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Colorado Motorcycle Laws and Information

Colorado Motorcycle Laws & Helmet Requirements

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Colorado Motorcycle Laws and Information

Legislature | State Motorcyclists Rights Organization (SMRO)

Motorcycle helmet law:

42-4-1502. Riding on motorcycles - protective helmet.

(4.5) (a) A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE MAY NOT OPERATE OR BE A PASSENGER ON A MOTORCYCLE ON A HIGHWAY IN THIS STATE UNLESS:

(I) THE PERSON IS WEARING A PROTECTIVE HELMET OF A TYPE AND DESIGN MANUFACTURED FOR USE BY OPERATORS OF MOTORCYCLES;

(II) THE PROTECTIVE HELMET CONFORMS TO THE DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SUBSECTION (4.5); AND

(III) THE PROTECTIVE HELMET IS SECURED PROPERLY ON THE PERSON'S HEAD WITH A CHIN STRAP WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN MOTION.

(b) A PROTECTIVE HELMET REQUIRED TO BE WORN BY THIS SUBSECTION (4.5) SHALL:

(I) BE DESIGNED TO REDUCE INJURIES TO THE USER RESULTING FROM HEAD IMPACTS AND TO PROTECT THE USER BY REMAINING ON THE USER'S HEAD, DEFLECTING BLOWS, RESISTING PENETRATION, AND SPREADING THE FORCE OF IMPACT;

(II) CONSIST OF LINING, PADDING, AND CHIN STRAP; AND

(III) MEET OR EXCEED THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 218, 49 CFR 571.218, FOR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS.

Other motorcycle laws:

25-12-106. Noise restrictions - sale of new vehicles.

(1) Except for such vehicles as are designed exclusively for racing purposes, no person shall sell or offer for sale a new motor vehicle or any self-propelled vehicle designed for off-highway use and for which registration as a motor vehicle is not required which produces a maximum noise exceeding the following noise limit, at a distance of fifty feet from the center of the lane of travel or fifty feet or more from a vehicle designed for off-highway use, under test procedures established by the department of revenue:

(a) Any motorcycle, including a motor-driven cycle, manufactured on or after July 1, 1971, and before January 1, 197388 db(A);

(b) Any motorcycle, including a motor-driven cycle, manufactured on or after January 1, 197386 db(A);

42-4-205. Head lamps on motor vehicles.

(1) Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least two head lamps with at least one on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which head lamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in sections 42-4-202 and 42-4-204 to 42-4-231 and part 3 of this article where applicable thereto.

(2) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two head lamps which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of sections 42-4-202 and 42-4-204 to 42-4-231 and part 3 of this article where applicable thereto.

(3) Every head lamp upon every motor vehicle, including every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle, shall be located at a height measured from the center of the head lamp of not more than fifty-four inches nor less than twenty-four inches, to be measured as set forth in section 42-4-204 (3).

(4) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.

Fast Fred Ruddock with a Helmet Ticket in Polk County North Carolina

About Fast Fred

My life has been a dedicated blend of open road adventure and relentless advocacy for motorcyclists’ rights. I'm "Fast Fred" Ruddock, and my journey on two wheels began as a teenager. Over the years, I’ve owned 13 Harleys and several other motorcycles, machines that were far more than just transportation. They represented a freedom that I have fought to protect. Recognizing the power of information, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, skills I immediately put to use for the movement.

My commitment to advocacy led me to a complete immersion in ABATE of South Carolina (ABATE of SC). I quickly moved through the ranks, starting by developing the ABATE of SC website in 2001 and serving as the Berkeley/Dorchester Chapter Coordinator. This progressed to serving as Lowcountry Area Coordinator, where I successfully shifted our local focus decisively toward rights and rapidly increased membership. From 2003 to 2007, I served as the State Coordinator, where I helped coordinate several key legislative victories, including the passage of the Purple Heart license tag bill and the successful repeal of unnecessary handlebar height restrictions. My primary strategic goal was always to achieve widespread political influence by organizing a chapter in every single county.

On the national front, I extended my influence by serving as the State Representative on the board of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) for several years during the 2000s. This role ensured that the concerns of South Carolina riders were directly represented in critical federal legislative discussions. Crucially, I also worked to shape public opinion: I wrote articles related to motorcycle rights for various magazines and had a small column in Easyriders magazine for several years, using media to educate riders nationwide on the issues impacting their freedom.

My activism was not only about lobbying but also direct action and constitutional challenges. I participated in the Myrtle Beach civil disobedience against local helmet laws, contributing to the legal groundwork for the eventual overturning of that restrictive law through a landmark SC Supreme Court case. I also challenged helmet laws personally, fighting three tickets in court as an act of civil disobedience in several states. I lobbied in multiple state capitols with me friends across the country. My dedication continued after my ABATE leadership, as I served as the Director of Bikers Of Less Tolerance (BOLT) of South Carolina.

Today, while I also enjoy working as a river guide and sharing my travel adventures, my legacy remains rooted in the fight for motorcycle freedom. I have spent decades on the front lines, utilizing both political strategy, legal challenges, and national media to protect the rights of every person on two wheels.

My Other Adventures

I'm a professional whitewater guide and kayak instructor. I grew up rafting, sailing, and surfing, and I spend my North American summers guiding on world-class whitewater. I have spent much of my adult life riding motorcycles and paddling kayaks.

Raft with me: Check out Fast Fred Rafts for details.

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