H 7382Personal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Special Licenses for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, Low-Speed Vehicles and Other Motor Driven Cycles

This bill requires all motorcycle and scooter drivers to wear a helmet, regardless of their age or experience level.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 28, 2026Committee House State Government & Elections

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends existing traffic laws to implement a universal helmet mandate for all operators of motorcycles, motor scooters, and motor-driven cycles in Rhode Island. Currently, the law only requires helmets for operators under the age of twenty-one and for new operators during their first year of licensure. This bill removes those age and experience exemptions, requiring every operator to wear a helmet approved by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. Violations of this requirement are subject to fines, which are deposited into a restricted account for highway safety education.

For younger readers

Right now in Rhode Island, adults who have driven motorcycles for a long time do not have to wear a helmet. Only younger drivers or new drivers are required to wear one. This new law changes the rules so that every person driving a motorcycle or scooter must wear a helmet to protect their head, no matter how old they are or how long they have been driving. If a driver does not wear a helmet, they will have to pay a fine.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Motorcycle operatorsMotor scooter operatorsLaw enforcement officersEmergency medical personnelMotorcycle equipment retailers

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Reduces the burden on the public healthcare system and social safety nets by preventing severe traumatic brain injuries that often result in costly, long-term state-funded care.
Protects vulnerable road users from preventable death and disability, prioritizing public health and community well-being over individual preference.
Standardizes safety requirements across the board, ensuring that younger or less experienced riders are not the only ones subject to safety regulations.
Increases police power and reasons for traffic stops, which historically leads to disproportionate enforcement actions against marginalized and minority communities.
Imposes financial burdens (cost of helmets and potential fines) on lower-income individuals who rely on scooters or motorcycles as an affordable means of transportation.
Can be viewed as a violation of bodily autonomy, restricting the right of an individual to make decisions about their own body and risks.

For Conservatives

Reduces the potential tax burden on the state by lowering the number of uninsured or under-insured riders requiring state-funded emergency trauma care.
Simplifies law enforcement duties by creating a clear, single standard for all riders, rather than requiring officers to guess a rider's age or license duration.
Promotes personal responsibility for safety equipment, ensuring that those utilizing public infrastructure do not create unnecessary costs or traffic disruptions due to severe accidents.
Represents significant government overreach and a "nanny state" mentality by dictating personal safety choices to adult citizens.
Infringes upon individual liberty and personal freedom, removing the right of experienced adults to assess their own risk levels.
Creates a mechanism for the government to generate revenue through fines levied against citizens engaging in behavior that does not directly harm others.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 1 addition · 4 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 31-10.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10.1 entitled "Special Licenses for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, Low-Speed Vehicles and Other Motor Driven Cycles" is hereby amended to read as follows: 31-10.1-4. Required equipment. Operators of motorcycles, motor scooters, and motor-driven cycles shall use eye protection of a type approved by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles when operating their vehicles on streets and highways. Every motorcycle, motor scooter, and motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with a rear view mirror. Any operator ~~under the age of twenty-one (21)~~ shall wear a helmet of a type approved by the administrator of motor vehicles. ~~In addition, all new operators,~~ ~~regardless of age, shall be required, for a period of one year from the date of issuance of the first~~ ~~license pursuant to § 31-10.1-1, to wear a helmet of a type approved by said administrator.~~ Any person deemed in violation of this provision shall be subject to the fines enumerated in § 31-41.1- 4, which shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 41.1 of this title. The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is authorized to set forth rules and regulations governing the use of other equipment on those vehicles. All fines collected under this section shall be deposited in a general restricted receipt account for the use of the Rhode Island governor’s office on highway safety in order to promote educational and informational programs encouraging helmet use.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.