|
State |
Does state law require minors to wear bicycle helmets
state wide when operating a bicycle? |
Citation |
Provision |
|
AL |
Yes |
Ala. Code §32-5A-283 |
Establishes that it is unlawful for anyone under age 16 to operate or
be a passenger on a bicycle unless the person wears a protective bicycle
helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon his or her head with straps at
all times. |
|
AK |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
AZ |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
AR |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
CA |
Yes |
Cal. Vehicle Code §21212 |
Prohibits a minor under age 18 from operating a bicycle or riding upon
a bicycle as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway or any other public
bicycle path or trail, unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and
fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the American National
Standards Institute, the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard for
Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling, or the American Society for
Testing Materials standard. |
|
CO |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
CT |
Yes |
Conn. Gen. Stat. §14-286d and 1997 Conn. Acts, P.A. 46 |
Prohibits anyone under age 15 from operating a bicycle on the traveled
portion of any highway unless he or she wears protective headgear that
conforms to the minimum specifications established by the American
National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation's Standard
for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling. Allows a law enforcement
officer to issue a verbal warning to the parent or guardian of a child who
has failed to comply with the law. |
|
DE |
Yes |
Del. Code Ann. §4198L |
Prohibits anyone under age 16 from operating or riding as a passenger
on any bicycle, unless he or she wears a properly fitted and fastened
bicycle helmet which meets or exceeds the standards of the American
National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation's 1984
Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling. |
|
DC |
Yes |
DC Code §40-1401 |
Prohibits anyone under age 16 to operate or to be a passenger on a
bicycle or any attachment to a bicycle on a public roadway, public bicycle
path or other public right-of-way unless he or she wears a protective
helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the
helmet. |
|
FL |
Yes-except two counties that chose not to comply |
Fla. Stat. §316.2065 |
Requires a bicycle rider or passenger under age 16 to wear a bicycle
helmet that is properly fitted; is fastened securely upon the passenger's
head by a strap; and meets the standards of the American National
Standards, the Snell Memorial Foundation or any other nationally
recognized standards for bicycle helmets. |
|
GA |
Yes |
Ga. Code §40-6-296 |
Prohibits anyone under age 16 from operating or from being a passenger
on a bicycle on a highway, bicycle path or sidewalk under the jurisdiction
or control of this state or any local political subdivision unless he or
she is wearing a bicycle helmet. |
|
HI |
Yes |
Hi. Rev. Stat §291C-150 |
Prohibits anyone under age 16 to operate a bicycle on a street,
bikeway, or any other public property unless he or she is wearing a
properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that has been tested by a
nationally recognized agency such as the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, the National Safety Council, or the Children's Safety
Network, and that is designed to fit the user and protect against head
trauma. This requirement also applies to those who are in restraining
seats attached to a bicycle or who ride in a trailer towed by a
bicycle. |
|
ID |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
IL |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
IN |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
IA |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
KS |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
KY |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
LA |
Yes |
La. Rev. Stat. §32:199 |
Prohibits anyone under age 12 to operate or ride as a passenger on a
bicycle unless he or she is wearing an approved helmet of good fit that is
fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet. |
|
ME |
Yes |
Me. Rev. Stat. §2323 |
Requires anyone under age 16 who is an operator of or passenger on a
bicycle on a public roadway or public bikeway to wear a helmet of good
fit, positioned securely upon the head by helmet straps. |
|
MD |
Yes |
Md. Transportation Code Ann.
§ 21-1207.1 |
Requires anyone under age 16 who is riding on a bicycle or is a
passenger of a bicycle to wear a helmet at all times when the vehicle is
being operated on any highway, bicycle way, or other property open to the
public. Requires the helmet to meet or exceed the standards of the
American National Standards Institute, the Snell Memorial Foundation's
standard, or the standards of the American Society of Testing and
Measurements for protective headgear for use in bicycling. |
|
MA |
Yes |
Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. Ch. 85: §11B |
Requires anyone age 12 or younger who operates a bicycle or is a
passenger on a bicycle on a public way, bicycle path or on any other
public right-of-way to wear a helmet. Requires that the helmet fit the
person's head and be secured by straps while the bicycle is being
operated, and that the helmet meet the standards for helmets established
by the American National Standards Institute, the Snell Memorial
Foundation or subsequent standards. |
|
MI |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
MN |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
MS |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
MO |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
MT |
No-Countywide Regulation |
-- |
-- |
|
NE |
No-American Indian Reservation Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
NV |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
NH |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
NJ |
Yes |
N.J. Rev. Stat. §39:4-10.1 |
Requires anyone under age 14 from operating or riding upon a bicycle as
a passenger, unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened
bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the American National Standards
Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation's 1990 Standard for Protective
Headgear for Use in Bicycling. |
|
NM |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
NY |
Yes |
N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law §1238
|
Prohibits anyone from allowing a minor under age 14 to ride as a
passenger on a bicycle unless he or she is wearing a helmet that meets the
headgear standards of the American National Standards Institute or the
Snell Memorial Foundation's standards.
Requires operators under age 14 to wear protective
headgear when riding a bicycle. |
|
NC |
Yes |
N.C. Rev. Stat. §20-171.9 |
Requires bicycle operators or riders under age 16 to wear a protective
bicycle helmet of good fit fastened securely upon the head with the straps
of the helmet while on a public roadway, public bicycle path or other
public right-of-way. |
|
ND |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
OH |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
OK |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
OR |
Yes |
Or. Rev. Stat. §814.485 |
States that anyone under age 16 commits an offense if he or she
operates or rides a bicycle on a highway or on premises open to the public
and is not wearing approved protective headgear. Adds that failure to wear
protective headgear is a traffic infraction punishable by a maximum fine
of $25. |
|
PA |
Yes |
Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 75 §3510 |
States that anyone under age 12 shall not operate a pedalcycle or ride
as a passenger on a pedalcycle unless the person is wearing a pedalcycle
helmet that meets the standards of the American National Standards
Institute, the American Society for Testing and Materials, the Snell
Memorial Foundation's Standards for Protective Headgear for Use in
Bicycling or any other nationally recognized standard for pedalcycle
helmet approval. |
|
RI |
Yes |
R.I. Gen. Laws §31-19-2.1 |
Requires anyone age 15 or younger who is operating or is a passenger on
a bicycle on a public highway, bicycle path or on any other public
right-of-way to wear a helmet. Adds that the helmet is to fit the person's
head, be secured to the person's head by straps while the bicycle is being
operated, and must meet the standards for helmets established by the Snell
Memorial Foundation's Standard for Use in Bicycling, standards established
by the American Society for Testing and Materials, or standards
established by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or subsequent
standards. |
|
SC |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
SD |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
TN |
Yes |
Tenn. Code Ann. §55-52-104 |
States that, when riding on a bicycle on state roadways, all bicycle
operators under age 16 are to wear approved protective bicycle
helmets. |
|
TX |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
UT |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
VT |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
VA |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
WA |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
|
WV |
Yes |
W. Va. Code §17C-11A-2 |
Requires all passengers and bicycle riders under age 15 to wear
approved protective bicycle helmets when riding on public roads, public
bicycle paths and other public rights-of-way of this state. |
|
WI |
No |
-- |
-- |
|
WY |
No-Citywide Regulations |
-- |
-- |
