Helmet Laws State by State
Courtesy Of The "Insurance Institute for Highway Safety"

HELMET USE LAWS as of July 2003 By the early 1970s, virtually all states had laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets. But Illinois repealed its law in 1970 and, by 1980, most states had abandoned or substantially limited theirs -- usually restricting coverage to riders younger than 18. Legislators in some states later reinstated helmet laws so that all but 4 states now require some or all motorcyclists to wear helmets. (Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire don't have helmet laws.) Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas have changed their laws covering all riders to apply only to young riders. Helmet use rates approach 100 percent in 20 states and the District of Columbia where motorcycle helmet laws apply to all riders, but the laws in 27 states that apply only to some cyclists aren't effective. Bicycle helmets also prevent injuries, but no state has a universal bicycle helmet law. Only 17 states and the District of Columbia have statewide bicycle helmet laws, and they apply only to young riders. Local ordinances in a few states require bicycle helmets for some or all riders. State Motorcycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Bicycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Alabama all riders riders younger than 16 Alaska 17 yrs. and younger1 no law Arizona 17 yrs. and younger no law Arkansas 20 yrs. and younger no law California all riders riders younger than 18 Colorado no helmet use laws Connecticut 17 yrs. and younger riders younger than 16 Delaware 18 yrs. and younger riders younger than 16 District of Columbia all riders riders younger than 16  Florida 20 yrs. and younger2 riders younger than 16 State Motorcycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Bicycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Georgia all riders riders younger than 16 Hawaii 17 yrs. and younger riders younger than 16 Idaho 17 yrs. and younger no law  Illinois   no helmet use laws Indiana 17 yrs. and younger no law Iowa   no helmet use laws Kansas 17 yrs. and younger no law Kentucky 20 yrs. and younger2,3 no law Louisiana all riders riders younger than 12 Maine 14 yrs. and younger4 riders younger than 16 State Motorcycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Bicycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Maryland all riders riders younger than 16 Massachusetts all riders riders older than 1 and younger than 135 Michigan all riders no law Minnesota 17 yrs. and younger3 no law Mississippi all riders no law Missouri all riders no law Montana 17 yrs. and younger no law Nebraska all riders no law Nevada all riders no law New Hampshire no helmet use laws State Motorcycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Bicycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law New Jersey all riders riders younger than 14 New Mexico 17 yrs. and younger no law New York all riders riders older than 1 and younger than 145 North Carolina all riders riders younger than 16 North Dakota 17 yrs. and younger6 no law Ohio 17 yrs. and younger7 no law Oklahoma 17 yrs. and younger no law Oregon all riders riders younger than 16 Pennsylvania 20 yrs. and younger8 riders younger than 12 Rhode Island 20 yrs. and younger8 riders younger than 16 State Motorcycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law Bicycle Riders Covered by Helmet Law South Carolina 20 yrs. and younger no law South Dakota 17 yrs. and younger no law Tennessee all riders riders younger than 16 Texas 20 yrs. and younger2 no law Utah 17 yrs. and younger no law Vermont all riders no law Virginia all riders no law Washington all riders no law West Virginia all riders riders younger than 15 Wisconsin 17 yrs. and younger3 no law Wyoming 18 yrs. and younger no law 1Alaska's motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all ages, drivers younger than 18, and drivers with instructional permits. 2Florida, Kentucky, and Texas provide exceptions for riders over a certain age. In Florida and Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 yrs. wear helmets, without exception. In Florida, those 21 yrs. and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Louisiana's law allows riders 18 yrs. and older to ride without helmets if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Texas exempts riders 21 yrs. or older if they either 1) can show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training and safety course or 2) can show proof of having a medical insurance policy. 3Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky, Minnesota, and Wisconsin also cover drivers with instructional/learner's permits. 4Maine's motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers 14 years and younger, drivers with learner's permits, and passengers if their drivers are required to wear a helmet. 5Bicycle helmet use laws in Massachusetts and New York prohibit people from transporting passengers younger than age 1. 6North Dakota's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers traveling with drivers who are covered by the law. 7Ohio's motorcycle helmet use law covers all drivers during the first year of licensure and all passengers of drivers who are covered by the law 8Rhode Island's motorcycle helmet use law covers all drivers during the first year of licensure and all passengers. Pennsylvania's motorcycle hemlet use law covers all drivers during the first two years of licensure unless the driver has completed the safety course approved by the department or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.