Motorcycle Helmet Laws in the US

There are only four states that do not have helmet laws. They are Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire. The other 46 states have laws, 20 of which are full helmet laws of all and any motorcycle rider.

A few of the states that have full helmet laws are Alabama, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Oregon. The law in these places states that every person who rides a motorcycle or is attached to a motorcycle by a sidecar must have protective gear on their head. Additionally, no person shall let another person be a passenger on a motorcycle without a helmet. There is a $35 fine in the state of Massachusetts for not wearing a helmet.

Some states only have laws for people who are a certain age or who lack certain criteria. In Florida, if you are younger than 21, you must wear a helmet. There are no exceptions for these people. If you are older than 21, you can go without a helmet if you can prove that you are covered by a medical insurance policy. This also applies in Kentucky too.

In Ohio and Rhode Island, you only have to wear a helmet for the first year after obtaining your license. In Pennsylvania, the law is the same, only a helmet is required for the first two years. In Texas, you can complete a training and safety course on motorcycles. If you carry proof that you have passed this course and insurance, you do not have to wear a helmet.