Nassau Lawmaker's New Bike Laws Target 'Ride-Outs,' 'Chicken'

LEVITTOWN, NY — A Levittown lawmaker's bicycle safety legislation has been signed into law, changing helmet requirements and consequences for reckless bike-riding — including dangerous games of "chicken" with cars. Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti proposed two bicycle safety bills earlier this year, both of which were signed into law by the county executive and went into effect.

Children under 18 are now legally required to wear helmets while riding bikes, scooters, motorized scooters, motorized bicycles, roller blades and skates. The law — which includes any passengers on bikes — states violators could face a $50 fine. The county is now stricter than the state, which mandates that children under 14 wear bike helmets.

Additionally, Nassau County parents of children over 12 could face a $100 fine if their kids are reckless in riding bikes or scooters.

As Patch previously reported, the second piece of legislation is aimed squarely at increasing reports of children playing "chicken" with cars in traffic. Under the new law, Nassau County police officers can now impound their bikes. They'll only be returned to parents. The offense is a considered a misdemeanor and family court judges would handle cases.

Ferretti, who seeks re-election on Nov. 5 against said in a statement that it's important for kids to understand bike safety.

"This legislation makes is abundantly clear that safety is a priority and that reckless activity will not be tolerated," he said. "I will continue holding bike safety forums and my free children helmet giveaway events throughout our community as often as possible."

He previously told Patch kids are "playing chicken" with cars and going on "ride-outs," where youths organize a group ride via social media. They arrange a meeting point and then use their phones to record themselves riding recklessly.

In the game of chicken, youths ride into oncoming traffic, hoping cars swerve out of the way. Kids also record themselves riding between cars and scraping their hand on the vehicles.

"The goal is to get as many clicks as possible," he said, adding that it has become a countywide problem.

Police told Ferretti there was no law on the books that would allow them to intervene. The kids, he said, knew that. Even with the power to issue fines and misdemeanors, that's not the goal.

"The goal is to draw attention to the troubling trend," said Ferretti,