SPD will enforce helmet ordinance

May 3, 2011

By COLLEEN MCCARTHY
sdnreporter@yahoo.com

The Starkville Police Department officially began enforcing the helmet ordinance this week.
Police only issued warning citations in the months since the ordinance passed, but now they will give summons for the administrative hearing court.
Helmets are required when riding bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades, segways, etc.
“One of the reasons we’re doing this is because we’ve seen so many accidents over the last few months that involved bikes,” Sergeant Shawn Word said. “We have so much more bike traffic since the bike lanes and high gas prices.”
The department would also like to remind bicyclists that if they are driving on the public streets and highways, they must follow the same traffic laws, including stop signs and traffic lights.
Police also started issuing citations to people driving their golf carts or four-wheelers on public roads, which is illegal.
Officers Julius Gandy and Freddy Bardley will be on patrol from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to ensure these laws are enforced.