SB 847: Vehicles: motorcycle: safety helmet exception.

Existing law authorizes the Department of the California Highway Patrol to adopt regulations establishing specifications and standards for safety helmets offered for sale, or sold, for use by drivers and passengers of motorcycles and motorized bicycles. Existing law requires the regulations to include specified federal standards.

This bill would authorize the department, notwithstanding the provisions mentioned above, to adopt a regulation certifying a helmet offered for sale, or sold, that substantially complies with, but does not meet, the requirements imposed by the specified federal standards if the helmet is designed for the purposes of compliance with a drivers or passengers religious beliefs or practices.