Kentucky Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Motorcycle Helmet Statue:
Title XVI. Motor Vehicles. Chapter 189. Traffic Regulations; Vehicle Equipment and
Storage. Section 189.285 Regulations for Operating and Riding On Motorcycles. :
. . . (3) The following persons shall be required to wear protective headgear, in
the manner prescribed by the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, at all times
the motorcycles they are riding are in motion on a public highway:
(a) A person under the age of twenty-one (21) years who is operating a motorcycle
or who is a passenger on a motorcycle or in a sidecar attachment;
(b) A person who possesses a motorcycle instruction permit and who is operating
a motorcycle;
(c) A person who has held a valid motorcycle operator's license, or combination
motor vehicle-motorcycle operator's license, for less than one (1) year and who
is operating a motorcycle; and
(d) Any person who does not provide proof of health insurance to the county clerk
when registering a motorcycle in accordance with Section 2 of this Act.
(4) A motorcycle operator authorized to drive a motorcycle on an instruction permit
shall not be authorized to carry passengers.
SECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 186 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
(1) A person over the age of twenty-one (21) years who wishes to operate a motorcycle
without wearing protective headgear shall provide proof of health insurance coverage
to the county clerk when obtaining or renewing the registration on any motorcycle
registered in the person's name. The Transportation Cabinet shall develop, and the
county clerk shall provide to the applicant, a decal to affix to the applicant's
license plate signifying that the applicant has health insurance and may operate
a motorcycle without wearing protective headgear. The applicant shall pay a fee
of three dollars ($3) to the county clerk for the decal.
(2) The county clerk shall notify the insurer that upon nonrenewal or cancellation
of a health insurance policy for a person under subsection (1) of this section,
the insurer shall immediately notify the Department of Vehicle Regulation.
(3) Upon notification to the Department of Vehicle Regulation from an insurance
company of the cancellation or nonrenewal of a policy under subsection (2) of this
section, the department shall immediately notify the insured. Notification to the
insured shall state that the insured's policy is no longer valid and that the insured
shall have thirty (30) days to show proof of health insurance to the department
or the county clerk. The department shall further inform the insured that if evidence
of health insurance coverage is not received within thirty (30) days the department
shall suspend the operator's license of the insured for ninety (90) days, or until
the person presents proof of health insurance to the department or the county clerk
and pays the reinstatement fee required by KRS 186.440 and the relicensing fee required
by KRS 186.450.
STANDARDS:
Title XVI. Motor Vehicles. Chapter 189. Traffic Regulations; Vehicle Equipment and
Storage. Section 189.285 Regulations for Operating and Riding On Motorcycles. :
" . . . (3) The Secretary of the Transportation Cabinet shall by regulation fix
minimum standards for approved protective headgear and for approved eye-protective
devices, and prescribe the manner in which they shall be used. The secretary shall
maintain and cause to be published a list of approved protective headgear and of
approved eye-protective devices. The secretary may prescribe by regulation minimum
standards for other protective devices and require the use of those devices."
State Funded Rider Education
Available for all eligible applicants.
May waive skills test for successful completion of rider ed.
Fine
For those who are still required to wear helmets, the law stipulates that if they
fail to do so, they can be fined up to $100 plus court costs.
Eye Protection
Required unless equipped with wind screen
Passenger Seat
Required if carrying a passenger.
Passenger Footrests
Required if carrying a passenger.
Mirror
required by law.
65 MPH Speed Limit
In effect on designated rural interstate highways.
Cycle News