Mississippi: Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
Mississippi requires every motorcycle and motor scooter rider to wear a helmet.
The helmet must meet the federal FMVSS 218 standard. The law does not apply to autocycle operators. Riders 18 or older are exempt in a parade moving no faster than 30 mph.
Conditions
- Helmet must meet FMVSS 218
- Parade exception only for riders 18+ at 30 mph or less
What the law says
No person shall operate or ride upon any motorcycle or motor scooter upon the public roads or highways of this state unless such person is wearing on his or her head a crash helmet that complies with minimum guidelines established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pursuant to federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 (49 CFR 571.218). ... This section shall not apply to a person operating an autocycle as defined in Section 63-3-103 or persons riding any motorcycle or motor scooter in a parade, at a speed not to exceed thirty (30) miles per hour, if the person is eighteen (18) years of age or older.
Sources
- Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-64 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Mississippi Department of Public Safety
- Phone
- (601) 987-1212
- Website
- dps.ms.gov
How bordering states compare
- Alabama All ridersAlabama requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear approved protective headgear, regardless of age.
- Arkansas Only some ridersArkansas requires protective headgear for motorcycle operators and passengers under 21.
- Louisiana All ridersLouisiana requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age.
- Tennessee All ridersTennessee requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age.
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