| Alaska
motorcycle helmet law
In Alaska, a person 18 or older
"may not" be required to wear a Motorcycle helmet when
operating a motorcycle, if the operator holds a motorcycle license.
This law is currently being challenged as "vague," because
the law, as written, is unclear as to the precise helmet requirements.
As written, the law seems to require that only operators under 18
are required to wear motorcycle helmets.
The law does not address motorcycle
helmet requirements for passengers. Because this law is capable
of many interpretations, it is advisable to check with Alaska's
Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety to determine whether
you might be subject to a mandatory helmet law before taking a motorcycle
on Alaska roadways.
The law does, however, require
that anyone subject to wear a motorcycle helmet must wear a helmet
that conforms to the standards established by regulation by Alaska's
Public Safety Commissioner. If a motorcycle helmet is required,
it must allow for normal peripheral vision and hearing and must
minimize neck injuries to the wearer.
LIMITED:
HELMETS REQUIRED FOR ALL RIDERS UP TO AGE 19
HELMETS REQUIRED FOR ALL PASSENGERS
HELMETS REQUIRED FOR NOVICES OR PERMIT HOLDERS
MISCELLANEOUS MOTORCYCLE
LAWS
Eye Protection
Required by law unless equipped with windscreen which is 15"
or higher above handlebars.
Daytime Use Of Headlight
Modulating headlight permitted.
Passenger Seat
Required if carrying a passenger.
Passenger Footrests
Required if carrying a passenger.
Mirror
Left and right required by law.
Periodic Safety Inspection
Random inspections, required by law.
65 MPH Speed Limit
In effect on designated rural interstate highways.
STATUTE:
Chapter 35. Miscellaneous Provisions.
Article 5. Miscellaneous Offenses. Sec. 28.35.245 Motorcycle Helmets.:
" . . . (b) A person who is 18 years of age or older may not
be required to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle if the
person is the holder of a license or endorsement to operate a motorcycle."(Approved
by the Governor: June 25, 1996.)
.
STANDARDS:
Title 28. Motor Vehicles. Chapter
05. Administration. Article 2. Vehicle Equipment Standards. Section
28.05.081 Approval of vehicle equipment.
"(a) When the commissioner has reason to believe that vehicle
equipment being sold commercially in the state does not comply with
the requirements of this title or regulations adopted under this
title or other statutes and regulations, the commissioner may, after
giving 30 days notice to the person holding the certificate of approval
for the equipment in this state, conduct a hearing upon the question
of compliance of the equipment. After the hearing, the commissioner
shall determine whether the equipment is in compliance. If the equipment
is not in compliance with the law, the commissioner shall give notice
of that fact to the person holding the certificate of approval for
the equipment in this state.
"(b) If, at the end of 90 days after the notice of noncompliance
given under (a) of this section, the person holding the certificate
of approval for the vehicle equipment has failed to satisfy the
commissioner that the equipment as sold after the 90 days is in
compliance with the law, the commissioner shall suspend or revoke
the approval issued for the equipment until the equipment is resubmitted
to, and retested by, a testing agency approved by the commissioner
and is found to be in compliance with the law. The commissioner
may, at the time of retest, purchase in the open market and submit
to the testing agency one or more sets of the equipment. If the
equipment upon retest fails to comply with the law, the commissioner
may refuse to renew the certificate of approval of the equipment.
"(c) After January 1, 1978,
a motorcycle helmet may not be manufactured or sold in this state
that does not conform to standards established in regulations adopted
by the commissioner. These regulations must provide for helmets
that allow normal peripheral vision and hearing and minimize neck
injuries to the wearer potentially caused by the helmet. For the
purposes of this section and AS 28.05.011(2), a motorcycle helmet
is considered to be vehicle equipment."
WEBSITES:
Alaska DMV
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