Re: Complicated situation! (Questions below)

Topic approved.

At the best, you can say that your helmet exceeds the ISI tested standards(without the tag though)... Or you can argue that your personal safety is the reason why you went above ISI.

But otherwise, nothing can be done.

Re: Complicated situation! (Questions below)

Yes these are betetr than ISI starndards.Best would be to get some ISI sticker and put it in the helmet .It should work for Cops

Re: Complicated situation! (Questions below)

Just paste an ISI sticker on the helmet to avoid trouble. Lot of people are buying cheap 400 rupees helmets which have an ISI sticker,cops have no problem with it

Re: Complicated situation! (Questions below)

First of all, I don't agree with the arguments that DOT, ECE, etc standards are 'better' than the norms laid out in BIS IS 4151:1993 standard which has been revised from time to time (currently the 3rd revision of the standard is in progress). If someone takes the trouble to read through the specifications and testing methods as laid out, they will find that they match quite closely to other international standards. The standard is quite comprehensive (a 62 page document) which is very well written. Incidentally, the advisory board that laid down the standard and revised it has very qualified people from DRDO, ARAI, MoD (R&D), IIT, Ministry of Surface Transport, BARC, etc. Many of them holding doctorates and all of them are experts in their domain. So for people who say that ISI 4151 is not good enough, I would suggest that they take a look at the standard before they run it down.

Now coming to the question of legality of ISI mark on the helmet; It is the right of every government across the world to formulate and enact laws for the safety of its citizen. In India, the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, Section 129 says quote "Every person driving or riding (otherwise than in a side car, on a motor cycle of any class or description) shall, while in a public place, wear [protective headgear conforming to the standards of Bureau of Indian Standards:]". What this means is that while its mandatory for you to wear a helmet that conforms to standards laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards, it is not necessary that the helmet should carry a ISI mark. A strictly legal reading of the act would mean that a helmet does not require ISI mark to be street legal. It also worth noting that while there are 92 products that are on BISs' mandatory list, however, motorcycle helmets are not one of them. Therefore, it completely legal to sell and use non ISI mark helmets.

So now the question is that if the Motor Vehicles Act does not require the rider to wear a ISI marked helmet, where is this power to demand wearing of the same coming from. The most likely (will need to do some further research on it) place this power is coming from is through a Government Resolution (G.R.) by respective states in which this rule is being enforced. However, G.R.s are merely executive orders, they do not have the force of law and cannot be legally binding on a person. Therefore, strictly speaking you do not need a ISI mark sticker on your helmet for it to be legal.

Now try explaining the above to the cop . Forget it, I will pay the fine and move on .

Re: Complicated situation! (Questions below)


You are correct but indian cops especially in KA & TN are annoying they never understand if we talk something to them they will say "pay the fine or come to station and collect the vehicle" **** so there is no way we have to pay in order to be free.