Albany, New York * — A bill that would require skateboarders younger than 14 years old to wear helmets passed the Legislature last week and could take effect next year if signed into law by Governer George Pataki.

Currently, the helmet law applies only to bicyclists and inline skaters.

If the bill becomes law, skateboarders would be required to wear reflective clothing at night, would not be allowed to grab onto moving cars and could not carry anything while skateboarding that might obstruct their view. Violators’ parents would be subject to a state fine of $50; local governments could tack on a $55 surcharge.

Steps have been taken around the Rochester, New York area to try to enforce helmet use. But so far they have not been very successful.

Avvram Ewsuk, 14, of Spencerport often takes his skateboard to the Ogden Skate Park near his house. He rarely puts on a helmet and said it’s rare anyone there does either, even though a sign is posted there requiring them on skateboarders.

”It’s at their own risk. You wear a helmet if you don’t want to get hurt,” Avvram said.

He said he had a helmet, but it got stolen. “Half the kids, if you tell them to wear a helmet, they would laugh in your face.”

Avvram’s father, William Ewsuk, who helped build the skate park in Ogden, said a helmet law would be difficult to regulate.

”Who would enforce it?” Ewsuk asked. “Somebody’s in the mood to push helmets. There was a big push (for helmets) for bicycles. You see half the people still don’t have them.”

Ewsuk said the helmet rule at the skate park isn’t enforced. “Half of the adults let these little 5-year-olds in there with no helmets,” he said. “We don’t push the issue because if you do, it’s an insurance problem.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of skateboarders wear no safety gear at all.

Assemblyman David Sidikman, D-Nassau County, who has championed the skateboard bill for years, said the measure would bring skateboard safety standards in line.

While Sidikman said he doesn’t like to impose mandates, this law would be justified for “the safety of our children.”

There are no skate parks in the city of Rochester. Some skaters in the city said they find it inappropriate for the city to enforce something that it does not support financially.

”If they are going to tell skaters what to wear they could at least put a skate park in Rochester,” said Alex Perez, 19, of Rochester.

Apparently at most skate parks in the state, skaters are required to wear helmets while in the park because of insurance demands.

Will Clark, a manager at Pedigree Ski shop in Bedford Hills, Westchester County, said that getting skateboarders to wear helmets is like “pulling teeth.” Clark, 43, added that safety was much less of a concern when he was growing up.

In spite of this, Clark supports the law and thinks there will be a spike in helmet sales, as there was in 1994 * after the requirement was passed for bicycles.

Aaron Costa, 30, is the owner of KrudCo. skateboarding shop in Rochester. He expects that helmet sales would go up if the bill becomes law, but said he wouldn’t support the bill.

”I have beliefs over profit margin,” Costa said. “I believe you skate at your own risk.”

While Costa said he is not against people wearing helmets, he doesn’t think they should be forced to.

For now, Costa is awaiting the outcome of the law before he thinks about buying more helmets for his store.

In 1994, the skateboard measure passed with overwhelming support. The Assembly passed the helmet bill 139 to 1; the Senate 54 to 5. “The concern was really the head. The bones you can fix,” said Steve Casscles, a spokesman for Sen. William Larkin, R-New Windsor, Orange County, the bill’s sponsor in the Senate.

It’s now up to New York Geverner George Pataki to sign the bill into law or veto it; his office didn’t immediately comment on the measure.

(This article Includes reporting by staff writers Paul Singley and Greg Livadas, was found at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0622IV4M2DV_news.shtml and was originally entitled "Skateboard helmets could soon be a must".)

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