Nanny Alert

Rep. Kefalas (D-Ft. Collins) and Sen Bacon (D-Ft. Collins) are sponsoring legislation to replace parental decision-making with the prudential wisdom of the state regarding keeping our children safe. Under HB 1147 as introduced, children under 18 would be required to wear a helmet while using any non-motorized wheeled transportation. This could even include your toddler riding in a shopping cart.

But don't worry, parents are given wide discretion. They can choose to let their kids use wagons or trailers (bike trailers?) without helmets as there are never accidents with either of those.

Under the bill, my two-year old, who loves the race car shopping carts at Home Depot, would need a helmet, as it's not pulled, but pushed. No kidding, see the bill language below:

(b) (I) "NONMOTORIZED WHEELED TRANSPORTATION" MEANS ANY
10 VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT INTENDED FOR USE ON PUBLIC STREETS AND
11 PREMISES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THAT IS DESIGNED TO BE PROPELLED
12 ENTIRELY OR PARTLY BY HUMAN POWER PRIMARILY FOR THE PURPOSE OF
13 TRANSPORTING ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS AND THAT ROLLS ON WHEELS
14 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A BICYCLE, SCOOTER, SKATEBOARD, OR
15 IN-LINE SKATES. "NONMOTORIZED WHEELED TRANSPORTATION" DOES NOT
16 INCLUDE A WAGON, A TRAILER, OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT
17 THAT IS PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO BE TOWED OR PULLED BY AN INDIVIDUAL
18 OR BY ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT.

Apparently pulling (except trailers and wagons) is less safe than pushing.

The bill was partially gutted in committee. Now, it just requires the Transportation Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Public Safety to collaborate on a cradle to 12th grade education program to scold kids and parents about helmet use.

Fortunately, their attempts to centrally control the economy by raising taxes and spending more during a recession have proven so successful, that they can now focus the attention of this government on helping you run your household.