Helmet Laws

 

  

  

  

State 

Motorcycle helmets

Does the motorcycle helmet law cover all low-power cycles?

Bicycle helmets
Alabama all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Alaska 17 and younger1 yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Arizona 17 and younger someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 1 1/2, or can attain speeds greater than 25 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Arkansas 20 and younger yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
California all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 17 and younger
Colorado 17 and younger and passengers 17 and younger yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Connecticut 17 and younger yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Delaware 18 and younger someall low-power cycles except motorized scooters are covered by the motorcycle helmet law; bicycle helmet acceptable for motorized scooter 17 and younger
District of Columbia all riders someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 1 1/2, or can attain speeds greater than 35 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Florida 20 and younger2 someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph and all low-power cycles operated by those 15 and younger are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Georgia all riders someall low-power cycles are covered by the motorcycle helmet law except bicycle helmets are acceptable for electric assisted bicycles 15 and younger
Hawaii 17 and younger someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Idaho 17 and younger someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 5, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Illinois no law no lawno law no law
Indiana 17 and younger yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Iowa no law no lawno law no law
Kansas 17 and younger someall low-power cycles except electric assisted bicycles are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Kentucky 20 and younger3 someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Louisiana all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 11 and younger
Maine 17 and younger4 someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc or more than 1,500 watts are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Maryland all riders someall low-power cycles designed to travel at speeds exceeding 35 mph, scooters with with engine displacement greater than 50cc or brake horsepower greater than 2.7 and mopeds with an engine displacement greater than 50cc or brake horsepower greater than 1.5 are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Massachusetts all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 1–16 (riding with children younger than 1 prohibited)
Michigan all riders someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph and all low-power cycles operated by those 18 and younger are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Minnesota 17 and younger5 yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Mississippi all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Missouri all riders someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 3, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Montana 17 and younger someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Nebraska all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Nevada all riders someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
New Hampshire no law no lawno law 15 and younger
New Jersey all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 16 and younger
New Mexico 17 and younger someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 17 and younger
New York all riders someall low-power cycles designed to travel at speeds of 20 mph or greater are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 1–13 (riding with children younger than 1 prohibited)
North Carolina all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
North Dakota 17 and younger6 yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Ohio 17 and younger7 yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Oklahoma 17 and younger someall low-power cycles are covered by the motorcycle helmet law except bicycle helmets are acceptable for electric assisted bicycles operated by those 18 and younger no law
Oregon all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Pennsylvania 20 and younger8 someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 1 1/2, or can attain speeds greater than 25 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 11 and younger
Rhode Island 20 and younger9 someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 4.9 or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
South Carolina 20 and younger yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
South Dakota 17 and younger yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Tennessee all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law 15 and younger
Texas 20 and younger10 someall low-power cycles, except motor assisted scooters with an engine displacement less than than 40cc, are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Utah 17 and younger yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Vermont all riders someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Virginia all riders someall low-power cycles operated at speeds greater than 35 mph or with an engine displacement greater than 50cc are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Washington all riders yesall low-power cycles covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
West Virginia all riders someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law 14 and younger
Wisconsin 17 and younger11 someall low-power cycles designed to travel at speeds exceeding 30 mph or a bicycle-type vehicle with an engine displacement greater than 130cc or a Type 1 motorcycle with an automatic transmission with an engine displacement greater than 50cc are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law
Wyoming 17 and younger someall low-power cycles with an engine displacement greater than 50cc, brake horsepower greater than 2, or can attain speeds greater than 30 mph are covered by the motorcycle helmet law no law

 

1Alaska’s motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all ages, operators younger than 18, and operators with instructional permits.

2In Florida, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy.

3In Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky also cover operators with instructional/learner’s permits.

4Motorcycle helmet laws in Maine cover operators with instructional/learner’s permits. Maine’s motorcycle helmet use law also covers passengers 17 years and younger and passengers if their operators are required to wear a helmet.

5Motorcycle helmet laws in Minnesota cover operators with instructional/learner’s permits.

6North Dakota’s motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers traveling with operators who are covered by the law.

7Ohio’s motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first year of licensure and all passengers of operators who are covered by the law.

8Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first two years of licensure unless the operator has completed the safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

9Rhode Island’s motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers (regardless of age) and all operators during the first year of licensure (regardless of age).

10Texas exempts riders 21 years or older if they can either show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training and safety course or can show proof of having a medical insurance policy. A peace officer may not stop or detain a person who is the operator of or a passenger on a motorcycle for the sole purpose of determining whether the person has successfully completed the motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by a health insurance plan.

11Motorcycle helmet laws in Wisconsin cover operators with instructional/learner’s permits.

192.168.1.1