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Helmet Legislation Status

Disclaimer: With no position on mandatory helmet laws, the Snell Memorial Foundation is not and has never been involved in legislative activities for or against specific helmet laws. The following lists of helmet law status in each state are strictly for your information.

State Legislation Regarding Motorcycle and Bicycle Helmets.

For facts fn helmet use in the US,  visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

STATE LEGISLATION REGARDING BICYCLE HELMETS (1998)

State

Age

Effective

Standards** 

Regulator

Enforcement
Alabama
Under 16
9/19/95
Snell or ANSI
 Dept. of Public Safety  1st:     Counseling  2nd:   Citation         3rd:    Bike confiscated All after: $50 fine
California
Under 18
10/8/93
Snell or ANSI
 No Provision $ 25 fine*
Connecticut
Under 15
10/1/93
Snell or ANSI
 Dept of Consumer Protection Verbal Warning
Delaware
Under 16
4/1/96
Snell or ANSI
 Dept of Consumer Protection 1st:      $25 fine            2nd:     $50 fine
Florida
Under 16
1/1/97
Snell or ANSI
 No Provision $ 17 fine*
Georgia
Under 16
7/1/93
Snell or ANSI
 No Provision No Provision
Hawaii Under 16 1/1/2001 Snell or ANSI    
Maine Under 16 1999 Snell or ANSI    
Maryland
Under 16
10/1/95
Snell or ANSI
 No Provision Verbal Warning
Massachusetts
13 and Under
3/8/94
Snell or ANSI
 No Provision No Provision
New Jersey
Under 14
7/1/92
Snell or ANSI
 Division of Motor Vehicles 1st: $25fine*           2nd:    $100 fine*
New York
Under 14
6/1/94
Snell or ANSI
 Dept of Public Health $50 fine*
Oregon
Under 16
7/1/94
Snell or ANSI
 Dept. of Motor Vehicles $25 fine*
Pennsylvania
Under 12
2/94
Snell/ANSI
 Dept. of Motor Vehicles $25 fine*
Rhode Island
Under 16
7/1/96
Snell/ANSI
 No Provision No Provision
Tennessee
Under 12
1/1/94
Snell/ANSI
 No Provision $2 plus court costs*
West Virginia
Under 15
7/1/96
Snell/ANSI
 Gov.'s H'way Safety Program $10 fine or 2 hr community service*

LOCAL LEGISLATION REGARDING BICYCLE HELMETS (1998)

Jurisdiction  Coverage  Ages  Standards**  Effective
Howard County, MD  County-wide  Under 17  Snell/ANSI 10-01-90
Beechwood, OH  City-wide  Under 17  Snell/ANSI 12-01-90
Bidwell Park, Chico,CA Regional park All ages  Snell/ANSI 07-01-91
Montgomery County, MD  County roads  Under 18  Snell/ANSI 09-13-91
Chapel Hill, NC  City-wide  Under 16  Snell/ANSI 04-14-92
Allegheny County, MD  County-wide  Under 16  Snell/ANSI 05-01-92
Rockland County, NY  County-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 10-01-92
Orange Village, OH  City-wide  6 to 15  Snell/ANSI 11-01-92
Guilderland, NY  Town-wide  Under 14  Snell/ANSI 12-01-92
King County, WA  (Except Seattle) All ages  Snell/ANSI 03-04-93
Clarkesville, TE  City-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 04-01-93
Erie County Parks, NY  County parks  All ages  Snell/ANSI 06-28-93
Arlington County, VA  County-wide  Under 15  Snell/ANSI 07-12-93
Montevallo, AL  City-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 09-28-93
Tucson, AZ  City-wide  Under 18  Snell/ANSI 12-22-93
Homewood, AL  City-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 01-01-94
Greenburgh, NY  City-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 06-01-94
Alexandria, VA  City-wide  Under 15  Snell/ANSI 06-18-94
Fairfax County, VA  County-wide  Under 15  Snell/ANSI 07-01-94
Blacksburg, VA  City-wide  Under 15  Snell/ANSI 07-01-94
Pierce County, WA  County-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 09-01-94
Virginia Beach, VA  City-wide  Under 15  Snell/ANSI 07-01-95
Houston, TX  City-wide  Under 18  Snell/ANSI 07-01-95
Sykesville,MD  City-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 07-31-95
Bedford, TX  City-wide  Under 18  Snell/ANSI 02-27-96
Austin, TX  City-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 05-19-96
Dallas, TX  City-wide  All ages Snell/ANSI 09-02-96
Fort Worth, TX  City-wide  Under 18  Snell/ANSI 09-15-96
Newport News, VA  City-wide  Under 14(?) Snell/ANSI 01-01-97
Coppell, TX  City-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 01-01-97
Barrington, IL  Village-wide  All ages  Snell/ANSI 03-06-97
Port Washington, WI  City-wide  Under 17  Snell/ANSI 03-27-97
Manassas Park, VA  City-wide  Under 15  Snell/ANSI 06-03-97
Carrboro, NC  City-wide  Under 16  Snell/ANSI 09-16-97
Yuma, AZ  City-wide  Under 18  Snell/ANSI 1997
Arlington, TX  City-wide  Under 18  Snell/ANSI 1997
Milton, WA  City-wide  Snell/ANSI 10-30-97
Orting, WA  City-wide  Snell/ANSI 11-15-99
  Source: National Safe Kids Campaign & BHSI.

* Penalty may be waived if violator provides proof of purchase of a helmet within an allotted time frame.
** All bicycle helmets manufactured for sale in the U.S. after March 1999 must meet the requirements of the Consumer Products Safety Commissions bicycle Helmet standards- 16 CFR Part 1203.

 

 


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