From: behanna@phoenix.syl.nj.nec.com (Chris BeHanna)
Subject: U.S. and Canadian Motorcycle Laws (incl. Helmet Laws)
Followup-To: rec.motorcycles, rec.motorcycles.harley
Summary: Ride Free
Keywords: No tickets
Organization: NEC Systems Laboratory, Inc.
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 92 23:51:13 GMT
Expires: 1992Sep30.235959


      Someone asked for this yesterday.  Here it is:

U.S. and Canadian Motorcycle Laws
---------------------------------

State/Province               Special    Helmet        Eye         Lights on
                             License    Law           Guards      24 Hours
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Alabama                      No         Yes           No          No
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Alaska                       Yes        No (1,11)     Yes (13)    No
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Arizona                      Yes        No (2)        Yes (3)     No
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Arkansas                     Yes        Yes           Yes         Yes
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California                   Yes        Yes           No          Yes (8)
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Colorado                     Yes        No            Yes         No
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Connecticut                  Yes        No (2,10)     Yes (3)     No (12)
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Delaware                     Yes        No (5,4,1,10) Yes         No (12)
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Florida                      Yes        Yes           Yes         Yes
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Georgia                      Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     Yes
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Hawaii                       Yes        No (2,4)      Yes (3)     No
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Idaho                        No         No (2)        No          No
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Illinois                     Yes        No            Yes         Yes
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Indiana                      Yes        No (2,10)     No (2,10)   Yes
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Iowa                         Yes        No            No          Yes (6)
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Kansas                       Yes        No (2)        Yes (3)     Yes (8)
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Kentucky                     Yes        Yes           Yes         No
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Louisiana                    Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     No
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Maine                        Yes        No (14)       No          Yes
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Maryland                     Yes        No (2,4,[*])  Yes (3)     No
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Massachusetts                Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     Yes
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Michigan                     Yes        Yes           Yes (7,3)   No
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Minnesota                    Yes        No (2,10)     Yes (3)     Yes
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Mississippi                  Yes        Yes           No          No
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Missouri                     Yes        Yes           No          No
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Montana                      Yes        No (2)        No          Yes
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Nebraska                     Yes        Yes           No          No
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Nevada                       Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     No
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New Hampshire                Yes        No (2)        Yes         No
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New Jersey                   Yes        Yes (4)       Yes (3)     No
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New Mexico                   Yes        No (2,4)      Yes         No
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New York                     Yes        Yes (4)       Yes         Yes
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North Carolina               Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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North Dakota                 Yes        No (2,4)      No          No
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Ohio                         Yes        No (2)        Yes (3)     No
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Oklahoma                     No         No (2)        Yes (3)     No
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Oregon                       Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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Pennsylvania                 Yes        Yes           Yes         No
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Rhode Island                 Yes        No (11)       Yes         No
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South Carolina               Yes        No (9,4)      No (9,3)    Yes
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South Dakota                 Yes        No (2)        Yes (3)     No
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Tennessee                    Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     Yes
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Texas                        Yes        Yes (4)       No          No
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Utah                         Yes        No (2)        No          No
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Vermont                      Yes        Yes (4)       Yes (3)     No
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Virginia                     Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     No
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Washington                   Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     Yes
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West Virginia                Yes        Yes (4)       Yes         Yes
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Wisconsin                    Yes        No (2,10)     Yes (13)    Yes
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Wyoming                      Yes        No (1)        No          Yes
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District of Columbia         Yes        Yes           Yes         No
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Alberta                      Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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British Columbia             Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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Manitoba                     Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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New Brunswick                Yes        Yes           No          No
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Northwest Territories        Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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Nova Scotia                  Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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Ontario                      Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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Prince Edward Island         Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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Quebec                       Yes        Yes           No          Yes
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Saskatchewan                 Yes        Yes           Yes (3)     No
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Yukon                        Yes        Yes           No          No
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Notes:

1.  Required under age 19
2.  Required under age 18.
3.  Required unless equipped with windscreen.
4.  Reflectorization required.
5.  Must have in possession.
6.  Required for 1977 or newer bikes.
7.  Required at speeds over 35 mph.
8.  Required for 1978 or newer bikes.
9.  Required under age 21.
10. Required for insturctional permit holders.
11. required for passengers.
12. Required for 1980 or newer bikes.
13. Required unless windscreen is 15 inches above handlebars.
14. Rquireed under age 15-1/2.

[* Maryland passed a helmet law requiring all children and adults to wear
  helmets effective October 1, 1992. -ed.]

Reference:  _Easyriders_, October 1992, p. 22.

All typos or mistakes are mine.  I assume no responsibility for the
possible consequences of using mistaken or accurate information herein (i.e.,
you ride without a lid when you should have and get busted--your fault.  Ride
without a lid, crash and scramble your brains or get otherwise injured--your
fault).  Corrections/updates welcome.  Send to:  behanna@syl.nj.nec.com.
-- 
Chris BeHanna	DoD# 114  KotHLF    1983 H-D FXWG Wide Glide (She lives!)
behanna@syl.nj.nec.com	            (I need another bike for this space!)

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