Tennessee: Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
Tennessee requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age.
Riders 21 and older may wear a helmet that meets an alternative set of standards instead of the federal standard, but they still must wear one. Exceptions cover enclosed cabs, fully enclosed autocycles, golf carts, parades at 30 mph or less for riders 18 and older, and certain slow funeral or memorial processions for riders 21 and older.
What the law says
(a) The driver of a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, as defined in chapter 8 of this title, or motorscooter, and any passenger on any of these, shall be required to wear either a crash helmet meeting federal standards contained in 49 CFR 571.218, or, if the driver or passenger is twenty-one (21) years of age or older, a helmet meeting the following requirements: ...
Sources
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-302 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Website
- tn.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.
- Georgia All ridersGeorgia requires every motorcycle operator and rider to wear approved protective headgear, regardless of age.
- Kentucky Only some ridersKentucky requires helmets for riders and passengers under 21, permit holders, and riders licensed less than one year.
- Mississippi All ridersMississippi requires every motorcycle and motor scooter rider to wear a helmet.
- Missouri Only some ridersMissouri requires helmets for riders under 26 and for anyone riding on an instruction permit.
- North Carolina All ridersNorth Carolina requires all motorcycle and moped operators and passengers to wear a strapped helmet meeting the federal standard.
- Virginia All ridersVirginia requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a helmet, regardless of age.