one less head

[kenyonchris]

Got called back to the station to take a phone call regarding bike rules. The caller was 18.
Me: "Hello, this is Officer Kenyonchris, how can I help you?"
Caller: "Ummm? Yeah? I just want to know? Is it against the law for an 18 year old to ride without a helmet?"
Me: "There is no city ordinance regarding helmets in the city limits."
Caller: "Okay? Yeah. What does that mean?"
Me: "The city is not telling you that you must wear a helmet. As a police officer, a cyclist, and a mom, I am telling you to wear a helmet."
Caller: "But am I going to get a ticket?"
Me: "No, but you may wind up way worse than the guy our medics picked up today. He was wearing a helmet and was careflighted out of here. If he hadn't had it on, he would be dead."
Caller: "Yeah. Okay? But am I going to get a ticket."
Me (still with patient voice): "No."
Caller: "Because my parents told me I would."
Me: "Maybe they are trying to protect your silly head. But I am not your parent. No, no ticket. But you can be seriously injured through no fault of you own"....I didn't add you silly, silly twit of a girl.
Caller: "Ok, can you tell my mom that?"
Me: "No."
Caller: "Why?"
Me: "Ok, have a good day. By the way, what is your name and number?"
Caller: Gives it to me.
Me: "Ok, and one more thing. As a cyclist, you can be arrested for violating the traffic laws of this city. You are bound to every traffic law that applies to cars. I suggest you read up."
Caller: "Oh, really? Ok." .....I think she missed my point. Pause. "But can I be arrested for not wearing a helmet?"

AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH.!!!!!!!!!

[maillotpois]

sounds like there's not a lot in there to protect....

[Blueberry]

sounds like there's not a lot in there to protect....

*snort*

You beat me to it

CA

[Selkie]

*snort*

You beat me to it

CA

Perhaps we'll read about her in future Darwin Awards.

[DDH]

You know it's hard to convince a young person to wear a helmet. Not because they are stupid, but because they don't believe that anything bad will happen to them and they think they are invincible. I remember being that age and younger and never thought about something bad happening while riding my bike. I didn't wear a helmet as a kid, and my parents didn't even think about getting me one. Of course I grew up in a different time but although the times are different kids are pretty much the same as we were when we were growing up. They have more toys, electronics and just more stuff in general, but they really are, all in all the same. They think their parents don't know anything, they think they are invincible, they think they have all the time in the world, they think if they mess up it won't be a big deal and they have plenty of time to fix things.
I'm sorry, I don't think she is stupid, she is just ill informed, or hasn't been taught any better. Having a policeman for a husband I know too that parents rather than take responsiblity for their children and teach them from the beginning to wear a helmet will do just what these parents have done and use scare tatics making the police the bad guys rather than tell their child she will wear a helmet or won't ride the bike. This girl was just smart enough to call and ask rather than believe whatever her parents tell her.

[redrhodie]

It sounds like she was just trying to prove her parents were wrong (by telling her it was the law when it wasn't).

Hopefully she won't feel that since they've lied to her (I'm assuming), she won't wear one just to prove a point.

Maybe I'm giving her too much credit, and she's just a dimwit who doesn't want to mess her hair.

[Biciclista]

bummer.
You know, wearing a helmet will muss her hair. you have to get your priorities straight. At least you tried.

[spazzdog]

you were speaking to a teenager who probably texts while driving a car and will find a way to text while riding a bike...

it's good you got her name. you'll (or your colleagues) probably be meeting her again under much different circumstances.

spazz

[SadieKate]

Me: "No, but you may wind up way worse than the guy our medics picked up today. He was wearing a helmet and was careflighted out of here. If he hadn't had it on, he would be dead."

Oh gawd. I thought you were going to tell us the medics picked up a head. Just a head, sans body.

[owlice]

Oh gawd. I thought you were going to tell us the medics picked up a head. Just a head, sans body.

:: falls over laughing! ::