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Breaking Motorcycle News on Clutch and Chrome!
Turban wearing motorcycle rider heads back to court
By the Staff of Clutch and
Chrome
March 11th, 2008
The motorcycle riding world
watched Ontario Canada over the last few months, focusing on
a legal case contesting the helmet law on religious grounds.
It was the
story read around the world
as a Sikh wearing rider Baljinder Badesha, 39, disputed a
$110 ticket for riding his 1994 Yamaha motorcycle in the
fall of 2005 and ended up fighting Ontario's motorcycle
helmet law.
The Ontario Human Rights
Commission was on Mr. Badesha's side, making arguments in
court that the law forced the defendant to choose between
his love of motorcycle riding and his religion.
When Mr. Badesha lost the
case on March 7th, he wasn't sure if he would continue with
legal actions, claiming among a sea of supporters that no
decision had been made.
According to the
South Asian Focus, Mr.
Badesha has decided to challenge the law on the same
religious grounds, but in the interest of the entire Sikh
community.
Last Thursday when Judge
James Blacklock announced his decision in court he said,
"Helmets appear to me more likely than not to substantially
reduce the risk of head injuries and death to motorcycle
riders."
"It is certainly clear that
in permitting Mr. Badesha and all Sikh adherents who hold
his religious views to ride motorcycles without a helmet
would not achieve the same level of safety for them,"
continued Judge Blacklock.
However, the planned appeal is hoped to change the law
itself rather fight the $110 fine. |
