California bill would allow Sikhs to ride motorcycles without a helmet

Opponents have cited road safety concerns noting motorcycle crashes killed more than 5,500 and injured over 180,000 in 2020

Sikhs and other people whose faith requires them to wear a turban or patka could soon be allowed to ride motorcycles in California without a helmet as mandated by state law, according to media reports.

The State Senate last Wednesday voted to grant a religious exemption for the headwear. The measure, Senate Bill 847 from Republican Sen. Brian Dahle cleared the chamber by a 21-8 margin. Eight Democrats voted “no,” while 13 others sided with Republicans.

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“Freedom of religion is a core foundation of this country. We, as Americans, have the right to freely express our religion and I believe that right should equally extend to everyone,” Dahle stated after the bill passed as cited by the Sacramento Bee.

Dahle added that existing state law doesn’t intentionally discriminate against Sikhs and other peoples of faith, but that “the reality is that those who practice those religions are limited in how they can express their customs.”

His office cites the 2021 American Community Survey which found an estimated 211,000 Sikhs living in California — nearly half of all Sikhs in the country.

“Although other countries and our own military make accommodations for Sikhs’ deep beliefs, out of the US states that require helmets, none has exemptions for Sikhs or any other group based on religious practice,” according to Dahle’s office.

SB 847 now moves to the Assembly.

Eighteen states, including California, have adopted universal helmet laws since a federal safety penalty was repealed in 1995, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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The California Highway Patrol enforces the universal helmet law, and violations are punished with a fine of up to $250 and/or a year on probation.

“The turban I tie is about 7 meters. It’s not just a head covering,” a member of the Sikh community was quoted as saying during a Senate committee hearing. “We are not able to ride our bikes and practice our religion.”

The Automobile Club of Southern California opposes the legislation, citing concerns that it would weaken the state’s universal motorcycle helmet law, according to the Times.

“The Auto Club supports helmet laws because they save lives and reduce serious injuries in traffic crashes involving motorcycles,” a spokesperson stated in an email to the newspaper.

“Everyone has a right to self-expression, including while riding a motorcycle or any other form of transportation, but keeping riders safe should always remain a priority.”

More than 5,500 motorcyclists died in 2020, and more than 180,000 were injured in motorcycle crashes, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Helmets were found to reduce the risk of head injuries from crashes by 69%.

The County Health Executives Association of California also opposes Dahle’s legislation, Senate Bill 847, the Times said.

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“CHEAC understands that wearing turbans and patkas are deeply important religious expressions, and we encourage innovation and equity in the design of helmets to accommodate head coverings instead of weakening existing helmet laws and risking the safety of these riders,” Michelle Gibbons, the association’s executive director, wrote in an email.

According to an analysis of the bill, Sikhs or other groups are not exempt from helmet laws in other states due to religious practices.

Several provinces in Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario exempt Sikhs from helmet laws. Exemptions have also been granted in the United Kingdom and India, the Times noted.