Is not wearing a bike helmet punishable with pepper spray?

11/03/2012 11:08:49 a.m.

MarkB wrote:

Stupid or not, the law in NZ is 'wear a helmet' -- SO WEAR A FRIGGIN' HELMET. It's obvious the local 5-0 is willing to take it to any level to enforce it, so why buy a pound of trouble for an ounce of civil disobedience?

11/03/2012 1:54:14 a.m.

Andrew wrote:

It just shows how distorted society is about cars when a Police man considers ramming a person on a bicycle an reasonable course of action. This is a machine that weighs over a 1000kg and go over 100 kph. How can hitting some one with a car be anything but attempted manslaughter. Will the Police be charged fir dangerous driving? Disgusting

16/09/2010 11:40:37 a.m.

Adam wrote:

Out of curiosity: how many kiwis realise they've been dangerously oversold on bicycle helmets? There's a reason they're not required anywhere else (except Oz): they're nowhere near as effective as promoters in NZ claim. Your helmet law is held up worldwide as an example of how NOT to make cycling safer. Do your own research: cyclehelmets.org/

20/07/2010 11:01:14 p.m.

benny wrote:

sorry, but the police and their apologists have to go. Break the law and expose this organisation for the curse to this world that they are

26/04/2010 7:29:12 p.m.

andy wykes wrote:

trains---i have been saying now for a few years that nz passenger trains should be "sitting only" about the height of the average 4wd, naturally of carriage length; made in nz. no platform would be required. cheap to make etc etc

16/04/2010 10:12:05 p.m.

Simon wrote:

This is about ignoring police instructions, failing to stop etc. What is the cop meant to do if people who are breaking the law just ignore him when challenged. If u think that it'd be a good idea to allow people who might be breaking the law to choose to ignore the police, refuse to stop, run away without challenge (like Sean did) that's crazy !

7/04/2010 3:04:07 a.m.

Tom wrote:

The more the nanny state is fed, the more it will take, I'd like to find where that cop lives, he needs a random unpleasant vist to his front door, if that law comes to britain, I'll be breaking it every day, it's our life, not theirs. Tom, Crystal Palace, London.

3/12/2009 3:24:17 a.m.

alex wrote:

Skin cancer is on the rise even in children, so forcing someone to use the current cycle helmet design endangers their safety as the helmets do not provide adequate sun protection. A hat under the helmet blocks important peripheral vision and is probably what is responsible for the increase in cyclist accident hospital admissions. I believe it is un-lawful to endanger someone safety end of story.

28/11/2009 3:48:18 a.m.

Will, England wrote:

Ignoring the stupidity of laws mandating the wearing of a "helmet" that is neither designed to or capable of preventing serious head injury... ignoring the ill effects on cyclist numbers and serious head injuries per rider that result from such laws... ignoring issues of choice, liberty and victimless "crimes"... ignoring the bone-head cop who was unnecessarily using pepper spray and then decided to use his car as a weapon (if a member of the public did that they'd be charged)... even ignoring that the cop didn't see the wild irony in enforcing a helmet law (meant to protect the cyclist from car drivers - regardless of effectiveness of the helmets) by running a cyclist over with a car. How on EARTH did that anchor get his job? I know it's not a normal Kiwi way of speaking... how on earth does someone who completely ignores punctuation and puts full-stop pauses in for spaces and vice versa get a job as a news anchor? Come on New Zealand - save the on-screen jobs for people who can speak clearly! The Kiwi accent isn't a tough one to understand (though for a Pom I am kinda well travelled and have Kiwi friends, so that might help) he's not the best person to be delivering the news! While you're finding a new anchor - get rid of those stupid helmet laws too - they don't do anyone any good. All the best from the cold and rainy island about 11076 miles NbW of Cape Reinga.

12/08/2009 8:06:27 p.m.

hans renner wrote:

phil , mike et al ..you are truly morons ! The police officer ( it would seem ) was trying ( unfortunately for society ) to save the " poor offender " from hurting himself ! Think about it ! If the officer saw your sons biking down the road with no helmet on and 2 minutes later fall off his bike hitting head on the sidewalk causing brain damage , you would squeal like stuck pigs that the officer was in deriliction of duty !! You were not a party to the body laguage that may have occured , I see that the guy was instructed to do something and failed to do so , end of story ! He was asked NOT to ride his bike any further , so what does the retard do , goes around the corner , jumps on his bike and carries on ! Hmm running late for work . Perhaps he should learn a little self discipline like getting up on time , wearing a helmet , following basic laws , not getting confrontational ( remember the 4 times being asked to stop and ignoring that request ) . The officer should be given an award for his patience in dealing with an obviously challenged person !