{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-910.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-910.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-910.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-910.html"}],"law_id":62172,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62172,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-910","catch_line":"Motorcycle and autocycle operators to wear helmets, etc.; certain sales prohibited; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 46-183.1, 46-183.2; 1954, c. 204; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-172; 1968, c. 498; 1970, cc. 29, 99; 1982, cc. 390, 681; 1989, cc. 6, 727; 1996, c. 690; 1998, c. 789; 2014, cc. 53, 256.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery person operating a motorcycle or autocycle shall wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles, or have his motorcycle or autocycle equipped with safety glass or a windshield at all times while operating the vehicle, and operators and any passengers thereon shall wear protective helmets. Operators and passengers riding on motorcycles with wheels of eight inches or less in diameter or in three-wheeled motorcycles or autocycles that have nonremovable roofs, windshields, and enclosed bodies shall not be required to wear protective helmets. The windshields, face shields, glasses or goggles, and protective helmets required by this section shall meet or exceed the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department of Transportation. Failure to wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles, or protective helmets shall not constitute negligence per se in any civil proceeding. The provisions of this section requiring the wearing of protective helmets shall not apply to operators of or passengers on motorcycles or autocycles being operated (i) as part of an organized parade authorized by the Department of Transportation or the locality in which the parade is being conducted and escorted, accompanied, or participated in by law-enforcement officers of the jurisdiction wherein the parade is held and (ii) at speeds of no more than 15 miles per hour.\n\t\t\tNo motorcycle or autocycle operator shall use any face shield, safety glasses, or goggles, or have his motorcycle or autocycle equipped with safety glass or a windshield, unless of a type either (i) approved by the Superintendent prior to July 1, 1996, or (ii) that meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department of Transportation and is marked in accordance with such standards.B\n\nIt shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale, for highway use in Virginia, any protective helmet that fails to meet or exceed any standard as provided in the foregoing provisions of this section. Any violation of this subsection is a Class 4 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":226790,"text":"Every person operating a motorcycle or autocycle shall wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles, or have his motorcycle or autocycle equipped with safety glass or a windshield at all times while operating the vehicle, and operators and any passengers thereon shall wear protective helmets. Operators and passengers riding on motorcycles with wheels of eight inches or less in diameter or in three-wheeled motorcycles or autocycles that have nonremovable roofs, windshields, and enclosed bodies shall not be required to wear protective helmets. The windshields, face shields, glasses or goggles, and protective helmets required by this section shall meet or exceed the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department of Transportation. Failure to wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles, or protective helmets shall not constitute negligence per se in any civil proceeding. The provisions of this section requiring the wearing of protective helmets shall not apply to operators of or passengers on motorcycles or autocycles being operated (i) as part of an organized parade authorized by the Department of Transportation or the locality in which the parade is being conducted and escorted, accompanied, or participated in by law-enforcement officers of the jurisdiction wherein the parade is held and (ii) at speeds of no more than 15 miles per hour.\n\t\t\tNo motorcycle or autocycle operator shall use any face shield, safety glasses, or goggles, or have his motorcycle or autocycle equipped with safety glass or a windshield, unless of a type either (i) approved by the Superintendent prior to July 1, 1996, or (ii) that meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department of Transportation and is marked in accordance with such standards.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":226791,"text":"It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale, for highway use in Virginia, any protective helmet that fails to meet or exceed any standard as provided in the foregoing provisions of this section. Any violation of this subsection is a Class 4 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15902,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motorcycles and Mopeds and All-Terrain Vehicles","identifier":"13","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12875,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:01:38","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:01:38","permalink":{"id":230487,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15902,"identifier":"13","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12875,"edition_id":1,"name":"Regulation of Traffic","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":230189,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12875,"identifier":"8","token":"46.2\/III\/8","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":69474,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-909","catch_line":"Riding on motorcycles, generally","url":"\/46.2-909\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-909","metadata":false},{"id":62172,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-910","catch_line":"Motorcycle and autocycle operators to wear helmets, etc.; certain sales prohibited; penalty","url":"\/46.2-910\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-910","metadata":false},{"id":70012,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-911","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-911\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-911","metadata":false},{"id":63305,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-911.1","catch_line":"Operation of motor-driven cycles on public highways prohibited","url":"\/46.2-911.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-911.1","metadata":false},{"id":64522,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-912","catch_line":"Operating motorcycle without headlight, horn or rearview mirror","url":"\/46.2-912\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-912","metadata":false},{"id":61650,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-913","catch_line":"Vendors of certain motorcycles to furnish statements of registration and licensing requirements","url":"\/46.2-913\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-913","metadata":false},{"id":71481,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-914","catch_line":"Limitations on operation of mopeds","url":"\/46.2-914\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-914","metadata":false},{"id":68233,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-915","catch_line":"Stickers required on mopeds","url":"\/46.2-915\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-915","metadata":false},{"id":78339,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-915.1","catch_line":"All-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles; penalty","url":"\/46.2-915.