A California bill to allow Sikh motorcyclists to ride without helmets due to the wearing of headdresses, such as a turban or patka, passed the state Senate on May 31.
Senate Bill 847, which would grant a religious exemption for the headwear and authored by Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) was approved on a 21–8 vote, with 13 Democrats joining Republicans.
The bill will now be heard in the Assembly.
“Freedom of religion is a core foundation of this country. We, as Americans, have the right to freely express our religion and I believe that right should equally extend to everyone,” Dahle said in a statement following the vote.
While current state law doesn’t intentionally discriminate against Sikhs or any other religions, Dahle said that “[certain groups] are limited in how they can express their customs.”
Dahle told The Epoch Times the idea for his bill came last year when he was invited to a Sikh community’s annual celebration which hundreds of thousands of Sikhs attended. He decided to formally address the issue after motorcycle riders in the group approached him to express their concerns.
“We’re trying to thread the needle to keep them safe at the same time allowing them to practice their customs and beliefs,” he said in an interview.
According to Dahle, the bill could potentially be carried out with pre-registration requirements with the DMV, like obtaining a special license, for such an exemption.
Additionally, he said that, if the bill passes, California would be the first in the nation to grant such a religious exemption, joining the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and India.
He also cited a 2021 U.S. Census Bureau’s report that nearly half of the nation’s Sikhs population, an estimated 211,000, live in California.
A Sikh man rides on a motorcycle with the “Sikh Riders of America” group during the 4th of July Parade in Alameda, Calif., on July 4, 2016. (Gabrielle Lurie/AFP via Getty Images)Several Senate members spoke in support of the bill at the hearing.
“The population represented by this particular bill is not significant in relation to the population that get into motorcycle accidents,” said Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta).
He added that it is important for the government to honor personal choice, which includes religious freedom.
“I think there is a point which we start to do more than necessary for people that can make decisions on their own behalf,” he said.
Sen. Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) also supported the bill saying that individuals should have the right to make their own decisions based on religious beliefs.
But some lawmakers expressed concern over safety regarding the bill.
“I believe in traffic safety … and upholding the issue of [people] falling off their motorcycle and having severe head injuries supersede religious freedom,” Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) said.
Additionally, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said people’s safety should take precedence.
“When it comes to religious exemptions, especially around things like health, safety, civil rights laws, and other really critical public policies, we have to be extremely cautious,” he said, voting no on the bill.
The turban is an important part of the Sikh identity, and signifies many virtues, like humanity, equality, courage, and spirituality.
“Any law that limits the ability to express one’s religion, goes against what this country is all about,” Dahle said. “Exempting those who wear turbans or patkas from wearing helmets is a simple way to ensure that everyone’s religious freedoms are protected.”
California’s helmet laws set a precedent in 1992, making it one of the few states to enforce mandatory helmet use for all motorcycle and motorized bike riders, regardless of age.