MARCH 19, 2005

WATSONVILLE — Deadline extended for helmet tickets A Soquel man challenging a state law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets was recently given a new date to get his nine helmet tickets signed off. The tickets were written by the California Highway Patrol and Watsonville police. Following a trial last year, Judge Michael Barton ruled that Richard Quigley's helmet violations could be considered fix-it tickets and as such, he would not have to pay the $200 or so fine per violation. But Quigley has yet to have them signed off, and it's unclear if he can, as the CHP does not consider helmet tickets correctable violations. On March 11, Quigley was given until May 6 to get the tickets signed off, said prosecutor Gretchen Brock. (Ruling.) Barton also said he must get a helmet with a hard outer shell and wear that to get an officer's signature on the tickets, she said. Quigley wears a baseball cap and says it fits what he considers the state's unclear definition of what constitutes a helmet.