By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati may become the latest municipality to require children to wear bicycle helmets - if City Council can agree on language that would give warnings on a first offense.

Last week, Blue Ash passed a bike helmet law and made it effective immediately. Glendale, Madeira and Waynesville have similar laws.

Cincinnati Councilwoman Minette Cooper first proposed a bicycle helmet law in June, saying 360 children and teenagers have been treated for bicycle-related injuries over two years.

A council committee seemed ready to give the law its stamp Tuesday. But Pat DeWine, chairman of the Law and Public Safety Committee, sent the ordinance back for more work, saying he wants a law that's "less punitive" and gives violators an opportunity to buy a helmet and get safe.

As the proposal is now written, children under 16 without a helmet could be fined as much as $100. The law would apply on roads and other "non-residential property." Children riding scooters, skateboards or roller skates would also be subject to the law.

Police Capt. Steve Luebbe said that under most circumstances, officers would give warnings to first offenders. On a second offense, the child and his parents would be asked to watch a safety video. Only on a third offense would a child be summoned to Hamilton County Juvenile Court.

DeWine wants to see that language written into the ordinance.

If passed, the law would go into effect May 1.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com