSOLUTLY!! My leather jacket and pants did alot to keep me from getting any road rash. NOPE, No Road rash at all! I also discovered that due to a medical condition I have. I will not be riding anymore. Ohh, the bike came out with only cosmetic damage, under a thousand $$. I will be selling one great bike, 2000 Kawi Vulcan Classic 1500FI, but I will also be enjoying my life of 55 years and my life with my wife of 32 yrs and children and grandson. That is PRICELESS!!! My question to everyone is, "just how much is your life worth"?

I think much of your argument may be moot. The ECE standards far exceeds the DOT standard for safety and there is a raging debates as to whether or not it is better than the SNELL standard. It's not so much a price thing as a more options thing (and by more options I mean more brands and such, not gadgets). Some European brands don't import to the US and they are every bit as good or better than US counterparts, they simply don't have the DOT mark.

Next, how much of that $700 was for the paint job? More money does not always mean better. The biggest key is getting a helmet that fits your head correctly.

[Razel]

I believe, but not positive, that it's illegal to sell a motorcycle helmet for the purpose of riding a motorcycle without a DOT sticker. Nothing about riding with one.

I've not been able to find a federal standard or Calif. state standard that says you must have the DOT sticker on the helmet while riding.

Not saying the law or ruling is not there, just that I can't find it.

[DarkNinja75]

I believe, but not positive, that it's illegal to sell a motorcycle helmet for the purpose of riding a motorcycle without a DOT sticker.

Every guy I've seen that has a skid lid without a DOT sticker on it has bought it from the Harley dealership (not being judgmental, just making a statement of fact). There must be some loophole.

[Steve Stansb]

I think much of your argument may be moot. The ECE standards far exceeds the DOT standard for safety and there is a raging debates as to whether or not it is better than the SNELL standard. It's not so much a price thing as a more options thing (and by more options I mean more brands and such, not gadgets). Some European brands don't import to the US and they are every bit as good or better than US counterparts, they simply don't have the DOT mark.

Next, how much of that $700 was for the paint job? More money does not always mean better. The biggest key is getting a helmet that fits your head correctly.

It could be that 2/3's the cost of the helmet was the paint, but, the design of the helmet to absorb the impact is what is important!! This helmet absorbed and distributed the impact just as it was designed to do. I also have a JCM (?) helmet that I do not wear since I got this one. My bet is on the Shoei for the safety!

[Steve Stansb]

Are you saying that you'll be buying a helmet even though you won't be riding anymore? :laughing

sorry to hear about the accident, but I'm glad you came out of it with so little damage (especially to you). too bad you won't be riding anymore.

Sorry, If I were to ride again, I would shell out another $700.00 for a good quality helmet and not think bad of it at all.
I know NOTHING of helmets from accross the great pond, but, thinking about it more, it would be reasonable to think that the helmets made over there would be rather good quality and safety built!!

[eeeeek]

I know NOTHING of helmets from accross the great pond, but, thinking about it more, it would be reasonable to think that the helmets made over there would be rather good quality and safety built!!

:thumbup

[wsmc831]

:thumbup

From what I remember reading, the standards accross the pond are more comprehensive than here.

[Traq]

I believe, but not positive, that it's illegal to sell a motorcycle helmet for the purpose of riding a motorcycle without a DOT sticker. Nothing about riding with one.

I've not been able to find a federal standard or Calif. state standard that says you must have the DOT sticker on the helmet while riding.

Not saying the law or ruling is not there, just that I can't find it.

I was originally going to say the same thing re: that it is only illegal to sell or offer to sell a helmet without the DOT label... But then I read the Federal standard and it includes a section for labeling. CVC requires the helmet meets the Fed standard, so if the standard includes labeling requirements...

Here are the pertinent codes:
27803. (a) A driver and any passenger shall wear a safety helmet
meeting requirements established pursuant to Section 27802 when
riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle.
27802. (a) The department may adopt reasonable regulations
establishing specifications and standards for safety helmets offered
for sale, or sold, for use by drivers and passengers of motorcycles
and motorized bicycles as it determines are necessary for the safety
of those drivers and passengers. The regulations shall include, but
are not limited to, the requirements imposed by Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 218 (49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.218) and may include
compliance with that federal standard by incorporation of its
requirements by reference. Each helmet sold or offered for sale for
use by drivers and passengers of motorcycles and motorized bicycles
shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the federal
standard which shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that
the helmet conforms to the applicable federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
(b) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by a driver
or passenger of a motorcycle or motorized bicycle any safety helmet
which is not of a type meeting requirements established by the
department.
(Link) (http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/13nov20061500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2006/octqtr/49cfr571.218.htm)
S5.6.1 Each helmet shall be labeled permanently and legibly, in a
manner such that the label(s) can be read easily without removing
padding or any other permanent part, with the following:
...
(e) The symbol DOT, constituting the manufacturer's certification
that the helmet conforms to the applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards. This symbol shall appear on the outer surface, in a color
that contrasts with the background, in letters at least \3/8\ inch (1
cm) high, centered laterally with the horizontal centerline of the
symbol located a minimum of 1\1/8\ inches (2.9 cm) and a maximum of 1\3/
8\ inches (3.5 cm) from the bottom edge of the posterior portion of the
helmet.

So it is my interpretation that the DOT symbol is required to be in compliance with standard 218, and therefore the symbol is required to comply with CVC 27802. Any helmet without a DOT sticker puts you in violation of 27803.

[Razel]

I was originally going to say the same thing re: that it is only illegal to sell or offer to sell a helmet without the DOT label... But then I read the Federal standard and it includes a section for labeling. CVC requires the helmet meets the Fed standard, so if the standard includes labeling requirements...

Here are the pertinent codes:




So it is my interpretation that the DOT symbol is required to be in compliance with standard 218, and therefore the symbol is required to comply with CVC 27802. Any helmet without a DOT sticker puts you in violation of 27803.

Thanks for sorting through the maze...would be a valid interpretation as I read it as well.

[Oddjob]

I know helmets are expensive, BUT, just ask yourself this question, "how much would it cost to replace my head, brains, eyes, mouth, tongue, so on and so on. I just had an accident the day before Thanksgiving. I am told by the other 2 riders, I was with, that I tried to go "airborne" but only made it about 30'. I landed on the backside of my head, one of the most vulnerable places to land. All I have is one broken rib, a stiff neck and a few bumps and bruises. Both Trauma Dr's. I saw, 1 and orthopedist Surgeon, the other a NeuroSurgeon, said my helmet saved my life!! What kind of Helmet?...$700.00Shoei! Will I buy the same type again? ABSOLUTLY!! My leather jacket and pants did alot to keep me from getting any road rash. NOPE, No Road rash at all! I also discovered that due to a medical condition I have. I will not be riding anymore. Ohh, the bike came out with only cosmetic damage, under a thousand $$. I will be selling one great bike, 2000 Kawi Vulcan Classic 1500FI, but I will also be enjoying my life of 55 years and my life with my wife of 32 yrs and children and grandson. That is PRICELESS!!! My question to everyone is, "just how much is your life worth"?

Is this an argument for or against buying a British helmet?

[oneirix]

Is this an argument for or against buying a British helmet?

I think that they were more referring to my story of the guy who just wears a beanie and no helmet.. I really only threw that in there to show how the current laws have been warped, not saying that I wanted to do it myself. I honestly don't see British helmets being any different from American ones; DOT helmets and ECE 22.05 helmets are basically identical, and if a helmet has one homologation it can essentially pass the other, it's just whether the stupid sticker is printed or not. :p I'm actually not entirely sure what that post was about, but it was a good story about helmet safety.