Indiana Conservation Officer breaks down ATV helmet law

Hundreds of new laws went into effect Saturday, July 1, in Indiana, including one that requires children under 18 to wear helmets when riding ATVs.

Conservation Officer Jon Boyd from the Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources joined Maria Catanzarite on 16 Saturday Morning to break down the law.

The law applies to dirt bikes, ATVs and ORVs, but not snowmobiles, according to the DNR.

Officer Boyd said the law's main focus is preventing deaths and serious injuries.

Indiana has seen an increase in fatal ATV accidents year after year, he said.

"One of the big pushes we did as an agency is the importance of wearing helmets and how that reduces the risk of death or serious injury when on these off-road vehicles, Boyd said. " We try to drive that message home."

Owners who allow kids to ride the machines without a helmet could face up to a $500 penalty. The law applies both on public and private properties.

"We know that from our experience and common sense, that helmets do save lives," Boyd said.