Whether you agree or not, some laws are necessary to protect society despite possibly infringing on an individual’s Constitutional Right. The protection of the whole outweighs the minor infringement to the few. Seatbelt usage would probably fall under this category and so would (I suspect) the mandatory requirement for motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Currently it is a law in each of the Canadian provinces that all drivers and riders on a motorcycle must wear a proper helmet. In the United States there are still some States that allow the driver or passenger to not have to wear a helmet and some States have age restrictions before a driver or rider can go helmetless.

During the first two weeks of July, London police officers have ticketed 6 individuals for wearing improper helmets while on motorcycles. These “illegal” helmets are generally referred to as “skull caps” and offer little more than a thin layer of plastic between the head and the concrete. A ticket for using an improper helmet carries a $110.00 fine. The illegal helmet is seized and the driver/passenger is forced to park the motorcycle and get a legal helmet before continuing their journey.

A legal helmet must be in good condition, free of cracks and puncture damage; it must be CSA, SNELL, British Standards or USAFMVS approved, it must have an authentic D.O.T. sticker on the back; must have impact absorbing material and it must use steel “double d” rings to secure the helmet to the head.

Riders are required to surrender their helmet to an officer for inspection and failure to do so will result in a $110.00 ticket.

The law is the law, officers won’t overlook motorcyclists who think wearing a thin plastic cap is their right or a victimless crime. We’ll take care of you when you choose not to.

On May 29, 2009 the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) began an investigation when a London Police SUV was struck by a motor vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed at Wharncliffe Rd N and Blackfriars Ave. The officer inside the police vehicle was taken to hospital, as was the driver of the motor vehicle. Both suffered injuries.

On Friday July 10, 2009, Ian Scott, Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) found that the officer committed no criminal offence in relation to the injuries suffered by the complainant in the early hours of May 29, 2009. Scott stated that the officer “was a mere passive bystander to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and cannot be held criminally liable for the injuries suffered by him (the complainant).”

On Saturday July 11, 2009 at approximately 6:20am, a 24 year old male was struck by a train at Waterloo and Pall Mall St. The male was taken to hospital where he later died of his injuries. Police continue to investigate the collision.

On Monday July 13, 2009 at 4:42pm a lone male entered a pharmacy on Oxford St W near Cherryhill Circle, approached the counter and demanded drugs, intimating that he had a gun. The suspect obtained a quantity of drugs before fleeing on foot. The pharmacy employees were not injured.

Police are looking for the suspect described as a white male, 25 years old, 5’9”, 150lbs, with short reddish blond hair. He was wearing a white sweater, blue cargo shorts, a red bandanna over his face, sunglasses and a black fanny pack.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. You can also provide your tips online at www.londoncrimestoppers.com.

On Monday July 13, 2009 at 1:25am, police observed a vehicle travelling on Commissioners Rd. The vehicle failed to stop for police and was spotted a short time later stopped in a greenspace on Gladstone Ave. Both occupants of the vehicle fled on foot. A canine officer located and arrested the female passenger of the vehicle. The vehicle was subsequently determined to have been stolen earlier in the night. Charged is 28 year old Kimberley WEGG of London, with one count of Occupying a Motor Vehicle Taken Without Consent.

On July 12, 2009 police observed a stolen vehicle parked in the downtown area. The vehicle had been stolen from an address on Wavell St approximately two weeks earlier. Three male occupants fled the vehicle on foot. One of the males was arrested a short distance away. As a result Michael DOXTATOR, 31 years, of London, has been charged with one count of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. The two other males are still outstanding.

On July 10, 2009 police and fire crews were called to a vehicle which was on fire at an address on Trafalgar St near Rectory St. The vehicle was located in the parking lot and the fire was extinguished. Further investigation showed the suspect on video and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Charged is 54 year old Gerald SMITH of London. He is charged with three counts of theft and one count of arson causing damage to property.

Appended 2009/07/14 @ 11:45 p.m:

Gerald SMITH has been arrested.

On Sunday July 12, 2009 at approximately 7:00pm police and fire crews were called to an address on Hamilton Rd near Meadowlily Rd. Witnesses phoned 911 when they observed a garage in flames. The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries. Police continue to investigate and are treating the fire as suspicious.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. You can also provide your tips online at www.londoncrimestoppers.com.

Appended 2009/07/14 @ 11:45 p.m:

Further investigation has deemed that the fire is not the result of arson. The suspected cause is electrical.

(Thornhill,On.) - CAA School Safety patrollers and London Police Service will be at several intersections in downtown London during the morning rush hour educating pedestrians on safe crossing practices.

According the latest Ontario Road Safety Annual Report, pedestrian fatalities increased by 20 per cent, from 105 in 2005 to 126 in 2006 with over 52 percent of those occurring when a person was crossing a road at an intersection or marked pedestrian crossing.

Right now, there are more than 25,000 student patrollers keeping their peers safe in school zones across South Central Ontario. These kids will be spending their summer learning and practicing life-saving skills with the police officers who CAA has trained and partnered with, including the London Police Service. These skills are learned at the CAA School Safety Patrol Leadership Camp which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this month.

On July 14th, during the morning rush hour, CAA safety patrollers will be paired with former CAA safety patrollers to teach Londoners how to cross the street safely as they walk to work. Similar events will be held in Toronto and Peterborough at the same time.

Pedestrians and motorists who spot these patrollers will be given the chance to win a Weber barbecue this summer just for learning more about the program.

What: Pedestrian Safety Patrol
Who: CAA School Safety Patrol and London Police Service
When: Tues., July 14, 2009; 8 am Media event
Where: Corner of King and Clarence

Why is it that the only time we hear about pedestrians from London Police is when some aspersion can be cast upon their behaviour? When’s the last time that Sgt. Tom O’Brien got on the local airwaves to warn motorists about the legal rights of pedestrians and the responsibility of drivers to not hit them?