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.