North Carolina: Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
North Carolina requires all motorcycle and moped operators and passengers to wear a strapped helmet meeting the federal standard.
The rule applies on highways and public vehicular areas, such as parking lots, to riders of any age. The helmet's retention strap must be fastened. Riders in an autocycle with fully enclosed seating or a roll bar or roll cage are exempt.
Conditions
- Retention strap must be secured
What the law says
(a) No person shall operate a motorcycle or moped upon a highway or public vehicular area: ... (2) Unless the operator and all passengers thereon wear on their heads, with a retention strap properly secured, safety helmets of a type that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. This subdivision shall not apply to an operator of, or any passengers within, an autocycle that has completely enclosed seating or is equipped with a roll bar or roll cage.
Sources
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-140.4(a)(2) Official · ncleg.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- N.C. Department of Transportation, Governor's Highway Safety Program
- Website
- ncdot.gov
How bordering states compare
- Georgia All ridersGeorgia requires every motorcycle operator and rider to wear approved protective headgear, regardless of age.
- South Carolina Only some ridersSouth Carolina requires helmets only for motorcycle operators and riders under 21.
- Tennessee All ridersTennessee requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age.
- Virginia All ridersVirginia requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age.
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