The history of motorcycle helmet laws in the United States is characterized by change. In 1967, to increase motorcycle helmet use, the federal government required the states to enact helmet use laws in order to qualify for certain federal safety programs and highway construction funds. The federal incentive worked. By the early 1970s, almost all the states had universal motorcycle helmet laws. Michigan was the first state to repeal its law in 1968, beginning a pattern of repeal, reenactment, and amendment of motorcycle helmet laws. In 1976, states successfully lobbied Congress to stop the Department of Transportation from assessing financial penalties on states without helmet laws.
No state has a universal bicycle helmet law. Only
21 states and the District of Columbia have statewide bicycle helmet laws, and they apply only to young riders (often riders younger than 16). Local ordinances in a few other states require bicycle helmets for some or all riders.
Low-power cycle is a generic term used by the Institute to cover motor-driven cycles, mopeds, scooters, and various other 2-wheeled cycles excluded from the motorcycle definition. While state laws vary, a cycle with an engine displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and top speeds of 30 mph or less typically is considered a low-power cycle. Twenty-three states have motorcycle helmet laws that cover all low-power cycles. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have laws that cover some low-power cycles.
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Coverage changes with effective dates |
Riders covered by current law |
| State |
Effective date of original
(universal law covering all riders, except as noted) |
Repeal |
Changes other than repeal |
Universal (covers all riders) |
Partial (covers only young riders or some adult riders) |
| Alabama |
11/06/67 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 11/06/67 |
— |
| Alaska |
01/01/71 |
— |
06/23/76 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
since 06/23/76:
• 17 and younger
• passengers
• instructional permit holders |
| Arizona |
01/01/69 |
— |
05/27/76 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 05/27/76 |
| Arkansas |
06/29/67 |
— |
1997 (reduced coverage to 20 and younger) |
— |
20 and younger since 1997 |
| California |
01/01/85 (covered ages 15, 6 months or younger) |
— |
01/01/92 (expanded to universal coverage) |
since 01/01/92 |
— |
| Colorado |
07/01/69 |
05/20/77 |
07/01/07 (reinstated coverage for 17 and younger) |
|
17 and younger and their passengers 17 and younger as of 07/01/07 |
| Connecticut |
10/01/67 |
06/76 |
01/01/90 (reinstated coverage for 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 01/90 |
| Delaware |
06/21/68 |
— |
06/10/78 (reduced coverage to 18 and younger) |
— |
18 and younger since 06/10/78 |
| District of Columbia |
02/11/70 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 02/11/70 |
— |
| Florida |
09/13/67 |
— |
07/01/00 (reduced coverage to exclude 21 and older with medical insurance) |
— |
since 07/01/00:
• 20 and younger
• 21 and older with less than $10,000 in medical insurance |
| Georgia |
07/01/69 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 07/01/69 |
— |
| Hawaii |
06/04/67 |
— |
06/07/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 06/07/77 |
| Idaho |
01/01/68 |
— |
03/29/78 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 03/29/78 |
| Illinois |
07/01/69 |
07/01/70 |
— |
no motorcycle helmet law since the 07/01/70 repeal |
| Indiana |
07/26/67 |
08/77 |
01/84 (reinstated coverage for 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 01/84 |
| Iowa |
09/01/75 |
07/01/76 |
— |
no motorcycle helmet law since the 01/01/76 repeal |
| Kansas |
07/01/67 |
— |
07/01/70 (reduced coverage to 20 and younger);
07/01/72 (reinstated universal coverage);
07/01/76 (reduced coverage to 15 and younger);
07/01/79 (expanded to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 07/01/79 |
| Kentucky |
06/13/68 |
— |
07/15/98 (reduced coverage to 20 and younger) |
— |
since 07/15/98:
• 20 and younger
• instruction permit holders and operators licensed less than 1 year |
| Louisiana |
07/31/68 |
— |
10/01/76 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger); 01/01/82 (reinstated universal coverage); 08/15/99 (returned to partial coverage by exempting riders 18+ with medical insurance); 08/15/04 (reinstated universal coverage) |
since 08/15/04 |
— |
| Maine |
10/07/67 |
10/77 |
07/80 (reinstated coverage for ages 14 and younger)
09/09 (increases coverage to ages 17 and younger) |
— |
since 07/80:
• 14 and younger
• instruction permit holders and operators licensed less than 1 year
• passengers if operators are covered by the helmet law
as of 09/09:
• 17 and younger
• instruction permit holders and operators licensed less than 1 year
• passengers if operators are covered by the helmet law |
