Bicycle Helmet Law in Washington

There is no state law requiring bicycle helmets, but nearly 25 cities and several counties in Washington do require helmet use when riding bicycles. While each jurisdiction has the power to issue its own rules, the helmet laws generally are the same and are mandatory for all bicycle riders regardless of age.

  1. Who Can Enforce

    • While traffic police enforce a majority of bicycle helmet violations, all law enforcement officers have the authority to cite a violator. In Seattle, for instance, this can include the Seattle police, King County sheriffs department and Washington state troopers.

    Penalties

    • The penalty for violating helmet requirements typically is a fine. In King County, the standard penalty is $81 ($30 in fines and $51 for courts costs). A violation is a civil infraction which does not include a jail sentence. Additionally, the violation can be contested in court and the final decision left to a judge. In some jurisdictions, such as Seattle, if a violator shows that they have purchased a helmet after being cited, the court has the discretion to dismiss the case.

    Scope

    • The intent of the laws is that bicyclists where helmets all the time, but the laws only require their use on a public roadway, a state, county or municipal bicycle path or any publicly-owed facility or land.

    Liability

    • In most jurisdictions, the parents or responsible adult of a child under the age of 18 has a duty to take reasonable steps to make sure that the child wears a helmet when riding a bike. Additionally, anyone who rents bicycles must make sure that the rider has a helmet or include a helmet with the rental.

    Standards

    • Most laws require that the helmet meet a minimum standard of safety. In King County, for example, helmets must comply with standards set forth by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or the American National Standards Institute. At a minimum, the helmets must not be damaged, must not block the field of vision and must include a means to securely fasten the helmet to the rider's head.