r.m.h FAQ v3.9

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.

State Motorcycle Riding Laws

State	Helmet required	Daytime Headlights	Eye Protection	Radar / Kids / Earphones	Yearly Inspections	Lane* Sharing	Blood Alcohol		Max Speed
State	Helmet required	Daytime Headlights	Eye Protection	Radar / Kids / Earphones	Yearly Inspections	Lane* Sharing	Over 21	Under 21	Rural	Urban
Alabama	Yes					Yes	.08	.02	70	70
Alaska	18	Required	Required		Random	Yes	.08	.00	65	55
Arizona	18		Required		Yes	Yes	.08	.08	75	55
Arkansas	21	Required	Required		Random		.08	.02	70	55
California	Yes	Required		1 Ear Only	Random	Yes*	.08	.01	70	65
Colorado	18		Required		Random	Yes	.08	.02	75	65
Connecticut	18	Required	Required		Random	Yes	.08	.02	65	55
Delaware	19 Rflct		Required		Yes		.08	.02	65	55
Florida	21	Required	Required			Yes	.08	.02	70	65
Georgia	Yes	Required	Required	No Music		Yes	.08	.02	70	65
Hawaii	18 Rflct		Required	No Pass Under 7	Yes	Yes	.08	.02	55	50
Idaho	18						.08	.02	75	65
Illinois		Required	Required				.08	.00	65	55
Indiana	18	Required	18			Yes	.08	.02	65	55
Iowa		Required				Yes	.08	.02	65	55
Kansas	18	Required	Required		Random	Yes	.08	.02	70	70
Kentucky	21		Required				.08	.02	65	55
Louisiana	Yes		Required		Yes	Yes	.08	.02	70	55
Maine	16	Required			Yes	Yes	.08	.00	65	55
Maryland	Yes Rflct		Required		At Sale	Yes	.08	.00	65	65
Massachusetts	Yes		Required	No Earphones	Yes	Yes	.08	.02	65	65
Michigan	Yes				Random	Yes	.08	.02	70	65
Minnesota	18	Required	Required	1 Ear Only	Random	Yes	.08	.00	70	65
Missouri	Yes		Required		Yes		.08	.02	70	70
Mississippi	Yes				Yes		.08	.02	70	60
Montana	18	Required				Yes	.08	.02	75	65
Nebraska	Yes					Yes	.08	.02	75	65
Nevada	Yes		Required			Yes	.08	.02	75	65
New Hampshire			Required		Yes	Yes	.08	.02	65	65
New Jersey	Yes Rflct				Yes		.08	.01	65	55
New Mexico	18 Rflct		Required		Random		.08	.02	75	55
New York	Yes Rflct	Required	Required	1 Ear Only	Yes	Yes	.08	.02	65	65
North Carolina	Yes	Required			Yes	Yes	.08	.00	70	65
North Dakota	18 Rflct					Yes	.08	.02	75	55
Ohio	18		Required		Random	Yes	.08	.02	65	65
Oklahoma	18	Required	Required				.08	.00	75	70
Oregon	Yes	Required			Random	Yes	.08	.00	65	55
Pennsylvania	21	Required	Required	No Music	Yes	Yes	.08	.02	65	55
Rhode Island	21		Required	No Earphones	Yes	Yes	.08	.02	65	55
South Carolina	21 Rflct	Required	21			Yes	.08	.02	70	70
South Dakota	18		Required			Yes	.08	.02	75	65
Tennessee	Yes	Required	Required			Yes	.08	.02	70	70
Texas	21	Required			Yes		.08	.00	70	70
Utah	18				Yes	Yes	.08	.00	75	65
Vermont	Yes Rflct		Required		Yes		.08	.02	65	55
Virginia	Yes		Required	No Radar Det	Yes	No	.08	.02	65	55
Washington	Yes	Required	Required	No Pass Under 6	Random	Yes	.08	.02	70	60
Washington DC	Yes		Required	No Radar Det	Yes		.08	.02	55	55
West Virginia	Yes Rflct	Required	Required		Yes		.08	.02	70	55
Wisconsin	18	Required	Required		Random	Yes	.08	.00	65	65
Wyoming	18	Required				Yes	.08	.02	75	60
Canada	Yes	Required		No Radar Det, Music			.08	.08	65	55

* - Two motorcycles in a single lane.
In California Only, lane splitting is legal. Motorcycles may drive between cars, but not on shoulders.

Ivan Gregory suggests:

"Call 1-800-4bikers. Ask them to send you the Pocket Guide for Helmet Facts."