| Maryland |
07/01/68 |
— |
07/01/79 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger);
10/01/92 (reinstated universal coverage) |
since 10/01/92 |
— |
| Massachusetts |
05/22/67 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 05/22/67 |
— |
| Michigan |
03/10/67 |
06/12/68 |
07/29/69 (reinstated universal coverage); 04/12/12 (reduced coverage to exclude 21 and older with medical insurance) |
— |
since 04/12/12:
• 20 and younger
• 21 and older with less than $20,000 in medical insurance |
| Minnesota |
05/01/68 |
— |
04/06/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
since 04/06/77:
• 17 and younger
• instruction permit holders |
| Mississippi |
03/28/74 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 03/28/74 |
— |
| Missouri |
09/28/67 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 09/28/67 |
— |
| Montana |
07/01/73 |
— |
07/01/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 07/01/77 |
| Nebraska |
05/29/67 |
09/02/77 |
01/01/89 (reinstated universal coverage) |
since 01/01/89 |
— |
| Nevada |
01/01/72 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 01/01/72 |
— |
| New Hampshire |
09/05/67 |
— |
08/07/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger until federal law ceases to require a motorcycle helmet law as a condition for the receipt of federal funds);
9/30/95 (repeal of federal law requiring helmet laws for federal funds voided helmet use requirement in NH) |
no motorcycle helmet law since 09/30/95 when federal incentives for helmet laws were eliminated |
| New Jersey |
01/01/68 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 01/01/68 |
— |
| New Mexico |
06/16/67 |
— |
03/31/78 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 03/31/78 |
| New York |
01/01/67 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 01/01/67 |
— |
| North Carolina |
01/01/68 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 01/01/68 |
— |
| North Dakota |
07/01/67 |
— |
07/01/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
since 07/01/77:
• 17 and younger
• passengers if operators are covered by the helmet law |
| Ohio |
01/01/68 |
— |
07/10/78 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
since 07/10/78:
• 17 and younger
• operators licensed less than 1 year
• passengers if operators are covered by the helmet law |
| Oklahoma |
04/27/67 |
— |
1969 (reduced coverage to 20 and younger);
1975 (reinstated universal coverage);
05/21/76 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 05/21/76 |
| Oregon |
01/01/68 |
— |
10/04/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger);
06/16/88 (reinstated universal coverage) |
since 06/16/88 |
— |
| Pennsylvania |
07/15/68 |
— |
09/04/03 (reduced coverage to 20 and younger) |
— |
since 09/04/03:
• 20 and younger
• operators 21 and older licensed less than 2 years who have not completed an approved safety course
• passengers 21 and older if operators are covered by the helmet law |
| Rhode Island |
04/04/67 |
— |
05/21/76 (repealed helmet requirement for motorcycle operators, but not passengers);
07/92 (expanded coverage to operators 20 and younger) |
— |
since 07/92:
• 20 and younger
• passengers
• operators licensed less than 1 year |
| South Carolina |
07/01/67 |
— |
06/16/80 (reduced coverage to 20 and younger) |
— |
20 and younger since 06/16/80 |
| South Dakota |
07/01/67 |
— |
07/01/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 07/01/77 |
| Tennessee |
06/04/67 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 06/04/67 |
— |
| Texas |
01/01/68 |
— |
08/29/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger);
09/1/89 (reinstated universal coverage);
09/1/97 (reduced coverage by exempting 21+ who either have completed a motorcycle education course or who have medical insurance) |
— |
since 09/01/97:
• 20 and younger
• 21 and older with less than $10,000 in medical insurance who have not taken a motorcycle education course |
| Utah |
05/13/69 (covered riders on roads posted for speeds higher than 35 mph) |
— |
05/10/77 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 05/10/77 |
| Vermont |
03/06/68 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 03/06/68 |
— |
| Virginia |
06/26/70 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 06/26/70 |
— |
| Washington |
06/08/67 |
09/21/77 |
07/87 (reinstated coverage for 17 and younger);
06/07/90 (reinstated universal coverage) |
since 06/07/90 |
— |
| West Virginia |
05/25/71 |
no repeal or coverage changes |
since 05/25/71 |
— |
| Wisconsin |
07/01/68 |
— |
03/19/78 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
since 03/18/78:
• 17 and younger
• instruction permit holders |
| Wyoming |
05/24/73 |
— |
05/27/83 (reduced coverage to 18 and younger)
07/01/93 (reduced coverage to 17 and younger) |
— |
17 and younger since 07/01/93 |
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