Table 10
History of State Motorcycle Helmet Laws

State
Effective Date of Original Law*
Effective Date of Repeal/Amendment
AL 11/6/1967  
AK 1/1/1971 6/23/1976 Repealed for operators age 18 and over.
AZ 1/1/1969 5/27/1976 Repealed for age 18 and over.
AR 6/29/1967 7/31/1997 Repealed for age 21 and over.
CA 01/01/85** 1/1/1992 Reinstated for all.
CO 7/1/1969 5/23/1977 Repealed.
CT 10/1/1967 6/1/1976 Repealed.
1/1/1990 Reinstated for under age 18.
DE 6/21/1968 6/10/1978 Repealed for age 19 and over. All riders must have helmet in their possession.
7/17/1984 Helmet required for instruction permit holders.
DC 2/11/1970  
FL 9/13/1967 7/1/2000 Repealed for age 21 and over if covered by insurance of at least $10,000 in medical benefits.
GA 7/1/1969  
HI 6/4/1967 6/7/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
ID 1/1/1968 3/29/1978 Repealed for age 18 and over.
IL 7/1/1967 5/28/1969 Helmet law ruled unconstitutional by State Supreme Court.
IN 7/26/1967 9/1/1977 Repealed.
1/1/1984 Reinstated for under age 18.
IA 9/1/1975 7/1/1976 Repealed.
KS 7/1/1967 7/1/1970 Repealed for age 21 and over.
7/1/1972 Reinstated for all.
7/1/1976 Repealed for age 16 and over.
7/1/1979 Reinstated for ages 16 and 17.
KY 6/13/1968 7/15/1998 Repealed for age 21 and over provided operator has held motorcycle license for 1 year and has provided proof of health insurance when registering motorcycle.
7/4/2000 Health insurance requirement repealed.
LA 7/13/1968 10/1/1976 Repealed for age 18 and over.
1/1/1982 Reinstated for all.
8/15/1999 Repealed for age 18 and over with health insurance with $10,000 in medical benefits for bodily injuries.
8/15/2004 Reinstated for all.
ME 10/7/1967 10/24/1977 Repealed.
7/3/1980 Reinstated for under age 15.
9/23/1983 Required for holders of learners’ permits and for licensees holding license for 1 year or less.
MD 7/1/1968 7/1/1979 Repealed for age 18 and over.
10/1/1992 Reinstated for all.
MA 5/22/1967  
MI 3/10/1967 6/12/1968 All riders required to have helmet in their possession.
7/29/1969 Reinstated for all.
MN 5/1/1968 4/6/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
MS 3/28/1974  
MO 9/28/1967  
MT 7/1/1973 7/1/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
NE 5/29/1967 9/1/1977 Repealed (law was never enforced).
1/1/1989 Reinstated for all.
NV 1/1/1972  
NH 9/5/1967 8/7/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
NJ 1/1/1968  
NM 6/16/1967 6/17/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
NY 1/1/1967  
NC 1/1/1968  
ND 7/1/1967 7/1/1977 Repealed except for operators under age 18 and passengers, regardless of age, if required for operator.
OH 1/1/1968 7/10/1978 Repealed except for riders under age 18; operators having motorcycle license less than 1 year; and passengers if required for operator.
OK 4/7/1967 5/3/1976 Repealed for age 18 and over.
OR 1/1/1968 10/4/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
6/16/1989 Reinstated for all (by voter referendum).
PA 7/1/1968 9/4/2003 Repealed for operator age 21 and over if operator has held motorcycle license for at least 2 years or has completed rider education. Repealed for passenger age 21 and over if operator is exempt.
RI 4/4/1967 5/21/1976 Repealed for all operators. Required for all passengers.
7/1/1992 Required for operators under 21, operators licensed for 1 year or less, and all passengers.
SC 7/1/1967 6/16/1980 Repealed for age 21 and over.
SD 7/1/1967 7/1/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
TN 6/1/1967  
TX 8/28/1967 5/20/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
9/1/1989 Reinstated for all.
9/1/1997 Repealed for age 21 and over who have completed rider education or are covered by at least $10,000 in medical insurance.
UT 5/13/1969 5/8/1977 Repealed for age 18 and over.
VT 3/6/1968  
VA 6/5/1970  
WA 6/8/1967 7/1/1977 Repealed.
7/26/1987 Reinstated for under age 18.
6/7/1990 Reinstated for all.
WV 5/25/1971  
WI 7/1/1968 3/19/1978 Repealed except for under age 18 and instruction permit holders.
WY 5/24/1973 5/27/1983 Repealed for age 18 and over.
PR 7/20/1960  

*Original law applied to all motorcyclists, unless otherwise noted.
**Applied only to riders under age 15½.
Source: Motorcycle Industry Council.

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