A Valley lawmaker has introduced a bill that would exempt certain motorcyclists from California’s helmet law on the basis of religion.
Authored by Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, Assembly Bill 2392 would establish a safety helmet exception for riders who wear turbans as an expression of their religion, according to a news release from Soria’s office.
The bill, which would amend California’s vehicle code, has particular significance to the San Joaquin Valley, which is home to thousands of Sikhs in cities like Livingston, Stockton and Fresno.
“AB 2392 ensures we safeguard our Sikh community’s right to practice their religious expression freely, while also protecting their and other motorcyclists’ safety on California’s roads” Soria, D-Merced, said in the release.
Members of the Sikh faith wear turbans as an expression of their commitment to the values and ethics of their tradition, which includes service, compassion and honesty, according to the website for The Sikh Coalition.
California’s mandatory helmet law has been on the books since 1992, and Soria’s bill isn’t the first attempt at adding a religious exemption. A similar bill was introduced last year, but was later vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The final version of that bill, Senate Bill 847, would have allowed California Highway Patrol to adopt a regulation to certify motorcycle helmets that don’t meet the safety requirements imposed by federal vehicle standards, in order to accommodate a rider’s religious beliefs.
“While I am sensitive to the protection of religious freedoms, I cannot support legislation that would have the unintended public safety consequences associated with this proposal,” Newsom’s SB 847 veto message said.
Victor A. Patton is editor-in-chief of the Merced FOCUS, a nonprofit newsroom covering the San Joaquin Valley.