State Motorcycle Laws - All information is as of 2008 

Alabama

• Safety Helmet required by law

• Only one mirror required

• No lane splitting

• Eye protection not required

Alaska

• Helmets and both mirrors required
• Eye protection required by law, unless equipped with windscreen which is 15" or higher above handlebars
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Helmet Speakers Prohibited
• Safety Inspection required by law (random checks)

  Arizona

• Helmet required under age 18
• Both mirrors required
• Eye Protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety Inspection. required by law in some areas (random checks)

  Arkansas

• Helmet required under age 21
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety Inspection required by law
• Both mirrors required

  California

• Helmet and both mirrors required
• Headlights required during daylight hours for post 1978 vehicles
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Single earphone speakers permitted
• Safety inspection required (random checks)

  Colorado

• No helmet laws
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random checks)

  Connecticut

• Helmets under age 18
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours for post 1980 vehicles
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random checks)

  Delaware

• Helmet with reflectors required to be in possesion. Must be in use under age 19
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random checks)

  District of Columbia

• Helmet required
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Safety inspection required
• Radar detector prohibited to use or possess

  Florida

• Helmet not required over 21 with a minimum of $10,000 in medical insurance
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Georgia

• Helmet required by law
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Helmet speakers permitted

  Hawaii

• Helmet with reflectors required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Idaho

• Helmet required under age 18
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Illinois

• No helmet laws
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Both mirrors required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Indiana

• Helmets under age 18, required for instructional permit holders
• Eye Protection. required by law under age 18
• Headlights required during daylight hours for post 1956 vehicles
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Iowa

• No helmet laws
• Headlights required during daylight hours for post 1977 vehicles
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Kansas

• Helmets under age 18
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours for post 1978 vehicles
• Left mirror required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random checks)

  Kentucky

• Helmet required for novice riders, under the age of 21 and required for instruction permit holders.
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required for emissions (random checks)

  Louisiana

• Helmet required under age 18. Helmet use optional over 18 with proof of $10,000 of medical insurance for bodily injuries
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required for emissions (random checks)

  Maine

• Helmet required by law under age 15 with learner's permit or for one year after obtaining license
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  Maryland

• Helmet with reflectors required
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Single earphone speakers permitted
• Safety inspection required upon title transfer

  Massachusetts

• Helmet required
• Eye protection required for permit holders unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Helmet speakers prohibited to use or possess
• Safety inspection required

  Michigan

• Helmet required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen, required at speeds over 35 mph
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required for emissions (random checks)

  Minnesota

• Helmet required under age 18, required for instructional permit holders
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Helmet speakers single earphone only
• Passenger seat and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random checks)

  Mississippi

• Helmet required
• Safety inspection required

  Missouri

• Helmet required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Safety inspection required

  Montana

• Helmet required under age 18
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seat and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Both mirrors required

  Nebraska

• Helmet required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seat and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Nevada

• Helmet required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seat and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Both mirrors required

  New Hampshire

• Helmets required for all riders and passengers under the age of 18
• Modulating headlights are permitted 

  New Jersey

• Helmet with reflectors required
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Eye protection required for permit holders unless equipped with windscreen
• Safety inspection required

  New Mexico

• Helmet required under age of 18, reflectors required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Both mirrors required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random checks)

  New York

• Helmet with reflectors required
• Eye protection required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Both mirrors required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Helmet speakers single earphone only
• Safety inspection required

  North Carolina

• Helmet required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  North Dakota

• Helmet required by law under age of 18, reflectors required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  Ohio

• Helmet required law for novice riders, required under age 18
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random)

  Oklahoma

• Helmet required under age 18
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  Oregon

• Helmet required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random)

  Pennsylvania

• Helmet not required for riders over 21 years of age who have either been a licensed rider for at least 2 years or have completed a motorcycle safety course. All others ARE required to wear a helmet.
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required for vehicles manufactured after 1977
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  Rhode Island

• Helmet required under age 21 and novice rider, required for passengers
• Eye protection required
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Helmet speakers prohibited to use or possess
• Safety inspection required

  South Carolina

• Helmet with reflectors required under age 21
• Eye protection required under age 21 unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  South Dakota

• Helmet required under age 18
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Tennessee

• Helmet required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)

  Texas

• Safety Helmet. required under age 21. Over 21 riders are not required to wear a helmet with proof of successful completion of rider training or $10,000 of medical insurance covering injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident.
• Passenger seats required (if passenger aboard)
• Headlights required during daylight hours unless bike is manufactured prior to 1975
• Both mirrors required
• Safety inspection required

  Utah

• Helmet required under age 18
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  Vermont

• Helmet with reflectors required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  Virginia

• Helmet required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required
• Radar detector prohibited to use or possess

  Washington

• Helmet required
• Eye protection required unless equipped with windscreen
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Passengers under age 5 prohibited

  West Virginia

• Helmet with reflectors required
• Eye protection required
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required

  Wisconsin

• Helmet required under age 18, required for instructional permit holders
• Eye protection required for instructional permit holders unless equipped with windscreen which is 15" or higher above handlebars
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Both mirrors required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)
• Safety inspection required (random)

  Wyoming

• Helmet required under age 18
• Headlights required during daylight hours
• Single mirror required
• Passenger seats and foot rests required (if passenger aboard)