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-915.1","metadata":false},{"id":72016,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-915.2","catch_line":"Safety equipment for mopeds; effect of violation; penalty","url":"\/46.2-915.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-915.2","metadata":false},{"id":69345,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-916","catch_line":"Ordinances providing for the disposition of unregistered or unlicensed motorcycles","url":"\/46.2-916\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-916","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":69474,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-909","catch_line":"Riding on motorcycles, generally","url":"\/46.2-909\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-909","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70012,"structure_id":15902,"section_number":"46.2-911","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-911\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-911","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-910\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1954, chapter 204; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1968, chapter 498; in 1970, chapters 29 and 99; in 1982, chapters 390 and 681; in 1989, chapters 6 and 727; in 1996, chapter 690<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 789<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 53<\/a> and 256<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":55715,"section_number":"46.2-1190.1","catch_line":"Curricula requirements","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1190.1\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":230493,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62172,"identifier":"46.2-910","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-910","url":"\/46.2-910\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-910\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/13\/46.2-910","dublin_core":{"Title":"Motorcycle and autocycle operators to wear helmets, etc.; certain sales prohibited; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-910","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every person operating a motorcycle<\/span> or autocycle<\/span> shall wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles, or have his motorcycle<\/span> or autocycle<\/span> equipped with safety glass or a windshield at all times while operating the vehicle<\/span>, and operators<\/span> and any passengers thereon shall wear protective helmets. Operators<\/span> and passengers riding on motorcycles<\/span> with wheels of eight inches or less in diameter or in three-wheeled motorcycles<\/span> or autocycles<\/span> that have nonremovable roofs, windshields, and enclosed bodies shall not be required to wear protective helmets. The windshields, face shields, glasses or goggles, and protective helmets required by this section shall meet or exceed the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department<\/span> of Transportation. Failure to wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles, or protective helmets shall not constitute negligence<\/span> per se in any civil proceeding. The provisions of this section requiring the wearing of protective helmets shall not apply to operators<\/span> of or passengers on motorcycles<\/span> or autocycles<\/span> being operated (i) as part of an organized parade authorized by the Department<\/span> of Transportation or the locality in which the parade is being conducted and escorted, accompanied, or participated in by law<\/span>-enforcement officers<\/span> of the jurisdiction<\/span> wherein the parade is held and (ii) at speeds of no more than 15 miles per hour.\n\t\t\tNo motorcycle<\/span> or autocycle<\/span> operator<\/span> shall use any face shield, safety glasses, or goggles, or have his motorcycle<\/span> or autocycle<\/span> equipped with safety glass or a windshield, unless of a type either (i) approved by the Superintendent<\/span> prior to July 1, 1996, or (ii) that meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department<\/span> of Transportation and is marked in accordance with such standards. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale, for highway<\/span> use in Virginia, any protective helmet that fails to meet or exceed any standard as provided in the foregoing provisions of this section. Any violation of this subsection is a Class 4 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMOTORCYCLE AND AUTOCYCLE OPERATORS TO WEAR HELMETS, ETC.; CERTAIN SALES\nPROHIBITED; PENALTY (\u00a7 46.2-910)\n\nA. Every person operating a motorcycle or autocycle shall wear a face shield,\nsafety glasses or goggles, or have his motorcycle or autocycle equipped with\nsafety glass or a windshield at all times while operating the vehicle, and\noperators and any passengers thereon shall wear protective helmets. Operators\nand passengers riding on motorcycles with wheels of eight inches or less in\ndiameter or in three-wheeled motorcycles or autocycles that have nonremovable\nroofs, windshields, and enclosed bodies shall not be required to wear protective\nhelmets. The windshields, face shields, glasses or goggles, and protective\nhelmets required by this section shall meet or exceed the standards and\nspecifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards\nInstitute, Inc., or the federal Department of Transportation. Failure to wear a\nface shield, safety glasses or goggles, or protective helmets shall not\nconstitute negligence per se in any civil proceeding. The provisions of this\nsection requiring the wearing of protective helmets shall not apply to operators\nof or passengers on motorcycles or autocycles being operated (i) as part of an\norganized parade authorized by the Department of Transportation or the locality\nin which the parade is being conducted and escorted, accompanied, or\nparticipated in by law-enforcement officers of the jurisdiction wherein the\nparade is held and (ii) at speeds of no more than 15 miles per hour.\n\t\t\tNo motorcycle or autocycle operator shall use any face shield, safety\nglasses, or goggles, or have his motorcycle or autocycle equipped with safety\nglass or a windshield, unless of a type either (i) approved by the\nSuperintendent prior to July 1, 1996, or (ii) that meets or exceeds the\nstandards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American\nNational Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department of Transportation\nand is marked in accordance with such standards.\n\nB. It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale, for highway use in Virginia,\nany protective helmet that fails to meet or exceed any standard as provided in\nthe foregoing provisions of this section. Any violation of this subsection is a\nClass 4 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 46-183.1, 46-183.2; 1954, c. 204; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7\n46.1-172; 1968, c. 498; 1970, cc. 29, 99; 1982, cc. 390, 681; 1989, cc. 6, 727;\n1996, c. 690; 1998, c. 789; 2014, cc. 53, 256.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}