Safetycrats are at it again, as the governor of California has signed into law a bill approved by the state legislature mandating helmets for kids who ride, practically anything.

Senate Bill 1924 by State Senator Jack O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) says that anyone 18 years old and younger must wear headgear when riding any non-motorized scooter, skateboard or in-line skates, extending the existing bicycle helmet law to such popular wheeled toys.

Other states, including Rhode Island, Maryland, New Jersey and New York, already have similar laws on the books. Helmets already are required for bicycle riders 18 years old and under, and they are also mandatory in all youth baseball leagues and in other youth sports such as football and hockey. And, of course, California is one of 20 states that require all motorcyclists to wear helmets.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, skateboard-related injuries in 2000 were responsible for 50,000 emergency room visits and 1,500 hospitalizations. The Consumer Product Safety Commission states that nationwide there were 40,500 scooter-related injuries treated in emergency rooms in 2000.

ABATE of California mounted a letter writing campaign against the bill, and testified against it in both houses, "But, of course, anything to protect the children" said ABATE Legislative Director Jean Hughes, sarcastically explaining the legislature's reasoning in enacting the new helmet law.

"It is interesting to note the hypocrisy of this particular piece of legislation," continues Hughes, "Now, a 19 year old skateboarder can decide how to dress himself, but a 40 year old biker can't."