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[REDMAN]

Going to spend a few days in Ontario next week and want to know the current helmet law. More specifically does the helmet have to be dot approved?

[ultrarider123]

Straight from the Canadian Mounties Horses' mouth....

Universal Helmet Laws
Canada's motorcycle helmet laws are easy to understand because they are uniform across all 10 provinces and three territories, as well as clear-cut: All riders on a motorcycle must wear crash helmets at all times. Regardless of any other variable such as age, passengers, speed at which the motorcycle travels, all riders in Canada must be protected by a helmet.

Helmet Compliance
Motorcycle helmets must meet safety standards approved for use as an motorcycle helmet in Canada. Only helmets that meet CSA CAN3-D230-M85 standards may be worn in compliance with Canada's universal helmet laws. These are roughly equivalent to helmets certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation for sale in America.


Speakers
Helmets may be equipped with speakers, but motorcyclists may not play music through them. Speakers can only be used as part of a communication device to allow drivers and passengers to communicate with one another.

Hope this helps....

[REDMAN]

Straight from the Canadian Mounties Horses' mouth....

Universal Helmet Laws
Canada's motorcycle helmet laws are easy to understand because they are uniform across all 10 provinces and three territories, as well as clear-cut: All riders on a motorcycle must wear crash helmets at all times. Regardless of any other variable such as age, passengers, speed at which the motorcycle travels, all riders in Canada must be protected by a helmet.

Helmet Compliance
Motorcycle helmets must meet safety standards approved for use as an motorcycle helmet in Canada. Only helmets that meet CSA CAN3-D230-M85 standards may be worn in compliance with Canada's universal helmet laws. These are roughly equivalent to helmets certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation for sale in America.


Speakers
Helmets may be equipped with speakers, but motorcyclists may not play music through them. Speakers can only be used as part of a communication device to allow drivers and passengers to communicate with one another.

Hope this helps....

Thanks, now I wonder how hard this is policed? I would like to wear my beanie helmet and want to hear from some folks in Ontario who could answer this.

[Mano]

Go ahead and wear the beanie. In all my years of riding I have never seen anyone get pulled over for the helmet they were wearing. I did hear a story of a friends friend get pulled over.

He said....The officer was able to squeeze the helmet inwards and the shell moved. If it was real he would not be able to do that. He was let go with a warning. So the story says.

I have over 6000 km for this year and I wear a beanie. It might be a novelty helmet....not sure. It says DOT on the back.

[REDMAN]

Go ahead and wear the beanie. In all my years of riding I have never seen anyone get pulled over for the helmet they were wearing. I did hear a story of a friends friend get pulled over.

He said....The officer was able to squeeze the helmet inwards and the shell moved. If it was real he would not be able to do that. He was let go with a warning. So the story says.

I have over 6000 km for this year and I wear a beanie. It might be a novelty helmet....not sure. It says DOT on the back.

Thanks for your help.

[murphy]

Most police in Ontario can't tell the difference between DOT, Snell or CSA, however the majority do know that beanies are illegal and it's very probable that you will be stopped and fined.

Ontario has reciprocal agreements with most states, what ever you get charged and convicted for here most likely will show up on your abstract at home.

If you do get caught and issued a ticket, and you opt not to pay the $110 fine, an Ontario drivers licence number is generated for you and that new licence gets suspended... The next time you get stopped riding through our fair jurisdiction you can be arrested, get an automatic court date, fined a minimum of $1000, and be ordered to serve up to six months in jail for extreme cases.

You can get more time in jail here for driving under suspension than you would for carrying a weapon... go figure!

You cannot drive in Ontario using a licence from another jurisdiction when your new generated Ontario licence is under suspension, even if you've never been issued the actual document.

If there is no one at the roadside to ride your bike away for you it probably will be impounded.

It may not be what you want to hear, but obviously my opinion is a little different than others here.

[REDMAN]

Most police in Ontario can't tell the difference between DOT, Snell or CSA, however the majority do know that beanies are illegal and it's very probable that you will be stopped and fined.

Ontario has reciprocal agreements with most states, what ever you get charged and convicted for here most likely will show up on your abstract at home.

If you do get caught and issued a ticket, and you opt not to pay the $110 fine, an Ontario drivers licence number is generated for you and that new licence gets suspended... The next time you get stopped riding through our fair jurisdiction you can be arrested, get an automatic court date, fined a minimum of $1000, and be ordered to serve up to six months in jail for extreme cases.

You can get more time in jail here for driving under suspension than you would for carrying a weapon... go figure!

You cannot drive in Ontario using a licence from another jurisdiction when your new generated Ontario licence is under suspension, even if you've never been issued the actual document.

If there is no one at the roadside to ride your bike away for you it probably will be impounded.

It may not be what you want to hear, but obviously my opinion is a little different than others here.

Now I'm leaning to bringing my dot half helmet. Oh well, I have a few days to decide.

[OlDog]

Yes you must have a DOT certified helmet. The Ontario Provincial Police can seize any non compliant helmet and leave you stranded on the side of the road with no helmet. Same here in Alberta.

[REDMAN]

Yes you must have a DOT certified helmet. The Ontario Provincial Police can seize any non compliant helmet and leave you stranded on the side of the road with no helmet. Same here in Alberta.

Now it's two to one against the beanie. Thanks for your help.

[dlaws01]

Show'em who's boss and don't wear a helmet at all. 

[REDMAN]

Show'em who's boss and don't wear a helmet at all. 

i have to admit, that idea never crossed my mind.

[grc]

I must be getting dense in my old age, so maybe you could enlighten me.  I first assumed you just didn't have a DOT or Snell helmet and didn't want to buy one for your trip.  But now you indicate you already have a DOT half helmet.  What is there about that novelty beanie that makes you want to wear it versus a real helmet that might actually provide some degree of protection?   

Jerry

[Twolanerider]

I must be getting dense in my old age, so maybe you could enlighten me.  I first assumed you just didn't have a DOT or Snell helmet and didn't want to buy one for your trip.  But now you indicate you already have a DOT half helmet.  What is there about that novelty beanie that makes you want to wear it versus a real helmet that might actually provide some degree of protection?   

Jerry

Jerry, it's easy to understand.  All about after the crash.  When the brain swells due to the injuries sustained you want a helmet that won't help hold in the intracranial pressure that develops.

[murphy]

Yes you must have a DOT certified helmet. The Ontario Provincial Police can seize any non compliant helmet and leave you stranded on the side of the road with no helmet. Same here in Alberta.

The OPP did do that in the past, but the courts decided that whole process fell into the unreasonable search and seizure category.

There is a charge for having the improper classified helmet on inspection, if you refuse to turn it over to them so they can have a peak the charge is "fail to assist in inspection".

The only way it possibly would be seized now is if it is somehow involved in a serious offence, worn as a disguise in a crime or to show impact locations in an impaired driving case for example.

[dlaws01]

Screw it REDMAN, just take the car.