1     
HELMET REQUIREMENT AMENDMENTS

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Brian E. Shiozawa

5     
House Sponsor: James A. Dunnigan

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill raises the age at which an individual can legally operate certain vehicles on a
10     highway without a helmet.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     increases the age, from 18 to 21, under which an individual must wear protective
14     headgear to operate certain vehicles on a highway; and
15          ▸     makes technical changes.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          41-6a-1505, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapters 40, 173 and last amended
23     by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 173
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 41-6a-1505 is amended to read:
27          41-6a-1505. Motorcycle or motor-driven cycle -- Protective headgear -- Closed
28     cab excepted -- Electric assisted bicycles, motor assisted scooters, electric personal
29     assistive mobility devices.
30          (1) A person under the age of [18] 21 may not operate or ride any of the following on a
31     highway unless the person is wearing protective headgear that complies with specifications
32     adopted under Subsection (3):
33          (a) a motorcycle;
34          (b) a motor-driven cycle;
35          (c) a class 3 electric assisted bicycle; or
36          (d) an autocycle that is not fully enclosed.
37          (2) This section does not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab.
38          (3) The following standards and specifications for protective headgear are adopted:
39          (a) 49 C.F.R. 571.218 related to protective headgear for motorcycles; and
40          (b) 16 C.F.R. Part 1203 related to protective headgear for bicycles, motor assisted
41     scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices.
42          (4) A court shall waive $8 of a fine charged to a person operating a [motorcycle or
43     motor-driven cycle] vehicle described in Subsection (1) for a moving traffic violation if the
44     person was:
45          (a) [18] 21 years of age or older at the time of operation; and
46          (b) wearing protective headgear that complies with the specifications adopted under
47     Subsection (3) at the time of operation.
48          (5) The failure to wear protective headgear:
49          (a) does not constitute contributory or comparative negligence on the part of a person
50     seeking recovery for injuries; and
51          (b) may not be introduced as evidence in any civil litigation on the issue of negligence,
52     injuries, or the mitigation of damages.
53          (6) Notwithstanding Subsection (4), a court may not waive $8 of a fine charged to a
54     person operating a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle for a driving under the influence violation
55     of Section 41-6a-502.
56          (7) A violation of this section is an infraction.




Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel